Servings
Font
Back
0 from 9 votes

Galette des rois (French king cake)

This almond-filled pastry tart is traditional for Epiphany, but is equally good any time.

Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
rest time (approx)
1 hr
Total Time
50 mins
Servings: 8 approx
Calories: 567 kcal
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: French

Ingredients

  • 2 sheets puff pastry relatively thin is fine (each sheet is approx 7oz/200g)
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tablespoon milk
  • 3 ½ oz butter
  • ½ cup sugar
  • 1 cup almond flour (ground almonds)
  • 1 tablespoon brandy (cognac) or rum
  • ⅛ teaspoon almond extract

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Use the base of a 9 in/23cm round cake tin as a guide to cut a circle of pastry from each of the pieces of puff pastry. Put each on a piece of parchment on a baking sheet and chill in the fridge.
  2. Lightly beat the eggs and remove 1tbsp of the egg to a small bowl. Add the milk to this 1 tablespoon of egg and gently mix together. Set aside in the fridge for later.
  3. Beat together the butter and sugar either with a stand mixer or hand mixer (or you can do by hand). The mixture should become relatively glossy. Add the eggs (the main bowl without milk), almond flour, brandy and almond extract. Mix until well combined. Place the bowl with the mixture in the fridge and chill both this and the pastry for around 30 minutes.
  4. Once chilled, spread the almond filling over the middle of one of the pastry circles (still on the parchment) leaving a rim of around ⅔in/2cm without any filling. Moisten the exposed pastry edge with a little water then place the second piece of pastry on top. Seal the edges together, carefully pressing gently to ensure you don't have air inside.
  5. Using the back of a knife blade, make indents around the edge of the tart by pressing down with a finger on the two layers of pastry and making indent to side then repeating all the way around. Place the tart in the fridge to chill for at least 30 minutes, ideally nearer 1 hour.
  6. Towards end of chilling time, preheat oven to 355F/180C. Brush the top of the tart with the egg-milk mixture all over. Using the tip of a sharp knife, make a pattern/design on the top of the tart such as leaves or zig-zags, taking care not to cut through the pastry.
  7. Bake the tart for around 30-45 minutes until golden brown and crisp on top. Let cool for at least 5 minutes before slicing (can also serve cool).

Notes

  • Note in the pictures/video I used an 8in/20cm round base to cut the pastry and had some of the filling leftover. With the recipe as written, it should use all or close to it. But if it feels like you have too much, don't overfill it as it will be more likely to burst in cooking.

Nutrition Information

Calories 567kcal (28%) Carbohydrates 43g (14%) Protein 9g (18%) Fat 41g (63%) Saturated Fat 13g (65%) Cholesterol 68mg (23%) Sodium 258mg (11%) Potassium 53mg (2%) Fiber 2g (8%) Sugar 14g (28%) Vitamin A 369IU (7%) Calcium 44mg (4%) Iron 2mg (11%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 8approx

Amount Per Serving

Calories 567

% Daily Value*

Calories 567kcal 28%
Carbohydrates 43g 14%
Protein 9g 18%
Fat 41g 63%
Saturated Fat 13g 65%
Cholesterol 68mg 23%
Sodium 258mg 11%
Potassium 53mg 1%
Fiber 2g 8%
Sugar 14g 28%
Vitamin A 369IU 7%
Calcium 44mg 4%
Iron 2mg 11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.