There is an old saying in French and other European languages that says: “petit-déjeuner comme un roi, déjeuner comme un prince et dîner comme un mendiant“. That would be: “Have breakfast like a king, have lunch like a prince, and have dinner like a pauper”. What could be better than starting the day with a copious breakfast that will allow you to choose between many sweet little snacks and give yourself a moment of pause? There’s not much better. Luckily, I’ve prepared a delicious table of French Country breakfast for you today!
The History of Breakfast
Today many people rule their diet following this philosophy: making breakfast one of the big meals of the day. But it was not always like this.
In the past, it was common for people to have only two meals during the day: the first and biggest meal of the day before noon and the other one in the evening. This could be preceded by a light breakfast just after sunrise, before heading to the hard work on the fields.
It wasn’t until industrialization followed by the mass schooling of children, between the 19th century and early to mid-20th century, that many people began to adopt the ritual of eating one of the biggest meals before leaving home, and breakfast became one of the main three meals in Western food culture.
Fast forward to our current days, there are definitely a lot of people who consider breakfast as the main meal of the day. Breakfast is the fuel that many people use to face the first hours with energy.
Of course, it’s not a universal choice; even more now with the spread of dieting options like intermittent fasting, there are some groups of people here and there that avoid taking any food in the morning.
But I’m going to assume it’s not your case, hopefully not! Because I’ve prepared a delicious and traditional French Country breakfast recipe for you today. I suggest you take advantage of this little meal to treat yourself.
What To Include in Your Traditional French Breakfast
The typical French breakfast has varied over the last centuries.
An authentic French country breakfast used to be based on heavy savory dishes, such as soup or stew, and different kinds of sausages and cheeses. And of course, accompanied by a glass of wine! It was almost like a little lunch.
However, the dietary philosophy of recent decades has tipped the balance of breakfast towards the sweet version. But there are some elements that the French keep as non-negotiable in their breakfast.
The non-negotiables typical French breakfast foods are:
1. Beverages
Your table should include two types of beverages. First a cold one, like freshly squeezed orange juice, without added sugars. If you can’t find seasonal oranges you can also make an apple or grapefruit juice.
Then you should follow up with a hot beverage, such as hot chocolate, tea, or a cup of coffee, with or without milk. Coffee came to France at the hands of King Louis XVI, who imported it from Turkey, and it is definitely the favorite choice of the French today, who consume an average of 2 cups per day according to statistics.
2. Fruit
In France, there’s a large variety of fruit that is grown locally and adapted to each season. A traditional French country petit-déjeuner, especially those prepared during spring and summer, will include a plate with a little bit of seasonal fresh fruit, cut and ready to eat. Fruit provides us with many vitamins, minerals, and fiber. For most people, it’s a shot of energy that feels very easy to digest and that makes them feel light.
For today’s French country breakfast, I have chosen spring-summer fruits from Southern Western Europe, such as plums and medlars.
But if you are not in Southern Western Europe you can choose the local fruits that you like best.
3. Les viennoiseries, Traditional French Pastries
Another non-negotiable for a typical breakfast in French cuisine is pastries.
Copious breakfasts are not only for special occasions, but since it takes time to enjoy those many delicacies, it’s usual to have the most splendorous breakfasts during weekends.
On these occasions, the best part is when someone goes out to the bakery and brings freshly baked warm croissants, chocolate croissants, or other pastries. If you are lucky there will also be a nice homemade cake on your table! And guess what? Today you will be lucky because I will share with you my recipe for a very soft and tasty lemon breakfast cake!
4. Bread and Butter, the Hero
If there’s something you’ll always find on a French breakfast table is bread. And I would dare to say it will never come alone – whether it is with cheese for savory meals and desserts, or with butter for sweet breakfasts and snacks. Our main non-negotiable for a French country breakfast is some slices of bread, preferably a crusty baguette, with some tartines (spreads), which will be mostly butter and local fruit jams.
French Pastries for Your French Country Breakfast Recipe
French pastries are a very popular option that can be found in any bakery around France since early in the morning. Go out and find your treasures in a local bakery… or bake your own! From crispy and flaky croissants to pain au chocolat, a kind of chocolate croissant with wrapped dark chocolate bars.
Have you heard about pain aux raisins or brioche au raisins? How about a brioche with chocolate chips? There are also savoury pastry options such as croque madame, croque monsieur or quiche.
For a homemade option, you can’t go wrong with a fluffy cake. And guess what, I’m sharing my delicious breakfast lemon cake recipe with you! It comes with a crunchy irresistible topping.
Hungry? Get ready, it’s French country breakfast recipe time!
French Country Breakfast Lemon Cake Recipe
Ingredients
For the cake
- 4 eggs
- 6 oz yogurt unsweetened
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- zest of 1 lemon
- juice of 1 lemon
- 1 teaspoon lemon extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- Butter to grease the mold
For the topping
- 1/4 cup butter cold
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon lemon extract
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
For the crumbly topping
- Place all the ingredients except butter in a food processor and pulse to combine.
- Cut cold butter and throw it inside the food processor. Pulse again for a few seconds.
For the cake
- Preheat oven to 350F.
- In a large bowl, beat the eggs and the sugar together until creamy and fluffy.
- Add in oil and, once integrated, pour in yogurt, lemon zest and lemon juice.
- Sift in flour and baking powder.
- Mix gently for a few seconds until there are no lumps.
- Grease a 9×5 inch loaf pan with butter and pour in the batter.
- Gently top with the crumbly topping.
- Bake for 35-40 minutes until the cake is tall and cooked inside. Remember to not open the open until it has completely leavened.
Serve this French country breakfast recipe on a beautiful tray and your delicious meal is complete. Want another hosting meal idea that your guests will love? Up Next: Upgrade Your Hosting Game With This Charcuterie Board With Honeycomb Recipe
