This Galette des Rois (King Cake) recipe has a homemade almond crème filling and pre-made puff pastry. It has a crisp, glazed top and a hidden fève in the filling. This “King Cake” is traditionally in France served for epiphany. (12 servings, recipe tutorial video included)

Estimated reading time: 8 minutes

Galette Des Rois (King Cake) on a cake stand with several feves

Galette des Rois (King Cake)

Galette des Rois (King Cake)

Hi Everyone, we love this easy Galette des Rois (King Cake) recipe!

I included a step-by-step recipe tutorial video in addition to the recipe card at the end of the post to make this recipe easy-to-follow.

What makes this Galette des Rois (King Cake) recipe different?

This version is more crisp and thin than other versions of the recipe, almost like a cookie.

It has only 6 ingredients in the almond filling which can easily be made in the food processor and there’s only 15 minutes baking time.

I have suggestions if you want to make it thicker with more filling and a loftier pastry top in the recipe notes.

What is Galette des Rois (King Cake)?

According to Wikipedia, Galette Des Rois (King Cake) is:

A king cake, also known as a three king’s cake, is a cake associated in many countries with Epiphany. Its form and ingredients are variable, but in most cases, a fève such as a figurine often said to represent the Christ Child, is hidden inside. After the cake is cut, whoever gets the fève wins a prize.

This type of King cake is different from the American version served during Mardi Gras in New Orleans, United States.

Our Family Tradition

Every year, since my husband and I were married, we celebrate Epiphany with my father-in-law, Michel, it’s a tradition that he grew up in France, and it’s become a tradition that we celebrate with our 3 kids now.

For years, we have had Galette des Rois from local bakeries and this year, I want to make my own.

I’ve always wanted to make this recipe since it’s a recipe close to our family.

I was amazed at how easy it is to make with your food processor to make the filling and using store-bought puff pastry!

Someday, if I have a puff pastry recipe, I will put it on the blog but for now, store-bought puff pastry works well.

This recipe requires pure vanilla extract and I do have a Homemade Vanilla Extract recipe post, if you want to check that out.

How to Make Homemade Vanilla Extract

Ingredients

I include affiliate links in the recipe card.

Almond Cream (filling)

1/2 cup almond flour (almond meal)
1/4 cup granulated white sugar
1 large egg
3 tablespoons unsalted butter (softened)
3/4 tablespoons pure vanilla extract
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour

Cake

17 ounces frozen, store-bought, puff pastry, thawed
1 large egg, beaten, for the egg wash on top
2 tablespoons powdered sugar

the almond creme filling for Galette Des Rois (King Cake) — the fève being places on the almond crème filling before covering and baking

Fèves for Galette des Rois (King Cake)

A ceramic fève (or dried bean) is hidden in the filling.

If you are lucky enough to find it, you are awarded a gold-colored paper crown (also called a “diadem”).

People often save their fèves from over the years and I certainly have.

I include photos of my personal collection in this post of fèves from over the years.

vintage and newer feves for Galette Des Rois (King Cake)

There are also vintage fèves that I have sought out to add to my collection.

These fèves are about 1 inch tall.

custom fèves by @jackiebrownceramics for Galette Des Rois (King Cake) — custom fèves by @jackiebrownceramics on Instagram

The above fèves that I bought to use in these photos are newer and here custom-made by a ceramic artist in New Orleans.

You can also use a dried bean, like a fava bean in place of a ceramic fève.

Galette Des Rois (King Cake) on a white cake stand

If you are worried about someone choking on the fève, then you can also just place it, symbolically, on the outside of the cake (like the crown fève in the photo).

Kitchen Tools

Here is a list of helpful kitchen tools:

food processor
2-cup wet measure
measuring spoons and cups
pastry mat or pastry marble
ruler
offset spatula
stiff baking spatula
flexible baking spatula
French rolling pin
pastry brush
silicone baking mat or parchment paper
rimmed baking sheet
round, cardboard cake base
cake stand
Chef’s knife for cutting
airtight cake container, for storage

close up of the top of a Galette Des Rois (King Cake)

Recipe Attribution

This recipe is inspired by the many Galette des Rois from local bakeries over the years, and also, Traditional French Galette des Rois from The Spruce Eats.

a chef's knife cutting into a Galette Des Rois (King Cake)

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a hand holding a dessert fork cutting into a slice of Galette Des Rois (King Cake)

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Galette des Rois (King Cake)

Name: Galette des Rois (King Cake)
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 1 h 5 min
Yield: 12
Cuisine: French
Ingredients: 1/2 cup almond flour (almond meal); 1/4 cup granulated white sugar; 1 large egg; 3 tablespoons unsalted butter (softened); 3/4 tablespoons pure vanilla extract; 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour; 1 dried bean or ceramic fève (not to be eaten); 17 ounces frozen, store-bought, puff pastry, thawed; 1 large egg, beaten, for the egg wash on top; 2 tablespoons powdered sugar

Yield: 12 servings

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Cooling Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes

Ingredients

Almond Cream (filling)

1/2 cup almond flour (almond meal)
1/4 cup granulated white sugar
1 large egg
3 tablespoons unsalted butter (softened)
3/4 tablespoons pure vanilla extract
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 dried bean or ceramic fève (not to be eaten)

Cake

17 ounces frozen, store-bought, puff pastry, thawed
1 large egg, beaten, for the egg wash on top
2 tablespoons powdered sugar

Instructions

Almond Crème (filling)

Gather all the ingredients. Add the flour, sugar, egg, softened butter, vanilla extract, and flour. Blend until it's creamy and smooth.

Assemble the Galette

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Prepare a rimmed baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat, set aside. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the puff pastry sheets with a rolling pin. Cut 2 11-inch circles.
Place the first circle, centered on the prepared baking sheet. Using an offset spatula, spread the almond crème evenly around, leaving 1-inch at the edges. Place a ceramic fève or dried fava bean in the crème.
Add the top circle on the crème and crimp the edges together, then seal them by pressing the tines of a fork in them. Using a sharp knife or dough scorer, cut a design into the top. Brush the top with egg wash. Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes. Take the cake out and dust it with powdered sugar. Return to the oven and bake another 10-12 minutes. The top should be deep, golden brown, and shiny which cools to a crisp top layer.
When the cake is done, allow it to cool for 20 minutes to allow that crisp top layer to harden. When you serve it, make sure to let people know to bite in carefully so they don't bite down hard on the hidden fève. Whoever gets the hidden fève gets a golden, paper crown (diadem).

Notes

Make-Ahead: You can make the filling ahead of time and refrigerate in an air-tight container.

To Make a Thicker Cake: Double the amount of filling and don't roll the top puff pastry sheet as flat as the bottom. Make sure to crimp the sides well, so that the extra filling doesn't leak out the sides.

If you are worried about someone choking on the fève, then you can also just place it, symbolically, on the outside of the cake

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Nutrition Information:

Yield: 12 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 339Total Fat: 22gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 16gCholesterol: 54mgSodium: 120mgCarbohydrates: 29gFiber: 2gSugar: 6gProtein: 7g

Please note that the Calculated Nutrition is an estimate at best.

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Sara Maniez

Owner at Life's Little Sweets

Sara is an architectural designer turned work-at-home Mom. She lives in New Jersey by way of New England and New York, with her husband and 3 kids under 8. She loves design, being creative, and spending time with family and friends. She loves checking out local businesses and eats and being apart of the local farm to table community.

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Galette des Rois (King Cake)

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Galette des Rois (King Cake)