Simple French Desserts

By Jill O'Connor

Simple French Desserts
Scrumptious madeleines, plump macaroons, glistening tarts, and gorgeous gâteaux—what other sweet treats have the je ne sais quoi of French desserts? Now you don't have to stroll along the Seine to sample the delights of a French pastry shop. Presenting step-by-step instructions and easy-to-master techniques, Simple French Desserts makes gourmet baking more fun and accessible than ever before.

Join author Jill O'Connor on an enchanting journey through Paris, revealing the secrets to foolproof meringue or picture-perfect profiteroles. Proust himself might have been inspired in a whole new way by O'Connor's Chocolate-Hazelnut Madeleines. and surely Colette would have adored nibbling a crisp Pistachio-Orange Sablé or dipping a moist almond Financier into her evening tisane.

Whether you're whipping up a mound of Crème Chantilly or turning a basket of ripe strawberries into a luscious Strawberry Macaroon Tart, Simple French Desserts will show you just how easy it is to make tempting and sophisticated confections that are sure to impress.

About the Author

Jill O'Connor is the former pastry chef at the Golden Door Fitness Spa in southern California. She is a graduate of the Cordon Bleu Cooking School in London and studied at the International Pastry Arts Center in New York. Her previous cookbooks include Phyllo and Sweet Nothings, both published by Chronicle Books.

Richard Eskite is a San Francisco-based photographer whose work has been featured in numerous magazines, including Bon Appétit and San Francisco.

Buy the Book!

Simple French Desserts
By Jill O'Connor
Chronicle Books
Paperback, $16.95
Color photographs throughout
ISBN: 0-8118-1903-5
Information provided by the publisher.