![close up view of a Galette des Rois garnished with powdered sugar on a baking sheet](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.allrecipes.com/thmb/L5LZxNy3RlFhqsRLg60b3AJkCwU=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/9009772-galette-des-rois-Mary-V-4x3-1-5e8feadd16934022937b40ac035b0e45.jpg)
This frangipane-filled galette des rois is traditionally enjoyed in January, but you can make it whenever you’re craving a sweet treat.
What Is a Galette des Rois?
A galette des rois is a French cake that consists of frangipane sandwiched between two puff pastry circles. It is baked in January to celebrate Epiphany, which is the day the Three Kings (les rois) visited Jesus. A galette des rois traditionally has a “fève” baked into it -– this can be a trinket (often a small baby figurine) or a bean.
Often, a paper crown is used to decorate the dessert and whoever finds the fève gets to wear the crown.
How to Make Galette des Rois
You'll find a detailed ingredient list and step-by-step instructions in the recipe below, but let's go over the basics:
Galette des Rois Ingredients
These are the ingredients you’ll need to make galette des rois at home:
- Almond paste: Use store-bought or homemade almond paste.
- Sugars: You’ll need white sugar for the frangipane and confectioners’ sugar to dust over the finished galette des rois.
- Butter: Butter lends richness and moisture.
- Eggs: One egg goes into the frangipane, while the other one serves as an egg wash.
- Extracts: You’ll need both vanilla extract and almond extract.
- Flour: All-purpose flour thickens the filling.
- Salt: A pinch of salt enhances the overall flavor.
- Puff pastry: Use store-bought or homemade puff pastry.
- Kidney bean: A dried kidney bean is the fève in this galette de rois, but you can use whatever trinket you like!
Safety Tip
Don’t forget to warn your guests of the fève!
How Do You Make Galette des Rois?
Here’s a brief overview of what you can expect when you make this homemade galette des rois:
- Make the frangipane filling.
- Roll both pastry sheets out, cut into circles, and freeze.
- Mound the frangipane onto one pastry circle and press the bean into the filling.
- Place the other pastry on top, seal the edges, and brush the egg wash over the galette.
- Make a crisscross pattern in the egg wash, then prick several small slits in the top.
- Bake for 15 minutes, dust with confectioners’ sugar, and keep baking until golden brown.
How to Store Galette des Rois
While galette des rois is best eaten the day it’s made, you can store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three day or freeze them for up to three months.
Allrecipes Community Tips and Praise
“This was an amazing recipe,” raves evacosgrove. “I used canned almond filling and omitted the sugar. Super easy and wonderful. Brought me right back to sitting around the table with my friend's French host family.”
“Simply outstanding,” according to DLD. “I served this warm, although I bet it would taste just as delicious cold. The filling blended so nicely with the puff pastry. It truly melted with each bite.”
“I live in New Orleans and this surpasses expectations! I make mine in the shape of the square pastry dough so that none of it goes to waste, and then I stick a plastic baby in the bottom after it is out of the oven,” says htiz. “Delicious!”
Editorial contributions by Corey Williams
Ingredients
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¼ cup almond paste
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¼ cup white sugar
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3 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
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1 large egg
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¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
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¼ teaspoon almond extract
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2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
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1 pinch salt
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1 (17.25 ounce) package frozen puff pastry, thawed
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1 dry kidney bean
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1 egg, beaten
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1 tablespoon confectioners' sugar for dusting
Directions
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To make the frangipane filling: Place almond paste into a food processor or blender with about half of the sugar, and process until well blended. Add butter and remaining sugar and process until smooth; blend in 1 egg, vanilla extract, almond extract, flour and salt. Set aside.
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Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper; set aside.
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Roll out one sheet of puff pastry into an 11-inch square. Keep pastry cool, trying not to knead or stretch it. Use a large pie plate, cake pan, or skillet to trace an 11-inch circle onto the dough using the tip of a small knife. Place the circle of pastry onto the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with the second sheet of pastry; place on a plate. Refrigerate both sheets.
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Mound almond frangipane filling onto the center of the pastry that is on the baking sheet. Leave about 1 1/2 inch margin at the edges. Press the bean or fève down into the filling. Place the second sheet of pastry on top, and press down the edges to seal. Beat the remaining egg with a fork, and lightly brush onto the top of the galette. Use a knife to make a crisscross pattern in the egg wash, and then prick several small slits in the top to vent steam while baking.
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Bake for 15 minutes in the preheated oven. Do not open the oven until the time is up, as the pastry will not fully puff. Remove from the oven, and dust with confectioners' sugar. Return to the oven, and cook for an additional 12 to 15 minutes, or until the top is a deep golden brown. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.
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Lay a golden paper crown gently on top of the cake. This will be used to crown the person who finds the bean or fève. Serve warm or cold.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
229 | Calories |
15g | Fat |
20g | Carbs |
3g | Protein |
Nutrition Facts | |
---|---|
Servings Per Recipe 16 | |
Calories 229 | |
% Daily Value * | |
Total Fat 15g | 20% |
Saturated Fat 5g | 23% |
Cholesterol 29mg | 10% |
Sodium 85mg | 4% |
Total Carbohydrate 20g | 7% |
Dietary Fiber 1g | 3% |
Total Sugars 4g | |
Protein 3g | 7% |
Calcium 13mg | 1% |
Iron 1mg | 6% |
Potassium 40mg | 1% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.
(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.