Frangipane Kings Cake
In the beginning of January, French people are used to eat the famous Kings Cake. Some are made of brioche with caramelized fruits on top, others are made of frangipane center like mine today. The tradition comes from the Roman empire, we serve it the 6th of January for the Epiphany to announce the arriving of the 3 Magi kings. Inside the cake, we put a lucky charm made by porcelain trinkets. The lucky person that have it in his/her cake slice will be the king or queen of the day and will name his queen or her king. Those cakes are sold with a golden cardboard crown so you can wear it when you get the lucky charm.
Ingredients:
- 2 puff pastry
- 3 eggs
- 200 g almonds powder
- 150 g soft butter
- 150 g icing sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Recipe:
Pre-heat the oven at 200°C. In a mixing bowl, combine with a wooden spoon 2 eggs, vanilla extract, icing sugar, almonds powder and soft butter until it creates a dough. Roll out one puff pastry with its greaseproof paper on a baking tray. Using a brush, spread some water all around the borders (2 cm). Pour the frangipane dough in the center of the puff pastry and spread it all over, keeping the borders (2-3cm) free. Place the lucky charm inside and cover with the second puff pastry on top. Close all the borders together with your fingers. Using a razor blade, score the top. Mix the remained egg in a bowl and using a brush, cover all the cake with it. Bake 30 minutes in the oven and let cool down at least 10 minutes before cutting and serving.
