I need a fix! I’ve been home from Paris for 2 weeks and cannot stop fixating over Ladurée macarons. My favorite Parisian treat has sparked an addiction.

Sweet confectionery heaven is how I would describe the world’s most decadent sweet, perfected by Ladurée Paris. Ladurée’s macaroons are not the coconut version familiar to Americans, but two almond meringue cookies, flavored with vanilla, rose, coffee, strawberry, pistachio, chocolate, or another flavor, held together with butter cream.

These small, round cakes, crisp on the outside, smooth and soft in the middle, are made every morning in Ladurée’s “laboratory”. With each new season, Ladurée pays tribute to this its most famous creation by creating a new flavor such as coconut, praline and lemon cedrat.

In addition to the macarons were rows of colorful tartes and tempting butter-striped pastries. We cozied up to a table at Ladurée Royale (16, rue Royale) while warming up with a pot of café crème. As I reviewed the extensive menu of succulent sounding sweets I contemplated getting two desserts. Would that be so terrible?

Ispahan

After endless indecision, I settled on the Club Ladurée, which is one of the best sandwiches I’ve ever eaten (toasts, chicken, lettuce heart, hard-boiled egg, tomatoes, grilled bacon, mesclun salad, mayonnaise, served with Ladurée’s French fries) and an absolutely delicious Ispahan for dessert (rose flavored macaroon biscuit, rose petal cream, fresh raspberries and lychees). I was in heaven!

I fell head over heels in love with their collection of perfumed candles, housed within an attractive biscuit China pot and engraved in the various Ladurée emblematic colors. Amandine, the signature scent the flavor of a bitter almond, now sits perfectly perched on my desk as a reminder of sweet confectionery heaven.

Not wanting my Ladurée experience to end (there aren’t any locations in the U.S.), I purchased a personal stash of macarons to indulge in during the remainder of my trip, as well as three additional boxes for gifts.

The delicate, pastel packaging with a black-stenciled monogram is irresistible and makes for a wonderful keepsake reminder when you return home. And all I came home with was boxes because I consumed not one but four boxes of macarons. I will admit I did bring one box home to my husband, and we spent a relaxing evening catching up and indulging in France’s finest treat. But as for the gifts, they all ended up in my tummy.

www.laduree.fr