#Citrus and Praliné Kings' Crown

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Citrus and Praliné Kings' Crown

This year's Kings' Crown is a celebration of its Southern France origins, as it is filled and glazed with lemon and bergamot marmalades I brought back from Menton this Summer. And it could only be paired with best of pralinés, the Luxury version I made at Christmas. This Citrus and Praliné Kings' Crown is fit for Queens and Kings indeed! Happy Epiphany!

Ingredients (makes 1 brioche):

4 cups strong white flour

1/3 cup caster sugar

4 ½ teaspoons active dry yeast

2 teaspoons salt

1 lemon

4 large eggs

½ cup milk

1 cup unsalted butter, cut into small chunks

1 heaped tablespoon Confiture de Citron de Menton (Lemon Marmalade)

1 heaped tablespoon Confiture de Bergamote de Menton (Bergamot Marmalade)

2 tablespoons Luxury Praliné 

a fève*

1 egg, lightly beaten

½ tablespoon milk

1 teaspoon Confiture de Citron de Menton (Lemon Marmalade)

1 teaspoon Confiture de Bergamote de Menton (Bergamot Marmalade)

1 tablespoon water

1 tablespoon pearl sugar

The day before, combine strong white flour, caster sugar, yeast��and salt (they shouldn’t touch at this stage) in the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with the hook attachment. Grate in the zest of the whole lemon. Turn on low speed until well-combined.

Turn on medium speed and add the eggs and milk, and mix 4 minutes until smooth and elastic. The dough will be quite sticky at this stage. Gradually add butter, a few chunks at a time until fully incorporated. When all the butter is incorporated, increase speed to high and mix, 4 to 6 minutes, until dough is soft, shiny and slaps the sides of the bowl.

Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead lightly to form a ball. Pop the dough ball in a lightly oiled large bowl and cover with cling film. Let rise at room temperature for an hour.

Again, turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead lightly. Shape into a ball, and return dough to the lightly oiled bowl. Cover with cling film, and prove once more a couple of hours or until the dough has tripled in size. Place the bowl in the refrigerator overnight. The dough will continue proving, which will give the brioche a light and airy texture.

In the morning, remove the bowl from the refrigerator, and allow the dough to come back to room temperature, for 1 hour.

Line a baking tray with baking paper. Set aside. 

Remove cling film and turn dough out on a lightly floured surface. Divide the dough into two equal portions. Roll two of the portions into large rectangles onto a lightly floured surface.

Spread Lemon and Bergamot marmaldes onto the first dough rectangle, leaving at least an inch on the outward edge, and roll it tightly like you would a Swiss roll, seal the seam, and gently roll into a long “sausage”. Set aside. Repeat with the second dough rectangle, and generously spreading Luxury Praliné onto it, before rolling it, too. Hide the fève* in one of the “sausages”!

Place both of them vertically on the work surface, pinching the end of both of them firmly together. Twist, and shape into a crown. Place on prepared baking tray. Leave to prove for 30 minutes to one hour in a warm, draught-free room.

Whisk the egg and milk together.

Preheat oven to 190°C/375°F. Once the brioche has risen, brush thoroughly with egg wash. Bake at 190°C/375°F  for 35 minutes, until a nice golden brown colour.

Meanwhile, combine Lemon and Bergamot marmalades with water in a small saucepan. Warm over a low flame until dissolved, well-blended and syrup-y. Set aside.

Remove Citrus and Praliné Kings’ Crown from the oven. Immediately and generously brush all over with lemon and bergamot syrup. Sprinkle liberally with pearl sugar. Transfer to serving plate and let cool for a bit before serving and finding out who’ll be crowned Queen or King! It pairs nicely with chilled Cider.

*A fève is a tiny porcelain figurine traditionally hidden in Epiphany Galette des Rois or Kings’ Brioche in France. Whoever finds it in their slice is Queen or King for the day. Before it was a figurine, a dried fava bean (”fève”, in French) used to be hidden, hence the name.

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Kings' Crowns and Cakes

Some might think that the Festive Season ends with the first day of January; but indeed, we're only half-way through the revelries! Epiphany, celebrated on the 6th of January or the first Sunday after the 1st of January --or both and beyond, like in this house!-- commemorates the visit of the Magi, the Three Kings. In France, we feast on Kings' Cakes (or rather a pie with a frangipane filling encased in puff pastry) in the Northern half of the country, and on Kings' Crowns (brioches studded with candied peel and fruits) in the South. In theory... I was born in Paris, but I tend to favour Brioches des Rois over the Galettes des Rois! I also spent some of my early years in Montpellier in the South, where my sister, who prefers galettes, was born! Go figure! The truth is that they can both be very good, and even better if you try your hand at it and fill either with your favourite things! Here are a few Kings' Crowns and Cakes I baked over the years; hopefully something will suit your tastes... And, aother French tradition is to eat them throughout January, a good notion, I reckon!

Kings Crowns - Brioches des Rois

Citrus and Praliné Kings’ Crown 

Lemon and Honey Kings’ Crown 

Raspberry Kings’ Crown 

 Plum Kings’s Crown 

 Cardamom and Cinnamon Kings’ Crown 

 Caramel and Chocolate Kings’ Crown 

Kings’ Brioche

Kings' Cakes - Galettes des Rois

Pistachio and Cherry Kings' Cake 

Maple and Pecan Kings’ Cake 

Cranberry, Pomegranate and Satsuma Kings’ Cake 

Pecan, Walnut and Chocolate Kings’ Cake 

Honey and Pear Hazelnut King’s Cake 

Hazelnut and Chocolate King’s Cake 

Pistachio, Hazelnut and Almond Kings’ Cake 

Galette des Rois (Kings’ Cake)