Most Popular Cakes in France – Part Two!

It’s been over a year since I wrote ‘Most Popular Cakes in France – Part One’. Instead of constructing a ‘Top Ten’ list of French cakes, I focused on some of the most loved cakes in France, acknowledging that it’s very much a matter of personal taste.

This is not a scientific study, but based on asking French friends, researching the internet, and my preferences. There is a vast selection of cakes, gâteaux, and patisseries to be sampled in France; I could probably write several posts on this topic. I think perhaps two is sufficient!

Macarons: Let’s start with this small but perfectly formed cake. These should not be confused with macaroons or President Macron! Macarons are small, light cakes consisting of two round halves. These are made of egg white, sugar and almond flour. They are ‘sandwiched’ together with a creamy filling. I must confess that I don’t like them; they are too sweet for me! You can read more about macarons here:

Did you know today is National Macaron Day?

Mille-feuilles Mille-feuilles are one of my husband’s favourite cakes. They are also known as a Napoleon, a custard slice or a vanilla slice depending on the location. Mille-feuilles (meaning 1000 leaves) consist of several layers of puff pastry and crème pâtissière, usually topped with a coating of icing. They are far too sweet for me and way beyond my baking skills but if you want to try to make them…

Gâteau Basque is a personal favourite of mine. This cake comes from the Basque region of Southern France and Northern Spain. It’s known for its rustic appearance and rich almond filling. One of our favourite lunchtime restaurants in Carcassonne serves this as a dessert; I love it! The photo below was taken the last time we were there.

As with so many cakes, there are various stories behind the origin of the Gâteau Basque.

Madeleines: I love to bake, and madeleines are one of my favourite small cakes to conjure up! They are easy and quick to prepare and cook, perfect for last-minute visitors. I use a recipe by Michel Roux Jr. Follow this link if you want to make some madeleines https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/madeleine_15211.

Fruit Tarts: This might be a controversial choice, but is a tart a cake? For this post I would argue ‘yes’. Go to any pâtisserie in France and the odds are that you will see inviting fruit tarts alongside all the French cakes. I’m far more likely to select a delicious ‘tarte aux fraises’ than a cake. There are plenty of recipes to be discovered to make the ‘perfect’ French fruit tart, the main ingredients being fresh fruit, crème pâtissière and pâte sablée/sucrée.

I hope reading this post hasn’t made you too hungry and I’d love to know if you have a favourite pâtisserie.

I will be linking this post with #PoCoLo