Galette Des Rois Recipe (2024)

Galette Des Rois Recipe (1)

Galette Des Rois Recipe (2)

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This Galette des Rois recipe is traditionally prepared in Northern France to celebrate Epiphany on 6th January. Two circles of flaky, buttery puff pastry enclose a layer of frangipane cream topped with slices of apple. Traditionally a broad bean 'lafève' is hidden inside the galette and the person who finds it becomes a king for the day but also has to buy or make the following year's galette. In the late 19th century the broad bean was replaced by porcelain figurines depicting the three wise men and other scenes from the Nativity and they are still very popular today.

Treat yourself to this Galette des Rois recipe as a last seasonal treat to take the edge off the New Year. Or enjoy it fresh from the oven with vanilla ice cream in the run up to Christmas. We've made the frangipane cream from a base of pastry cream mixed with pure almond paste. The frangipane is just sweet enough to balance the tart apples without making the dessert overly sweet. The beauty of this Galette des Rois recipe comes in the unique pastry decoration - using a small knife let your festive spirit go wild scoring stars, Christmas trees or any manner of Christmas pattern on the surface of the galette.

For the frangipane cream Serves: 8

  • 150g milk
  • 40g caster sugar
  • 15g corn flour
  • 1 egg yolk
  • 20g butter
  • 1 ½ tbsp almond paste
  • 1 tsp vanilla paste

For the apples

  • 250g green cooking apples
  • 2 tbsp caster sugar
  • A knob of butter

Assembling and baking

  • 2 x 20cm circles of puff pastry, homemade or bought
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • Small patisserie brush
  • Silicone pastry mat

For the frangipane cream

  1. Bring the milk and roughly ½ of the caster sugar to the boil in a pan.
  2. Meanwhile mix together the remaining caster sugar and the corn flour in a bowl using a whisk.
  3. Add the egg yolk to the sugar-cornflour mixture, and mix to combine.
  4. When the milk has come to the boil pour around 2 tablespoons of it over the egg mixture, whisking constantly.
  5. Pour the egg mixture in with the rest of the milk and return to the hob over a low flame, whisking constantly.
  6. When the mixture begins to thicken remove from the heat whilst continuing to stir constantly.
  7. Add the butter, almond paste and vanilla paste and mix until the butter has melted and the pastes have been combined.
  8. Pour into a flat dish covered in cling film. Cover with another layer of cling film and place in the freezer for 15 minutes to rapidly drop the temperature of the cream. Then transfer to the fridge until ready to use.

© Speciality Cooking Supplies Limited 2024

For the apples

  1. Peel and core the apples. Cut them into slices about 1cm thick.
  2. Heat the knob of butter in a pan. Cook the apple slices in the butter to soften them a little – they should still be firm as they will be cooked again in the oven.
  3. Off the heat place the apple slices on absorbent paper to remove any excess liquid. Then, in a bowl, sprinkle them with the caster sugar so they are all evenly coated.

© Speciality Cooking Supplies Limited 2024

Assembling and baking

  1. Preheat the oven to 210°C for a fan oven.
  2. Take the puff pastry circles out of the fridge and place on a silicone pastry mat. One circle will form the base and the other, the top.
  3. Use a patisserie brush to brush the edge of the base circle with beaten egg, to a thickness of 1 inch all the way round.
  4. Spoon the frangipane cream into a circle in the middle of the pastry base to within 2 inches of the edge of the pastry.
  5. Place the apple slices on top of the cream, arranged in a spiral.
  6. Now place the other pastry circle on top and press down lightly at the edges where you brushed the pastry with egg. Alternatively, if the pastry has become too sticky to handle easily, place it in the freezer for 10 minutes until you can pick up the second pastry circle without stretching it.
  7. Brush the top with egg. Using the blunt side of a small knife press down at intervals around the perimeter of the pastry to seal the two circles of pastry together.
  8. Use the sharp edge of the knife to score a pattern of your choosing on the top of the pastry. Be careful not to puncture the pastry as this will cause the filling to bubble out during cooking.
  9. Rest the galette for 15 minutes in the fridge. Then bake it for 10 minutes at 210°C before dropping the temperature to 180°C for a further 25-35 minutes until the pastry is nicely brown but not burnt.
  10. Serve warm with a drizzle of double cream or a spoonful of vanilla ice cream.

© Speciality Cooking Supplies Limited 2024

Galette Des Rois Recipe (3)

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Galette Des Rois Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What do French people do to avoid cheating when serving the galette des rois? ›

Tradition dictates that when serving galette des rois, the entire cake should be divided such that each family member or guest receives a slice. During the slicing, the youngest hides underneath the table to call out the name of a person to receive each slice in turn so the server can't be accused of playing favorites!

