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Gateau des Rois, or King's Cake, is a traditional French cake served on January 6 which is Epiphany, the Feast of the Kings. The Feast of the Kings celebrates the three Magi who brought gifts to Jesus. The French custom of the King's cake can be traced back to the 14th century. Typically a bean or small ceramic figure is hidden in the cake and the person that finds it is crowned king for a day.

The traditional Gateau des Rois is a puff pastry filled with frangipane (almond paste).

Ingredients:

Directions:

1/4 cup almond paste
1/4 cup granulated sugar
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
Pinch of salt
2 eggs
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
2 tablespoons of flour
2 sheets frozen puff pastry cut into 12 inch rounds, thawed
1 dried bean
2 teaspoons confectioner's sugar
melted unsalted butter to grease pans

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Brush melted butter onto large baking sheet with a pastry brush.
3. Beat almond paste, sugar, butter and pinch of salt until creamy.
4. Add 1 egg, vanilla and almond extracts and beat until mixed.
5. Stir in the flour.
6. Place one round of puff pastry onto baking sheet.
7. Beat remaining egg and brush some of the egg in a 1-inch border around the edge of the puff pastry on the baking sheet.
8. Mound the almond cream in the center, spreading slightly.
9. Bury the bean in the almond cream.
10. Place the second puff pastry round on top and press the edges together.
11. Use a knife to make patterns in the pastry.
12. Brush some of the beaten egg on top of the cake.
13. Bake the cake in the lower third of the oven for 13 to 15 minutes, until puffed and golden.
14. Remove from oven and dust with the confectioners' sugar.
15. Place oven rack in the upper third of the oven and return cake to cook for an additional 12 to 15 minutes or until the edge is a deep golden brown.
16. Transfer to a rack to cool slightly.

To serve:
Serve the cake warm. Decorate with a golden paper crown. The person who finds the bean can wear the crown and be king or queen for the day.

Bon chance and bon appetite!

Sources:
http://french food.about.com/od/frenchdesser trecipes/tp/galroirecipes.htm
h ttp://www.mauricefrenchpastrie s.com/html/french_king_cakes.h tml

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