Description
French pastry chefs craft this delightful Galettes des Rois with layers of buttery puff pastry and rich almond cream. Celebratory desserts rarely match its royal charm and delicate texture, drawing people closer to traditional French culinary artistry.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 sheets (450g; 225g) puff pastry
- 1 ½ cups (150g) almond meal
- 3.5 oz (100g) unsalted butter, cubed, room temperature
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- ½ cup (100g) sugar
- ½ tsp salt
- Zest of ½ organic orange
- 1/8 tsp almond extract
- 1 egg yolk (for egg wash)
- 1 tsp milk (for egg wash)
- 1 fève (or whole almond)
Instructions
- Frangipane Preparation: Combine almond meal, sugar, salt, and orange zest in a mixing bowl, creating a fragrant dry foundation for the classic French pastry.
- Butter Integration: Thoroughly cream softened butter into the dry mixture until achieving a silky, homogeneous texture that promises rich flavor and smooth consistency.
- Egg and Flavor Enhancement: Gently fold in eggs one at a time, ensuring complete incorporation, then introduce almond extract to elevate the aromatic profile of the frangipane filling.
- Pastry Foundation: Thaw puff pastry sheets at room temperature, then roll into precise 9 1/2 inches (24 centimeters) diameter circles on a lightly floured surface, maintaining uniform thickness.
- Filling and Assembly: Chill pastry circles for 30 minutes, then place one on a parchment-lined baking sheet, spreading frangipane across the central region while leaving a 1-inch (2.5 centimeters) border, strategically positioning the ceramic fève within the filling.
- Sealing and Decoration: Moisten pastry edges with water, carefully overlay the second pastry circle, and seal perimeter to prevent leakage; create decorative fluted edges using fingertips or a pastry tool.
- Finishing Touches: Craft an egg wash by whisking egg yolk with milk, generously brushing the surface for a golden sheen; artfully score an intricate design while puncturing a central vent to release steam.
- Baking Perfection: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C), bake the galette for approximately 30 minutes until achieving a rich, amber-golden coloration that signals culinary excellence.
- Serving Presentation: Transfer to a cooling rack, allowing the pastry to rest and settle, ensuring a pristine texture and structural integrity before presenting this traditional French delicacy.
Notes
- Chill Frangipane Carefully: Refrigerate mixture for optimal flavor development and texture stability, allowing ingredients to harmonize and enhance overall taste profile.
- Handle Pastry Gently: Thaw and roll puff pastry with precision, maintaining consistent thickness and preventing structural breakdown during preparation.
- Seal Edges Strategically: Use water to meticulously seal pastry edges, preventing filling leakage and ensuring a perfect, professional-looking galette.
- Bake with Precision: Monitor oven temperature and baking time closely to achieve a golden-amber finish, creating a crisp, flaky pastry with rich, complex flavors.
- Prep Time: 45 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: 352
- Sugar: 11 g
- Sodium: 103 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 34 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 86 mg