Category Archives: Desserts

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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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Crumble aux fraises

Posted on May 28, 2021 by Meg

This is a very unusual crumble in that the strawberries are not baked but rather piled fresh into a glass and layered with crumble baked separately, whipped cream and homemade caramel sauce. The result is a light, fresh spring/summer dessert … Continue reading →

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Terrine de poires au chocolat

Posted on December 18, 2020 by Meg

This festive chocolate-pear dessert is the brainchild of the chef Rodolphe Paquin, who presides at the Paris bistro Le Repaire de Cartouche. A few years ago, M. Paquin gave me a book he’d written on the art of preparing terrines. … Continue reading →

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