The 10 Most Opulent Pastries Ever Created

Move over, celebrity chefs! Pastry chefs are the new icons. With pastry cream and spun sugar at their fingertips, these cake-baking, dessert-creating artists are claiming their spot in the limelight! In honor of these fearless creators, we've curated a list of the most indulgent pastries ever imagined.

This list won't include basic vanilla cupcakes or chocolate chip cookies. No, these 10 desserts far surpass those familiar classics. Prepare to be amazed and experience a sugar rush as you journey through these decadent delights. Bon appétit!

10: Macaron

Macarons are currently experiencing a surge in popularity across the United States, but they have long been a staple of French patisseries. People often confuse them with macaroons, which are coconut-based and chewy, while macarons are crafted from egg whites (meringue), ground almonds, and sugar. These bite-sized delights are the perfect accompaniment to a mid-afternoon coffee or tea.

Macarons may look like tiny burgers, with two pieces of sweet meringue sandwiched around a creamy filling. Pastry chefs take full advantage of this treat's versatility by experimenting with a wide range of fillings, from rich chocolate ganache and tangy lemon to pistachio, fruit purée, and even daring options like foie gras or violet. Macarons give bakers the freedom to be truly inventive!

9: Profiterole

You might know profiteroles as cream puffs. These small, delightful treats are made from choux pastry, a light, airy dough that’s easy to make. Profiteroles are rich and decadent confections you can create at home. The choux pastry is split in half, with whipped or pastry cream filling the center. Sometimes, ice cream is used as a filling, and they are drizzled with warm chocolate sauce. Delicious! By the way, the term 'profiterole' comes from the word 'profit,' meaning 'to gain benefit from.' We totally agree with that!

8: Beignet

New Orleans is known for its diverse and flavorful food scene, but one of its most iconic indulgences is the beignet. These warm, fried pastries are similar to doughnuts, though much more than just that. Made from yeast dough, they're deep-fried and generously dusted with powdered sugar. Unlike doughnuts, they don't have a hole, which only means more beignet to savor! Café du Monde, a famous New Orleans coffee shop, is the go-to destination for a cup of chicory coffee and freshly made beignets. Tourists and locals alike frequent the café around the clock.

7: Éclair

Who doesn’t adore a chocolate éclair? Like the profiterole, an éclair is made with choux pastry. However, unlike the round profiterole, an éclair is elongated and slender. The hollow center is filled with either pastry cream or custard, then topped with a glossy layer of frosting, typically chocolate. Food historians aren’t entirely sure when éclairs were first created, but they believe it was between the late 1700s and early 1800s, likely by a French pastry chef catering to royalty. Truly, the éclair is a treat fit for a king.

6: Mille-feuille

'Mille-feuille,' meaning 'a thousand leaves' in French, is also known as the Napoleon pastry. This dessert is created from many layers of puff pastry alternated with whipped or pastry cream. The top is often finished with a glaze of white and brown chocolate that’s typically combed to create a decorative pattern. When preparing mille-feuilles, bakers often use long strips of pastry and then slice them into individual pieces. While traditionally sweet, savory versions filled with cheese or spinach also exist. But, we prefer the sweet ones!

5: Gulab jamun

A beloved treat in India, gulab jamun consists of small fried dough balls soaked in a fragrant sugar syrup. The dough is traditionally made with khoya, a thickened fresh milk, and occasionally includes flour to aid in shaping the balls. The syrup is infused with flavors like cardamom and rosewater, and sometimes features saffron or honey. Gulab jamun has roots in an Arabic dessert called Luqmat Al-Qadi and is commonly enjoyed during festivals and celebrations such as weddings.

4: Croissant aux Amandes

The croissant aux amandes, or almond croissant, is a quintessential French pastry. While regular croissants are already buttery and irresistible, croissants aux amandes elevate the experience. Filled with rich almond cream, these pastries are decadently indulgent. Originally, these were made by bakers to repurpose day-old croissants, which were filled with a luscious almond cream made of almond powder, sugar, and eggs, then topped with sliced almonds. Once baked, they become crispy on the edges, with the cream set in the center. Simply heavenly!

3: Cannoli

No authentic Italian bakery is complete without cannoli, a beloved staple of Italian cuisine. So ingrained in Italian culture, cannoli even make a memorable appearance in the iconic film *The Godfather*, with the famous line, "Leave the gun. Take the cannoli." Cannoli are crispy, tube-shaped shells of fried dough, filled to the brim with a smooth ricotta cheese filling. From chocolate-dipped shells to pistachio nuts, citrus peel, and candied cherries, there are endless creative variations of this delicious treat.

Did you know: The singular form of cannoli is cannolo. But let’s be honest, who could possibly stop at just one?

2: Opera Cake

Opera cakes are culinary masterpieces, just like their namesake performances, with several delicious layers of flavor and texture. Here’s what you can expect in an opera cake:

For the ultimate indulgence, each slice of opera cake is crowned with a delicate sheet of edible gold leaf. First created in the early 1900s and named in honor of the Paris Grand Opera, this dessert is truly a feast for the senses. We're sure this luxurious treat will have your taste buds singing with joy!

1: Croquembouche

When it comes to over-the-top desserts, nothing quite compares to a croquembouche. This towering pyramid of profiteroles—small puffs of choux pastry filled with creamy goodness—is held together with a crisp caramel coating. Often adorned with spun sugar, it’s the perfect blend of crunch and decadence. Originally a French wedding cake, the name 'croquembouche' comes from the French word for 'crack in the mouth,' referring to the crunch of the caramel. For extra indulgence, some people drizzle rich dark chocolate over the entire creation. Tradition has it that at weddings, the croquembouche is ceremoniously struck with a sword, with the pieces caught by bridesmaids using a tablecloth. Now that’s a celebration!

Have we sparked your appetite yet? If you want to learn more about the art of baking and explore even more delectable pastries, be sure to check out the delicious links on the next page.