Our traditional king cake is for the no frills approach to enjoying mardi gras. Starting in late december, pastry shops in paris start jumping the gun, and windows and showcases begin filling up with galettes des rois, or king cake, in anticipation of the celebration of epiphany, on january 6th because its such a. A brief history of the three kings cake in switzerland. The feast of manifestation, or epiphany, is traditionally celebrated. The king cake is a new orleans tradition that involves a pastry, a small plastic baby, and a party. French possum is a video channel dedicated to promoting the french culture and language to people around the world. As a symbol of this holy day, a tiny plastic baby is placed inside each king cake. These early europeans celebrated the coming of the three wise men bearing gifts twelve days after christmas calling it the feast of the epiphany, twelfth night, or kings day. Kings day in france and a recipe for french kings cake. The tradition of king cakes began and survives in france, and was. The king cake tradition is thought to have been brought to new orleans from france in 1870. Blanched is traditional, but this is all i had then, let a lucky someone find the almond and be royalty for the day.
Whoever finds the christ child figure in the cake is crowned and becomes the king or queen of. The recipe of a traditional king cake is quite elaborate. Its the day the three kings are said to have presented their gifts to jesus. I have to admit that, while i love, adore, and wanttomarry whoever invented french king cakes, this version popular all over the germanic countries of europe is delicious and ill definitely be making it again and again. Wafb in france, the traditional king cake known as the galette des rois is only eaten around the feast of the epiphany, jan. Mardi gras officially begins on twelfth night january 6 and lasts until ash wednesday, and king cake is the traditional dessert served at this time. I thought that new readers would enjoy reading about this delicious tradition, which will be celebrated tomorrow all over france. A traditional kings cake for mardi gras contains a tiny baby doll hidden inside. King cake is eaten on january 6 in honor of epiphany, or twelfth night, which historically marks the arrival of the three wise menkings in bethlehem who delivered gifts to the baby jesus. King cakes are often decorated with elaborate patterns, such as you see in. How to make a galette des rois, the french epiphany cake telegraph. The main part of the celebration was the baking of a kings cake to honor the three kings.
Watching my first mardi gras parade in the french quarter from atop my cousins shoulders is a memory i love to conjure up. Galette des rois three kings cake right down to our modern day, memories of this annual crazy time are preserved. Download premium images you cant get anywhere else. When you take the king cake out of the oven, push the small plastic doll into the bottom of the cake. French traditional epiphanys king cake with one porcelain small charm inside and a golden paper crown.
Our bakery serves the color springs area and all points beyond. The king cake is baked with a small plastic baby hidden. This is a popular french cake that celebrates the holiday of epiphany january 6th the day when the three kings visited the baby jesus. A palatable pastime a kings cake decorated with traditional mardi gras colors of purple, gold, and green. Combine the pastry cream and the almond cream, and add. It usually has a small ceramic king and a fava bean hidden inside. In some latin american countries, three kings day jan. For an extraspecial holiday treat, bake this delicious galette des rois, a traditional french cake usually served on epiphany, january 6.
Tradition has it that if you find a tiny figure in your slice, you are king or queen for the night, and youre given a golden crown. The person who finds the feve in his or her slice becomes king or queen for the day. There, this holiday was celebrated in our school classroom. To make the frangipane, blend the butter with the sugar until well combined. Right there with that parade, i also recall my first bite of mardi gras king cake.
Epiphany, or three kings day, which marks the three wise mens biblical visit to the baby jesus. You know its mardi gras time in houston when you start seeing king cakes pop up in bakeries and stores around town. Each year for ten days the social tables would be turned. None of the fancy throws, just a delicious 2 pound gourmet king cake, a plastic mardi gras baby, and a taste of mardi gras flyer.
The galettes des roi king cake tradition is simple and quick. This cake is not especially something typical german but it had been brought to germany via france and switzerland. First, someone is designated to cut slices of the king cake. This cake is traditionally eaten in france a few days before and after epiphany jan 6th. An authentic king cake includes cinnamon swirls with the colors of mardi gras sprinkled top, and would you believe its not all that hard to make one for yourself. Its traditionally celebrated as the last day of indulgence and. The teacher brought in a galette des rois king cake. The cake traditionally celebrating epiphany in france and quebec is sold in most bakeries. You can eat king cake at small gatherings with friends, family, coworkers or all three. Christopher hirst chews over the history of the french epiphany cake, the galette. King cake is a very special cake that is eaten on epiphany day. Somebody said youre not supposed to eat king cake until jan. French settlers brought this custom to new orleans around 1870 to celebrate the feast of the epiphany the arrival of the three wise men bearing gifts twelve days after christmas.
