It was my turn to make something for coffee morning at work. While looking online, I came across a recipe for galette des rois (king cake) which is to commemorate the visit of the Magi to see Jesus. This is celebrated on the 6th of January. You place either a porcelain figure or a bean inside the cake. Whoever finds that item is king for the day. Unforunately I realized I forgot the bean after I baked it.
There are many different versions of a king cake. I decided to make the French version which was pretty simple since I used store bought puff pastry. The filling is a basic frangipane (ground almond/sugar/butter). I chose to make a flower design on top. The design is completely up to you.
Overall, I think it turned out pretty nice, and it tasted good too!
Here's the recipe from BBC good food:
Ingredients:
- 400g ready-made puff pastry
- 2 rounded tbsp apricot jam (or raspberry jam)
- 100g softened butter
- 100g caster sugar
- 1 lighly beaten egg
- 100g ground almonds
- 2 tbsp cognac or dark rum (optional)
- Heat the oven to 200C/fanC180/gas 6.
- Divide the ready-made puff pastry in half, roll out each piece and cut into a 25cm round. Put one round on a baking sheet and spread with the apricot jam to within 2cm of the edges.
- Beat together the softened butter and caster sugar until light and fluffy, then beat in the egg. Stir in the ground almonds and cognac or dark rum.
- Spoon the mixture over the jam, spreading it evenly. Brush the edges of the pastry with water, then cover with the second piece, pressing the edges to seal. Mark the top of the pastry from the centre to the edges like the spokes of a wheel or in a zig zag pattern, then brush with beaten egg.
- Bake for 25-30 mins until crisp and golden. Serve warm or cold.
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