Category Archives: Desserts

Crumble mûre-nectarine

Posted on September 5, 2025 by Meg

It’s blackberry season and, when down in Provence last week, I couldn’t resist the temptation to make a blackberry-nectarine crumble. The two fruits married beautifully. Blackberries on their own would have been difficult because Provence got hammered by extreme heat … Continue reading →

Posted in Desserts | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Crumble aux pommes

Posted on February 14, 2025 by Meg

Le crumble is hardly a French invention, yet it has become wildly popular in this country, with apple crumble topping the list of favorites. So in honor of Valentine’s Day I’m offering you this delightful dessert — sweets to the … Continue reading →

Posted in Desserts | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Mousse de rhubarbe aux fraises

Posted on May 10, 2024 by Meg

Springtime in Paris means rhubarb and strawberries, and they combine delightfully in this light, bright dessert. The mousse can be whipped up — literally — in just a few minutes. The rhubarb is softened with sugar, the strawberries are puréed, … Continue reading →

Posted in Desserts | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Biscuits de Noël aux amandes

Posted on December 15, 2023 by Meg

Who invented butter-almond crescents, the sugar-dusted confections served at Christmas time in many parts of the world? Some say the cookies were invented by a Viennese baker who adopted the shape of the Ottoman flag’s crescent moon to celebrate victory … Continue reading →

Posted in Desserts | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Pêches au vin au romarin

Posted on August 11, 2023 by Meg

A bowl of sliced peaches poached in rosé wine with rosemary makes a light and refreshing dessert for hot summer evenings. You can serve the peaches on their own, as I prefer, or take a page from my daughter’s book … Continue reading →

Posted in Desserts | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Gâteau noix-amandes-orange

Posted on March 17, 2023 by Meg

Here’s a cake that’s both Moorish and ‘more-ish’. Moorish because its ground walnuts and almonds, orange zest, cinnamon and rose water are evocative of North African cuisine. More-ish because, as I discovered when I served it this week, one serving … Continue reading →

Posted in Desserts | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Bûche de Noël chocolat-noisette

Posted on December 9, 2022 by Meg

It’s no secret that a highlight of French Christmas is the bûche de Noël that crowns a festive meal. What is less well known is that the traditional Yule log cake is rarely — but I mean, really rarely — … Continue reading →

Posted in Desserts | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Soufflés aux framboises

Posted on June 3, 2022 by Meg

If you’ve never experienced a raspberry soufflé, it’s like tasting warm, fluffy, raspberry-flavored air. Sweet, light and ephemeral. And the good news is that this elegant dessert is remarkably easy to make. I’m not an expert on dessert soufflés, but … Continue reading →

Posted in Desserts | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Salade d’oranges à la badiane

Posted on February 11, 2022 by Meg

This light, refreshing dessert of orange slices in a flavorful syrup is best in winter, when large sweet oranges are in season. I first tasted it at the home of my neighbor Manuela, a superior cook. But on that occasion … Continue reading →

Posted in Desserts | Tagged , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Tarte aux noix

Posted on November 19, 2021 by Meg

Walnut tart, a specialty of southwest France, is a favorite of mine in the autumn. The walnut pieces are bathed in a caramel sauce and then baked in a tender tart shell to produce a sweet, chewy confection — comfort … Continue reading →

Posted in Desserts | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment