Easy Ways to Enjoy a Classic French Breakfast

A classic French breakfast consists of some type of French bread product, with a selection of different jams, honey and butter, along with a hot beverage, such as coffee or tea. Breakfast is called “le petit-déjeuner” in France.

I still remember the smell of breakfast at my grandparent’s house. Every summer, the smell of toasting bread, and café au lait would lure me downstairs. I would find my grandparents sitting quietly at the table, wrapped up in their robes and pantoufles, enjoying a leisurely breakfast.

Breakfast was always big. My grandmother was a small person. But, she ate a big breakfast, even by US standards. Half of a baguette, toasted, with a bowl (yes, a bowl) of café au lait.

The baguette was slathered in rich, creamy Président butter, and whatever jam they had on hand. My grandfather’s favorite was marmalade, and my grandmother’s, Reine Claude. She would prepare her baguette, and then dip it into her café au lait, eating it slowly, until it was all gone.

They would sit some more and discuss their plans for the day, sometimes staying at the table for an hour, before getting up to start the day.

I loved breakfast at their house.

Here, I am sharing these easy tips for recreating a classic French breakfast in your own home.

1. Set the table

I can hear you sigh as you read this. But, trust me, it takes less than five minutes to set the table. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy.

Having a table setting is such a nice thing to do for yourself. It eliminates the clutter of having packages and bulky objects all over the place. You will have more room to relax and eat.

The rule of the thumb is to leave anything off the table that it is in its original packaging. Packaged things should be placed in nice looking dishes or ramekins.

I think the only exception to this is jarred jams. There are many jars that are decorative, and can be pleasing to the eye. Plus, its one less thing to do.

2. Slow Down

Take your time eating breakfast. One of the biggest takeaways from these lovely mornings with my grandparents, is that there was never a rush to finish. The French are known for this.

Even if this means that you get up a little earlier, you will be glad you did. Taking your time to really enjoy your meal, and wake up, sets the tone for your entire day. It also helps with digestion. Giving your body time to calibrate and digest is important.

I think that my grandparents did it right, and we can all benefit from slowing down, and enjoying a peaceful and delicious start to the day.

I think it also goes without saying….leave your phone in the other room. You don’t need it for breakfast, and it can only take away from the enjoyment of the experience.

3. Baguettes or Croissants

There is nothing more classic than a toasted baguette or fresh croissants for breakfast.

If you stay at any hotel in France that offers breakfast, you will likely receive a small baguette, a croissant, perhaps a chocolatine (pain au chocolat) and some coffee. They will also offer things like butter and jam on the side.

If you don’t have access to authentic baguettes or other French pastries, toasting some good, crusty bread will do the trick.

Just remember to get some high quality butter (I like Président or Kerrygold), and jam to put on it! I like Bonne Maman brand, or you can make your own.

4. Café au lait

Pick whatever coffee you prefer. But, the reason I recommend café au lait, is that it is a better choice if you are drinking a bowl of it. An entire bowl of an espresso, for example, would make you crazy! Adding milk to your coffee stretches it a little further, and gives you the volume that you need for dunking your crusty bread!

5. Utensils

Obviously, these things are optional. But, I find that they can really add to the breakfast experience.

• Jam spoons I love these, and have inherited several from my grandmother. They have long handles. So, it makes getting that last bit of jam out super easy.
• Toaster
  • We always used a toaster like this one to toast our baguettes! The slots are long and wide enough to accommodate a baguette. But, you can always use a toaster oven, if that is what you have on hand. Whichever way you toast your bread, these wooden tongs are a must have!
• French coffee bowl
  • The large size gives you plenty of room for dunking your toasted baguette or croissant!
• Butter spreaderI love these olive wood butter knives. We use these in our house daily, and they are just like the ones my grandparents used.

Reasons You Should Create a Classic French Breakfast At Home

The smell alone will transport you to a quaint café somewhere along a cobblestone street, where you can hear the chatter of locals greeting each other as they start their day.

Taking the time to curate a classic French breakfast can really affect how the rest of your day goes.

À bientôt!