Beginning in late December, pastry retailers in Paris begin leaping the gun, and home windows and showcases start filling up with Galettes des rois, or King Cake, in anticipation of the celebration of Epiphany, on January sixth.
As a result of it’s such a preferred deal with, and profitable for bakeries, the interval of availability appears to increase just a few extra days yearly and it’s commonplace for discover bakeries peddling them till the tip of the month of January. It’s laborious responsible them (and people of us who purchase them) as a result of they’re so good. Years in the past, I used to bake them after I labored in eating places, and so they’re referred to as Pithiviers, named for the city within the Loiret (south of Paris) the place they allegedly originated.
There are two sorts of King Muffins in France; one is layers of puff pastry crammed with almond cream, and the opposite is a round yeasted cake, extra widespread within the south of France, festooned with colourful, sticky candied fruit. Though those from the south look extra festive, there’s one thing interesting about munching on flaky, buttery puff pastry with a layer of crème d’amandes stuffed inside. (Some use almond cream enriched with a little bit of pastry cream, which is simpler in case you have a bakery, the place pastry cream is commonly available.) The advantage of making your individual is which you could dial up the almond filling. Plus yearly, along with extending the interval of availability, costs appear to nudge up and I’ve seen some jaw-dropping costs in bakery home windows.
Alternatively, some bakers get artistic and use hazelnut or pistachio flour as an alternative of almond, or fragrance their galettes with rose, candied kumquats, and even chocolate. Taking liberties with custom is a tough factor in France because it’s not all the time a good suggestion to mess with a superb factor, however it’s custom to bake a fève (bean) into the tart and whoever will get the bean (ideally a baby – and artful dad and mom have realized to chop across the items to verify a child will get the trinket!) will get to be the roi (king) for the day and put on a gilded paper crown that bakeries typically give with the galettes.
These days les fèves are available in all shapes, sizes, and supplies. Cartoon characters are widespread in France, as are French historic or spiritual figures. And upscale bakeries like Pierre Hermé, Ladurée, and Aoki, have annual fèves that change. Not solely is it enjoyable to see them, however some have turn out to be fairly collectible.
Elsewhere, it isn’t thought-about a clever concept (ie: hiding issues in baked items) that may be harmful to younger people if swallowed, so if you wish to be a part of the custom and add a fève, you need to be extra prudent and use a complete almond or a bit of dried fruit as an alternative. As a result of who doesn’t wish to be king for a day?
(Even these of us who don’t fully enclose all the filling!)
Galette des rois
When working with puff pastry, it’s vital to maintain it well-chilled and work shortly when rolling because it tends to get cussed because it warms up. Hold the second piece within the fridge till after you’ve rolled out the primary. After rolling, brush off any extra flour. And ensure to seal the perimeters rather well to keep away from the filling leaking out.
NOTE/UPDATE: Talking of leaking, yearly I get a message from somebody whose filling leaked out. It is essential to verify the perimeters are well-sealed. Use loads of water and do your finest to make sure that the filling may be very properly enclosed. I am unable to reply additional questions on that topic as that is the very best recommendation I can provide you.
Frozen puff pastry can typically be discovered within the freezer part of well-stocked supermarkets. Keep away from model that record fat aside from butter within the substances for finest outcomes. Should you don’t wish to use alcohol, merely omit it or use just a few drops of orange flower water as a substitute.
Just a few folks famous within the feedback that a number of the butter ran out of the tart throughout baking. Though I don’t do it, some recipes advise which you could add 2-3 teaspoons of cornstarch to the almond filling, which you’re welcome to do as additional insurance coverage.
Almond Filling
- 1 cup (100g) almond flour
- 1/2 cup (100g) sugar
- pinch salt
- zest of 1/2 orange, unsprayed
- 3 1/2 ounces (100g, 7 tablespoons)) unsalted butter, cubed, at room temperature
- 2 massive eggs, at room temperature
- 2 teaspoons rum
- 1/8 teaspoon almond extract
- 1 pound (450g) puff pastry, divided in two items, chilled
- a complete piece of almond or candied fruit to be the fève
Glaze
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 teaspoon milk
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To make the almond filling, in a medium bowl, or within the bowl of a stand mixer, mix the almond flour, sugar, salt, and orange zest. Mash within the butter till it’s fully integrated. Stir within the eggs one by one, together with the rum and almond extract. (The combination might not look fully clean, which is regular.) Cowl and chill.
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Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. On evenly floured floor, roll one piece of puff pastry right into a circle about 9 1/2-inches (23cm) spherical. Utilizing a pot lid, plate, or backside of springform pan as a template, trim the dough into neat circle. Place the dough on the baking sheet.
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Cowl it with a sheet of parchment paper or plastic movie, then roll the opposite piece of dough right into a circle, trim it, and lay it on high. Chill the dough for thirty minutes.
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Take away the dough and almond filling from the fridge. Slide the second circle of dough and parchment or plastic from pan so that there’s just one circle of dough on the parchment lined baking sheet. Unfold the almond filling over the middle of the dough, leaving a 1-inch (3cm) uncovered border. Place an almond or piece of candied fruit to behave because the fève (prize) someplace within the almond filling, if you want.
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Brush water generously across the uncovered perimeter of the dough then place the opposite circle of dough on high of the galette and press right down to seal the perimeters very properly. (At this level, it’s possible you’ll want to chill the galette because it’ll be a bit simpler to complete and enhance, though it’s not mandatory. It may be refrigerated in a single day at this level, if you want.)
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To bake the galette, preheat the oven to 375ºF (180ºC.) Flute the perimeters of the dough (as proven within the picture) and use a paring knife to create a design on high. Stir collectively the egg yolk with the milk and brush it evenly excessive – keep away from getting the glaze on the perimeters, which is able to inhibit the pastry from rising on the edges. Use a paring knife to poke 5 holes within the high, to permit steam escape whereas baking.
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Bake for half-hour, or till the galette is browned on high and up the perimeters. (Throughout baking, if the galette puffs up too dramatically within the oven, it’s possible you’ll wish to poke it a few times once more with a paring knife to launch the steam.) Take away from the oven and slide the galette off the baking sheet and onto a cooling rack. The galette will deflate because it cools, which is regular. Serve heat or at room temperature.
