The Most Delicious Pastry, Ranked

Voting rules: Choose the pastry you think is the most delicious!

Updated on May 6, 2024 06:23

Choosing the right pastry can be a delightful yet complex decision when faced with a variety of options at a bakery. Everyone has their individual preferences and tastes that make certain pastries stand out more than others. This often leads to lively discussions and debates about which is the best. Having a reliable list where the top choices are ranked based on popular opinion can greatly assist in making an informed decision. This site provides an interactive opportunity for every visitor to vote for the pastries they believe should rise to the top. Each vote contributes to the dynamic nature of the ranking, ensuring that the list is always reflective of current tastes and preferences. Whether you are a fan of flaky, buttery textures or favor rich, creamy fillings, your input helps shape the ongoing rankings, offering guidance to future visitors and pastry enthusiasts.

What Is the Most Delicious Pastry?

1

45
votes
Croissant

Croissant is flaky, buttery, and perfect with a cup of coffee.
The croissant is a flaky, buttery pastry that originated in France. It is known for its crescent shape and soft, delicate layers. The croissant has a golden, crispy exterior, while the inside is light and airy. It offers a rich and buttery flavor that is both delicious and indulgent.

Shape: Crescent

Texture: Flaky and buttery

Color: Golden brown

Interior: Light and airy

Flavor: Rich and buttery
2

34
votes
Eclair

Eclair is a pastry filled with cream and topped with chocolate glaze.
The éclair is a delicate and mouthwatering pastry that originated in France. It is a long, elongated pastry filled with cream and topped with chocolate icing.

Shape: Long, elongated

Filling: Cream

Topping: Chocolate icing

Origin: France

Texture: Light and fluffy
3

20
votes
Baklava

Baklava is a sweet pastry made of layers of phyllo dough and honey syrup.
Baklava is a sweet and rich pastry made of layers of filo pastry filled with chopped nuts, sweetened with syrup or honey, and flavored with spices such as cinnamon and cloves. It is a popular dessert in various Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisines.

Ingredients: Layers of filo pastry, chopped nuts (often pistachios or walnuts), syrup or honey, spices (such as cinnamon and cloves)

Texture: Crunchy and crisp layers of filo pastry with a soft, moist filling

Flavor: A harmonious blend of sweetness from the syrup or honey and nuttiness from the chopped nuts, enhanced by the warm spices

Shape: Typically rectangular or diamond-shaped pieces

Size: Can vary in size, but individual pieces are usually small and bite-sized
4

22
votes
Cannoli

Cannoli is crispy pastry tubes filled with sweet ricotta cheese.
Cannoli is a traditional Italian pastry consisting of a crispy tube-shaped shell filled with a creamy and sweet ricotta cheese filling. It is often flavored with vanilla, cinnamon, or cocoa, and may also include ingredients such as nuts or candied fruit. The shell is typically made from a dough that is fried until golden and crispy. Cannoli are widely popular and enjoyed as a dessert or treat across the world.

Shape: Tube-shaped

Shell: Crispy and golden

Filling: Creamy and sweet ricotta cheese

Flavors: Vanilla, cinnamon, cocoa

Optional Ingredients: Nuts, candied fruit
5

15
votes
Macaron

Macaron is delicate, colorful almond cookies with a creamy filling.
The macaron is a delicate French pastry that consists of two almond meringue shells filled with a creamy ganache or buttercream filling. It has a smooth, crisp outer shell with a soft, chewy interior. Macarons come in a wide range of flavors and colors, offering a delightful experience for the taste buds and the eyes.

Origin: France

Ingredients: Almond flour, egg whites, sugar, and various flavorings for the filling

Texture: Smooth, crisp outer shell with a soft, chewy interior

Flavors: Wide range of flavors including vanilla, chocolate, coffee, pistachio, raspberry, and more

Colors: Vibrant assortment of colors
6

21
votes
Danish

Danish - light and flaky pastry filled with fruit or cream cheese.
Danish, also known as dansk, is a North Germanic language spoken mainly in Denmark. It is one of the official languages of Denmark, along with Faroese and Greenlandic. Danish has a melodic and rhythmic quality, making it often perceived as a melodic language. It features a moderate number of vowel sounds, including several diphthongs, and a complex system of consonants.

Classification: North Germanic language

Region: Denmark, Greenland, Faroe Islands

Speakers: Approximately 5.5 million native speakers

Writing System: Latin script (modified with additional letters)

Alphabet: 29 letters, including three additional letters: æ, ø, å
7

6
votes
Tiramisu

Tiramisu is a layered Italian dessert made of ladyfingers, coffee, and mascarpone cheese.
Tiramisu is a popular Italian dessert known for its rich and creamy taste. It is made with layers of ladyfingers soaked in espresso coffee, mascarpone cheese, and cocoa powder. The name 'Tiramisu' translates to 'pick me up' in Italian, referring to the dessert's ability to uplift your spirits.

