Pastries Recipes
Bakery-style pastries and viennoiserie—brioche buns, macarons, palmiers, and more—with make-ahead tips and pro finishing techniques.
Macarons with Coffee-Infused White Chocolate Ganache
Inspired by Lenôtre
75 min
Matcha Black Sesame Macarons (Inspired by Pierre Hermé)
Inspired by Pierre Hermé
140 min
Matcha Mousse Domes — Castella & Glossy Glaze
Sunday Baking adapted by JojoM
80 min
French Melon Pistachio Tart with Creamy Filling
Baptiste Fache adapted by JojoM
70 min
Elegant Mirabelle Plum Tart with Vanilla Ganache
Baptiste Fache adapted by JojoM
75 min
Mojito Macarons: Fresh Mint, Rum & White Chocolate
Nadège Nourian, adapted by JojoM
135 min
Opera Estragon — Pink Tarragon & Red Berry Opera
Arnaud Larher, adapted by JojoM
285 min
Othello Bites: Dark Choc Ganache Meringue Kisses
Sébastien Ordioni, adapted by JojoM
120 min
Intro
This collection spotlights pastries, viennoiserie, and French-inspired pâtisserie you can master at home—think enriched brioche buns, crisp palmiers, glossy macarons, and showy choux creations. You’ll find bakery results with home-kitchen workflow: overnight proofs, freezer-friendly doughs, and finishing tips for shine and snap. Whether you’re planning a brunch tray, afternoon tea, or a dessert table, use Quick Picks for crowd-pleasers, the Make-Ahead & Storage chart to time your bakes, and Compare Popular Options to choose recipes by time, skill level, and holding quality.
Quick Picks
- Bakery star: These Almond Cream Brioche Buns Taste Better Than a French Bakery
- Five-minute lamination: Palmiers à la Cannelle
- Classic macs: Pierre Hermé Lemon Macaron
- Crème brûlée twist: Creme Brulee Custard Pudding Brioche Buns ✨
- Café treat: Pecan Chocolate Tigres with Salted Caramel Filling
Make-Ahead & Storage
| Item | Fridge | Freezer | Reheat/Serve Tips |
|---|---|---|---|
| Almond Cream Brioche Buns | 2 days | 1–2 months (unbaked, shaped) | Proof overnight in fridge; bake from chilled, dust with icing sugar. |
| Cardamom Buns at Home | 2–3 days | 1–2 months (unbaked) | Freeze after shaping; glaze warm buns for sheen. |
| Palmiers à la Cannelle | 3–4 days airtight | 2 months (unbaked) | Bake from frozen at high heat; cool on rack for crispness. |
| Creme Brulee Custard Pudding Brioche ✨ | 2 days | Not ideal filled | Torch sugar just before serving for crackly top. |
| Pierre Hermé Lemon Macaron | 3–4 days (filled) | Shells 2 months | Mature 12–24 h; serve slightly cool for best texture. |
| Pecan Chocolate Tigres with Salted Caramel | 3–4 days | 2 months (unfilled) | Warm 10–15 sec to soften crumb; fill day of serving. |
Compare Popular Options
| Dish/Item | Time | Skill | Make-ahead | Best with / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Almond Cream Brioche Buns | 2 h+ (incl. proof) | Intermediate | ★★★★☆ | Crowd-pleaser; almond crunch + soft crumb. |
| Cardamom Buns | 2–2.5 h | Intermediate | ★★★★☆ | Overnight cold proof improves flavour. |
| Palmiers (Puff) | 30–40 min | Easy | ★★★★★ | Minimal hands-on; super freezer-friendly. |
| Lemon Macarons | 2–3 h | Advanced | ★★★★★ | Age filled shells; sharp curd balances sweetness. |
| Crème Brûlée Brioche | 2 h | Intermediate | ★★★☆☆ | Torch to order for caramel glass. |
| Pecan Chocolate Tigres | 50–70 min | Easy | ★★★★☆ | Moist almond-choc cakes; fill with salted caramel. |
Techniques That Matter
- Cold dough, hot oven: Keep laminated doughs chilled; bake at higher heat for lift and layers.
- Proof control: For enriched doughs, proof until just doubled; under- or over-proofing hurts oven spring.
- Macaron maturity: Dry shells to the touch before baking; fill and rest 12–24 h for perfect chew.
- Moisture barriers: Brush tart/shell bases with cocoa butter or chocolate to prevent sog.
- Shine & finish: Warm apricot nappage for fruit, light syrup for brioche, and precise torching for brûlée.
- Weigh, don’t guess: Pastry is ratios—use grams and an instant-read thermometer where noted.
Common Mistakes & Fixes
- Flat brioche → Butter too warm; keep dough cool and develop gluten fully.
- Soggy bottoms → Under-baked or unsealed layers; bake longer and cool on a rack.
- Hollow macarons → Oven too hot/short drying; lower temp and extend drying time.
- Leaking fillings → Cool curds/ganache fully; pipe a buttercream “dam” if needed.
- Chewy, not crisp palmiers → Sugar didn’t caramelise; bake on a hot tray and let cool uncovered.
Serving Ideas / Planner’s Notes
- Brunch board: 1 sweet + 1 spiced bun + 1 crisp pastry per person with fresh fruit.
- Textures matter: pair crisp palmiers with creamy elements (custard, yoghurt).
- Temperature: serve brioche slightly warm; macarons slightly cool; palmiers at room temp.
- Finishing touches: icing sugar, citrus zest, warm nappage, or a drizzle of salted caramel.
- Storage flow: bake-freeze in batches; refresh 3–5 min at 160–170 °C to revive.
Featured Links
For show-stoppers, try the elegant Choux Tart with Pecan Cream, Vanilla Ganache & Caramel. Love macarons? Rotate flavours with Macaron Infiniment Pistache or a floral twist in Macaron Infiniment Rose.