C'est l'Épiphanie

(aka why it's ok to eat sweets in January)

Originally published January 6th 2022, updated to unlock this for all subscribers in 2025!

It’s January 6th, the feast of Epiphany!

Epipha-what? It’s the day the Three Kings/Wise Men arrived in Bethlehem to the visit to the baby Jesus. The Kings give their name to the pastry treat that is widely eaten in France to celebrate this day – la Galette des Rois or King Cake.  I was first introduced to this lovely tradition when I was living in France – I mean, how can you resist – when it’s tradition to eat a delicious pastry (and pair it with a glass of champagne)! Since January 6th isn’t a holiday or day off, the French will traditionally eat this treat on the first or second Sunday in January although the Galettes des Rois are enjoyed all month long (they appeared in the stores even before Christmas this year!).

There are two different types of king cake: perhaps the most well-known/ consumed is the galette des rois, a flaky pastry “cake” filled with almond cream or frangipane (a mix of almond cream and crème pâtissière), baked until puffy and golden then topped off with a paper crown.  Inside the galette, a small trinket or figurine – the fève – is hidden and the person who finds that in their slice will wear the crown and be king (or queen) for the day.

Tradition says that the youngest person present at the gathering will hide under the table and tell the person cutting the galette who should receive each slice. This way the fève-finding is fair! The fève itself can be a religious figurine (typically, traditionally it was a Nativity figure) but these days it’s more likely to be something a little more modern (hello Barbapapa fèves!) and indeed fèves have become sought-after as collectibles. Check out what an Etsy search will bring up!

Watch your teeth on some of these, right?!!

In the south of France, the cake typically enjoyed for this celebration is called a Gâteau des Rois and it’s a brioche ring cake studded with dried candied fruits (it also contains the fève) that looks like a crown with jewels! There’s a recipe for this version in In the French kitchen with kids.

Photo © Kyla Zanardi, 2018

Today I’m sharing an easy version of the Galette des Rois (feuilletée, as it is sometimes called, as a nod to the pâte feuilletée - puff pastry - used to make the dessert), adapted from the recipe from In the French kitchen with kids which uses store-bought puff pastry. If you want to make your own (rough) puff pastry, knock yourselves out but honestly, nowadays, there is some excellent store-bought puff pastry around that does the trick (look for “all butter!).

Want to make your own? Get the printable recipe for the Galette des Rois here!

Happy New Year and stay safe - Bonne année et bonne santé !

Mardi

xo

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