12 days of Christmas revisited: #12 Epiphany (and kings' cake recipe)

Epiphany: the celebration of the wise men's visit to the Christ child. Here in France it is celebrated on January 6 with a galette des rois: a warm almond cream pastry with a symbolic charm hidden inside (recipe below). Other kings' cakes are made throughout France, but here in the Paris area, the galette des rois is traditional and is sold with a golden paper crown. He or she who finds the charm symbolic of finding the baby Jesus, gets to be a king (or a queen) for a day.

Do you celebrate Epiphany? On what day and how? Does this day have a special meaning for you?

What I love about the wise men is the humble and reverent adoration for the Christ child when they finally find Him after a lengthy travel period, in often adverse conditions and traveling no faster than the speed of their camels. They planned their travels, followed the constant brilliance of the star and perservered for many days and nights until they finally found Him. Then, overcome with a sense of humility and joy, they fell to their knees before offering their precious gifts and humbly adoring Him, the greatest gift of all.

A gorgeous 5-minute video depicting this scene can be found here: The Wise Men Seek Jesus.

Wise men and women still seek Him. Do you? Click on the widget below to see my Epiphany Pinterest board.



And now, that recipe... (in French followed by translations in English)

La Galette des Rois (Kings' Cake) 
Crème Patissière (Pastry cream)

• 3 jaunes d'oeuf (egg yolks)
• 100 g. de sucre (sugar)
• 25 g. de farine (flour)
• 1/2 l. de lait (milk)

Mélanger et mettre 3 minutes au micro-ondes, mélanger, remettre 2 minutes, mélanger, remettre 1 minute jusqu'à épaissir. Mix and put in microwave for three minutes, mix, put back in for 2 minutes, mix, put back in for 1 minute until thick.

Frangipane (Almond mixture)

• 100 g. de beurre fondu (melted butter)
• 100 g. de sucre (sugar)
• 1 oeuf (egg)
• 100 g. d'amande en poudre (crushed almonds) according to my sister-in-law, this is called almond powder and if you live in Utah, it's available at Harmon's!
• 100 ml. de crème patissière

Tout mélanger et ne rajouter que 100 ml. de crème patissière. Congelez le reste de la crème patissière pour une autre occasion. Mix all ingredients and only add 100 ml. of the pastry cream. Freeze the rest of the pastry cream for another recipe.

• 2 pâtes feuilletées (pie crusts)
• 1 jaune d'oeuf battu (beaten egg yolk)

Tartiner la frangipane sur la première pâte feuilletée et rajouter la fève, ensuite étaler la deuxième pâte feuilleter par dessus.Tartiner le jaune d'oeuf par dessus. Mettre sur du papier sulfurisé et au four préchauffé à 180°C. jusqu'à dorer. Spread the frangipane on top of the first pie crust and add the lucky charm, then lay the second pie crust on top. Spread the egg yolk over the top. Place on waxed paper and in preheated oven 350°F. until golden. 



The 12 days of Christmas (mostly revisited!)

1. Elf on the Shelf
2. Advent calendars
3. Christmas service ideas
4. Where is the Christ child? (nativities)
5. Christmas wreaths
6. Slowing down to enjoy the glorious season
7. Pretty Christmas gift wrappings
8. Christmas in Paris
9. Christmas 2012 memories
10. New Year's Eve
11. More Christmas 2012 memories
12. The Epiphany