Canelés

A canelé is a classic French pastry made from eggs, milk, and sugar. These little two-bite morsels encapsulate everything you want in a pastry: a crunchy caramelized crust gives way to a custardy interior, with a delicate balance of sweet and savory flavors.

Pastry enthusiasts who evangelize canelés will tell you that the real things are only available in some fairytale town tucked away in Bordeaux, where canelés originate, to which you most certainly cannot travel. And perhaps the elusive French baker who creates them also died long ago, again decreasing your chances of ever experiencing this French culinary treasure.

But at ChefSteps, part of our mission is to make the impossible possible. With this recipe and the proper copper molds, you can make canelés in your own kitchen, in less than an hour, that are worthy of selling at any patisserie in France. Nestle into your breakfast nook with a cup of espresso and a handful of canelés, and create your own little slice of Bordeaux.

Visit ChefSteps.com to learn how to make traditional rum-flavored canelés at home, plus tons of tips and tricks for different flavors, shapes, and sizes, troubleshooting, and other variations.