Gallette Des Rois Recipe and Game For Epiphany

French families have an Epiphany tradition to celebrate the Magi each Jan. 6. Even nonreligious families celebrate because they have such fond childhood memories and the galette, a covered almond tart, is so good that they just can’t leave it only to the Christians.
Your taste buds will rejoice and the recipe is fast and easy, too!
If you want to play the game, you will hide a "feve" or small charm, bean or button in the galette. The family's youngest member slides under the dinner table or closes his eyes and gets to call out who gets which piece of the cake as it is being sliced by mom or the hostess, either keeping would-be cheaters from choosing the slice they think contains the lucky charm for themselves or more likely to help moms conveniently give a lucky slice to a child. Many moms also add charms so that all the children in the family will get a lucky charm. Whoever finds a charm in his slice is crowned king or queen for the day, which tradition says will bring him luck all year! The king gets to choose his queen or vice versa, by discretely slipping the charm in the queen's drink. Each time the king or queen drinks, you will cheer, "The king (queen) drinks!" When played among adults, some claim that the king must provide the galette the following year.
Here’s the easy recipe:

Galette Des Rois
For 4-6 people

• 2 circles of high quality, store-bought puff pastry
• 1 1/2 cup of powdered almonds or almond paste
  
• 1 1/2 stick of butter (melted)
• 3 eggs
• 1 heaping cup of granulated sugar
• Natural flavoring to taste such as orange flower water, rose water, pure vanilla extract, rum, Amaretto or Grand Marnier

Mix the sugar, butter, 2 eggs, almonds and your chosen flavoring. Evenly spread the mixture on one of the puff pastry circles. Insert your “feve” or a button or bean, and cover with the second circle. Make a pleasant design on the top with the tip of a knife and paint with 1 egg yolk. Bake for about 25 minutes or until golden at 325-350 degrees F. depending on your oven.
It is best served warm. You can also serve at room temperature.

Bon Appetit and Bonne Fete Des Rois!!

Click on this link for the New Orleans King Cake version, which has its origins on the French Gallette Des Rois