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    Home / Desserts / Tarts & Pies

    French King Cake "Galette des Rois"

    Last update: Feb 5, 2025 Published: Jan 15, 2020 by Fadela This post may contain affiliate links

    Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe·5 from 8 reviews

    Learn how to create the ultimate French King Cake, known as 'Galette des Rois,' a beloved traditional dessert in France, especially on Epiphany day. Crafted with homemade puff pastry and filled with almond cream, this King Cake is a delightful treat that's sure to impress.

    More French Recipes? Give these a try, Almond Phitivier cake, French Meringue, French Crepes,

    galette des rois on a plate
    Jump to:
    • What is Galette des Rois ?
    • Why you'll love this recipe
    • Ingredients Notes
    • How to Make Traditional French Almond Galette des Rois
    • Tips for this recipe
    • Storage and Freeze
    • Variations & Substitutions
    • FAQ- Frequently Asked Questions
    • More Kings Cake Recipes
    • French King Cake "Galette des Rois"

    What is Galette des Rois ?

    Galette des Rois, also known as the French King Cake, is a classic French dessert traditionally enjoyed in January to celebrate Epiphany on January 6th. This holiday marks the arrival of the Three kings to visit baby Jesus.

    This delicious galette des rois I'm sharing with you here is the traditional version, composed of two layers of puff pastry and filled with a real frangipane cream, which is a blend of vanilla pastry cream and the almond filling cream.

    Why you'll love this recipe


    • Authentic French Flavor: Our Galette des Rois recipe captures the true essence of French pastry with its rich almond cream frangipane and flaky buttery puff pastry, ensuring you savor every bite of authentic goodness.
    • Homemade Bliss: Making this delightful treat from scratch not only adds a personal touch to your celebrations but also guarantees a fresher, more delicious outcome than store-bought king cakes.
    • Joyful French Tradition: Discovering the hidden figurine (la fève) or charm inside the Galette des Rois is a delightful and interactive tradition that brings a sense of fun and surprise to your gatherings, making it a cherished experience for all involved.

    Ingredients Notes

    You need these ingredients to make this Almond French King Cake:

    • Puff pastry: Make your homemade puff pastry; it will be better than store-bought puff pastry, with a crispier texture and beautifully buttery layers.
    • Vanilla Pastry Cream: Vanilla pastry cream serves as the base for the frangipane filling. It provides a rich, custard-like texture and a distinct vanilla flavor. The pastry cream is typically made with ingredients like milk, egg yolks, sugar, cornstarch, and vanilla extract.
    • Almond cream: This almond paste is made from unsalted butter, sugar, eggs, almond meal or almond flour, and almond extract, or rum for flavor.
    2 slices of almond galette des rois on a plate

    How to Make Traditional French Almond Galette des Rois

    Here are some quick visual instructions. Don't forget that full recipe instructions with exact ingredients can be found in the recipe card below!

    Make the Puff pastry

    Step 1: Follow the recipe for homemade puff pastry, quick puff pastry, inverted puff pastry or use direct 2 discs of ready-made puff pastry.

    2 pieces of puff pastry dough on a work surface

    Make the almond filling

    Step 1: Make the almond cream first, mix in a large bowl all the ingredients, the softened butter, sugar, eggs, and ground almonds, then set aside in a cool place.

    Step 2: Then prepare the pastry cream, heat the milk with the vanilla bean and let it infuse for a few minutes. Whisk the sugar with the egg yolks then add the flour and mix again.

    Add the hot milk to the yolk mixture, then return to the heat and cook the cream until it reaches a thick consistency.

    Place the pastry cream in a dish and cover it with plastic wrap and let it cool completely in the refrigerator.

    Step 3: Combine the almond cream filling and pastry cream with an electric mixer for 2 minutes to make the frangipane and set aside in a cool place until ready to assemble.

    Large bowl with almond cream and pastry cream
    Large bowl with frangipane cream

    Assemble the cake

    Step 1: Roll out the dough with a rolling pin on a large square about 3 mm thick.

