Epiphany ends the Christmas season and begins Carnival. In Poland, January 6 is often a day of meetings with family and friends. The table includes homemade cold cuts and sometimes something sweet to end the holiday season.
In France, the tradition of Epiphany is associated with a special dessert that everyone waits for all year round. Galette des rois is not an ordinary cakebut an element of communal feasting. Its presence on the table has symbolic meaningand the method of serving is as important as the taste. This year you can serve such a dessert to your invited guests – they will surely be very impressed. Find out why.
Galette des rois is a classic, French, round cake prepared on the occasion of the Epiphany, or Epiphany. Most often, it consists of two layers of shortcrust or puff pastry with a layer between them – mass based on ground almonds, butter, eggs and sugar. There is always a little surprise hidden inside, called fève. Although it means beans or broad beans in French, the dessert comes with a small porcelain figurine. It is intended to indicate the king or queen of that day.
This tradition dates back to ancient Romewhen the monarch was chosen by lot during feasts. Two colors of broad beans were used – black and white. The person who found the white seed won. The custom survived in a changed form in Christian culture and over time it was combined with the celebration of Epiphany.
Interestingly, due to centuries-old tradition, the dessert must be served in a specific way. The youngest person in the house always hides under the table and decides who gets the next piece of cake, which allows for complete randomness. Everyone has exactly the same chance of getting the figure.
Ten, whoever receives the surprise piece becomes the king or queen of the day and wears a paper crown (it is even added by confectioners to purchased cakes). In many homes, receiving the title also means the obligation to bring a galette des rois or even organize a meeting the following year. The secret ingredient also heralds this person wealth and better times to come.
Although galette des rois is associated with the best French confectionery, You can also easily prepare it at home. This is a good way to surprise guests with something other than the classic cheesecake or poppy seed cake and introduce an element of fun together at the table. The recipe is not complicated, and the effect – a flaky, buttery cake with a creamy interior – is impressive. Be sure to remember to put a small porcelain surprise inside (you can also use a whole almond).
Ingredients:
- 2 sheets of puff pastry.
Filling:
- 80 g butter 82%,
- 85 g of powdered sugar (approx. 9 tablespoons),
- 70 g ground almonds,
- egg size L,
- a teaspoon of vanilla paste.
Additionally:
- yolk,
- a spoon of water,
- a whole almond or a small porcelain figurine.
How to do it:
1. Place the puff pastry sheets on the pastry board or oven tray.
2. Cut a circle with a diameter of 22 cm from one sheet and a slightly smaller circle from the other – 20 cm in diameter.
3. Mix the butter with powdered sugar until fluffy. Add ground almonds, add the egg and vanilla paste. Mix everything thoroughly until the ingredients combine into a velvety mass.
4. Place the prepared filling onto a smaller circle of puff pastry. Remember to leave an empty space around the edges – about 2 cm margin. Then lightly press an almond or figurine anywhere (except in the very center). Cover the whole thing with a larger circle of dough and glue the edges together.
5. Whisk the egg yolk and water in a bowl. Lightly score the top of the cake with a knife and spread it with the prepared mixture.
6. Put in the oven preheated to 200 degrees Celsius for 15 minutes, then reduce the temperature to 175 degrees Celsius and bake for another 20 minutes. Serve cooled.
Galette des rois is a simple dessert that provides a lot of fun for those gathered around the table on Epiphany. It is a carrier of tradition and, additionally, a delicious, buttery and almond flavor. It’s worth trying this French pastry at least once.
Source: Terazgotuje.pl, kontakter.pl
