19 Elegant French Treats You Can Actually Make

French pastries bring a taste of Paris straight to your kitchen with their flaky layers and super rich flavors that make everything special. These recipes show you how to make classic treats that look really fancy but are totally doable at home without needing professional training or expensive equipment. From buttery croissants to delicate cream puffs, there’s definitely something here for every baker no matter what skill level you’re at right now. They work perfectly for special occasions or just when you want something sweet to make your day better and more delicious. Get ready to fill your entire home with amazing smells and even better tastes that’ll make everyone jealous.

Elegant Mini Berry Tarts

Little pastry cups get filled with cream then topped with fresh berries to make these perfect for serving at parties or gatherings. Elegant Mini Berry Tarts are bite-sized treats that look super fancy but are actually easy to put together when you follow the simple steps.
Get the Recipe: Elegant Mini Berry Tarts

Sourdough Croissants

With their tangy flavor and tons of flaky layers, these croissants take the French classic to the next level of deliciousness. Sourdough Croissants work great for breakfast or anytime you want something buttery and amazing that fills your kitchen with incredible smells while baking.
Get the Recipe: Sourdough Croissants

Red Velvet Macarons

These bright red cookies have rich chocolate flavor baked into their famous French cookie shells that sandwich creamy filling between them. Red Velvet Macarons look fancy on any dessert table but taste just like your favorite cake in convenient cookie form that’s easy to eat.
Get the Recipe: Red Velvet Macarons

Julia Child’s Pear Clafoutis

Baked pears sit in custardy batter to make this simple but really special dessert that everyone will love eating no matter when. Julia Child’s Pear Clafoutis tastes great warm or cold and works perfectly for breakfast or as dessert after dinner is completely finished.
Get the Recipe: Julia Child’s Pear Clafoutis

Easy Bursting Blueberry Mini Galettes (Pies!)

Rustic little pies get filled with juicy berries that bubble up while baking and are way easier to make than regular pies. Easy Bursting Blueberry Mini Galettes bake up with crispy golden edges and sweet fruit centers that taste like summer in every single bite you take.
Get the Recipe: Easy Bursting Blueberry Mini Galettes (Pies!)

Puff Pastry Chocolate Croissants

Flaky pastry wraps around chocolate bars to create these amazing breakfast treats that taste like they came from a bakery. Puff Pastry Chocolate Croissants are just like the ones from Parisian shops but you can make them yourself at home without flying to France.
Get the Recipe: Puff Pastry Chocolate Croissants

Irresistible Classic Opera Cake

Layers of almond cake, coffee buttercream, and chocolate topping stack up to make this dessert a real showstopper on any table. Irresistible Classic Opera Cake is rich but not overly sweet, with different textures and flavors in every single bite you take from your fork.
Get the Recipe: Irresistible Classic Opera Cake

Salted Caramel Cream Puffs

Light pastry shells get stuffed with smooth filling then drizzled with salty-sweet caramel for an extra special touch that makes them irresistible. Salted Caramel Cream Puffs mix sweet and salty flavors together to create something that’s seriously hard to stop eating once you take that first bite and taste how good they are.
Get the Recipe: Salted Caramel Cream Puffs

Tarte aux Fraises French Strawberry Tart

Fresh berries sit on top of smooth filling inside a crisp pastry bottom that holds everything together perfectly. Tarte aux Fraises French Strawberry Tart has juicy fruit and creamy custard that make it a dessert that’s both light and totally satisfying at the same time.
Get the Recipe: Tarte aux Fraises French Strawberry Tart

Cream Puff Swans (Choux Pastry)

Shaped like elegant birds with long necks, these pastries are as fun to make as they are to eat when you’re done. Cream Puff Swans use fluffy choux pastry and rich cream filling to turn into a dessert that impresses everyone who sees them on the table.
Get the Recipe: Cream Puff Swans (Choux Pastry)

French Macarons

Colorful sandwich cookies with crisp outsides and chewy insides come in all kinds of different flavors you can try making at home. French Macarons take some practice to get right but are totally worth it for their delicate texture and sweet taste that melts in your mouth.
Get the Recipe: French Macarons

Peach Tarte Tatin

Upside-down pastry showcases caramelized peaches on top of a buttery crust that gets flipped over after baking to reveal the pretty fruit. Peach Tarte Tatin is best served while still warm, maybe with some cold vanilla ice cream melting on top and dripping down the sides.
Get the Recipe: Peach Tarte Tatin

Chocolate Madeleines

Soft little cakes packed with tons of chocolate flavor make these treats totally addictive once you try one and can’t stop eating more. Chocolate Madeleines have a special shell shape that makes them fun to eat and even more fun to bake in your own kitchen at home.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Madeleines

Tarte aux Pommes (French Apple Tart)

Thin apple slices get arranged on pastry in pretty patterns to make this simple but stunning dessert that looks professional and tastes incredible. Tarte aux Pommes has apples that bake up tender and soft while the bottom crust stays crisp and golden brown throughout the entire thing.
Get the Recipe: Tarte aux Pommes (French Apple Tart)

Classic French Palmiers Recipe (Elephant Ear Cookies)

Also called elephant ears because of their shape, these crispy pastries get made from folded puff pastry that caramelizes while baking until golden. Classic French Palmiers are sweet, crunchy, and disappear super fast once you make them because everyone keeps grabbing more from the plate before you know it.
Get the Recipe: Classic French Palmiers Recipe (Elephant Ear Cookies)

Chocolate Orange Madeleines

Little shell-shaped cakes have chocolate and orange flavors baked right into them for a delicious combination that works perfectly together. Chocolate Orange Madeleines are soft, buttery, and taste amazing with hot coffee or tea when you need a sweet snack during your day.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Orange Madeleines

Lilac Strawberry Galette

A free-form pie with juicy strawberries bakes up sweet inside a flaky crust that doesn’t need to look perfect to taste amazing. Lilac Strawberry Galette looks rustic and homemade but tastes like the best parts of warm weather in every single bite you take from your slice.
Get the Recipe: Lilac Strawberry Galette

The Easiest Apple Almond Pithivier

A round pastry gets filled with apples and almond cream then bakes up golden and puffy with impressive decorations on top. The Easiest Apple Almond Pithivier makes any regular meal feel way fancier and more special when it appears on the table as dessert after dinner.
Get the Recipe: The Easiest Apple Almond Pithivier

French Palmiers with Quick Puff Pastry

Buttery, caramelized puff pastry folds into crisp golden layers that make these sweet treats completely irresistible and perfect with hot coffee. French Palmiers with Quick Puff Pastry use a shortcut method that makes them easier to prepare while still tasting absolutely amazing and authentic like the real thing.
Get the Recipe: French Palmiers with Quick Puff Pastry