Flavor! Texture! Colorful pastries! That’s this French Christmas dessert list. The Bûche de Noël might be the most recognizable, but it’s not the only thing going on here.
We’re talking delicate cakes and airy macarons. These treats are insanely delicious, and if you’ve never attempted them before, take this as a sign to give it a whirl.
Joyeux Noël!
1. Chocolate Soufflé
Soufflés. I know. They feel like one of the most decadent and just *so* temperamental French desserts out there.
But that intensely chocolatey flavor? That light and creamy texture? Ugh, so good.
I get that beginners might feel intimidated, totally worried it won’t rise. But trust me on this one. If you follow these steps to the letter, you are about to make dessert like a boss.
2. Marrons Glacés (Candied Chestnuts)
You’ve probably had roasted chestnuts, right? But this year, let’s try something new and make these insanely sweet and sticky candied chestnuts.
These get boiled in a sugar syrup over a few days, which gives them the maximum flavor. YES.
The end result is just so sweet, buttery, and beautifully tender. What a treat!
3. Easy Christmas Cinnamon Palmiers Cookies
Hello, beautiful! These French Christmas cookies are so crisp, buttery, and spiced. They look way more complicated than they actually are.
Seriously. You only need three ingredients. And about five minutes. And you can have a whole batch of these cinnamon filled pastry bites ready to go.
So, so good.
4. Bûche de Noël
You might know this as a yule log, and I’m positive you’ve tried one. It was created to look like the logs people would put on their fires to stay warm in the winter.
While some recipes use flour, the traditional French version is flourless. And the filling? A simple chocolate whipped cream. YUM.
You can decorate it with chocolate ganache and meringue decorations or just keep it simple with a dusting of powdered sugar.
5. Eggnog Crème Brûlée
I am so here for this Christmas twist on a classic French dish. It’s similar to creme caramel, but the caramel gets torched right on top. This makes a delicate, glass like layer you have to crack to get to the good stuff. SO FUN.
The custard filling is just rich, creamy, velvety, and so moreish. And that eggnog flavor is subtle, but it’s such a lovely surprise.
The best part? You can make these ahead! Just keep them covered in the fridge and torch the sugar top right when you’re ready to serve on the big day. Easy.
6. Christmas Meringue Spheres
Okay, if you want something totally unique and impressive to serve this year, these meringue spheres are guaranteed to delight your family and friends.
You make the meringue spheres using silicone molds, and then you fill them with mousse or whipped cream.
When you press the two half-spheres together and dust them with powdered sugar, they look exactly like little snowballs. So, so cute.
7. Tarte au Citron
This luscious lemon tart is just a wonderfully bright and fresh French dessert. You’ll see it in pretty much every cafe and restaurant.
The lemon curd filling hits that perfect balance of sweet and sour. Though, if you want it more mellow, you can add extra heavy cream.
Serve this up with a dollop of whipped cream and a few fresh raspberries. YES.
8. Beginner’s Guide to French Macarons
Oh, macarons. Hello, hi, I love you.
They show up in every color and flavor you can possibly think of. That crispy shell hides a filling that is wonderfully chewy and light. I just can’t.
If you’ve never had or made macarons, I seriously cannot recommend them enough.
These delicate meringue cookies are stabilized with almond meal, and yes, they take a little TLC to get right. But once you nail it? You’ll be making them for every single occasion.
9. French Creme Caramel Recipe
This one gets confused with flan all the time, but creme caramel is a classic French dessert that is silky smooth and just delightfully sweet. YUM.
This gluten-free French dessert actually comes together in a blender. That makes the prep ridiculously easy.
I know some people get intimidated by the caramel or using a water bath, but it really doesn’t take long to master this creamy custard. You can do this!
10. French Chocolate Truffles
Need a delicious and deceptively easy treat this holiday season? You absolutely must make these rich and decadent French chocolate truffles.
They’re made using intense dark chocolate and heavy cream. They are so soft and will just melt in your mouth. PURE BLISS.
These truffles feel so luxurious, and they are super easy to modify. Why not try rolling them in chopped nuts instead of cocoa powder? Love it.
11. Classic French Madeleines
The English have afternoon tea, and the Swedes have their fika. But if you want a real Parisian goûter this holiday, you have to make these lighter than air Madeleines.
They’re made with just a few simple ingredients. People often serve them warm with coffee around 4 pm or even in the morning for breakfast.
I mean, what better way to start Christmas day? So good.
12. Ile Flottante (Floating Island)
This is also known as œufs à la neige (snow eggs), and it’s such a creamy yet delicate dish. Just know it will take a little time to prepare.
Here’s what’s happening: it’s a sweetened meringue that’s nestled in a bed of creamy crème anglaise, and it has a drizzle of caramel over the top. Wow.
Unlike a lot of meringue recipes, this version is poached. That means it has a total cloud-like texture. Just magical.
13. Christmas Gingerbread Cake
If you’re looking for a total show-stopper that needs little to no extra prep, this Christmas tree bundt cake is for you. Done deal.
With this forest bundt pan, the finished cake needs nothing more than some powdered sugar dusted right over the top.
It’s lightly spiced, crazy-moist, and absolutely perfect for feeding a crowd.
14. Lightest French Chocolate Mousse Without Cream
Did you know that the word mousse comes from the French word for foam? How perfect is that? That name could not be more fitting!
This chocolate mousse is so light and airy, but it has a creamy and rich chocolatey finish. The best of both worlds.
It’s the ideal dessert for a romantic holiday dinner. But, you can also just double this recipe to feed the whole family. Win-win.
15. Easy Candy-Striped Meringue Cookies
Sweet, light, and naturally gluten-free. Yes. Meringue cookies should be on everyone’s Christmas baking list.
Not only are they super easy to whip up and pipe into fun shapes, but you can make a huge batch with just a few egg whites.
Use red food coloring for these candy-striped cookies. Or, you could try coloring some green and piping them into little Christmas tree shapes. So cute!