As you know, Aquitaine is a land of flavors: from Saint-Émilion to duck breast to foie-gras, the region boasts an almost complete menu of specialties. Got room for one more? Well, the pride of Gironde is a pastry: the famous canelés! Focus on this coveted delicacy and where to find the best in Bordeaux.
The canelé, a history of nuns
A cylindrical caramelized shell, a soft heart flavored with rum and vanilla, a copper mold? It’s the canelé!
They trace their origins back to the XVIᵉ century in the Annonciades convent. Here, the nuns would make “canelat“, rolled around a cane stalk and fried, to distribute to the poor or sell. After the Revolution, the recipe survived on a few Bordeaux tables before being taken over by professionals in the early XXᵉ century. Today, the canelé, recognizable by its characteristic fluting, has become a gourmet emblem of Bordeaux.
Other accounts mention “canaules“, breads made from flour and egg yolks prepared by artisans called canauliers in the XVIIᵉ century. What is certain is that the name “canelé” – spelled with a single N since 1985 by the Confrérie du Canelé de Bordeaux to assert its local identity – refers to the grooves that mark its typical shape.
Top addresses for delicious canelés
Baillardan and La Toque Cuivrée are still battling it out for top spot, making this the hottest derby in Gironde! In order to satisfy as many people as possible, the editors have chosen the most affordable canelé, but the choice is heartbreaking!
1. La Toque Cuivrée, the benchmark for canelé
La Toque Cuivrée’s name immediately sets the tone: the brand is synonymous with savoir-faire and tradition (according to the copper mold in which the delicious delicacy is fashioned). The strong point of this address is without doubt its price! In fact, Toque Cuivrée offers three versions: a bite at €0.40, a lunch at €0.50, and a large one at €0.70 (only!). It’s not the size that counts… all the more so as each of them has a crunchy shell and a pronounced vanilla taste that’s particularly regressive! A little extra convenience: their cannelés can be delivered within 24 hours! Why deprive yourself?
📍 41 place Gambetta (and all over Bordeaux)
2. Baillardran, the finesse of canelé
The reputation of Baillardran, with its conquering, battle-sounding name, is well established! The house also offers the Bordeaux specialty in three sizes (canelé, lunch, bouchée) and suggests three recipes: traditional, pure vanilla with organic vanilla from Madagascar (Mmmmh) and no rum, or with chocolate ganache for the more curious. La boîte rouge crafts all these samples in the purest tradition, with unrivalled expertise. This is without doubt the most sophisticated canelé. Presented in its red box, we like to enjoy it with our Place de la Comédie coffee. So chic!
📍 76 rue Sainte-Catherine (and all over Bordeaux)
3. Luc Dorin, the authenticity of canelé
The authenticity of this Bordeaux specialty stands out at the heart of a patisserie whose core business is chocolate. It has to be said that Luc Dorin, Grand Master of the Confrérie des canelés, has a lot of ideas up his sleeve. While making sure that the recipe is respected, the artisan confectioner adapts the little Bordeaux flan like no one else. Iced canelés, cream spreads… A new take on the famous canelé!
📍 149 rue Pasteur
4. Cassonade, the gourmet canelé
The Cassonade cannelé deserves its place in the ranking. Classic, Vanilla, Vegan, Sugar-free, Discovery, or the Gavé Cannelé spread… There’s something for everyone! The company’s core value? Eco-responsible production, using certified organic or natural ingredients, in molds made in Gironde, in the purest tradition. They’re also moving towards a zero-waste approach, offering their cannelés in reusable metal boxes. Crisp on the outside, melt-in-the-mouth on the inside. Who can beat that?
📍 53 Rue St-James
And you, which one makes you melt?