A Cozy Afternoon Bake: My Simple French Galette Recipe
There’s something deeply comforting about a rustic fruit galette—the kind of pastry that feels like it came straight from a French countryside kitchen. No fancy equipment, no perfect edges—just buttery crust, juicy seasonal fruit, and the joy of creating something beautiful that doesn't require a lot of time or stress. This week, I spent an afternoon baking one in my kitchen, the windows open, a breeze coming in, and peonies on the table. I cherish these little moments whenever I can find them.
FOOD
6/10/20253 min read
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The Charm of the Galette
Whenever I'm tasked with bringing a desert, especially if its last minute, I always make a galette. More than likely I have all the ingredients in my fridge ready to go and you probably do too. A store bought pastry shell, some apricot jam (but I've used others in a pinch), an egg for making an egg wash, fruit, and a little sugar. That's all you need! Plus the beauty of the galette is that it doesn't need to look perfect. It's meant to have a rustic French charm to it. So even if you've never made one before, you can show it off as a perfectly executed French pastry.
My Simple Technique
My original recipe comes from none other than the incredible Jacques Pepin. If you haven't watched his shows or looked through his cookbooks, please I beg you take a minute and go check this out. If you're curious about how to liven up your cooking with some French flair, this is where you should start. Or you can always just try my slightly altered recipe below.
I took Jacques Pepin's recipe one step further and added an egg wash to liven up the browning along the edges. I've made plenty of these without the egg wash though. So if you don't have time to make one and have the galette chill in the fridge for thirty minutes you can always skip this step if you're pressed for time. I've made a galette when we were supposed to go see my in-laws and had just run out of time with trying to make it through the day with my two kids. So I threw all of this together and had it in the oven in under 10 minutes. It's that fast!
Ingredients:
1 sheet of pre-made pie dough
2 cups sliced fruit (peaches, berries, apples—whatever you have on hand)
2-4 tbsp apricot jam (I usually get mine at Aldi)
1 egg for brushing
Coarse sugar for sprinkling
Optional: pinch of cinnamon, lemon zest, or flower sprinkles if you're Meghan Markle ; )
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
Lay the dough onto parchment paper on a baking tray.
Arrange fruit in circles within the dough, leaving a 2-inch border.
Dollop on 4-6 tbsp of apricot jam on the fruit in about 5-6 small dollops.
Gently fold the dough edges over the fruit.
Brush edges with egg wash and sprinkle with sugar. (You can chill the galette in the fridge and do a second egg wash before adding the sugar if you prefer for extra brown edges)
Bake for 35–40 minutes until golden brown.
Cool slightly, then serve warm—ideally with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream. (If the jam hasn't completely melted and spread around, gently take a spoon and tease it into place)
Equipement
You probably have everything you need already in your own kitchen to make this recipe. But just in case, I've included a list with some links to equipment that I use and enjoy.
How to Enjoy
Your galette doesn't call for a set occasion. This recipe is easy enough you could make it as a decadent brunch treat or your special snack for when your kids are napping. You can even make dinner feel a little more cozy with a homemade French classic. Make some memories with your loved ones around a dining room table with laughter and smiles enjoying something you made just for them. I think baking is a way to show you care. So I hope this recipe is one that you'll try and share with your loved ones.
Video Instructions
If you're like me and do better with watching instructions that reading them, I have a video posted of making this galette on my Instagram page. Bon appétit!
