Who said that industrial king cakes were necessarily bad? Of course, there is nothing better than homemade… but to preserve your already battered wallet during the holidays, there are alternatives sold in supermarkets that are both tasty and affordable according to the UFC- What to Choose.
Unmissable during Epiphany, the king cake is much more than a simple dessert: it is a friendly tradition where young and old alike enjoy themselves, hoping to come across the famous bean in order to become the king or queen of the table. However, after the excesses of Christmas, many are hesitant to pay the price for an artisanal cake. Hence the success pancakes the frangipane sold in supermarkets. But are these industrial versions really worth it? If they do not always compete with homemade or bakery creations, some can have nice surprises in store, according to UFC-Que Choisir.
Ranking of industrial king cakes: some stand out according to UFC-Que Choisir
“Are the king cakes sold in supermarkets all of poor quality, or do some do well?” To be clear about it, UFC-Que Choisir evaluated 19 king cakes from mass distributionin the most varied formats possible, from frozen sections to organic versions. This is how the consumer association has established a ranking revealing pleasant surprises for small budgets. How did the experts do it? 50% of the overall score was based on a blind tasting carried out by a jury of 10 people (employees of UFC-Que Choisir), noting organoleptic qualities pancakes (taste, texture, smell, appearance). Added to this is 30% analysis of the quality of the recipe (presence of additives or ultra-processed ingredients) and 20% evaluation nutritional values (sugar and fat levels in particular). Unsurprisingly: frozen pancakes and those from the bakery section of stores obtained the best results.
What is the best supermarket king cake according to UFC-Que Choisir?
So, which cake made an impression? With a price of €7.99 and a score of 13.5/20, the frangipane king cake from Auchan 6 parts (EAN code 2030500476935) rose to the top of the UFC-Que Choisir rankings. “Made up of simple ingredients, this pancake has a good almond content and was the most appreciated by our jury, whether for its appearance, taste or texture”commented the specialists. The only downside? “Its 100% plastic packaging”. What about the other king cakes? Honorable mentions include: Frozen pure organic butter frangipane king cake 4 parts or even the galette des rois frangipane almond pure butter frozen 8 parts (finishing 2nd at the tasting!), both available at Picard. On the other hand, the worst in the ranking are the galette des rois frangipane Les Pâtissades (Aldi) and the galette des rois sans gluten Bio Revola. The cause: too many additives, ultra-transformation markers, a taste, appearance and texture that leave something to be desired…
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