Bonjour, my fellow snack enthusiasts! Are you ready to infuse your snack time with a dash of French flair? Say au revoir to mundane munching and bon appétit to an array of delectable French treats available at pretty much all French grocery stores. What’s that, you say? You’re not in France?? No worries there… I’m sharing my favorite online French grocery store where you can buy French snacks and have them delivered directly to your doorstep in the U.S. Join me as I explore the tantalizing world of French snack foods, perfect for those moments when you crave a taste of France!
Best French snack foods
France is known for its highly esteemed French cuisine. Even if you love the world of gastronomy and dining at Michelin-starred restaurants, French snacks have their place as well. Sometimes you just want something sweet or salty to satisfy a craving and that’s where I come in.
Now before I get into my top snacks from France, let me stress that French people aren’t huge snackers in general. It’s not a big part of French culture. You’ll even see warnings at the bottom of French food advertisements that say “avoid snacking,” but of course you can still find snack food and people in France eat it. The French word that means “to snack” is grignoter, by the way.
You can grab a quick snack at the bakery if you’re into delicious treats like pain aux raisins, chaussons aux pommes, or even a croissant. French puff pastry is truly a work of art. Check out my behind the scenes at a French bakery series here where you’ll see how a croissant is made.
But sometimes, it’s not convenient to stop by the bakery and you want something else to eat. Packaged French snacks from the grocery store are also pretty common.
French snacking habits
So when do French people snack? Well, there are two main times when snacks in France are readily consumed. The first is called le goûter and is an afternoon snack that French kids traditionally have after they finish their school day. Goûter literally means “to taste” and this after-school snack is often a sweet one that’ll hold the kids over until dinner. Cookies, a pain au chocolat or other pastry, or even a sliced baguette with chocolate or Nutella are all perfect choices for this popular French snack time.
Sometimes French adults will also indulge in le goûter. This is really the only time of day the French regularly snack. They eat dinner late, so I can’t blame them! But of course, you’ll find French people who snack and don’t follow traditional food norms.
The other time you’ll see French people eating snack food is for apéro. It’s a French happy hour that’s all about unwinding and enjoying good company before the main meal. You’ll find nuts, pretzels, chips, and other easy-to-eat foods along with a plentiful selection of drinks. Some apéros are fancier than others and popular choices include crudités and other freshly prepared creations (it’s not all junk food and packaged stuff).
If you’re curious about what kinds of French snack food you can find at a French supermarket, you’ve come to the right place. I’ve broken down some of my top choices into a sweet and salty section, so whatever you’re craving, I’ve got you covered. They’re all packaged items that don’t require refrigeration (aside from the tapenade once opened) and can be found at pretty much any supermarket in France.
If your interest is piqued and you can’t wait to get your hands on some of these in the United States, let me (re)introduce you to myPanier. They’re your one-stop-shop for not only delicious snack items and other French grocery products but home and gift items imported from France too.
Alrighty, let’s get into some of the most popular French snacks!
P.S. With the holidays coming up, you can also find some amazing gifts from France like this olive oil gift set for the gourmet in your life. Check out my Francophile gift guide here with all kinds of French products and gift ideas from France.
7 Top tips for grocery shopping in France >>
Best sweet French snacks
There’s no shortage of snacks from France to quell your sweet tooth… at least until tomorrow. From cookies to chocolate to candy and more, have a look at some of the best sweet French snacks that’ll perk up your taste buds.
// Haribo Tagada Fraise Candy. If you’re craving something sweet, this is one of the most popular candy snacks in France. Everyone knows the brand Haribo and a few of these sugary strawberry candies will calm your sweet tooth. You can also go the sour gummy route. Made without artificial coloring.
// Mathez – French Chocolate Truffles. Mathez French Chocolate Truffles are smooth and creamy and exactly what you need for a chocolaty pick-me-up. Decadently dusted with cocoa powder, these are perfect for gift giving or for a self-indulgent moment of bliss.
// St. Michel Chocolate Chip Madeleines. Fresh madeleines from the bakery are always best, but these are the next best thing. The madeleines have chocolate chips giving the fluffy, buttery sponge cake some chocolate flair. Non-GMO.
// St. Michel Galette Butter Cookies. No one does butter cookies like France. The crunchy texture mixed with the classic French flavor of sweet French butter and Guerande sea salt is exactly what you need for your next craving. Non-GMO.
// BN Chocolate Cookies. Popular with the kiddos and adults alike, these winking chocolate sandwich cookies will soon become a favorite. They’re made with 100% French wheat and no added coloring or preservatives. I bet you can’t eat just one!
// Gavottes Crispy Chocolate Crepe Biscuits. Speaking of not being able to eat just one, these dainty wafer cookies have been a longtime favorite of mine. The dark chocolate covered ones are perfect if you’re a chocolate lover and they go great with tea. The original recipe dates back to 1893.
// Bonne Maman Raspberry Tart Cookies. You might be familiar with Bonne Maman because their jams are pretty well known, but in France, you’ll find the brand’s full product line including refrigerated desserts and an entire selection of delicious cookies as well. These raspberry tart cookies take on the flavors of a crunchy cookie and blend it with tangy fruit for a French snack you’ll keep coming back to… definitely buy two boxes.
Best salty French snacks
Whether you’re looking for a few apéro options or just want to nosh on a quick savory snack, here are my favorite salty French snack foods. From potato chips, to tapenade and more, there’s a flavor everyone out there will love.
// Brets Fromage Frais Potato Chips. For quality chips, look no further than Brets. This popular snack brand comes in a bunch of unique flavors you won’t find in the U.S. and the ridges give these chips the perfect crunch. The hint of herbs and chives combines well with their cheesy and creamy flavor.
// Belin Croustilles w/Emmental Cheese. These are the French equivalent of Cheetos, just not bright orange. These cheese puffs have the perfect blend of cheesy and salty and are a staple in my house.
// Michel & Augustin Petits Beurre Cookies. These savory gourmet cookies are delicious and made from quality ingredients that deliver on taste. Think quality French flour, butter, eggs from free-range hens and 100% PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) cheeses.
// Vico Curly Peanut-Flavored Puffs. While the French aren’t big consumers of peanut butter, peanut-flavored puffs are a different story. These are super popular and the crunchy peanut flavor will have you reaching for juuuuuust one more. Consider yourself warned! 😉
// NyonsOlive Tapenade Noir. Spread this creamy black olive tapenade on bread or a cracker and enjoy. The black olives are from Nyons, and the capers, anchovy paste and herbs come from of Provence. Nyons olives are awarded AOC (Appellation d’Origine Controlée), a French certification that ensures the ingredients, quality and origins of a product. For the full experience, pour yourself a glass of white wine to complement the briny notes of the tapenade.
// TUC Crackers. These are the Ritz crackers of France — just octagonal shaped. They’re golden brown in color, salted, and go great with savory spreads like the tapenade above.
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What are your favorite snacks from France? The next time you’re at a French grocery store, keep your eyes peeled for my top French snack foods. Or do the second best thing and shop at myPanier.
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Some Costcos in the US carry the St Michel butter cookies with salt. It’s where I fell in love with them. They used to come in a tall rectangular tin and then they changed to a cardboard tin. I was so excited when we got moved over to Pau, France to find them in the grocery stores!!
Love when fun items pop up on the shelves!!!
I love the Lays Nature. The texture is so different than what we have in the States and I really think they’re so much better! (Actually everything tastes better in France.)
I also love the Nutella biscuits. Yum.