Chimel - 1/3/2013 15:27

I don't know of anybody in the U.S. who honor this Christian special day (this coming Sunday) and the three Magi, although it is a countrywide tradition in France (Kings' Feast, or Fête des rois), but it may give you an idea for a scrumptious dessert this week-end:

Kings' cake (11-inch pie to serve 10-12) - Galette des rois

Pre-heat the oven at 425°F.

Combine and mix all ingredients below for the almond cream filling until smooth:

• 1/2 cup ground almond meal (or hazelnut)
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 2 eggs
• 3 tablespoons butter, softened
• 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• A few drops of bitter almond extract if you have it

Roll out 2 sheets of thawed puff pastry and cut out two 11-inch circles.
Line a 11" pie dish with parchment paper, place the first pastry circle on top.
Add the almond cream filling, leaving one inch on the outside uncovered.
Place a fava bean somewhere on the outside of the filling.
Moisten the outside inch of pastry if necessary, place the second pastry circle on top.
Press the edges to seal the cake.
Beat one or two egg yolks diluted in a bit of milk and brush the top of cake with it.
Be careful not to brush the vertical side of the cake or the puff pastry will not rise as much.
Score a decorative pattern on the top layer of the pastry with a knife.
Bake for about 30 minutes, reduce temperature a bit for the last 15 minutes.
Remove when dark golden as pictured and let cool till mildly warm.
Cut into 10-12 slices. Push back the fava bean inside the slice if visible.

Now for the fun part, to serve the kings' cake:

Ask one of the smallest kids to get under the table.
Serve a slice of the cake on a dessert plate and ask the kid "for whom this slice?"
This ensures that the slice with the bean goes to a random person.
The galette des rois is far too serious a matter to trust the person who serves!

The person who has the bean shows it to everybody and puts it in the glass of fizzy wine or cider of the selected queen or king of their choice. The two of them get to wear the golden paper crowns and kiss.

The "bean" used to be a simple fava bean, but nowadays there are whole expensive collections of white porcelain or painted china characters, the most common being a baby Jesus, one of the three Magi or an animal from the crib.

You can make your own paper crowns with the kids the day before with the attached templates: Glue it on bristol or strong paper, paint it, add decorations or glitter, cut it out and stapple it together to form the crown.