Tag Archives: french new year

Galette Des Rois

 

A galette des rois, or “King’s Cake”, is a traditional French pastry baked around the turning of the new year.  The informant lived in France for five years and learned how to bake them there before moving to the United States. She continues the tradition, even though it is not common in United States. Using her own recipe, she has helped to spread it to others who have not heard of the French tradition. On the blog on which the recipe is posted, the informant gives some background as to the tradition:

“During the month of January, bakeries and boulangeries in France make the galette des rois in honor of the Epiphany or Feast of the Magi. 
 
These cakes are often called “kings cakes” and are made of homemade, almond cream filling in between two, delicate, buttery layers of puff pastry. 

In France, it’s customary to place a “feve” or ceramic religious figure into the filling. Whoever is served the piece with the feve is the king or queen for the evening.

In addition to religious figurines, feves can be little cups and saucers and teapots, and they also can depict figures from history, characters from television, sports figures, etc. 

The feves become highly collectible and are, in addition to the delicious taste of the almond cream filling, another reason why many galettes are purchased all during the month!”

http://feasteveryday.blogspot.com/2013/01/galette-des-rois-by-mary.html

The informant enjoys both baking the cakes and teaching americans about the traditions. She is often asked to come into elementary and middle school classrooms with the galettes to teach the kids about the tradition.