Last Updated on 25th April 2024 by Charlotte Nadeau
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French cuisine is considered some of the best in the world, so it will come as no surprise that when it comes to desserts the French do the most mouthwatering treats you can imagine!
Each dessert that can be found in Paris is elegantly crafted with an array of techniques, unique in character and flavours to die for! From flaky buttery pastries, light and airy, to rich and creamy, the art form of desserts in the ‘city of love’ is an indulgent experience you won’t forget.
If you are headed to Paris soon and wondering which sweet treats to try, then look no further! Here’s the ultimate guide to all the French Desserts in Paris that you have to try when visiting:
Best French Desserts
Macaron
As the best selling cookie in France this iconic dessert has to be high up on the list of sweet treats to try when in Paris!
The crispy light meringue exterior and rich creamy filling make the first bite of this delicious delight super satisfying, it honestly melts on your tongue like a cloud. Flavours range from classics chocolate and vanilla to pistachio, salted caramel, raspberry and many more.
Although we often think of the macaron to be traditionally French, it may surprise you to find that the macaron probably originated in medieval Italy… And if you’re looking for all the best sweets in the City of Love, here’s your complete guide to the best macarons in Paris.
Macarons address book:
Ladurée, 75 avenue des Champs-Élysées (rue Lincoln), Paris, Île-de-France
Carette, 4 place du Trocadéro, Paris, Île-de-France
Fauchon (my personal fave), 30 place de la Madeleine, Paris, Île-de-France
Jean-Paul Hévin, 231 rue Saint-Honoré, Paris, Île-de-France
Baba au Rhum
‘Baba‘ is actually the Polish word for grandmother, its diminutive word being, babka (which is a traditional sweet braided bread in Poland). So you might be wondering how is this a French dessert?
King Stanislaus I of Poland and his family were exiled to northeast France in 1719 and took their pastry chefs with them, legend says that the King added rum to a dry babka caka and thus, the Rum Baba was born.
This small sweet yeast cake containing dried fruits is soaked in syrup and rum, occasionally filled with cream. It remains a traditional and popular dessert in France and you can even find it preserved in syrup in jars in the supermarket!
Crème Glacée
There’s nothing better on a warm summer’s day than wandering around with an ice-cream in hand and tucking into a scoop or two of this refreshing delight! Like Italians with gelato, the French make generous use of egg yolks, so the custard base of their ice-cream is super rich and creamy.
The two most popular flavours in France are the classics chocolate and vanilla, but most places will offer a wide variety of flavours (even asparagus ice cream), so you’re sure to find one you like!
Berthillon Ice Cream & Sorbet
The famed Berthillon ice cream is so good that it easily rivals any ice cream in the world! This Parisian delicacy is an absolute must-try when visiting.
Although plenty of other stores and cafés now serve this ice cream, I recommend heading straight to the original store on Île Sint-Louis. Oh, and if ice-cream isn’t your thing, they have sorbet’s galore!
The delicate notes and fruity texture means that the sorbet quite literally tastes just like the fruit itself. My favourite flavours of Berthillon sorbet are lemon and raspberry. Also to note, while in the area be sure to check out Notre Dame, Sainte Chapelle, and Au Vieux Paris d’Arcole (i.e. the quaintest coffee shop in the city). For more attractions, here’s a free and self-guided Ile de la Cité walking tour!
Créme Glace address book:
Berthillon, 31 rue Saint-Louis en l’Ile, 75004
La Glace Alain Ducasse, 38 Rue de la Roquette, 75011
Amorino, 42 Rue Cler, 75007
Le Bac a Glaces, 109 Rue du Bac, 75007
Raimo, 59-63 Bd de Reuilly, 75012 (the oldest ice cream producer and vendor in Paris!)
Crème Brûlée
Translated literally as ‘burnt cream‘ this creamy and indulgent dish is an absolute classic when it comes to French desserts!
The best sound to hear after you’ve ordered a crème brûlée is the tap of your spoon against the hardened sugar on the surface, breaking through to the vanilla aromas. When dining out in Paris, if you can manage it this is a must-try dessert! But I would definitely suggest sharing as it is so rich.
Crème Brûlée address book:
Le Bistrot d’Henri, 16 Rue Princesse, 75006
Le Potager du Père Thierry, 16 Rue des Trois Frères, 75018
Le Comptoir de la Gastronomie, 34 Rue Montmartre, 75001
Crème Caramel
People easily mistake Créme Caramel and Crème Brûlée as the same dessert, but to get the both worlds you really need to try both of these different types of custard desserts and see for yourself!
Smooth, sweet and syrupy, Crème Caramel is delicately flavoured with vanilla and is both comforting and rich to taste. It’s essentially a delicious dish of cream turned upside down, with caramelised sugar syrup coating it.
Aside from the previously mentioned crème glacée and crème brûlée, this is one of the few gluten-free dessert options in Paris.
Crème Caramel served with fresh fruit, it was the perfect finish to a delicious meal!
Croissant
This favourite french breakfast pastry not only makes the list because it’s so iconic, but also because it’s simply delicious and always makes for the perfect sweet treat when exploring Paris.
