34 French dessert recipes
Try our French entertaining ideas, from a showstopping profiterole tower to twists on tarte tatin and the best chocolate fondant
Looking for French desserts to serve at your next dinner party? Fancy creamy chocolate éclairs for a summer afternoon tea event? Try our dessert ideas including pear tarte tatin to serve with ice cream, crème brûlées and, of course, plenty of choux pastry, chocolate mousse recipes and soufflé recipes.
After, check out our best French recipes, then learn about Polish baking.
French dessert recipes
Pear tarte tatin
This classic tarte tatin combined with ripe British pears is easy to make but impressive enough to serve to guests, ideal for a French-style dinner dessert. For a savoury twist, try this beetroot tarte tatin recipe.
Chocolate soufflé
A classic dinner party dessert which serves up to four – check out these light, fluffy and chocolaty soufflés. Discover more soufflé recipes.
Classic creme brûlée
This classic French dessert will always go down a treat – learn how to master it with our ultimate recipe.
Poached pears with pedro ximénez and chocolate sauce
Make the most of pears in this fancy French-style dessert, paired with smooth dark chocolate sauce and pedro ximénez sherry. And it only takes 25 minutes to make. Browse more pear recipes.
Chocolate éclairs
Master your choux pastry skills with these light and airy chocolate éclairs, a classic French dessert. See more choux pastry recipes.
Blackberry and raspberry einkorn clafoutis
Einkorn is an ancient grain that adds nutty depth to this classic French custardy-cakey dessert. For the classic, try our cherry clafoutis recipe.
Normandy teurgoule
Normandy teurgoule is a slow-cooked rice pudding dish with soft, creamy and spiced results. It makes a warming dessert that is particularly nice with stewed apples on the side. Check out our classic rice pudding recipe too.
Effortless madeleine 'baba'
Cut corners with this cheat on a rum baba – it’s simple to make, and you can use whichever rum you like.
Croquembouche profiterole tower
The ultimate dessert to serve at any dinner party, create this showstopping chocolate and hazelnut profiterole stack with a creamy Nutella filling and crunchy hazelnut brittle, and watch the crowds gather. For more towering desserts, check out our profiterole recipes.
Kahlúa crème caramel
A classic French dessert which is as light as it is indulgent, try these easy crème caramels with coffee liqueur to seriously impress at your next dinner party with friends.
Chocolate fondant
A go-to dinner party dessert for a reason, try these gooey, melt-in-the-middle fondants for a chocolaty sweet treat that’s guaranteed to please.
Caramel choux puffs
A couple of techniques are involved in making these French pastry puffs, but they make a seriously impressive dessert at your next dinner party. The empty, cooked choux buns can also be frozen for a few months. Bake more caramel cakes and bakes.
Brioche bread and butter pudding
Rich brioche makes the perfect base for this classic pudding. Swap the lemon zest for orange zest if you prefer. Try our equally decadent croissant bread and butter pudding recipe next.
Lemon and lime tart
The perfect make-ahead French pud and similar to a classic tarte au citron – recreate Edd Kimber's epic lemon and lime tart with a coconut macaroon case and fill with a citrussy curd.
Strawberry tart
Inspired by the mini tarts filled with crème pâtissière and topped with glistening fruit, this giant version makes the most of in-season strawberries. See more strawberry recipes.
Peach melba
This classic French dessert can be prepped ahead of time, perfect for entertaining. You can also top with crushed meringue and whipped cream for an easy eton mess-style pudding. Check out more peach recipes.
Pain au chocolat
Follow our tips and tricks to make a classic pain au chocolat – a buttery, rich, crisp French pastry that's best served with a mug of tea or coffee.
Macarons
Turn your hand to these charming French macarons for your next baking project – they may take a couple of attempts to perfect but the delicious results are well worth it.
Calvados-poached pears with cardamom custard and sesame brittle
Brush up on your dessert-making skills with this stylish calvados-poached pear pudding, served with sweet-savoury sesame brittle and lashings of silky cardamom-infused custard.
Millefeuille of summer fruit with calvados cream
French patisserie at its finest, try this classic millefeuille with delicate layers of puff pastry, fresh summer berries and sweet calvados cream for a special teatime dessert.
Brioche
Master sweet, fluffy brioche with our foolproof recipe. If you happen to have leftovers, it can be transformed into our brioche bread and butter pudding.
Salted caramel popcorn soufflés
Soufflés get a sweet, salty makeover in this recipe from Miro in Mayfair. Plus, the satisfying crunch from the popcorn takes it to another level.
Black treacle financiers
These delicate black treacle financiers are served at the close of the set menu at The Water House Project, an ethically focused fine-dining restaurant in east London.
French crullers
Make Edd Kimber’s crullers, a classic French dessert, for glazed donuts which are crispy on the outside and light on the inside.
Peach, pistachio and ricotta friands
These mini French-style muffins filled with fruit, ground almonds and ricotta would look great as part of a summery dinner spread.
Miso crème brûlée
Recreate this easy miso crème brûlée, a classic French dessert with a twist, from Islington’s Four Legs.
Prune and armagnac soufflé
Soufflé, a classic French dessert, is levelled up thanks to rich prunes and a boozy armagnac custard, perfect for a dessert designed to impress.
Tarte au chocolat
This classic French-style chocolate tart is a guaranteed winner on any dinner party menu thanks to its rich, creamy chocolate filling and sweet buttery crust.
Rose and almond choux buns
Take your choux pastry skills up a notch with these bite-sized rosewater choux buns, a pretty French dessert that makes for a sophisticated end to a dinner party.
Butterscotch banana crêpes
The only thing better than a classic French crêpe is a butterscotch crêpe with a boozy banana sauce. Not only are they great for a decadent Shrove Tuesday pancake, but make a fun sweet treat to serve at gatherings with friends and family.
Classic chocolate mousse
If you’re looking for a classic French dessert which can be prepped ahead, you must make this simple dark chocolate mousse. Take it to the next level and serve with zesty orange shortbreads.
Honey madeleines
The addition of honey adds a subtle and delicate sweetness to French madeleines, perfect for a light sweet treat to round off your meal.
Calvados and apple granité
The perfect post-dinner pick-me-up after a heavy French meal, make this calvados and apple granité for a light, surprisingly punchy dessert.
Nutella macarons
French macarons are taken up a chocolaty notch with the addition of Nutella. Serve them as part of a dinner party spread and watch them disappear in seconds.
Authors
Comments, questions and tips
By entering your details, you are agreeing to our terms and conditions and privacy policy. You can unsubscribe at any time.