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In France, people take pleasure in the simple things. Enjoying a cold drink in an outdoor seating area, taking a leisurely stroll through the city, and grabbing delicious pastries from the local bakery are all part of day-to-day life here. As American master’s degree students in Reims, we have a soft spot for the last-mentioned activity.
Whether we’re stopping in to buy breakfast in the morning or picking up an afternoon snack, a trip to the bakery is always a good idea! We’ve tried all sorts of French pastries, like pains aux raisins, chaussons aux pommes, chouquettes, and palmiers just to name a few. However, we each have our own go-to pastries that we love. Read on to find out more about our favorite French bakery treats!
Jalen’s Pick: Croissants
A croissant is a crescent-shaped pastry made of dough that has been laminated, or folded and flattened into several layers, interspersed by butter. These simple ingredients make for a light, fluffy-on-the-inside, flaky-on-the-outside treat. I also love how versatile croissants can be. They’re not too sweet to be relegated to the dessert category, and even come in varying shapes, sizes, and textures.
For me, croissants are inextricably linked to my favorite place in the world: France. Whether I’m enjoying a croissant with coworkers at the office, having one for breakfast in a French train station after an early arrival, or snacking on one in a park with my other half, the croissant represents camaraderie and following my dreams.
Maria’s Pick: Pains au chocolat
Pains au chocolat are made of the same tasty, laminated dough as croissants. They’re sweet, rectangular pastries with a bit of dark chocolate baked into the center. They can be eaten at any temperature, but a warm pain au chocolat is my preference! I love the flavor combination of buttery pastry dough and delectable dark chocolate.
I ate my first pain au chocolat in 2013 during my high school exchange trip to France, and they quickly became my go-to bakery order. My host family always made sure to have some in the house for me during my subsequent visits to France over the years. Nearly a decade later, pains au chocolat still remind me of the adventure and excitement I felt during my first-ever stay in France that led me to move here as an adult.
Easy access to mouth-watering pastries is just one of the many perks of studying in France, and we love that popping into French bakeries has become part of our routine. What’s your favorite French bakery treat?