Paired with a cup of coffee, there truly is nothing more satisfying than finding a freshly baked golden croissant with buttery flaky pastry that falls apart in your mouth, the idyllic way to start a morning!
(…and all things pastry)
You might be happy to hear that you can enjoy an escargots in Paris without eating the real thing…Chocolate Pistachio Escargots!
Of course the boulangerie is filled with endless options when it comes to picking up a snack, and Paris certainly isn’t short of them! Follow your nose and let yourself be taken in by the glorious smells of French patisserie, there’s nowhere in the world quite like it when it comes to pastry.
Boulangerie address book:
Du Pain et des Idées, 34 Rue Yves Toudic, 75010
Poilâne, 38 Rue Debelleyme, 75003
Liberté, 39 Rue des Vinaigriers, 75010
Chocolat Chaud
What could be more comforting and warming than the liquid dessert Chocolat Chaud!
Thick and indulgent this hot chocolate is the perfect treat for a respite when strolling through Paris during the winter months.
Chocolat Chaud address book:
Cafe de Flore, 172 Bd Saint-Germain, 75006
Galeries Lafayette, 40 Bd Haussmann, 75009
Berthillon, 31 rue saint louis en l’ile, 46 Rue Saint-Louis en l’Île, 75004
Madeleine
This delicate little shell-shaped cake is sweet, comforting and crumbling with buttery goodness. A spongy delight that makes for the perfect accompanying snack to a chocolat chaud!
Le Comptoir de Madeleine, as the name suggests, is a haven for those who love Madeleines in all their glory. Of course, there are many more spots dotted all over Paris where you can find this delicacy!
Madeleine address book:
Le Comptoir de Madeleine, 17 Rue Victor Massé, 75009
Mousse au Chocolat
Beloved for it’s velvety texture this decadent dessert is intensely chocolatey and takes very little ingredients to make.
As well as being delicious, it has a fascinating history and was in fact invented by the French post-Impressionist painter Henri Toulouse-Lautrec, in the late 19th century.
Although light and airy like a cloud when consuming, this is one of the richest desserts you can have. But you truly don’t know how beautiful a chocolate mousse can be until you’ve tried it in Paris, sure to satisfy any chocolate lovers cravings!
Brioche
Another pastry worth mentioning and can be found in the majority of boulangeries of Paris is Brioche!
This ultra soft, buttery delight makes for the perfect snack when wandering through the city on an afternoon stroll. Originating in France as early as the Middle Ages, this sweet bread has become a staple of French culture.
Mille-Feuille
Literally translated as ‘a thousand sheets’ and known as the ‘Napoleon’ in North America this popular dessert is a crispy, buttery slice of vanilla that can be found is most boulangeries.
Dating back to the 1600s France, this sweet delight is the perfect taste of a French dessert!
A selection of sweet treats in a Parisian bakery!
Marron Glacé
Because of time it takes to make, this has become a luxury confection. A chestnut candied in sugar syrup and glazed, this is the ultimate end of dinner dessert to enjoy!
Popular as a traditional Christmas gift, these are often considered a Winter dessert.
Éclair
The ideal éclair is fluffy, light and filled with just the right amount of whipped cream. Topped with a glossy icing, these traditional French desserts can be found throughout the city. Originally known as ‘pain à la Duchesse,’ it’s thought that the éclair first came about in the mid to late nineteenth Century.
Éclair address book:
L’Éclair de Génie, 14 rue Pavée, Paris, Île-de-France
L’Atelier de l’Éclair, 9 rue Bachaumont (Rue Montorgueil), Paris, Île-de-France
Eric Kayser, 8 rue Monge, Paris, Île-de-France
Figue Chocolat
Figue Chocolat is a creamy combination of figs, chocolate, and ganache, a sweet taste of this treat will linger in your mind for weeks to come.
This sweet dessert mixes figs, chocolate and often a form of some kind of nut to create a deliciously naughty dessert. A chocolate ganache is made, combining fig, chocolate and hazelnuts. This is then enrobed in a thick layer of marzipan.
The shape of the pastry is meant to remind the consumer of the shape of a fig and although not as readily available as some of the other Parisian desserts on this list, should you go in search of the Figue Chocolat, you definitely won’t regret it!
Tarte aux Pommes & Tarte aux Citron
Another dessert commonly found in the boulangeries of Paris, an Apple or Lemon tart!
There’s not much to say that hasn’t already been said about French pastry, these beautifully buttery and perfectly crumbly pastries are an absolute delight and well worth tasting when visiting the city of Paris.
French Crêpes
This ultra-thin pancake can be filled with almost anything whether it’s savoury or sweet and can be enjoyed throughout the day as a snack, or a dessert to your meal.
Traditionally sugar and butter, you can enjoy a wide variety of flavours from fresh jam, lemon, Nutella and different flavours of ice cream inside your crêpe!
Crêpes Suzette
Aside from the delicious crêpe fillings already mentioned, this traditional Parisian dessert is essentially a boozy version. Crêpes topped with a caramelised sauce of butter and sugar, orange zest, Grand Marnier and triple sec liquer, and then flambéed (often in front of you!)
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