    Step 2: Place the first circle of dough on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and fill the inside with a piping bag with almond filling, leaving a 2-inch / 5 cm border. (Place your bean inside)

    Step 3: With a pastry brush moisten the edges with water to stick the second disc and cover with the second disk of puff pastry and press the edges together to weld them.

    roll out puff pastry filled with almond cream
    sheet of puff pastry with a pastry ring

    Scratch

    • Use a small knife or special bakery blade and score in the pattern of your choice. (Be careful not to press too hard or the filling may leak out during baking)
    • Apply the egg wash with a pastry brush (you can also apply the egg wash before scratching) on top of the puff pastry.
    galette des rois before baking

    Baking

    • Place your galette des Rois in the refrigerator for 30 minutes or 10 minutes in the freezer while the oven is preheating.
    • Preheat the oven to 350°F/ 180°C and bake the galette des Rois for about 45-50 minutes until it is golden brown on top.
    • Let the cake cool down a bit before serving it a little warm with a good coffee.
    King cake on a plate

    Tips for this recipe

    • Use Quality Ingredients: Start with high-quality ingredients, especially for the pastry and filling, to ensure a delicious king cake.
    • Even Dough Thickness: Roll out the pastry dough to a consistent thickness to ensure even baking and a balanced texture.
    • Proper Filling Distribution: When adding the filling (such as almond cream or other sweet fillings), distribute it evenly across the dough to ensure every slice has a delightful filling-to-pastry ratio.
    • Seal the Edges: Properly seal the edges of the dough to prevent the filling from leaking during baking.
    • Golden crust: To achieve a bright golden color, sprinkle powdered sugar on top of the cake and briefly place it in the oven at 240°C (464°F) for 2 to 5 minutes, keeping a close eye to avoid burning.
    • Hidden Trinket: Don't forget to hide a small trinket or figurine (such as a tiny plastic baby) inside the cake before baking. The person who finds it is traditionally crowned the "king" or "queen" for the day.

    Storage and Freeze

    At room temperature: The frangipane galette des rois can be kept at room temperature, covered with a cloth, under a cloche or plastic wrap for about 3-4 days.

    You can slightly reheat it in the microwave on low power or place it in the oven for a few moments to give it some more freshness.

    How to freeze it?

    When the king cake is completely cooled, place it in a storage box or large tart dish and cover with plastic wrap and store in the freezer for up to 3 months.

    Just let it thaw gently at room temperature.

    Variations & Substitutions

    • Chocolate Galette: Replace the almond filling with a rich chocolate almond cream for a decadent twist on the traditional recipe like this chocolate galette des rois.
    • Fruit-Filled Galette: Incorporate fruit compote, such as apple, pear, or raspberry, as a filling to add a fruity and sweet dimension like this chocolate pear galette des rois.
    • Citrus Zest: Add citrus zest (lemon, orange zest, or grapefruit) to the filling or a lemon curd filling for a refreshing and aromatic touch.
    • Nutella Galette: Spread a layer of Nutella (chocolate-hazelnut spread) on the pastry before adding the almond cream like this Nutella Galette des rois.
    • Mini Galettes: Instead of one large Galette, make individual-sized mini Galettes des Rois for a charming presentation at gatherings.

    FAQ- Frequently Asked Questions

    Can Galette des Rois be enjoyed year-round?

    While traditionally associated with the Epiphany, Galette des Rois is enjoyed by many throughout the entire month of January. Some bakeries and patisseries offer it year-round, allowing people to savor its delicious flavors whenever they desire.

    Is Galette des Rois a regional specialty in France?

    Galette des Rois is not limited to any specific region in France and is enjoyed nationwide. However, some regions may have their unique variations and traditions associated with the dessert.

    one slice of galette des rois on a plate

    More Kings Cake Recipes

    • Nutella stuffed galette des rois
      Nutella Stuffed French Galette des Rois (King Cake)
    • Chocolate french galette des rois
      Chocolate Galette des Rois (King cake)
    • Chocolate pear galette des rois recipe
      Chocolate Pear Galette des Rois (King Cake)
    • Traditional French Pithivier

    I hope you love these French Almond Galette des Rois. If you make it, be sure to leave a comment and a rating so I know how you liked it. Happy Baking!

    Print
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    French King Cake "Galette des Rois"


    5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

    5 from 8 reviews

    • Author: Fadela
    • Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
    • Yield: 10 servings
    Print Recipe
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    Description

    Galette des Rois recipe, with homemade puff pastry filled with an almond frangipane cream filling (9-10 inch /23-25 cm diameter 8 - 10 slices )


    Ingredients

    2 Sheet of Homemade puff pastry dough (about 250g)

    Pastry cream

    • 250 ml (1 cup) Milk -half skimmed
    • 2 ½ tbsp Flour - or cornstarch about 22 g
    • 1 ⅔ tbsp Sugar - granulated about 20 g
    • 2 eggs yolks - room temperature
    • ½ Vanilla bean - or vanilla extract

    Almond cream

    • 100 g (½ cup) Butter - unsalted and softened
    • 100 g  (1 cup) Almond - ground
    • 100 g ( 1 cup) Powdered sugar
    • 2 eggs - room temperature

    Instructions

    Prepare the dough following my recipe for homemade puff pastry.

