The galette des rois is an expensive pastry, with noble ingredients. However, inexpensive versions can be found in supermarkets. But what are these pancakes worth for less than 10 euros? We compared 10 of them.
Monday January 6, Epiphany Day. The galette des rois season has started. This tradition, which dates back to the 13th century, spares no one: everyone wants their share of the famous cake, in the hope, perhaps, of getting the bean and being the king or queen of a day.
Around 60 million are sold per year, and they are found at all prices. In bakeries, which represent around 50% of the market, the pancake costs between 25 and 30 euros and can even go up to 50 euros. In mass distribution, the galette des rois is industrial but much cheaper. You can easily find six-part pancakes for less than 10 euros.
However, not all of them are equal, and although it is entirely possible to find a very decent galette des rois in a supermarket, careful reading of the labels will help you find the best quality/price ratio.
To help you, RMC Conso screened 10 supermarket pancakes and gave them a score based on three criteria: their price, their composition and their nutritional values.
Bakery, grocery or frozen food section?
It appears from this classification that the pancakes in the bakery sections of supermarkets, generally cooked on site and which only keep for a few days, have simpler and more qualitative lists of ingredients than those in the grocery sections, sold vacuum-packed and which generally keep for several weeks.
But it is the frozen pancakes which, from year to year, remain at the top of most rankings, because their packaging offers better freshness, they keep for several months without adding artificial preservatives, and their price remains very reasonable.
Of course, prices can fluctuate depending on the region, and the recipes in the bakery sections vary depending on the store, but you should find these pancakes in most supermarkets of different brands. This classification is far from exhaustive, the references sold in mass distribution being very numerous.
1- Picard’s frangipane almond galette des rois at 6.99 euros (6 pieces)
It is one of the cheapest pancakes per kilo (11.65 euros/kilo). It contains a good proportion of frangipane (39.6%) and a very correct almond content (7.7%). The list of ingredients is short, without harmful additives and, with 405 calories per 100 grams and 10% sugar, its nutritional values are among the least bad in the ranking (even if a galette des rois always remains a rich, fatty and sugar).
It is the only frozen reference in this ranking, its packaging being a major asset, allowing it to remain fresh and preserved for several months. 16,6/20
2- The galette des rois frangipane from the Leclerc bakery section at 6.5 euros (6 pieces)
Its price varies depending on the brand's stores, it is even possible to find it for less than four euros, which makes it a very affordable pancake, given its very correct composition (puff pastry with 33% butter, 37% frangipane including 22% almonds).
It is also not very sweet (8%) compared to other pancakes in this classification. It is also one of the rare ones to display both the list of ingredients and nutritional values on its label. 16/20
3- The galette des rois frangipane from the Auchan bakery section, at 8.99 euros (6 pieces)
It is much more expensive (22.48 euros/kilo) than the two previous pancakes but has a very good quality composition, with 43% frangipane, including 22.5% almond powder. This rather high percentage promises a good balance between puff pastry and filling. It is nevertheless quite rich in sugar (14%). 14/20
4- The galette des rois frangipane from the Carrefour bakery section, at 6.99 euros (6 pieces)
Carrefour offers two ranges in its bakery section, one at 3.99 euros and one at 6.99 euros. It is the most expensive of the two that we have chosen to include in this ranking, because the first has too low an almond content. With 10% almonds, the one at 6.99 euros has a good composition, a simple and short list of ingredients. It is nevertheless quite rich, with 442 calories per 100 grams. 14/20
5- The Monoprix x Aurélien Cohen frangipane king cake at 13.5 euros (6 shares)
This pancake has a good composition, a short list of ingredients, but its price, higher than the supermarket average, explains its position in only fifth place. 12,6/20
6- The galette des rois frangipane from the Casino bakery section at 4.9 euros (6 pieces)
This pancake is certainly very affordable, but it only weighs 370 grams for six portions, whereas most pancakes are between 400 and 500 grams. We understand why by reading the list of ingredients: it only contains 33% frangipane. The list of ingredients remains quite simple, however note the presence of baking powders (E500 and E330), additives which are not present in the better classified pancakes. 12/20
7- Pasquier’s frangipane king cake at 4.5 euros (6 pieces)
An affordable pancake (11.25 euros per kilo) but with a low almond content (5.6%). It also contains additives (baking powders), is rather rich (450 calories per 100 grams) and sweet (15% sugar). However, it remains the best sous vide option in the grocery section in our ranking. 10/20
8- The frangipane king cake Maître Jean-Pierre from Lidl at 2.49 euros (6 pieces)
At 6.23 euros per kilo, it is the cheapest pancake in this comparison. It nevertheless has a composition that leaves something to be desired, having replaced part of the butter with vegetable oils, including palm oil. Cheaper but lower quality fats than butter.
It also contains several harmful additives such as diphosphates and mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids. 9,3/20
9- The galette des rois frangipane Régals de Bretagne, sold at Franprix, at 6.9 euros (6 pieces)
It has the same composition as the Lidl king cake, but is much more expensive. Its quality/price ratio is frankly bad. 7,3/20
10- Ker'Kelau frangipane king cake sold at Intermarché, at 8.84 euros (6 pieces)
This pancake is relatively expensive (17.68 euros per kilo), compared to the other pancakes in this classification, and it contains the greatest number of undesirable additives (calcium phosphate, diphosphates, mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids). The only positive point: it is not very sweet (6.6% sugar). 7,3/20