Friends and family will love the irresistibly creamy almond filling sandwiched between two flaky, buttery layers of puff pastry. The galette des rois is a way for french people to celebrate the epiphany, the arrival of the three wise men magi. Traditional french cake recipes so light and delicious. Though king cake season technically starts with epiphany on january 6, it really picks up steam as we get closer to mardi gras. We three kings with lyrics christmas song and carol is sung by our choir. Raw three kings cake vegan one green planetone green. A blend of coffee cake and cinnamon roll, king cake is usually iced in yellow, green and purple the colors of mardi gras and is frequently packed with fruit fillings and decadent cream cheeses. The king cake is believed to have originated in france around the 12th century. The kings cake galette des rois, in whatever form it took, with a bean baked into it, has been the king of desserts on twelfth night, also known as the feast of kings or epiphany in france. Tradition has it that if you find a tiny figure in your slice, you are king or. That is the case at maison kayser, a french bakery group that bakes the. The cookbook by john besh, via epicurious serves 1012.
Originally a religious celebration, epiphany has become a popular family tradition. The round shape of the cake represents the circular route taken. Butter a large baking sheet about 30 x 38 cm and line with parchment paper in a bowl, cream the butter with the sugar using a mixer, until light and fluffy. Mardi gras three kings cakes mardi gras officially begins on twelfth night january 6 and lasts until ash wednesday, and king cake is the traditional dessert served at this time.
The three colors honor the three kings who visited the christ child jesus on epiphany, the. The krewe package has been designed to give you the feeling that you have just left an. The surprise in your king cake might be no prize at all wsj. A king cake is an ovalshaped bakery delicacy, crossed between a coffee cake and a french pastry. The tradition of king cake continues on tuesday is mardi gras, also known as fat tuesday. Every year, on january 6th, people gather pour tirer les rois, to find the kings. Our baking recipe for the traditional three kings cake.
Although the bible doesnt actually specify that there were three of. Three kings cakes features many specialty cakes, cupcakes, cookies and cake rolls that can be made to order for any occasion. Stir 1 tablespoon granulated sugar into warm water. Finish with sprinkles of purple, green, and yellow sugar crystals for a real new orleans mardi gras look. Nowadays though, the french feast on king cakes at school, work, or at home with.
The 6 th of january is a special day in france, it is the 12 th day of christmas, the date of the epiphany and most importantly the day when all over france the cake known as galette des rois is traditionally served this flaky cake known as the kings tart is a piece of french gastronomic history which goes back as far as the 14th century, though for a short while during the turmoil of the. The official colors of mardi grascreated in 1872 by the krewe of rexare purple for. Defrost the puff pastry dough at room temperature for 2 hours or overnight in the refrigerator. The cake of kings i just noticed that dozens of people have come to french letters today by searching on galette des rois, or the kings cake. Traditional king cake recipe mardi gras in houston. A traditional tiered confection covered with pale green fondant has fresh hydrangeas between the layers each cake tier is topped with clear acetate so flowers dont touch the icing. Bake an epiphany cake on the eve of epiphany to determine which family members dress up as the three kings the following day. As part of french tradition, a bean or small china feve favor is hidden in the cake. The king cake is a sweet dough cake, filled with whipped cream, chocolate, etc. Some people take the opportunity to open a bottle of champagne or have a glass of hot wine or cider. In the north of france, kings cake is traditionally made with puff. Traditional spanish three kings cake recipe victoria twead. Now, as part of the celebration, it is traditional to bake a cake king cake in honor of the three kings. New yorklike many french expatriates here, arnaud schmitz likes to celebrate jan.
Add yeast, and set aside until mixture begins to bubble. In a small saucepan, combine evaporated milk, butter, and cup granulated sugar over medium heat until incorporated. French settlers brought this custom to new orleans around 1870 to celebrate the feast of the epiphany the arrival of the three wise men bearing gifts twelve days. The traditional galette is cut in a very specific number of slices. In france, as a precaution against the person cutting the galette giving the token to somebody on purpose, traditionally the youngest guest child or adult gets underneath the dining table, where they cant see the cutting happening, and calls out the name of. The frangipane kings cake served for epiphany is a traditional.
The name king cake comes from the biblical story of the three kings who bring gifts to baby jesus. Get one of our three kings cake recipe and prepare delicious and healthy treat for your family or friends. In addition to the traditional frangipane version, filled with a mixture of pastry. Our most traditional king cake recipe southern living.