3 Chocolate Desserts You Can Only Have In Paris

Paris gets a lot of attention for being the City of Light, but not nearly enough for being the city of desserts. Or, better yet, the city of chocolate. The delightful cocoa concoction might not have been invented in Paris, but the French sure found a way to perfect it.

With an overwhelming amount of restaurants, shops, and boutique stores crafting an endless amount of signature sweets, deciding what to eat and what to skip can be a daunting but delicious task, especially when working with a limited amount of travel time. And although several books exclusively focus on Paris' chocolate scene, even those might border on information overload.

In the end, despite the fact that most foods can be easily exported nowadays, some types and brands are best consumed at their source — and a few can only be found locally. When in Paris, these are the three treats that are not to be missed.

Chocolate-Covered Marshmallows

Not only do the best chocolate-covered marshmallows come from Paris shops like Pierre Marcolini and Fouquet, but the treats need to be eaten before departing the city too. No, not due to quirky customs regulations, but because the changes in air pressure on planes can cause the marshmallow to inflate and deflate, which cracks and ruins the chocolate coating.

Chocolate Soufflé

If you want a soufflé — one of the most difficult dishes to properly execute — what better place to go than Paris, birthplace of the egg-based dessert and home to some of the best chefs in the world? For a chocolate-filled chocolate version infused with Grand Marnier, head to the aptly-named Le Soufflé.

Jean-Paul Hévin Hot Chocolate

Don't forget you can drink chocolate desserts too! Stop by legendary chocolatier Jean-Paul Hévin's hot chocolate bar (located upstairs in the rue Saint-Honoré boutique) for a one-of-a-kind treat made with pure grand cru chocolate, cocoa powder, and cream. After all, the best way to wash down the more than 20 signature chocolate pastry varieties offered is with more chocolate!