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Galette comtoise
Choux king cake
Galette comtoise: Franche-Comté choux-dough king cake with orange-flower water for Epiphany
FrenchWhile most of France eats a puff-pastry galette des rois at Epiphany in January, Franche-Comté has its own: a flat golden cake made from a choux-like dough, tender and slightly custardy inside and scented with orange-flower water. As elsewhere, a fève (a little charm or a dried bean) is hidden inside, the youngest child under the table calls out who gets each slice, and whoever finds the fève is crowned king or queen. Chef's tip: let the cooked paste cool for a few minutes before beating in the eggs, or they scramble.
- Total time
- 65 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 8
Ingredients
- ½ cup water
- ½ cup whole milk
- 3 ½ oz unsalted butter
- 2 ⅛ oz caster sugar
- 1 pinch salt
- 5 ½ oz plain flour
- 4 eggs
- 2 tbsp orange-flower water
- 1 tsp lemon zestfinely grated
- 1 dried bean or ceramic fève (optional)
- 1 tbsp pearl sugar (optional)
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Heat the oven to 400°F and line a baking tray. Bring the ½ cup water, ½ cup whole milk, 3 ½ oz unsalted butter, 2 ⅛ oz caster sugar and 1 pinch salt to the boil in a pan.
5 minStep 2: Tip in the 5 ½ oz plain flour all at once and beat with a wooden spoon over a low heat for 2 minutes until the paste comes away from the sides in a smooth ball.
3 minStep 3: Take off the heat and cool for 5 minutes. Beat in the 4 eggs one at a time, then the 2 tbsp orange-flower water and 1 tsp lemon zest. The dough should be thick but soft and fall slowly from the spoon. A common mistake is adding the eggs to hot paste, which cooks them into lumps.
5 minStep 4: Spread the dough on the tray into a round about 24 cm across and 2 cm thick. Push in the 1 dried bean or ceramic fève if using and smooth over.
5 minStep 5: Brush with the 1 egg yolk beaten with 1 tbsp milk, mark a criss-cross with a fork and scatter with 1 tbsp pearl sugar if using. Bake for 35–40 minutes until puffed, deep golden and dry to the touch. Warn eaters about the charm; serve warm or cold.
40 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 260 kcal
- Protein
- 6 g
- Carbs
- 24 g
- Fat
- 16 g
- Fibre
- 1 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does galette comtoise take?
- About 65 minutes in total: 25 minutes to prepare and 40 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 8 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- What can I use instead of whole milk?
- Semi-skimmed milk with 1 tbsp cream per 240ml (1 cup).
- What can I use instead of unsalted butter?
- The same weight of ghee or coconut oil (for frying and most baking).
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