Galette des rois / Brioche des rois

At this time of year (epiphany) the galettes des rois and the brioches des rois are in the shops.

The galette des rois is a great big flaky pastry kind of thing. All butter. Stuffed with frangipane (frangipanes grow wild in France) or with chocolate or with something else.

The brioche des rois is my favourite. It's a big brioche in a ring shape, with sugar crystals on top and flavoured with orange water. It's really nice.

They have a fève inside - that is a small pottery figure, usually of someone in mediaeval dress - a tiny santon.

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