UC4 French Baking Lesson

On Wednesday 15th January, 11 UC4 French students gathered in the Food and Nutrition Department to make the traditional French pastry, la Galette des Rois, after being invited by our French teachers. To say the least, it was certainly an experience to remember and a taste that leaves you craving more. 

First, we were given instructions on how to make the pastry in French. The process was simple for such an exquisite dessert. What made it truly special for me was that the recipe had been passed down to Madame McDonald from her mother. Authentic and delicious, what more could I ask for? 

We started by cracking three eggs into a bowl. In a separate bowl, we mixed butter and sugar until it took on a fluffy texture. Later, we combined the two mixtures. Next, we added almond powder and vanilla. Then we rolled out our puff pastries, splitting them in half. We placed one piece into the tins, making sure all the empty spots were covered using the excess pastry. 

After pouring the mixture into the tins, we cut the second puff pastry to fit the shape and placed it on top. My favourite part of the process was decorating (apart from tasting, of course). I chose a simple yet traditional design, lightly scoring the top of my pastry with a knife to draw three horizontal lines. Many of my friends came up with creative designs, such as diamonds or spirals. 

It was finally time to put the pastries in the oven. Waiting for them to bake felt like the longest 20 minutes of my life! While we waited, our two French assistants shared traditions from their regions involving la galette des rois.

One of the most widely practiced traditions is hiding the ‘fève’, a small figurine, inside the cake. The youngest person sits under the table to decide who gets which slice, ensuring fairness in the figure’s placement. The person who finds the ‘fève’ becomes the King or Queen for the day. 

We learned that the pastry itself varies between regions. We made the version commonly found in Northern France, but in Southern France, the pastry takes the form of a brioche, flavoured with orange blossom and topped with colourful candied fruits. 

Finally, our pastries were ready to come out of the oven. We enjoyed them thoroughly and had an incredible time. 

Ladin Koseoglu, UC4

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