So here we are the end of the Holiday Season with la Fête des Rois or Epiphany , now is the time to undo the Xmas decorations and fall into a kind of slumber which is January and February, the dull period of the year. The weather on the Island is uncertain, not cold not warm and a lot of overcast skies. Typical Northen European weather though we are in Atlantic Canada.
Tomorrow being la Fêtes des Rois the tradition in French culture is to have a special cake. The cake is to celebrate the visit of the 3 wise men to the manger to see baby Jesus, before his parents took him on a tax dodge to Egypt. I remember my mother making this cake or galette as it is called in French, an put a broad bean inside for one lucky kid to discover.
Celebrating the Epiphany with a gâteau des rois is a custom that originates from a Roman pagan ritual, which came to French Canada via France. The Romans would bake a cake, inside of which they would place a bean or a clay fish. Whoever discovered the object — regardless of his or her social status — would play king or queen for a day.
Recipe for the Gateau des Rois.
Ingredients
parchment paper, for the baking sheet | |||
400 g | puff pastry dough | 1 box | |
1/2 cup | butter, unsalted, soft | 120 g | |
1 cup | icing/confectioners’ sugar | 130 g | |
1 1/3 cup | almond meal | 130 g | |
3 | eggs size large | ||
1 tbsp | rum | 15 mL | |
white flour (all purpose), to roll out the pastry |
Before you start
Defrost the puff pastry dough at room temperature for 2 hours or overnight in the refrigerator. The dough should be flexible but still feel cold to the touch.
A hand-held or stand mixer will make things easier for this recipe.
Method
- Preheat the oven to 205°C/400°F. Butter a large baking sheet (about 30 x 38 cm) and line with parchment paper.
- In a bowl, cream the butter with the sugar using a mixer, until light and fluffy. Fold in the almond meal, 2 eggs and rum. Set aside.
- On a lightly floured board, roll out the puff pastry to 2 rounds of about 10 in (25 cm) diameter, using a rolling pin. Place one round on the baking sheet.
- Transfer the almond mixture to the center of the round, leaving about 1 in (2,5 cm) on the edge. Drop one broad bean near the edge (to minimize the chances to find it when slicing the cake).Whisk the remaining egg with 1 tbsp water then brush the pastry edge. Cover with the second pastry round.
- Seal all around the edge, gently pressing with a fork. Drill tiny holes in the upper crust, to allow steam to escape. Brush the crust with the beaten egg.
- Bake in the middle of the oven 20-25 min, until golden.
- Serve at room temperature.

On a acheté la nótre aujourd’hui chez un pâtissier français. La galette des rois sera partagée demain avec Julie et famille. Nous la partagerons dans le garage avec la porte grande ouverte afin de respecter les restrictions suite au coronavirus. Je maintiens qu’il faut s’adapter mais non s’empêcher de vivre.
L’hiver ici se coule douce. Du jamais vu à ce temps ci de l’année. Il y a à peine de neige au sol et le peu qu’il y a y est seulement depuis 3 jours. Nous étions sous la pluie pour Noël.
Bonne Année 2021, Laurent et Will.
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Ici c’est aussi tranquille. Pas de COVID et la température est très douce. Nous allons relaxer les mesures demain nous sommes bien chanceux. Vous souhaitons Bonne santé et de vaccins pour 2021
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I enjoy having Spain’s “roscon de reyes” for tradition’s sake. But SG doesn’t like it and the smallest size I’ve found would be at least 4 servings for me, so I’ll do without this year.
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only 4 servings? Still think that you should go ahead and enjoy!
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Vais-je faire cette recette? Jamais; beaucoup trop compliquée, surtout quand on peut acheter une galette toute belle chez le Boulanger français, rue Murray!
En fait, on en a une et elle est trop grosse; on la coupe en morceaux qu’on lance dehors. 5 min. plus tard, des corneilles se les arrachent.
J’ai éclaté de rire en lisant ‘…his parents took him on a tax dodge to Egypt.’ Si c’est pas du blasphème, c’est pas loin. On se demande si Satan t’a sussuré les mots à l’oreille alors que tu te concentrais sur le clavier 😉😈💻.
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mais… tu m’as volé ma galette !!! … de notre côté une grande partie de la France et l’Espagne sous la neige même Madrid, c’est le monde à l’envers !!!
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Compétition de galette des Rois, hahahahaha! La neige bien c’est un cadeau du Canada, il faut profiter et s’amuser. Pour nous c’est plutôt un hiver Printemps, doux!
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