Category Archives: Desserts

Charlotte aux fraises

Posted on March 30, 2018 by Meg

There’s an easy way and a hard way to make the delectable French strawberry dessert known as charlotte aux fraises, as I learned when setting out to make one for this post. A charlotte is an unbaked cake of ladyfingers … Continue reading →

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Butterbredel

Posted on December 8, 2017 by Meg

I had a surprise recently when a friend from Alsace presented me with a recipe for butterbredel, small butter cookies in festive shapes that are traditionally served over the holidays. They’re not just pretty but incredibly easy to make. And … Continue reading →

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Fruits d’été au cassis

Posted on August 11, 2017 by Meg

Fresh summer fruit piled into dessert cups with a splash of crème de cassis makes a lovely way to end a meal. Add a smattering of mint leaves, and you have a dish that is both sophisticated and simple to … Continue reading →

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Fraises au basilic et vinaigre balsamique

Posted on May 26, 2017 by Meg

Strawberries with basil and balsamic vinegar, aka strawberry carpaccio, appeared relatively recently on Paris bistro menus. The combination makes a refreshing dessert on warm summer evenings — light, tangy and sophisticated. And the real magic is that it takes about … Continue reading →

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Strudel aux pommes

Posted on January 20, 2017 by Meg

Some days you just need comfort food — so why not make an apple strudel? This delightfully flaky dessert has been popular in France since it was introduced at Versailles by Marie-Antoinette, who came here from her native Austria after … Continue reading →

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Tarte aux abricots amandine

Posted on July 7, 2016 by Meg

A highlight of the French summer is the rosy-cheeked apricot, which arrives from the south, generally Provence, and appears in abundance at farmers’ markets at this time of year. And a delight of the French table is a tart of … Continue reading →

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Tiramisu

Posted on March 4, 2016 by Meg

Can you imagine that tiramisu, the ubiquitous feather-light confection, did not exist half a century ago? It certainly was nowhere to be found in Paris when I arrived in the 1970s, having only just been invented (apparently), although its origins … Continue reading →

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Mousse aux châtaignes

Posted on November 27, 2015 by Meg

For an original winter dessert that’s fun to make, why not try your hand at chestnut mousse? Preparation time is reduced by using canned or frozen chestnuts. The chestnuts are boiled until tender and then puréed. You mix the purée … Continue reading →

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Tarte Tatin

Posted on September 25, 2015 by Meg

This classic French apple tart is said to have been invented about 130 years ago by two sisters, Stéphanie and Caroline Tatin, at the country inn they ran about 100 miles south of Paris. It’s an upside-down tart in which … Continue reading →

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Clafoutis aux cerises

Posted on June 26, 2015 by Meg

Cherry pie, cherry cobbler, cherry tart, cherry mousse, cherry soup, yes, but cherry clafoutis? Why such an odd word for one of France’s favorite homespun desserts, cherries baked in a batter of eggs, milk and sugar? Clafoutis (pronounced clah-foo-TEE) comes … Continue reading →

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