Galette des Rois (King Cake)

Tammy Smith

Galette des Rois is a French puff pastry cake traditionally eaten during Epiphany in January. It is filled with frangipane — a mixture of ground almonds, butter, eggs, and sugar — and a small charm or dried bean is hidden inside before baking. Whoever finds the charm in their slice is crowned king or queen for the day.

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Prep Time 40

Cook Time 30

Total Time 1 10

Course Dessert

Cuisine French

Servings slices

Calories 594 kcal

Equipment

Rolling pin
Baking sheet
Mixing Bowl
Whisk
Pastry brush

Ingredients

Puff Pastry

2 sheets pre-made puff pastry keep chilled until use

Frangipane

½ cup unsalted butter softened
½ cup granulated sugar
1 cup almond flour finely ground
2 large eggs
½ tsp pure almond extract
1 small fève (small trinket) Or use a dried bean

Egg Wash

1 large egg beaten, for egg wash

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
On a lightly floured surface, roll out the puff pastry sheets. Cut one of the sheets into a circle approximately 9 inches in diameter. This will be the base. Set aside.
Cream the butter and sugar in a mixing bowl until light and fluffy. Add in the almond flour, eggs, and almond extract, and mix until the frangipane becomes smooth.
Place the pastry circle on your prepared baking sheet. Spread the frangipane evenly over the base, leaving about a 1-inch border around the edges.
Hide the fève or trinket in the frangipane. Cover the filling with the second puff pastry sheet, pressing the edges gently together to seal.
Use a small sharp knife to score a delicate pattern on top of the pastry without cutting through, then brush with the beaten egg for a shiny finish.
Bake the Galette des Rois in the oven for 25-30 minutes, or until the pastry is puffed and golden brown.

Notes

To bring out the almond flavor, consider adding a small amount of Amaretto liqueur to the frangipane.
For those with nut allergies, replace almond flour with a custard-like filling.

Nutrition

Calories: 594kcalCarbohydrates: 43gProtein: 10gFat: 44gSaturated Fat: 14gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 17gTrans Fat: 0.5gCholesterol: 100mgSodium: 181mgPotassium: 67mgFiber: 2gSugar: 14gVitamin A: 456IUCalcium: 50mgIron: 2mg

Keyword French Dessert, Galette des Rois, King Cake

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