Praline roses from Lyon: sweet souvenirs to savour (2024)

Praline roses from Lyon: sweet souvenirs to savour (1)Sweet, sugar-coated, and spectacularly pink: pralines roses – tiny caramelised almonds – are a taste of childhood no matter what your age is.

Although the French capital of gastronomy may be known for its bouchons serving rich and meaty saucissons and quenelles, Lyon also has its fair share of sweet specialities.

Pralines are a popular sweet treat found across France, but Lyon’s fluorescent pink sugary shells immediately catch the eye of passers-by. Whilst pralines are popular in chocolate, the Lyonnais have found many ways to add a touch of colour to various recipes.

A dash of colour

Pink pralines are unique to Lyon, yet the story behind the sweet’s rosy pink colour remains a bit of a mystery. If you ask most people why the pralines here are pink, they’ll admit that they are just as clueless as you are. A simple shrugging of shoulders and a mutter about food colouring is usually the answer.

Praline roses from Lyon: sweet souvenirs to savour (2)

In the 18th century, a Lyonnais pastry chef was apparently inspired by the rose gardens in the Rhône region and tinted his pralines in a similar pink in his copper-mixing machine. This proved to be a hit with customers and the rose-coloured praline tart was born.

Whatever the true story, these delicious classics are a must try for any gourmand.

Praline roses from Lyon: sweet souvenirs to savour (3)Variations of this French specialty

These sugar-coated almonds form the core of many praline-based treats, which are the perfect mid-afternoon goûter or dessert for those with a sweet tooth.

Nearly all bouchons in Lyon will serve a tarte aux pralines for dessert. Crushed and cooked with cream, pralines add a nutty crunchiness to the irresistibly sweet and gooey filling that will keep your mouth glued shut until dinner time.

Another well-known praline-inspired speciality is the brioche aux pralines, which was made famous by baker Auguste Pralus in 1955, coining it as the ‘Praluline’. You may also see this called a brioche de Saint-Genix, which comes from Saint-Genix-sur-Guiers in the Rhône-Alpes region. Other combinations you may want to try are praline cake, biscotti, meringue, ice-cream and even praline chocolate mousse.

Where to go for the best praline in Lyon

Praline roses from Lyon: sweet souvenirs to savour (4)

Pralus
Visit this chocolatier to try the famous Praluline, a wonderfully buttery brioche filled with rose pralines. It is, unfortunately, not possible to manger sur place, so you’ll have to resist the temptation and savour your sweet indulgence chez vous.

Pralus
32, rue de Brest
69002 Lyon
Metro: Cordeliers Bourse

Boulangerie du Palais
After trying Pralus, this is the place to buy your brioches aux pralines. Popular amongst locals and visitors, this boulangerie often has a queue spilling out onto the cobbled streets of Vieux Lyon. Make sure to get there before late afternoon to avoid disappointment.

Boulangerie du Palais
8 rue du Palais de Justice
69005 Lyon
Metro: Vieux Lyon

À la Marquise
Located in Vieux Lyon’s main street Saint-Jean, this is a great pit stop for a mid-afternoon sugar-boost whilst sightseeing.

À la Marquise
37 rue Saint-Jean
69005 Lyon
Metro: Vieux Lyon
Praline roses from Lyon: sweet souvenirs to savour (5)

Boulangerie Jocteur
While you can enjoy artisan baguettes and many viennoises in one of the four salons de thé in Lyon, Boulangerie Jocteur is particularly known for its famous tarte aux pralines. Boulangerie Joncteur also has a tearoom in Paris.

Boulangerie Jocteur
Three locations around Lyon – see website

Bouchon des Filles
A delectable dessert is what makes a fantastic meal an exquisite one. The tarte aux pralines at Bouchon des filles will not leave you disappointed.

Bouchon des Filles
20 rue Sergent Blandan
69001 Lyon
Metro:Hôtel de Ville – Louis Pradel

Where would you go to satisfy your praline craving? We’d love to hear your thoughts!

Images 1 & 5 © Jill Henshaw; all others © Selina Sykes
Praline roses from Lyon: sweet souvenirs to savour (2024)

FAQs

Praline roses from Lyon: sweet souvenirs to savour? ›

Sweet, sugar-coated, and spectacularly pink: pralines roses – tiny caramelised almonds – are a taste of childhood no matter what your age is.

What is a Lyon praline? ›

The pink pralines are small french sweets made of an almond wrapped in baked sugar. Crushed into the dough, they give a nice pink colour and an unbelievable taste to the cookies.

