Galette des Rois

Above, la galette des rois, complete with paper crown.

This past Sunday was Epiphany Sunday. There is some religious connotation, but what is far more interesting is cake that is associated with it: la galette des rois (or king's cake), a puff pastry cake filled with frangipane.

La galette des rois forms one of my first experiences of France. I had arrived in France just after new year's for my first stay. My 'host mother' made her own galette - from scratch - with almond powder that she bought from the bakery and which she brought home in a small brown paper bag. Her 'secret' was that she added a few drops of fleur d'oranger (orange blossom water) to the frangipane.

The galette is meant to be a festive cake. Aside from its tastiness, the galette is a game. The baker inserts a broad bean (called a fève) into the frangipane before baking. When the galette is served, whoever receives the part with the broad bean then becomes King for a day. S/he gets to wear the crown ... and gets to treat everybody to the next galette. To be sure there is no cheating, the youngest person in the room gets underneath the table and shouts out who should receive the part that's just been cut. A nice history of the galette in France can be found here. Over the years, the broad bean has been replaced with porcelain and then, plastic, figurines. These figurines are still called fèves, and vary from boulangerie to boulangerie.

Our local boulangerie sells the traditional frangipane galette des rois, but also sells galette with local flavors: coconut, guava, banana (if I remember correctly), and chocolate. I really love the traditional galette, but wanted to take advantage and try a local flavor. I picked guava. Miracle of miracles, the puff pastry was still somewhat crispy, despite a full day of torrential rain.

Above, a slice of guava galette des rois.

The filling is actually composed of a thin layer of frangipane, topped with a thicker layer of guava. Unfortunately, the guava is a bit too sweet for me.

There isn't much excitement around who will get the fève. Either I will get it, or M. will get it. Either way, M. will buy the next galette des rois. The only question remaining is what sort of fève it will be. Stay tuned...