Let’s make easy Galette des Rois! This tarte-like treat is the most popular pastry in France for the celebration of Epiphany on January 6th. Bakeries often start stocking their shelves with the delicious ‘King’s Cake’ in late December in anticipation of the celebrations. It’s beloved by many people, not least because the pastry hides a little treasure and the finder will become the king or queen of the night (yes, most French bakeries will give you a golden paper crown)!
What is Galette des Rois and what’s inside?
Galette des Rois is a French Pastry that you’ll find in all bakeries and patisseries from late December to early January. It’s a tarte-like dessert with a puff pastry crust and a frangipane filling. This is what gives it it’s flaky exterior, and soft, sweet and aromatic interior. Most importantly, a Galette des Rois hides a little treasure inside, the so-called ‘feve’ (usually a small ceramic figure). Whoever finds it in their slice will be the king or queen of the night and gets to wear the crown. If you make it at home, it’ll be easiest and safest to hide an almond inside your cake.
How to make Galette des Rois (easy)
Although bakeries may charge quite high prices (think 20-50 Euros per Galette), it’s quite easy to make on your own! Here are the key steps:
- Step 1: Poke the bottom puff pastry sheet with holes.
- Step 2: Make the easy frangipane filling with soft butter, almond flour, sugar, and eggs. Spread it on top of your dough and hide an almond inside.
- Step 3: Cover it with another puff pastry sheet. Use a knife to draw some shapes to make it look like the real deal! Brush it with an egg yolk.
- Step 4: Bake it for 40 minutes at 180C (350F). Cover it halfway through to avoid it getting too dark.
- Step 5 (optional): Prepare and brush it with a simple syrup made with icing sugar and water.
Can you eat this easy Galette cold or reheat it?
We recommend enjoying this easy Galette des Rois lightly warm as the crust will be flakier and the filling more flavourful. You can definitely reheat it by turning your oven to 180C (350F) and baking it for ~5 minutes.
Galette des Rois
Ingredients
- 2 round puff pastry sheets
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 'feve' (i.e. almond, to hide inside the cake)
Frangipane (filling)
- 75 g soft butter
- 100 g sugar
- 140 g almond flour
- 2 eggs
Syrup (optional)
- 3 tbsp icing sugar
- 3 tbsp water
Instructions
- Lay one sheet of puff pastry on a baking tray and poke some holes with a fork.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together soft butter, sugar, ground almonds and eggs.
- Spread the filling on top of your puff pastry dough to about 1 cm thick. (You may need to cut off excess dough; you want to keep a 1cm border around your filling.)
- Add an almond in the frangipane – this will later determine the king or queen of the night!
- Lay the second dough on top and trim it to the same size (if needed).
- Give the border and top of your galette your desired pattern, then brush it with egg yolk. (Note: do not brush the edges as it may prevent it from puffing up.)
- Bake your galette des rois for 40 minutes on 180C (350F). Cover it with aluminium foil halfway through.
- Syrup (optional): For extra shine and sweetness, we recommend making a simple syrup with icing sugar and water. Briefly heat it up over a stove or in the microwave and spread it over the galette when it comes out of the oven.