Why is the praline red in Lyon? ›

Now as simple as this recipe is, the brilliance of the tart comes from the natural red food coloring from the candy almonds, and we don't make red candy almonds in the states!

What is a praline in France? ›

Pralines are a confection made with nuts (usually almonds or hazelnuts) that are coated in caramelized sugar. Although the exact origins of pralines are uncertain, they are believed to have originated in France in the early 17th century.

What is brioche praline in Lyon English? ›

An iconic dish in Lyon is brioche aux praline (bread with pralines in English)! This dessert bread is bright red because of the red pralines in it. In the United States, there are pralines, but only in Lyon are there red candy almonds, also called pralines, that they use to make brioche aux praline!

What local speciality is Lyon famous for? ›

Lyon's specialities
  • Pâté en croûte. This is a delicious combination of charcuterie and pastry, made with cooked pâté in shortcrust pastry. ...
  • Rosette de Lyon. This saucisson sec, 40 cm long or more, is one of Lyon's most iconic specialities. ...
  • Saucisson brioché ...
  • Quenelle Lyonnaise. ...
  • Tablier de sapeur. ...
  • Cervelle de canut.
Feb 8, 2024

What is the famous Lyon candy? ›

The coussin de Lyon is a sweet specialty of Lyon, France, composed of chocolate and marzipan and created by Voisin, a French chocolatier. The confection is a piece of pale green marzipan, with dark green stripe, filled with a chocolate ganache flavored with curaçao liqueur.

What is Lyon specialty dessert? ›

Tarte à la praliné

This praline cake is one of the specialties of Lyonnaise pastries. The cake base is covered with a layer of crushed pink sugar-coated almonds and syrup. It is mixed with cream and baked until the cake is crispy. A real delicacy for cake lovers.

What is the history of the praline rose? ›

In the 18th century, a Lyonnais pastry chef was apparently inspired by the rose gardens in the Rhône region and tinted his pralines in a similar pink in his copper-mixing machine. This proved to be a hit with customers and the rose-coloured praline tart was born.

What does praline stand for? ›

pra·​line ˈprä-ˌlēn ˈprā- ˈprȯ- : a confection of nuts and sugar: such as. a. : almonds cooked in boiling sugar until brown and crisp.

What is the dessert of France? ›

1. Crème brûlée. Crème brûlée is arguably the most well-known French dessert outside of France, a staple on menus from Paris to New York. Its popularity comes from its elegant simplicity - a rich, creamy custard capped with a brittle burnt sugar crust.

What's the difference between a praline and a praline? ›

Praliné is a nut-based paste used widely in pastry-making. It's not to be confused with praline, which is a candy coated with caramelized sugar.

What is another name for a praline? ›

Other terms for pralines include pecan pralines, pecan candy, plarines and pecan patties, to name a few. Modern day New Orleans pecan pralines are not very different than the ones made one hundred years ago. The common factors are dairy, sugar, and pecans.

What is the sweet bread in Lyon? ›

“Couronne means 'crown', named for its classic ring shape. This rich, sweet bread is a speciality of Lyon, and a traditional Christmas treat in France. Stuffed with fruit and nuts, it's similar to stollen in that it is yeast-risen, while its lightness is closer to that of panettone.

Do French people eat brioche for breakfast? ›

In France, brioche bread is mostly enjoyed for breakfast or as an afternoon snack. After school, French children often like to have a few squares of milk chocolate wrapped in a brioche roll and washed down with a glass of milk.

What does brioche mean in French slang? ›

The word Brioche has been used since the 15th century. It comes from the French verb “broyer” which means ” to break, to grind”, and which refers to the kneading of the dough.

What is a typical Lyon dessert? ›

Lyon's best desserts
  • Tarte à la praliné This praline cake is one of the specialties of Lyonnaise pastries. ...
  • Bugnes. Known in Spain as "Buñuelos de Carnaval" (carnival fritters), this is a traditional sweet, typical of this season, although they can be enjoyed throughout the year. ...
  • Choux. ...
  • Coussin.

What are the different types of pralines? ›

Although the earliest pralines have been around for centuries, today, there are three main different types that have developed through the ages: the French praline, the American praline, and the Belgian praline.

What is a praline made of? ›

What is a Praline? The praline is a southern tradition, commonly made with sugar, corn syrup, milk, butter, and pecan halves. It's a confection with a history as rich as its flavor. The praline's origins may date back as far as the early 17th century.

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