This is a French cake that celebrates the Epiphany, the traditional January 6 commemoration of the day when the Three Kings visited the Baby Jesus.

As part of French tradition, a bean or small china “feve,” or favor, is hidden in the cake. The person who finds the “feve” in his or her slice becomes “King” or “Queen” for the day.

Ingredients

¼ cup of almond paste

¼ cup of white sugar

3 tablespoons of unsalted butter, softened

¼ teaspoon of vanilla extract

¼ teaspoon of almond extract

2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour

1 pinch of salt

2 packs of frozen puff pastry, thawed

1 egg, beaten

Place the almond paste in a food processor with about half of the sugar, and process until well-blended. Add the butter and remaining sugar and process until smooth, then blend in egg, vanilla extract, almond extract, flour and salt. Set aside.

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, and set aside. Roll out one sheet of the puff pastry. Keep the pastry cool; don’t knead or stretch it. Repeat with the second sheet of pastry. Refrigerate both sheets.

Mound the almond filling onto the center of the pastry (the one that is on the baking sheet). Leave about a 1 ½ inch margin at the edges. Wet the margin with a little water so it will stick together. Don’t forget the little favor in the filling!

Place the second sheet of pastry on top, and press down the edges to seal. Beat the remaining egg with a fork, and lightly brush onto the top of the galette. Use a knife to make a criss-cross pattern in the egg wash, and then prick several small slits in the top to vent steam while baking.

Bake for 30 minutes in the preheated oven until the top is a deep golden brown. Transfer to a wire rack to cool. Eat it warm: You are the chef!