By: Marie Telling…

Macaroons ~ What it is: Little almond-meringue cookies filled with flavored buttercream.

Why it’s awesome: You can get them in basically every flavor you want. And when they’re done right, they’re like little bites of heaven melting in your mouth.
2. French Lemon Pie

What it is: A buttery crust filled with lemon curd.
Why it’s awesome: It’s refreshing, sweet, and slightly less tangy than its American counterpart (but just as good).
3. Crème Brûlée

What it is: A custard topped with a crisp caramel layer.
Why it’s awesome: There are few things in life as satisfying as cracking the caramel layer of a crème brûlée with the back of your spoon.
4. Crêpes

What it is: Very thin pancakes filled with just about anything you can think of.
Why it’s awesome: They’re super fun to eat, and you can accommodate everybody’s tastes with all the different fillings — like Nutella, strawberries and cream, or maple syrup.
5. Chocolate Soufflé

What it is: An ~ethereal~ chocolate cake with a crispy crust and a soft middle.
Why it’s awesome: It manages to be both light and rich. (And chocolate is involved, which is always a good thing.)

6. Madeleines

What it is: Fluffy and delightful little buttery cakes.
Why it’s awesome: They’re simple yet addictive, and you can stray from the traditional recipe to create different flavors.
7. Chocolate Meringue

What it is: A crunchy meringue with chocolate swirls and a slightly chewy inside.
Why it’s awesome: Meringue is already pretty amazing on its own, but add some chocolate to the equation and it’s even better.
8. Clafoutis

What is it: A flan-like cake usually filled with cherries.
Why it’s awesome: Soft texture + tart cherries = a truly perfect summer bake.

9. Tarte Tatin

What it is: An upside-down caramelized apple pie, basically.
Why it’s awesome: Caramelized apples and a crispy crust. What more do you need?
10. Chocolate Mousse

What it is: I mean, it’s a chocolate mousse.
Why it’s awesome: It’s light, rich, fluffy, and chocolatey. (In other words, it’s pretty much perfect.)
11. Dacquoise

What it is: A pastry made of layers of whipped cream and hazelnut meringue.
Why it’s awesome: The contrast between the crunch of the meringue and the softness of the cream? It’s next level.

12. Nougat

What it is: A candy from Southern France made with honey, egg whites, and nuts.
Why it’s awesome: Variations of this specialty exist all around the Mediterranean Sea. The French version is soft and sweet — and might use pistachios, almonds, or hazelnuts.
13. Éclairs

What it is: A pastry made with pâte à choux (or light dough), filled with flavored custard and topped with glossy icing.
Why it’s awesome: There’s something for everyone: Along with traditional chocolate and coffee éclairs, you can now often find many flavors — like raspberry and pistachios — in French bakeries.
14. French Chocolate Cake

What it is: Chocolate cake. Enough said.
Why it’s awesome: Every French household has their own take on this classic. Three signs of a good one? Delicious chocolate, soft cake, and a crispy crust.
15. Crêpes Suzette

What it is: Crêpes flambé in a sauce that’s made of butter, caramel, orange, and Grand Marnier.
Why it’s awesome: Because who doesn’t love setting a dessert on ~fire~?
16. Kouign-Amann

What it is: A cake from the Brittany region made of sugar-crusted layers of dough and butter.
Why it’s awesome: Butter. Lots of it.
17. French Apple Pie

What it is: A longtime favorite that French grandmas swear by.
Why it’s awesome: Compared to its American counterpart, French apple pies are always thin-crusted, open-faced, and only have one layer of apple slices. They’re equal parts straightforward and super satisfying.
18. Paris-Brest

What it is: A cream puff sandwich stuffed with praline-flavored cream.
Why it’s awesome: I repeat: it’s a cream puff sandwich stuffed with praline-flavored cream.
19. Chocolate Pots de Crème

What it is: Chocolate cream often served with some Chantilly.
Why it’s awesome: It’s creamy AND it’s chocolatey — aka everything that’s good in this world.

EggNog Creme Brûlée Ingredients:

Ingredients

8 cups water

2/3 cup Best Eggnog

3/4 cup heavy cream

1/2 cup whole milk

1/8 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

5 large egg yolks

1/3 cup plus 1/4 cup granulated sugar

Instructions

1. Heat the oven to 300°F and arrange a rack in the middle. Bring the water to a simmer in a medium saucepan over high heat; keep at a simmer.

2. Combine the eggnog, cream, milk, and nutmeg in a medium saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Meanwhile, whisk together the egg yolks and 1/3 cup of the granulated sugar in a medium bowl until pale yellow and thick, about 3 minutes.

3. While whisking constantly, slowly pour the heated eggnog mixture into the yolks in a steady stream. Once combined, divide the mixture among 6 (4-ounce) ramekins and place in a 13-by-9-inch baking dish. Pour the hot water between the ramekins until it reaches two-thirds of the way up the sides (you may not need all of the water). Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and poke a few holes in it with a skewer or knife to allow steam to escape.

4. Bake until the centers of the custards are just set, about 30 to 35 minutes. Remove from the oven and transfer the custards to a wire rack to cool to room temperature, about 30 minutes. Cover the ramekins with plastic wrap and refrigerate until completely chilled, about 1 hour.

5. When ready to serve, heat the broiler to high and arrange a rack in the upper third. Place the custards on a baking sheet and sprinkle about 2 teaspoons of the remaining 1/4 cup sugar evenly over each. Place under the broiler until the sugar is caramelized and golden brown, about 1 to 2 minutes—watch carefully to avoid burning. (Alternatively, you can use a kitchen torch.) Serve immediately.

Recipe by Ray Lee