Galette des rois - Dräikinnekskuch

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A real treat for anyone with a sweet tooth, especially frangipane fans! For Epiphany (6th January), the people of Luxembourg love a slice of their Dräikinnekskuch, often known by the French name Galette des rois (Three Kings Cake). But watch out: a lucky charm is hidden inside the cake! The person who finds it in their slice becomes king or queen for the day and gets to wear a golden cardboard crown.

The Dräikinnekskuch  is round and golden, like a little sun that brightens up homes during the cold, dark days of early January. What sets it apart from other cakes or tarts that you can buy all year round is the gold cardboard crown that sits on top and the little surprise hiding inside. This lucky charm used to be a tiny statue of a saint, but now it can be any shape - as long as it is ovenproof!

The cake is quite easy to make and, if you like frangipane, it is sure to put a smile on your face. The tradition is for the cake to be cut with the whole family gathered round, and everyone gets a piece to see who will find the charm and be crowned king or queen for the day.

Ingredients:

  • 2 frozen puff pastry bases (approx. 28 cm diameter)
  • 120 g ground almonds
  • 90 g butter
  • 90 g sugar
  • 2 eggs 
  • 1 vanilla pod
  • 2 tbsp rum
  • a few drops of almond extract
© Claudine Freylinger

Method:

  1. First mix the sugar, vanilla and melted butter to a smooth paste. Add one egg and the rum and stir until well blended.
  2. Then add the ground almonds and almond extract and stir until you have a smooth almond cream.
  3. Place a puff pastry base on a baking tray covered with baking paper. Spread the almond cream in the middle of the dough. Leave a border of about 4 cm all around. Don't forget to hide the charm in the almond cream!
  4. Brush the edge with beaten egg white and place the second puff pastry round on top. Press the edges firmly together.
  5. To make the cake golden brown, brush with egg yolk diluted with a little water. If you find the cake too big, cut the edges back a bit. 
  6. To give the cake a decorative look, use a fork to crimp the edges all around and carve a sun in the middle with a knife. 
  7. Place the cake in the oven preheated to 200° C and bake for about 20 minutes. Reduce the temperature to 180° C and bake for another 10 to 15 minutes.
  8. Take the Dräikinnekskuch out of the oven, leave it to cool and serve with a steaming mug of hot chocolate or coffee.

Enjoy!

(The recipe was provided by Merlanne. Even though her blog is no longer online, we don't want to deprive you of it).

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