I still remember my first bite of a homemade galette—a golden, slightly cracked crust folded lazily over warm, caramelized apples. It was perfectly imperfect, rustic, and absolutely divine. No fancy tart pan. No stress. Just flaky pastry and flavor in every bite.

That’s the magic of the French galette.

A galette is a free-form tart, usually made with pastry dough folded around a filling of fruit, vegetables, or even cheese and meat. It’s casual French baking at its finest—simple, rustic, and so much easier than pie.

🥧 What Is a Galette?

The word galette comes from the French culinary word galet, meaning “pebble,” referring to the flat, round shape of these rustic tarts.

In modern cooking, a galette is a pastry dish made without a tart pan—you roll out dough, pile on your filling, fold the edges over, and bake until golden.

There are two main types:

1. Sweet galettes – filled with fruit like apples, berries, peaches, or plums.

2. Savory galettes – stuffed with ingredients like goat cheese, mushrooms, zucchini, or caramelized onions.

And yes—they’re just as delicious as they sound.

🧁 What Makes Galettes So Special?

If you’ve ever made a traditional pie, you know it takes precision—chilling, crimping, perfect latticework. Galettes say, “Forget all that.”

Why we love galettes:

• No special tools required

• Flexible with ingredients

• Beautifully rustic (imperfections are part of the charm)

• Fast to prepare—especially with pre-made dough

• Perfect for seasonal produce

They’re ideal for when you want something impressive without the stress. Seriously—I’ve thrown together a galette an hour before guests arrived, and it always got compliments.

🍎 Popular Galette Fillings

Sweet Galettes:

• Apple Cinnamon – Classic and cozy

• Mixed Berry – Strawberries, blueberries, blackberries with a sprinkle of sugar

• Peach & Almond – Juicy fruit with nutty frangipane

• Pear & Honey – Light, elegant, and great with a scoop of vanilla ice cream

Savory Galettes:

• Tomato & Goat Cheese – A summer favorite with fresh herbs

• Mushroom & Gruyère – Earthy, rich, and totally satisfying

• Butternut Squash & Feta – Great for fall or winter

• Spinach & Ricotta – Like a handheld lasagna in tart form

You can really make it your own. That’s part of the fun.

🍴 Galette vs Crêpe: Wait, Aren’t Both French?

Yes! But they’re totally different.

• Galette (the tart) – A baked free-form pastry, usually made from buttery shortcrust dough.

• Galette Bretonne (or buckwheat crêpe) – A savory crêpe from Brittany, made with buckwheat flour, often filled with ham, egg, and cheese.

Both are called “galette” in French, but context matters. This article is all about the baked tart-style galette—the one that lives in the oven, not the skillet.

🧑‍🍳 How to Make a Simple Galette

Even if you’re not a baker, you can make this.

Ingredients:

• 1 pie crust (homemade or store-bought)

• 2 cups fruit or veggies (prepped)

• 2 tbsp sugar (or herbs/spices for savory)

• 1 tbsp flour or cornstarch (for thickening)

• Egg wash (1 egg + splash of milk or water)

Steps:

1. Roll dough into a rough circle, about ¼-inch thick.

2. Toss filling with sugar, flour, and spices/herbs.

3. Pile in the center

4. Fold edges over the filling—no need to be perfect.

5. Brush crust with egg wash for shine.

6. Bake at 400°F (200°C) for 30–40 minutes, until golden.

Cool slightly and serve warm. Sweet galettes pair beautifully with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream, while savory ones go great with a simple green salad.

🌍 Where to Try Galettes

If you’re not up for baking, you can often find galettes at:

• French bakeries or patisseries

• Farmers markets during summer

• Restaurants offering seasonal tarts

• Cafés with rustic European menus

But honestly, once you make your first galette at home, you’ll be hooked. It’s hard to go back.

✅ Final Thoughts: Galettes Are Your Go-To Rustic Delight

The galette is proof that you don’t need perfection to make something beautiful. It’s humble, versatile, and packed with flavor—whether you go sweet, savory, or somewhere in between.

So the next time you’ve got fruit that’s a little too ripe or veggies that need using, skip the pie pan. Grab some dough, fold it up, and make a galette. You might just fall in love with how effortlessly French it feels.