
Let's be real: French pastries are equally sinfully delicious and impossible to make. Or not? We have some baking recipes that will make your inner David Lebovitz shine. In most cases, you will need a little patience, a little bit of handiwork and a whole lot of butter. Get your pastry chef gear ready and let's get this French party started, maintenant.
We Love These French Pastries
Easy Palmier Cookie
We love that these French pastries are basically like extra fancy cinnamon rolls. You only need a few ingredients (cinnamon, sugar, puff pastry, cream cheese, powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract to be precise) and you're good as gold. (via Brit + Co)
Dominique Ansel’s Mini Madeleines
You'll want to plan ahead for these tasty bites since the dough needs to rest overnight. But once you're ready to bake, they only take four minutes in the oven, which happens to be the perfect amount of time to change into your pajamas for a Netflix sesh. Dust with powdered sugar and serve. (via Brit + Co)
Vol-au-vents
Meet your new secret weapon for dinner parties. Vol-au-vents are heavenly pastry pockets that take in just about any filling, sweet or savory. We love the look (probably the taste, too!) of a deconstructed asparagus scramble. (via Cannelle et Vanille)
POM, Feta & Artichoke Tart Soleil French Pastry
This is a finger food you can serve as your night girls' night or family dinner. Grab an extra pomegranate while you're at the store so you can snack while you put this baby together. (via Pom Wonderful)
Strawberry & Cream Croissant French Toast
We're pretty sure croissants are one of the best things France ever gave us. This take on the French pastry turns your go-to croissants into French toast — with plenty of strawberries, cream, and jam on top. (via Brit + Co)
Pain Aux Raisins
The cinnamon roll's French cousin is, like all things French, a little more sophisticated and not afraid of butter. (via Tish Boyle)
French Pastries We Can't Wait To Make This Weekend
Honey Hazelnut Baked Brie
We love puff pastry and brie cheese on their own, but put them together and you have a sweet and rich snack that will not disappoint. A handful of hazelnuts and a drizzle of honey round out the flavors. (via Brit + Co)
Image via Monika Grabkowska/Unsplash
Croissants
You are 30 minutes away from pulling a batch of these buttery pups out of the oven. The secret? A little help courtesy of ready-made puff pastry. (via Inspired Taste)
Palmiers French Pastries
These caramelized flaky cookies come in all sizes. But we think they taste (and look) best when they're small. (via Taste Williams-Sonoma)
Image via Heather Barnes/Unsplash
Macarone
Once you master the delicate art of working the egg whites just right, you'll be ready to wow your friends with a sleek rainbow batch. (via Erecipe)
Image via Bruna Branco/Unsplash
Galette
You'll see them most often in the dessert menu, but galettes can hold savory ingredients, too. These versatile round flaky pancakes of sorts create a stunning presentation time and time again. (via Snixy Kitchen)
Mille-Feuille
It translates to “thousand layers," but fear not, you won't need to work that hard. This modern take features berries and citrusy yuzu cream. (via Oh How Civilized)
Make These French Pastries For All Your Summer Brunches
DIY French Crepes
There are a ton of ways you can customize crepes once you get the hang of them. This recipe uses pancetta, ricotta, and greens, but you can also go with ham and cheese, fruit and chocolate, or jam and sugar. There are so many options that you'll never get tired of these French pastries! (via A Spicy Perspective)
Red Wine Chocolate Macarons
Usually we like to enjoy a glass of wine with our dessert, but why not just combine the two? The star of the show here is definitely the creamy, red wine + chocolate ganache inside the cookies. We're pretty sure you'll want to lick the bowl once you're done. (via Barley & Sage)
Pain Au Chocolat
The good news? You… yes, you… can make pain au chocolat at home. The bad news? You can make pain au chocolat at home. This is no shortcut recipe, but the extra effort pays off big time. (via The Bojon Gourmet)
Check out our baking and cooking classes to make some French pastries of your own!
This post has been updated.
- 15 Cheesy Ways to Sweeten Up Your Dessert - Brit + Co ›
- 5 Easter Dishes the French Feast On - Brit + Co ›
- Easy Palmier Cookie Recipe That Tastes Like Crunchy Cinnamon ... ›
- 11 Sweet and Savory Recipes to Use Up That Box of Puff Pastry - Brit + Co ›
- Bon Appétit! 15 Classic French Recipes to Try Now - Brit + Co ›