What is inside the galette des rois? ›

The galette des rois is a cake traditionally shared at Epiphany, on 6 January. It celebrates the arrival of the Three Wise Men in Bethlehem. Composed of a puff pastry cake, with a small charm, the fève, hidden inside, it is usually filled with frangipane, a cream made from sweet almonds, butter, eggs and sugar.

What is the trinket hidden inside the galette des rois? ›

Whoever comes upon the feve – a token or figurine hidden in the frangipane filling – is proclaimed the king or queen of the feast, and crowned with a cardboard diadem that comes with each cake.

What is the hidden bean in the galette des rois? ›

The “king” is represented by the fève, once a fava bean, now a porcelain or plastic figurine, hidden inside the cake. The person who discovers the fève in their serving is declared le roi (the king) or la reine (the queen) and gets to wear the golden paper couronne (crown) that comes with cake.

What do the French drink while eating the galette des rois? ›

The favoured drink to accompany the Galette are cider, champagne or anything sparking.

What is bad French etiquette? ›

during à meal starting To eat before everyone is served. having your hands under the table. leaving the table before the end of the meal especially To go To the toilets. asking people how much they earn. as a guest coming to the hosts' place empty-handed.

What is a fun fact about Galette des Rois? ›

Fun Facts. The French president is not allowed to play the “Galette des Rois” game. A giant 1.2m galette is prepared for the Elysée each year but the pastry chef is not allowed to bake a fève into it. This is because it's considered inappropriate for a king to be crowned in the presidential palace.

What is the English name for Galette des Rois? ›

This also explains the name of the dessert that's eaten on this day, the galette des rois, which translates to “kings' cake”. It's similar to the king cake served in New Orleans in the U.S., a nod to the state's French influence; but in France it's not multi-colored, and it's only served on or around Epiphany.

What does the fève mean in Galette des Rois? ›

Whoever finds the charm hidden in the cake becomes the King or the Queen and names his Queen or her King. The galettes des rois most often comes with a paper crown worn by “the majesty” all day! The little charm is called “la fève” which means bean.

When a galette des rois is being served Why is the youngest person supposed to go under the table? ›

To ensure a random distribution of the pieces, the youngest person is to place themselves under the table and name the recipient of each piece as they are cut. When store-bought, the fève can be a tiny porcelain figurine of a religious character or, nowadays, a figurine referencing pop-culture or popular cartoons.

Why is it called galette des rois? ›

In France, the tradition of the Galette des Rois was introduced in the Middle Ages by the Benedictine monks, who celebrated the holiday of Epiphany in honor of the visit of the Magi to the infant Jesus. They prepared a special pastry called the “cake of kings” or “Galette des Rois” for the occasion.

What to serve with galette des rois? ›

Opt for a lively and young wine, based on Chardonnay, or a sparkling wine like the Crémant d'Alsace or the Crémant de Bourgogne. Dry or semi-dry white champagne will also bring freshness and lightness to your tasting.

Are there different types of Galette des Rois? ›

We can find 2 types of galette des rois : puffed pastry generally filled with almond paste. or a brioche with candied fruits.

What is the difference between king cake and galette de Rois? ›

The confusion between the American king cake and the French galette des rois can be attributed to New Orleans' French history. French galette des rois does translate to king (flat) cake and may have been the inspiration for American king cake, but it's only one version of the celebratory pastry (via Gourmandise).

How is La galette de Roi different from Louisiana king cake? ›

While the traditional Galette des Rois is more simple in design with the puff pastry as the star as the show, the Mardi Gras King Cake is covered in icing and Mardi Gras-colored sugar. That's right — the purple, green, and gold are the official colors of Mardi Gras, and for good reason.

How do French people celebrate La Fete des Rois? ›

The celebration “La Fête des Rois” (Three Kings Day) is a tradition in France that is celebrated on the Sunday after New Years and includes a king and a special cake. Each year, pastry shops throughout France are teeming with the unique and tasty galette des rois, a flat pastry about the size of a pizza.

What happens when someone finds the fève in their piece of the galette? ›

The person who finds the fève while eating their slice of galette then becomes the king or queen for the day.

Who typically distributes the pieces of the galette des rois to the guests? ›

Traditionally, the oldest person cuts the galette in as many pieces as there are guests, plus one. This slice is for the 'poor', or stranger who might happen to stop by (also called God and the Virgin's share). The youngest, (usually a child) would go under the table.

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