EPHIPHANY AND THE TRADITION OF THE GALETTE DES ROIS (KING'S CAKE)
After Christmas… comes Epiphany (January 6).
In France the galette des rois celebrating Epiphany, the day the Three Kings (les rois) visited the infant Jesus, is eaten throughout January.
Galette des Rois with fèves and crown
Galette des Rois with fèves and crown
People will make it themselves but prefer to go to the local bakery which will be overflowing with this King's cake.
Composed of two circles of puff pastry sandwiching a frangipani filling, each comes with a crown and always has a trinket, called a fève, or bean, baked into it. It’s an invitation to gather, as much party game as pastry – if your slice has the fève, you get the crown and the right to be king or queen for the day. This year our boulangerie made fèves to honour Olonzac’s award winning rugby team!
How to make a traditional Galette des Rois
Happily, the galette can be made to fit your schedule. The pastry circles can be cut, covered and refrigerated ahead of time as can the almond filling (it will keep for up to 3 days). And the whole construction can be made early in the day and baked when you’re ready for it. Tuck a bean or whole almond into the filling — warn your guests! — and, if there are children in the house, put them to work crafting a crown.
Click here for the recipe…