Galettes des rois, a tasty French tradition

Last updated date : 5th January 2026

The Galette des Rois is one of France’s most delicious and joyful traditions. Every January, bakeries and patisseries across the country fill their windows with these golden king cakes, celebrating Epiphany and the arrival of the Three Kings.

In this guide, we’ll explore what a galette des rois is, its history, the most popular types, how it’s shared, and where to find the best ones in France.

And if you’d like to learn more — and practice speaking about French culture in real-life situations — feel free to ask about my French Conversation Lessons.

The phrase galette des rois literally means “cake of the kings”.

The galette tradition has its roots in ancient pagan customs, dating back to Roman times when people celebrated the solstice and honored Saturn, the god of agriculture and time.

During these festivities, both masters and slaves would come together to enjoy a feast, and a bean would be hidden in one of the dishes or baked into a round cake resembling the sun. The lucky slave who discovered the bean would be crowned king for the day.

Today, we enjoy this cake to commemorate the arrival of the Three Kings—Melchior, Gaspard, and Balthazar—who visited Jesus in Bethlehem.

Epiphany is traditionally celebrated twelve days after Christmas, specifically on January 6. In recent changes, this date shifts to the second Sunday following Christmas, which often lands on the first Sunday of January. This is when the famous galette des rois is typically served and enjoyed.

If you’re unable to celebrate on that weekend, you can still find the galette in stores. It’s so popular that it’s available from December through the end of January !

Discover more about French culinary traditions with my guide on La Chandeleur, the crêpe day. Explore timeless and innovative French desserts for a tasty cultural adventure.

Enjoying a galette des rois is a joyful, shared experience. Typically, the cake is divided into enough pieces for every guest, plus an additional slice for the ‘little king’ or someone who could use it.

The youngest person at the table usually hides beneath the table and announces who receives each slice — a delightful tradition that enhances the enjoyment. Whoever finds the fève in their slice is “king” or “queen” for the day and gets to wear the paper crown that comes with the cake

Historically, la fève was literally a bean, which is what the name means in French. Nowadays, these figurines have expanded to include a wide range of trinkets, and some enthusiasts, known as fabophiles, even collect them, creating rare collections.

There are two main types of Galette des Rois you’ll find in France.

1. The classic version is a puff-pastry galette filled with almond frangipane, rich and buttery with a golden, flaky crust.
2. In the south of France, many families enjoy the brioche des rois, a soft, crown-shaped brioche topped with candied fruits and sugar.

As creativity grows among pastry chefs, new flavors and styles appear each year. The celebration of Epiphany has turned into a way to showcase the finest bakeries, featuring unique and exciting galettes.

You might find interesting flavors like matcha and yuzu, popcorn or even apple and calvados. Prices can vary significantly, with some galettes costing upwards of 69 or 80 euros for the most exceptional creations in Paris.

Love French desserts? Check out the guide to regional French pastries to discover more delicious traditional and modern treats from across France.

Crowned the best pastry chef in the world, Nina Métayer is treating us to three delightful galettes des rois to celebrate Epiphany 2026.

Get ready for three delightful new galettes. Each one is crafted with AOP Charentes-Poitou butter pastry.

Solstice (Signature 2026)

• A refined galette with frangipane enhanced by the bright, citrusy notes of lemon confit and the fresh herbal aroma of verbena.

L’Arbre de Vie

• A more innovative variation combining frangipane with green cardamom and caramelized apple cubes for fruity spice and warmth.

L’Ambrée

• The classic‑inspired galette with almond frangipane and a touch of aged rum.

The king cakes by Cyril Lignac are available in four delightful flavors: traditional almond, pear pistachio, gianduja, and a brioche:

Galette des Rois Poire‑Pistache:

• A luxurious galette with caramelized puff pastry, filled with pistachio and orange blossom frangipane and pear slices — a fruity, nutty twist on the traditional king cake.

Galette des Rois Gianduja

• A richer take with gianduja (milk chocolate and hazelnut) filling.

Gâteau des Rois – Brioche à la Fleur d’Oranger

• Brioche scented with orange blossom, studded with candied oranges, pistachios and caramelized

To kick off the year 2026 in style, Chef Pâtissier Joris Theysset invites us to reinvent Epiphany with boldness and indulgence at Ritz Paris Le Comptoir.

The unexpected flavor of grilled corn, gently roasted, releases toasted cereal notes reminiscent of popcorn, turning each bite into a comforting and surprising moment.

You can also enjoy the traditional almond Galette des Rois, available in individual servings for a personal treat.

For 2026 Jeffrey Cagnes offers a collection that is both stylish and unique. Besides the classic frangipane, you can also enjoy:

Galette Citron Basilic (Signature Creation)

• A Chef’s signature twist: almond frangipane enlivened with lemon and basil, with olive oil notes for a bright, Mediterranean flair.

Galette Praliné Noisette

• A hazelnut‑focused variation (praliné and nutty richness).

Galette Chocolat

• A chocolate‑accented galette created in collaboration with Cupra (likely richer and more decadent).

Brioche Bordelaise

• A fragrantly scented brioche option (often with orange blossom), offering a softer, more brioche‑style alternative to the classic galette.

Discover Yann Couvreur’s 2026 Galettes des Rois feature Amande, Noisette, and Pecan flavors—luxurious puff pastry King Cakes perfect for Epiphany celebrations in France:

Signature Isatis Galette

• Pecan frangipane with caramelized pecans for a luxurious and unique flavor experience.

Noisette Galette

• Rich hazelnut frangipane offering a nutty, aromatic twist on the classic.

Classic Amande

• Traditional almond frangipane in buttery puff pastry, perfect for timeless King Cake celebrations.

The Galette des rois is more than just a delicious French pastry—it brings friends and family together to celebrate Epiphany. From learning its history to discovering the fun vocabulary that surrounds it, exploring French traditions is a delicious way to deepen your language skills.

Want to take your French learning further? Contact me for private French lessons and enjoy personalized guidance every step of the way. À bientôt!”