Pastries & desserts

Île flottante

A soft meringue served on a pool of vanilla custard sauce.

Île flottante with custard, caramel and almond topping.
Île flottante with custard, caramel and almond topping.Photo: Arnaud 25CC0Îles flottantes

Say it: eel floh-TAHNT (approximate English pronunciation)

Île flottante places light meringue over crème anglaise, a pourable custard sauce. Caramel, nuts or another decoration may finish the dessert. The contrast is between the airy egg-white portion and the smooth sauce below it. Presentations vary, so a menu may describe a single island, several meringue pieces or a chef’s interpretation.

Names to look for on menus

ile flottante, iles flottantes, floating island, floating islands, oeufs a la neige

Find it in the US ↓

Where to try Île flottante

Places with matching items in our reviewed menus. Offerings can change; check with the business before visiting.

Search by city, state or ZIP. Leave blank to explore the US.

1 matching place across the US

You might also like

Crème brûléeMousse au chocolatTarte au citron meringuée
About this guide and further reading

Written by Eat French.Food. Reference check: 2026-10-12. Pronunciations are approximate guides for English speakers.