Galette des Rois (King Cake)

By
Rebecca Franklin
Rebecca Franklin
Rebecca Franklin is a lifestyle writer and recipe developer. Her expertise is in French cuisine, which she writes about and teaches.
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Updated on 10/28/24
Tested by
Tracy Wilk
Photo of Tracy Wilk
Tested by Tracy Wilk
Tracy Wilk is a professional pastry chef, recipe developer and chef instructor, and, most importantly, a firm believer in sprinkles.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Traditional French Galette des Rois on a white plate

The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck
Prep: 20 mins
Cook: 25 mins
Total: 45 mins
Servings: 12 servings
Yield: 1 cake

For an extra-special holiday treat, bake this delicious galette des rois, a traditional French cake usually served on Epiphany, the day the Three Kings visited the baby Jesus. The name translates to "king cake," and is similar to the Mardi Gras king cake in that it also features a small prize hidden inside the filling.

A galette des rois is made of an irresistibly creamy almond filling sandwiched between two flaky, buttery layers of puff pastry. The ingredients for almond cream all go into a food processor to blend, and then the paste is spread onto the store-bought puff pastry, making this impressive cake simple to put together. Once you master this foolproof recipe, you can experiment with different fillings or make your own puff pastry. Serve slices of the galette with tea or cafe au lait to balance the cake's sweetness.

When it comes to the small prize (called a fève) hidden inside the filling, bakeries opt for porcelain or plastic figures, but a home baker can use a dried fava bean instead. The lucky guest who finds the fève becomes the "king" or "queen" of the evening and wears a paper crown. Of course, make sure to warn everyone about the fève—if you don't, some guests may leave the party with broken teeth. If you're making this cake for children, consider leaving out the fève altogether.

Make Ahead

The almond paste can be made up to 3 days in advance and refrigerated in an airtight container.

What You'll Need to Make This King Cake Recipe
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A Zippy Food Processor
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A Handy Dandy Pastry Brush
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A Nifty Sugar Sifter

“I truly love the elegance of the traditional French Galette des Rois and how it can be a showstopper dessert. This recipe makes preparation easy, and it's a perfect way to impress your guests.” —Tracy Wilk

Traditional French Galette des Rois
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Ingredients

For the Almond Cream Filling:

  • 1/2 cup almond meal

  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar

  • 1 large egg

  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened

  • 3/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

  • 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour

For the Cake:

  • 17 ounces puff pastry, thawed

  • 1 dried fava bean, optional

  • 1 large egg, beaten

  • 2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar

Steps to Make It

Make the Almond Cream

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients gathered for almond cream

    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

  2. Combine 1/2 cup almond meal, 1/4 cup granulated sugar, 1 large egg, 3 tablespoons unsalted butter (softened), 3/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract, and 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour in the bowl of a food processor.

    Almond meal, sugar, egg, softened butter, vanilla extract, and flour in a food processor

    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

  3. Blend to a smooth, creamy paste. Feel free to make this cream a few days in advance, then refrigerate in an airtight container.

    Almond cream ingredients combined together in a food processor

    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

Assemble the Cake

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients gathered for French Galette des Rois cake assembly

    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

  2. Position a rack in the center of the oven and heat to 425 F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.

    Rimmed baking sheet lined with parchment

    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

  3. Roll out 2 sheets of puff pastry and cut into 2 (11-inch) discs. Place one disc on the prepared baking sheet. Spread an even layer of almond cream, leaving a 1-inch border around the edges.

    Almond cream on top of puff pastry dough on a baking sheet

    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

  4. If you wish to include a dried fava bean, you can do so at this point. Simply nestle 1 dried fava bean in the almond cream. Brush some of the beaten egg over the pastry border.

    Dried fava bean on top of almond cream and dough on a baking sheet

    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

  5. Place the second puff pastry disc on top of the filling, and crimp the edges with a fork to seal the cake.

    Puff pastry disc on top of filling with crimped edges on a parchment-lined baking sheet

    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

  6. Using a sharp knife, score a decorative pattern into the top layer of pastry without cutting through to the almond filling. Brush galette with the remaining beaten egg (this will create a golden crust).

    French Galette des Rois brushed with egg and scored with a knife, on a baking sheet

    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

Bake the Cake

  1. Bake cake for 15 minutes. Remove from oven and dust cake with 2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar.

    Traditional French Galette des Rois baked on a baking sheet

    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

  2. Return to oven and bake until the puff pastry becomes a deep golden brown, 10 to 12 minutes more. Allow cake to cool for 20 minutes before serving.

    Traditional French Galette des Rois on a baking sheet

    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

How To Store King Cake Recipe

  • It is best to eat the galette the same day it is made, as the crust tends to get soggy.
  • If there are leftovers, wrap them loosely in a plastic wrap and store for up to 2 days, refrigerated.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
312 Calories
21g Fat
25g Carbs
5g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 12
Amount per serving
Calories 312
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 21g 28%
Saturated Fat 4g 22%
Cholesterol 39mg 13%
Sodium 136mg 6%
Total Carbohydrate 25g 9%
Dietary Fiber 1g 4%
Total Sugars 6g
Protein 5g
Vitamin C 0mg 0%
Calcium 22mg 2%
Iron 1mg 8%
Potassium 73mg 2%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)