    Pastry cream

    1. Place the milk and scraped half vanilla bean in a saucepan over medium heat, bring to a boil and let stand for 15 minutes.
    2. In a bowl, whisk the egg yolks with the granulated sugar for about 2 -3 minutes, then add the flour (or cornstarch) and mix again.
    3. Remove the vanilla bean and pour the milk into the bowl containing the yolks, flour, and sugar, then whisk and return to the saucepan.
    4. Bring this mixture to a boil for 2 minutes, beating all the time until the cream thickens.
    5. Pour the pastry cream into a dish, cover with plastic wrap on contact, and place in the fridge until completely cool.

    Almond cream

    1. In a bowl, beat the softened butter with the powdered sugar with an electric mixer for 2 minutes until creamy.
    2. Add the eggs one by one and mix well between each addition
    3. Then finish by adding the ground almond and mix until smooth
    4. Cover and place in the refrigerator until ready to assemble the frangipane cream.

    Frangipane cream

    1. Mix the almond cream and the pastry cream with an electric whisk for 1 - 2 minutes until the mixture is smooth and creamy.

    Assembly & decoration

    1. Roll out the puff pastry to a thickness of 3 mm, using a 10-inch tart ring or a large plate, cut out 2 circles of puff pastry.
    2. Place the first circle on a baking tray covered with parchment paper.
    3. Place a layer of frangipane using a pastry bag, leaving a sufficient gap between the cream and the edge.
    4. Using a pastry brush, apply a thin layer of water to the edges.
    5. Cover with the second layer of puff pastry, and press the edges together.
    6. Then use a thin knife to scratch the top of the galette.
    7. Brush on a layer of egg yolk.
    8. Place the galette des Rois in the freezer while the oven is preheating.

    Baking

    1. Brush on a second layer of egg yolk and bake at 350°F / 180°C for about 45-50 minutes,
    2.  until it is a little puffy and golden brown on top.
    3. Let it cool a little before serving it warm. 

    Equipment

    Image of Cercle à tarte perforée

    Cercle à tarte perforée

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    Hand mixer

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    Perforated baking sheet

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    Stand mixer

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    Notes

    Conservation: at room temperature, about 3-5 days max, or in the freezer up to 3 months.

    • Prep Time: 40 minutes
    • Cook Time: 45 minutes
    • Category: cake, Dessert
    • Cuisine: french

    Nutrition

    • Serving Size: 1 slice
    • Calories: 329
    • Sugar: 19
    • Sodium: 319
    • Fat: 11
    • Saturated Fat: 3
    • Carbohydrates: 47
    • Fiber: 2
    • Protein: 11
    • Cholesterol: 98

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Mélanie

      January 04, 2017 at 3:39 pm

      Beautiful galette! I too opted for a traditional frangipane galette this year with homemade puff pastry.

      Reply
      • Fadela

        January 05, 2017 at 11:30 am

        Thank you Melanine for this message, the traditional version is really the best there is.

        Reply
    2. Haanaïs

      January 04, 2017 at 7:11 pm

      I've never tried puff pastry because I always thought it was so complicated. Your article makes me want to try it one day Thanks for sharing, your galette is gorgeous!

      Reply
      • Fadela

        January 05, 2017 at 10:30 am

        Hello Haanaïs, yes it's intimidating but it's so satisfying when it's homemade and it's also much better tasting and lighter.

        Reply
    3. Epices Karina

      January 05, 2017 at 8:57 am

      Superb step-by-step recipe!

      Reply
    4. Chataîgne

      January 05, 2017 at 2:40 pm

      A classic, but so good <3 Your galette is gorgeous, it makes me hungry!

      Reply
    5. salle de sport lille

      January 07, 2017 at 8:12 am

      Mmmm this is fantastic!!!!

      Reply
    6. Mélina & Chocolat

      January 07, 2017 at 1:13 pm

      Wow, she's gorgeous! The drawings are so beautiful!

      Reply
      • Fadela

        January 08, 2017 at 11:25 am

        Thank you very much

        Reply
    7. gravure laser tunisie

      January 09, 2017 at 7:48 am

      Thank you very much for sharing

      Reply
    8. Aouine

      January 11, 2017 at 4:00 pm

      Hello,
      I discovered your blog when I placed my order, and I've been feasting my eyes on your tempting recipes ever since! The photos are superb and the texts very clear. I say bravo because I can only imagine the work involved!

      Reply
      • Fadela

        January 12, 2017 at 9:20 am

        Thank you very much Sanae

        Reply

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