Montréal’s best King cakes
King cakes are a festive treat linked to the Epiphany, a Christian feast day commemorating the visit of the Three Kings. Each cake, unique in form and flavor, hides a special surprise in the form of a small bean or figurine. After the cake is cut, whoever gets the bean, or the figurine, wins a prize. Here are some of Montréal’s best.
A King cake, or a galette des rois, is a traditional French dessert served on January 6th to celebrate Epiphany, the day that the three kings (les rois) are said to have visited the newborn Jesus. The traditional galette consists of a frangipane (almond filling) spread between two circular layers of puff pastry and baked until golden brown. A small ceramic or plastic fève (bean) is inserted in the almond cream before baking. The person who finds the bean in their slice is crowned queen or king for a day and wears a paper crown (usually provided by the bakery). Custom dictates that the youngest person in the room hides under the table and names the recipient of each portion as it is cut, to ensure the random distribution of the galette.
As you will read in this article, most bakeries will make the traditional version of this cake, as well as more creative ones by changing the filling and sometimes even the puff pastry. The bean can also get an upgrade by choosing a hand-made trinket from a local ceramic shop or something of equal significance. Some Montréal bakers have hidden valuable gold trinkets in their galettes that are fit for royalty.
Sachère
The creative pastry chefs at Sachère have given their 2 King cakes (galettes) some very unique twists. The first one is one that is sure to leave an impression with its black puff pastry made with activated charcoal. The filling is made with homemade black sesame frangipane and freeze-dried raspberries. The second one is filled with a maple sugar and almond frangipane. All of their King cakes (galettes) contain a ceramic “bean” handmade to order by local ceramic shop Atelier Make. Each King cake (galettes) serves 6 to 8 people. The King cakes (galettes) are available for pre-order from November 7 to December 31 for pick up between January 3 and 15. Keep in mind that the shop will be closed on December 25 and 26 and January 1 and 2. Book yours on their website.
1274 de Maisonneuve Boulevard East
Automne Boulangerie
Petite-Patrie bakery Automne has been testing their inverse puff pastry methods for a crispier, more flaky King cakes (galettes) that will be available from the beginning of January. They use local flours by Moulin des Cèdres, Moulin des Soulanges, and Moulin de Charlevoix. The filling is a classic frangipane infused with local sweet clover.
6500 Christophe-Colomb Avenue and 1470 Bélanger Street
Première Moisson
This year, Première Moisson will be offering a classic King cake (galette des rois) made with rum-flavoured almond paste, as well as a signature chocolate-cranberry galette with a chocolate almond cream topped with cranberry jam, then decorated with chocolate mendiants. The ceramic bean inside is handmade by a local artist.
Several locations
Pâtisserie Rhubarbe
The adorable and highly popular Plateau pastry shop Rhubarb is offering two flavours of galettes des rois this year. A chocolate galette with cocoa puff pastry, buckwheat praline and almond cream and a rum galette with almond cream, vanilla, and rum. Rhubarbe’s galettes serve 6 people and are available from January 4 to 14, 2024. It’s highly recommended that you order yours on their website as early as possible.
1479 Laurier Avenue East
Le Toledo
French-style bakery Le Toledo is making two flavours of King cakes (galettes des rois) this year: a classic frangipane one and a blueberry frangipane one for a more fruity and festive filling. Order yours from December 28 for pick-ups at their two locations.
351 Mont-Royal Avenue East and 448 Wellington Street
De Froment et de Sève
De Froment et de Sève's King cakes (galettes des rois) come in two flavours this year: the classic with 66% almond paste and an almond and apple one that has the addition of fresh apples and cinnamon. Both are made with a buttery, flaky puff pastry. Reservations open on their website on December 24 and pick-ups start on December 26. They are sold in a galette bag with a crown. A real gold bean worth $400 will be hidden in one of the galettes.
Several locations
Boulangerie Arhoma
The Arhoma King cake (galette des rois) contains an almond frangipane infused with Québec-made Avril amaretto liqueur. The little “bean” inside each galette is made by local ceramic maker Atelier Tréma. The galettes will be available from January 3 to 15 and orders can be online, in-store and through some of Arhoma’s retailers.
15 Place Simon-Valois
Chez Potier
French pastry shop Chez Potier is making 3 different flavours of King cakes (galettes des rois) this year. The classic with a vanilla flavoured frangipane with a touch of rum; the chocolate with a special chocolate cream with caramelised pecans; and finally, a surprise one that will be revealed shortly on their website so stay tuned! The beans are imported from France and 10 Louis d’or (gold coins) will be hiding among the galettes for some lucky clients to find.
630 Wellington Street
Blés de Pays
Blé de Pays makes their puff pastry with quality ingredients that are local and traceable, such as Moulin des Cèdres flour. They ferment the dough with their bran sourdough to give it character and a better nutritional contribution than just white flour. The filling is a classic frangipane made with exceptional ingredients such as Étoile d’Or butter from Saguenay Lac-St-Jean. Finally, this year they’ve decided to add a homemade buckwheat and hazelnut praline with chocolate from local bean-to-bar chocolate maker Monarque as a topping to their galettes.
5333 Casgrain Avenue, #718
Aube Boulangerie
Aube Boulangerie will be making 3 flavours of galettes this year: a traditional almond one; a revisited maple, Avril amaretto liqueur and pecan puff pastry brioche; and a third one with a surprise flavour that hasn’t been revealed yet. The ceramic beans were handmade by the Aube team during a ceramic workshop at Argile Atelier. The King cakes (galettes) will be available from January 6 for pre-order on their website until stocks run out!
4715 Sainte-Catherine Street East
Le Far Breton
As every year, Le Far Breton will be making 2 flavours of King cakes (galettes des rois): the traditional one with a generous frangipane and one with almond and pistachio cream. They are made by hand, including the butter puff pastry, which takes two days of lamination and one day of rest before baking. There are several choices of beans under the theme of the Nativity this year. The galettes will be available from January 6th and you can order them online, by phone or directly on the premises.
1127 Bélanger
Ô Petit Paris
Ô Petit Paris is offering two formats of galettes this year, a 2-person format and one for 6 to 8 people. Their traditional galette is made with puff pastry and almond frangipane and their chocolate pistachio galette is made with cocoa puff pastry and a pistachio cream. They will be available for pre-order on their website from December 26th.
1592 Mont-Royal Avenue East
You can find more King cakes (galettes des rois) at the following bakeries:
Mayssam Samaha
Mayssam Samaha is a food and travel writer and blogger and the founder behind the blog Will Travel for Food. She travels the world in search of the next culinary discovery. From Iceland to South Africa, she’s already visited over 36 countries and there’s nothing she enjoys more than wandering around a farmers’ market in a foreign city. She is also the founder of the SAISONS intimate dinner series highlighting Québec products and chefs.