Who could resist a Paris-Brest? Few sweet tooths would turn their noses up at this flagship pastry in the French gastronomic landscape. Estimated to have been created in 1909, it is generally attributed to pastry chef Louis Durand, in Maisons-Laffitte. However, depending on the source, other names include Monsieur Bauget, from the same town in 1891, or a pastry chef from Chartres named Gerbet.
If the name of theinventor of Paris-Brest remains uncertain, its meaning is not at all. You've probably even guessed it: this creation is a tribute to the famous bicycle race of the same name. In fact, it's not for nothing that all the pastry chefs involved in the claim to this pastry are on the Paris-Brest route.
The round shape of this pastry represents a cyclist's wheel. Traditionally, it's made from a choux pastry crowned with a praline mousseline cream and sprinkled with flaked almonds. More than a century later, the recipe continues to inspire pastry chefs, who enjoy revisiting it in ever more creative ways, to the delight of gourmets!
Where can you eat a good Paris-Brest in Paris? Our top picks
In Paris, the Paris-Brest tempts those with a sweet tooth with its praline cream and choux pastry. Whether traditional or revisited, this iconic dessert remains a staple in gourmet shop windows. Here are some great places to eat it! [Read more]
Where can you eat a good Paris-Brest in Paris? Our top picks
