Yesterday, I baked my first "galette des rois" = Epiphany cake to celebrate the Epiphany.
Epiphany commemorates the visit of the three Magi Melchior, Caspar and Balthazar who came to bring gifts to the baby Jesus myrrh, frankincense and gold.
To find their way to the manger, the wise men followed a star brighter than all the others. This is what has guided and is called the evening star.
Today, the tradition is for the "Day of Kings," we share a cake called "galette".
In this cake is hidden a bean. Whoever eats the part containing the bean is declared king. In our family, it is customary that one of my kids hide under the table while I cut the cake. I choose a piece of cake and the children choose for who it is. like that, nobody can cheat for the bean!
A legend tells that the bean is born on the day of Peau d'Ane had forgotten his ring in a cake for the prince. In fact, its use certainly dates to the thirteenth century. Bean exists in many forms and in different materials, there is something for everyone. Dry bean to bean golden 24 carat gold, we can find plastic white or mostly porcelain. The bean has become a collector's item!
In 1801, it was decided that the date of the Epiphany (which means "appearance") is January 6.

Recipe Galette des Rois:

Ingredients:

2 puff pastry

3.5 ounces of butter

4.4 ounces of almond powder

3.5 ounces of sugar

2 eggs + 1 to glaze the cake

1 tsp of milk

1- In a bowl, mix all together, the melted butter, the sugar and the almond powder. Add the 2 eggs, one at a time. Turn on your oven to 460°F.

2- Roll out one of the puff pastry. With a brush, humidify the edges of the dough.

3- Spread the almond cream on the dough but not where you humidified it. It is time to put the bean. Because I don't have any here, I put a whole almond to replace.

4- Put on top delicately the second dough. Press the edges of the cake with your fingers, then fold them to the inside to properly close. Press again with your fingers.

5- Mix together the left over egg with the milk. Brush the cake with it.

6- With the tip of a knife, draw diagonals on the Galette or any other design.

7- Bake at 460°F. for 10 minutes, then bake at 355°F. for the last 20 minutes. Serve warm.

8- Enjoy and tell me what you think!

Some beans examples: