The Old-School French Dessert That's Sweet And Simple

Whether it's a flaky, buttery croissant, a soft, airy, sweet chocolate soufflé, or a creamy crème brûlée, French desserts are in a league of their own. The country has perfected the art of turning simple ingredients into elegant, extraordinary indulgences. And while the French have given us so many luxurious options, there are some desserts everyone should try at least once. One old-school treat that doesn't get much of a spotlight, but is equally deserving, is the Tarte Tropézienne. This cloud-like confection combines a soft traditional French brioche that's split and filled with a rich mixture of buttercream, vanilla, and pastry cream. The dessert is then finished with a dusting of pearl sugar.

Despite being a decadent French treat, Tarte Tropézienne is the creative genius of Polish immigrant Alexandre Micka. The pastry chef whipped it up after settling down in the French Riviera seaside community of Saint-Tropez. Micka received the basic recipe from his grandmother and adapted it to sell in his Saint-Tropez bakery in 1955. Brigitte Bardot also deserves credit for Tarte Tropezienne's fame. The late French model and actress starred in the movie "And God Created Woman," filmed in the community in 1956, and stumbled upon Micka's bakery. Delighted with the patisserie's sweets, Bardot asked the pastry chef to create a special treat for the film crew, and thus, two stars were born. Tarte Tropézienne, which Bardot named "la tarte de Saint-Tropez," went on to become as internationally popular as she was.

Simple, yet rich and creamy, this cake and pastry combo went from a Saint-Tropez seaside specialty to an internationally renowned sweet treat. Saint-Tropez was fairly unknown before Brigitte Bardot and Alexandre Micka's dessert put it on the map. By the '60s, it was the hotspot where the rich and famous escaped, vacationed, and enjoyed Tarte Tropézienne. Micka trademarked the name for his dessert in 1973 and renamed his bakery La Tarte Tropézienne. By 1985, Albert Dufrêne came along and expanded the business all over the South of France.

You can find Tarte Tropézienne in bakeries and French restaurants all over the world. While pastry chefs have recreated this delicious French dessert, just a handful of people from Micka's original team know the true recipe. Other versions have come out over the years, including recipes with fruit and nuts. You can buy a Tarte Tropézienne in New Jersey at the cake shop called Bon Vivant New York, Patisserie Vanessa in New York City, and the Monsieur Marcel Gourmet Market in Los Angeles. To make your own at home, start with this recipe for a classic French brioche and simple vanilla pastry cream.