Main Ingredients: Ladyfingers, espresso coffee, mascarpone cheese, cocoa powder

Layers: Typically consists of multiple layers of ladyfingers and mascarpone cheese mixture

Taste: Creamy, rich, and slightly sweet with a hint of bitterness from the coffee

Texture: Soft and creamy with a slight crunch from the ladyfingers

Preparation: No baking required, but assembling and refrigerating for a few hours is necessary
8

9
votes
Joe Hakim · CC BY 2.0

Pecan pie

Pecan pie is a classic American dessert made of a buttery crust and a sweet, nutty filling.
Pecan pie is a rich and irresistible pastry that combines a sweet and gooey filling with a flaky crust and crunchy pecans. The filling is made with a mixture of eggs, sugar, butter, corn syrup, and vanilla extract, which creates a caramel-like consistency when baked. The pie is generously topped with an arrangement of pecan halves, adding a nutty flavor and a pleasing texture. When baked to perfection, the pie is golden brown on the outside and has a soft yet firm filling. Pecan pie is often enjoyed during holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Crust: Flaky and buttery

Filling: Sweet, gooey, and caramel-like

Main ingredient: Pecans

Texture: Smooth filling with crunchy pecans

Flavor: Sweet, nutty, and slightly caramelized
Pecan pie in other rankings
- Position 3 of 10 in Most delicious pie
- Position 7 of 10 in Most popular food in Texas
- Position 9 of 10 in Most popular dessert in Wisconsin
9

6
votes
Profiterole

Profiterole - small, cream-filled pastries topped with chocolate sauce.
Profiterole is a delightful French pastry made from choux pastry dough, filled with a sweet and creamy filling, typically vanilla or chocolate pastry cream. The pastry is then usually glazed with a rich chocolate sauce and sometimes topped with powdered sugar or caramelized nuts. It is served chilled and is widely loved for its combination of crispy outer shell and soft, melt-in-your-mouth interior.

Type: Pastry

Primary ingredients: Choux pastry dough, pastry cream, chocolate

Texture: Crispy exterior, soft and creamy interior

Shape: Rounded, ball-shaped

Size: Usually small, bite-sized
10

4
votes
Kouign-amann

Kouign-amann is a Breton pastry made of layers of buttery dough and caramelized sugar.
Kouign-amann is a traditional Breton pastry from France that is known for its rich, buttery flavor and flaky texture. It consists of multiple layers of yeasted dough with generous amounts of butter and sugar folded in between. The pastry is then baked until golden brown, with the sugar caramelizing to create a deliciously sweet and slightly crunchy crust. Kouign-amann is often described as a cross between a croissant and a caramelized sugar tart.

Origin: Brittany, France

Flavor: Rich, buttery

Texture: Flaky, slightly crunchy

Layers: Multiple layers of dough

Butter: Generous amounts folded in between the dough layers

Missing your favorite pastry?

Graphs

Discussion

Ranking factors for delicious pastry

Flavor

The taste of the pastry should be well-balanced, not overly sweet or bland, and should offer a delicious combination of flavors. It may include notes of vanilla, chocolate, fruit, nuts, spices, or other flavorings that make the pastry unique and enjoyable.
Texture

A good pastry should have a pleasant texture that complements its flavor. This may include flakiness, softness, crunchiness, or creaminess, depending on the type of pastry. The texture should be consistent and not overly dense or dry.
Freshness

Freshly baked pastries are generally more delicious than stale ones. The ingredients should be fresh and of high quality, and the pastry should be consumed within a reasonable time frame to ensure the best flavor and texture.
Presentation

While presentation may not directly impact the taste of a pastry, it does contribute to the overall experience. A visually appealing pastry can make it more enjoyable to eat and may indicate the care and attention that went into making it.
Aroma

The smell of the pastry is an important factor in determining its deliciousness. A pastry with a mouth-watering aroma will be more inviting and enjoyable to eat.
Complexity of flavors

A pastry with complex flavors, offering different layers or bursts of flavor, can be more satisfying and delicious than one with a simple or single-note taste.
Moisture level

A good pastry should not be too dry, nor should it be overly soggy or wet. The moisture level should be just right to provide a pleasant mouthfeel and help the flavors meld together well.
Balance of sweetness

The sweetness of a pastry should be well-balanced, not overpowering the other flavors or being so subtle that it lacks sweetness altogether. A well-balanced pastry will bring out the best in all its ingredients.
Temperature

Serving the pastry at the appropriate temperature can enhance its flavor and texture. Some pastries taste best when served warm, while others are more enjoyable cold.

About this ranking

This is a community-based ranking of the most delicious pastry. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or pastry is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!

Statistics

1462 views
181 votes
10 ranked items

Voting Rules

A participant may cast an up or down vote for each pastry once every 24 hours. The rank of each pastry is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.

Trendings topics

Don't miss out on the currently trending topics of StrawPoll Rankings!

Food

More information on most delicious pastry

Pastries have been a beloved treat for centuries, with each culture developing their own unique versions. From flaky croissants to buttery danishes, there's no shortage of delicious options to choose from. The history of pastries dates back to ancient civilizations, where they were often used as a way to showcase wealth and status. Nowadays, pastries are enjoyed by people of all backgrounds and are a staple in bakeries and cafes around the world. So, what is the most delicious pastry? The answer is subjective and varies from person to person, but one thing is for sure - there's no shortage of mouth-watering options to choose from.