French galette traditionally served on January 6, the Feast of the Epiphany.
French Galette Filled with Almond Cream
Category
Tarts, Pastries And Puddings
Ingredients
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1/4 cup (2 ounces) Mandelin Premium Almond Paste
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1/4 cup granulated sugar
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3 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
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2 large eggs
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1/4 teaspoon vanilla
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1/4 teaspoon almond extract
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2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
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1 (17 1/4 ounce) package frozen puff pastry sheets, thawed
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1 dried bean such as a lima bean (optional)
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1/2 teaspoon confectioners' sugar
Directions
Preheat oven to 450°. Puree almond paste, granulated sugar, butter, and a pinch of salt in a food processor until smooth. Add 1 egg, vanilla, and almond extract and puree until incorporated.
Roll out 1 puff pastry sheet into an 11-1/2-inch square on a lightly floured surface with a floured rolling pin, then brush off excess flour from both sides. Cut out an 11-inch round by tracing around an inverted plate with tip of a paring knife. Transfer round to a buttered large baking sheet (not dark metal, or pastry may brown too much), discarding trimmings, and chill. Repeat procedure with second pastry sheet, leaving round on floured surface.
Beat remaining egg with a fork and brush some over top of second round. Score round decoratively all over using tip of knife, then make several small slits all the way through pastry, at about 2-inch intervals, to create steam vents.
Brush some of egg in a 1-inch-wide border around edge of chilled pastry round (on baking sheet). Mound almond cream in center of chilled round, spreading slightly, and bury bean in cream. Immediately cover with decorated round and press edges together lightly. Holding a small spoon with side at an angle, press around edge to seal galette decoratively.
Bake galette in lower third of oven until puffed and pale golden, 13 to 15 minutes. Dust galette with confectioners' sugar and bake in upper third of oven until edge is deep golden and shiny, 12 to 15 minutes more. Transfer to a rack to cool slightly, 5 to 10 minutes. Serve warm.
Recipe Note
Serves 8.
French galette is traditionally served on January 6, the Feast of the Epiphany. Whoever finds the hidden bean inside (symbolizing the baby Jesus) is crowned king or queen for the day.
Gourmet, January 2003