While these might not be the most critically renowned pastries- these were my 5 top favorite pastries that I’ve ever eaten! (And the ones you must try while in France!)

1. The Kouign-Amann

The Kouign-Amann is my favorite pastry of all time. They have the same flaky texture as a perfected croissant, except they swirl a bit and have more butter and sugar which carmelize around and through it while it bakes. It’s the perfect mixture between sweet and salty and literally melts in your mouth.

You’ll only find these in the Northwest region of France called Bretagne or Brittany, France. These specific ones we bought from a bakery in Rennes called “Bon Ap” and they are my favorite and some of the most affordable that I was able to find.

If you buy them in towns such as Rennes, or Vannes, or Saint Brieuc, they will be a lot cheaper than if you buy them in Quimper or Saint Malo. (But if you’re gonna get one from Saint Malo- the best ones are found in a shop called “Le Kouign Amann de Saint Malo.” (It’s literally French for “The Kouign Amann of Saint Malo.”

If you end up liking the Kouign-Amann as much as I do… you may find yourself buying this shirt.

2. The Coconut Merveilleux

The title of this pastry- le merveilleux- is also the French equivalent of the word “marvelous”- and that it truly is! They are usually found in the areas in and around Paris, and were originated in Belgium so you can also find them all over in the North of France. They are super sweet, so they are perfect for those with a sweet tooth- but maybe not so perfect for those who prefer that things be a bit more savory.

The Merveilleux pastries consist of layers of meringue and whipped cream, covered with whipped cream and shavings of some sort. Sometimes it is shavings of chocolate- and in this case it was shavings of coconut mixed with shavings of white chocolate. Let me tell you- this pastry is heavenly!

3. The Pistachio Roll

I am a sucker for anything pistachio-flavored. The Escargo de Pistache- or the pistachio roll is a pistachio-themed twist on the cinnamon roll. I got this one from the same bakery I mentioned earlier called “Bon Ap” in Rennes, France. I’m not sponsored by them but oh how I would love to be- it was one of my favorite bakeries in France. (Plus it was close to where I worked a lot so it made it easy to become addicted to the pastries there.)

4. The Pistachio Bar

Okay… maybe by now you can tell that I really like pistachio flavored pastries. Well, you got me there. Let’s just say that if I walk into a bakery or boulangerie and see that they have something with pistachios- that’s probably what I’ll be getting.

The texture of this bar was the best part, but the strong pistachio flavor was a huge bonus. The top and bottom were crunchy but the inside was creamy almost- seriously heavenly texture. This pastry was filled to the brim with pistachio butter and then baked into perfection. This specific one I got in a town called Compiegne that’s not too far outside of Paris, but you can find them in many bakeries inside of Paris.

5. The Kinder Bueno and Nutella Muffin Pastry

You can find these pastries anywhere near Paris- and this exact one I got from a bakery in Rennes, France. It’s a chain bakery that you can find all throughout France called La Mie Caline which translates to “The cuddly crumb” in English and was pretty good! If you do check out this bakery, however, I would reccomend against getting a chocolate croissant (Pain au Chocolat) because every time I have bought one from them it has been a bit dry. (In all locations.) If you do go, this muffin pastry is a great choice, though!

This muffin is flaky and filled with layers like a croissant, but is filled with nutella and topped with a delicious Kinder Beuno bar!

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Now you know what pastries to try when you are visiting France! I hope you like them as much as I did! If you try them, make sure to tag me on instagram at @mckennauncharted because I want to see how you like them!

Now bon appétit!

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