10 French dessert recipes to try

If you have a sweet tooth, chances are that French desserts will be your favourite 'dessert du jour.'

Traditional French desserts cover a myriad of styles, from flakey pastries to decadent chocolate-based desserts, making them a tried and tested favourite on menus around the world.

It's impossible not to fall in love with at least one french dessert, whether it's the classic crêpes Suzette that ignites your passion or the mountainous stacked profiteroles of a croquembouche that makes you go weak at the knees.

Whatever your favourite, learn how to make the classic French desserts in the recipes below.

French dessert recipes

French apple tart

This Normandy-inspired apple pie is always a crowd-pleaser. Find the recipe for a fantastic French apple tart here. It can be served warm or cold but is always delicious with a scoop of rich vanilla ice cream.

French chocolate mousse

If you love traditional French chocolate desserts, try this family favourite for chocolate mousse whipped up in this video clip from chef Ludo Lefebvre. There are almost as many different chocolate mousse recipes in France as there are kitchens.

Crème caramel

Crème caramel is always an elegant and popular dessert choice. Quivering set custard bathed in dark sweet caramel is enough to make most dessert fans cry “oh la la!” Check out the recipe in the video above and you’ll be converted!

Eclairs

A stalwart of French patisserie and popular around the world, these childhood favourites are surprisingly easy to make at home. Give it a go with this video recipe above and you might just surprise yourself. Once you’ve mastered the basic recipe, you can have fun with different fillings and toppings.

Crêpes Suzette

This 1970s classic is the queen of crepes! Think light pancakes in a sauce of caramelised sugar and butter, orange juice and zest, topped off with Grand Marnier and set alight for an impressive tableside final flambé. It’s all about the show!

Croquembouche

If you really want to impress, try building a spectacular profiterole mountain! This traditional French dessert is made by piling chocolate cream-filled profiteroles into a pyramid bound together with caramel. Watch the video recipe above for step-by-step instructions.

Mille-feuille

French pastries take deliciousness to a whole new level. Take the old school mille-feuille or one thousand sheets, layers, or leaves of airy, crispy, flakiness sandwiched together with lashings of cream. Find the recipe above and fill it with your favourite fruit.

Mont Blanc recipe

This classic 'white mountain' dessert named after Europe’s highest peak features chestnut purée piled on top of meringue rounds topped, in turn, with whipped cream. Try Angelina's Mont Blanc recipe for a taste of history.

Crème brûlée

Without doubt one of the most exquisite French desserts. Who can resist cracking the caramel crust to get to the thick creamy vanilla custard below? Try Julia Child's failsafe crème brûlée recipe, which doesn’t require you to use a bain marie.

Tarte tatin

This ubiquitous French dessert is both generous and tasty on the table. Find a tarte tatin recipe here and learn the history of how this classic dish was 'invented.'

This article was updated on 30/03/2023.