The French do many things spectacularly, but pastries are one of the tours de force of this culturally- and culinary-rich country. From buttery flaky croissants to sweet cakey madeleines, it would be easy to eat these delectable treats with (or instead of) every meal while traveling in France. Since this is not the most nutritionally sound eating habit, there has to be a better way to get your fill of éclairs and macarons.

What if you could take the rich delicacies home with you (without problems in customs or your beignets going stale)?

While you may never be as good as the master French bakers, being able to reproduce canelés when you return home will not only impress your loved ones, but also take you right back to your fantastic Parisian vacation. During your stay in Paris, take a French pastry course to learn how to properly make your favorite pastry. If you are fluent in French and have the budget for it, you must take a pastry course at the Paris Lenôtre school. You will learn superb and high quality baking methods, and it is well worth the money. If you don’t speak French, ask around about Parisian schools that offer classes in English (try La Belle Ecole) a school of French Art de Vivre).