Galette des rois

Galette des Rois is a traditional French pastry that is typically consumed on the day of Epiphany, January 6th. The name translates to "King's Cake" in English, and it is a central part of the celebration of the Epiphany in France and other French-speaking countries.

History

The tradition of the Galette des Rois dates back to the Roman times, when it was a part of the celebration of the winter solstice. The cake was baked with a bean hidden inside, and the person who found the bean in their slice was declared "king" for the day. This tradition was later adopted by the Christian church and associated with the celebration of the Epiphany, the day when the three wise men visited the baby Jesus.

Preparation

The Galette des Rois is made from puff pastry and filled with frangipane, a cream made from sweet almonds, butter, eggs, and sugar. The cake is baked until the pastry is golden and flaky, and the frangipane is set. A small figurine, known as a fève, is hidden inside the cake. The person who finds the fève in their slice is declared the "king" or "queen" and gets to wear a paper crown.

Tradition

The Galette des Rois is traditionally cut into as many slices as there are people present, plus one. The extra slice, known as the "poor man's slice", is for the first poor person who comes to the house. The youngest person in the room goes under the table and decides who gets each slice, to ensure that the distribution is random and the selection of the "king" or "queen" is fair.

Variations

While the frangipane-filled puff pastry version is the most common, there are regional variations of the Galette des Rois across France. In the south of France, it is often a brioche cake decorated with candied fruit, in the style of a King Cake. In western France, the cake may be made with puff pastry and filled with apple.

See also

• King cake
• Epiphany
• French cuisine