Why French Women Don't ... Bake
French supermarket desserts are shockingly good. Next time you visit France, try one of my five faves. Plus, my "Coulis in Minutes" recipe.
It is with great trepidation that I admit that I adore factory-made French supermarket desserts. It’s nothing to be proud of, especially since I’m the author of a French cookbook and someone, who, in general, eschews industrial prefab food. Nevertheless, here’s my full confession—and the top five to enjoy next time you head that way.
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As I’ve mentioned before, in the many times I’ve dined in French homes over the years, I’ve never been offered a homemade dessert. Let’s be clear: I’ve had wonderful desserts in French homes—but usually they’ve come from a lovely patisserie down the street.
French cooks simply don’t have to bake unless they really want to. And even when they don’t want to splurge on something from a fancy pastry shop for guests, they can get terrific prefab supermarket desserts for everyday meals. No, really. They’re quite amazing.
Of course, French supermarket desserts aren’t as good as homemade; I’d never serve them to guests. And certainly, they’re nothing compared to what you can get at a French pâtisserie. But they are so much more ambitious than most U.S. supermarket desserts (drab, sickly-sweet puddings come to mind). I gleefully partake in some every time I stay in my go-to vacation rental in the South of France.
After 25 years of spending long stretches of the summer in France, I’ve come up with a list of five of my favorite French supermarket desserts. All are available from Carrefour, which has 960 supermarkets and 3,600-plus convenience stores in France. And if you’re not near a Carrefour, you’ll likely find similar products at any supermarket in France.
Try some—even if you’re not staying in an apartment, many are great picnic choices—and let me know what you think. Better yet, if I’ve missed a favorite (and you’re willing to admit that you sometimes indulge in supermarket desserts), let me know in the comments section. And thanks for the leads.
PS: Most are under 2€ per serving.
1. Carrefour Tartelette au Citron de Sicilie
This lemon tartlet is amazing! The crisp shortbread-like base has a buttery-brown sugar flavor. Above that comes two layers of pure lemony refreshment: The first is kind of like a creamy cheesecake (though not as heavy) and the top layer is more like a lemon curd.
Some may find these a little too tart for their tastes, but I love their zingy appeal after a heavy, meaty meal.
2. Nestlé La Laitière Petit Pot de Crème de Caramel
If someone told me I had to give up chocolate for the rest of my life, I’d be sad, but not inconsolable. Caramel, however, is another matter.
This dessert is a boon to bonafide caramel lovers. It’s rich, sweet, creamy, and rife with intense caramel flavor. As a bonus, it comes in charming glass pots, which I save and use as mis-en-place dishes when cooking. Hard to beat for less than a euro a serving.
3. Carrefour Panna Cotta with Coulis de Framboise
Panna cotta—that Italian-born eggless custard—does this neat trick that few desserts can do: It tastes indulgent, yet it doesn’t weigh you down. I love this one for the way the bright-berry zip of the raspberry coulis beautifully contrasts the intense creamy-vanilla flavor of the custard itself. PS: check out my shortcut recipe for coulis below.
4. Danone Gervita Fromage Blanc Nature Sous Mousse Fouettée (Fromage Blanc with Whipped Cream)
Fromage Blanc is a cream cheese with the soft consistency of sour cream or full-fat Greek yogurt. When sweetened with a little sugar, it’s a tangy and refreshing dessert that’s very popular in France.
This version goes a step further, with a little whipped cream on the top. Ready to go all the way? Drizzle it with honey and sprinkle it with toasted pine nuts, and you’ll have a dessert akin to Mel y Mató, a popular Catalan dessert.
5. Carrefour Mousse au Chocolate
I know I said I’d never serve these prefab desserts to guests, but if there were a way to get this mousse out of their unattractive plastic containers and into a pretty glass dish—without deflating the mousse—I just might try to sneak this one onto my table.
Alas, the less-than-gracious packaging is about the only thing I don’t like about this chocolate mousse: It’s super light in texture, but massive in dark chocolate flavor, meaning that it’s the quintessential dark-chocolate mousse. I also appreciate the sane serving size: It’s just enough to make you feel indulged, but not so much that you need to lay on the clic-clac and groan.
OK, mes amis! Your turn. Got any great leads on French prefab desserts? Go ahead and admit it…you’re among friends here!
Recipe: Coulis in Minutes
Well, as long as we’re talking about taking a shortcut now and then, I thought I’d share my “Coulis in Minutes.” It’s my easy recipe for that fresh, zingy, and tart fruit-based sauce that thoroughly elevates so many great desserts, from panna cotta to cheesecake, to a simple ice cream sundae. Check it out!
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That chocolate mousse! We could not believe how good it was. Quelle surprise!
I am WITH YOUUUUUU!! I would never THINK to buy store-brand desserts in the U.S. Here, all day every day. I will say, the French don't really know how to do a proper cookie. But everything else, they got! xx