Yule (France): Twelfth Night Cake

A traditional French Yuletide recipe, Galette des Rois is a cake with a special surprise inside! Whoever finds the surprise in their slice is crowned King or Queen for the day!

The surprise baked inside is known as a feve, and can be anything from a dried bean to a ceramic or plastic toy. If using a plastic toy, be sure to choose one with a non-toxic coating, and bear in mind it will have to withstand high heat without melting while baking. And as always, use common sense with any object that could become a potential choking hazard.

Serve this cake with a paper crown ready to be placed on the head of the new King or Queen!

Recipe: Galette des Rois

(Serves 8)
Ingredients:
1 1/4 lb frozen puff pastry
2 eggs
7 oz almond paste
Preparation:
Leave the puff pastry at room temperature for about 2 hours until defrosted but still cold.
Preheat the oven to 400°F.
Line a baking sheet or pizza pan with baking parchment or grease the pan and lightly sift flour on it. Shake off any excess flour. Roll each sheet of pastry into a circle about 12 inches across.
Place one circle on the prepared pan.
Mix the egg with the almond paste until smooth and spread the mixture evenly on the prepared circle of pastry, leaving a border 1 1/2 inches wide all around. Insert the feve into the almond mixture.
Place the second circle of pastry on top and press it down tightly around the rim.
Beat lightly the remaining egg and brush it on the top of the cake. With a long-bladed knife, press lightly but firmly through the egg glaze marking a crisscross pattern.
Bake for 20–25 minutes until golden and puffed. Do not check for doneness for at least 15 minutes, as the pastry may collapse. Serve slightly warm or cold.

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