What’s the Difference Between a Galette and a Crostata?

Indulge in the delectable world of rustic pastries with our comprehensive guide to galettes and crostatas. These free-form tarts, characterized by their open-top design and flaky crust, offer a delightful canvas for showcasing seasonal fruits and savory fillings. While their names may differ, these culinary creations share striking similarities, making them essentially interchangeable.

Origin and Etymology

The term “galette” originates from the French word “galet,” meaning “a smooth flat pebble,” aptly describing the rustic, round shape of this pastry. Crostata, on the other hand, is an Italian term that translates to “crusty.” Both names evoke the handcrafted nature of these tarts, which are typically rolled out and shaped by hand.

Crust and Shaping

Galettes and crostatas are defined by their distinctive crust. Unlike traditional pies enclosed in a double crust, these pastries feature a single layer of dough that is rolled out into a large circle. The edges of the dough are then folded up by hand, creating a rustic border that encloses the filling. This technique not only adds a charming touch but also prevents the filling from spilling out during baking.

Filling Versatility

The beauty of galettes and crostatas lies in their versatility. They can be filled with a wide array of ingredients, both sweet and savory. Popular sweet fillings include fruits such as apples, berries, and stone fruits, often combined with spices like cinnamon or nutmeg. Savory fillings, on the other hand, may include vegetables like tomatoes, zucchini, or spinach, often complemented by herbs and cheeses.

Baking Process

Galettes and crostatas are typically baked on a sheet tray, allowing for even heat distribution and a golden-brown crust. The baking time varies depending on the filling, but generally, these pastries require around 30-45 minutes in a preheated oven.

Serving Suggestions

Galettes and crostatas are best served warm, allowing the flavors to meld and the crust to retain its flakiness. They can be enjoyed on their own or paired with accompaniments such as whipped cream, ice cream, or a drizzle of honey.

Galettes and crostatas are culinary gems that embody the essence of rustic elegance. Their interchangeable nature, combined with their versatility and ease of preparation, makes them a delightful addition to any gathering. Whether you call them galettes or crostatas, these free-form tarts will undoubtedly impress your taste buds and leave you craving more.

Pie, Tart, and Galette Recipes

The lemony filling in Food52’s chiffon pie recipe is made with whipped egg whites, egg yolks, and gelatin. Erin Jeanne McDowell is the resident baker. After pouring it into a pie crust that has already been baked, raspberry purée is splattered throughout the lemon filling.

As easy and delightful as it sounds, an ice cream pie To make this dessert, simply fill a pie or graham cracker crust with your preferred ice cream flavor(s) (making it yourself earns bonus brownie points). Use good-quality chocolate ice cream with a homemade caramel sauce to make this recipe from baking resident Erin Jeanne McDowell. You can also use vanilla ice cream instead.

Since cream and eggs are the primary ingredients of pumpkin pie, it is an example of a custard pie. But since it’s baked, it can remain at room temperature for hours at the holiday dinner table—you know, during the arguments over white versus dark meat, who drained the gravy bowl, and politics).

This citrus-based treat is a type of cream pie, as the name suggests. Egg yolks, sweetened condensed milk, vanilla extract, and a ton of lemon juice go into making this specific filling. It’s chilled until ready to serve after being poured into a cookie crumb crust (though graham cracker crust would work just as well).

Craig & Kathleen Claiborne’s Mississippi Pecan Pie

Due to the fact that the filling of pecan pies is made primarily of corn syrup, butter, eggs, and either white or brown sugar, they can be considered examples of sugar pies. To give this pie recipe an even deeper, caramelized flavor, brown sugar and dark corn syrup are used.

S’mores Crostata or Galette

FAQ

Is a crostata the same as a galette?

A crostata is an Italian version of the French galette that can be sweet and savory, too. We’ve baked sweet crostatas filled with apricot jam or strawberry jam, as well as an umami-rich scallion and soy filling.

What are the three different types of galette?

The three most common types of galette are galette Breton, galette de rois, and fruit galette. A galette Breton is a buckwheat crepe. A galette de rois is a type of flat cake made with pastry dough. Finally, a fruit galette is a freeform pie shaped around the filling.

What is the difference between a croustade and a galette?

For pastry, it generally means a free form pie or tart. Croustades can be individual or larger. Galette: Galettes are sweet or savory baked items.

What is the Italian version of galette?

A crostata is essentially an Italian version of what the French would call a galette: a flat, free-form pie. It may be baked in a pie pan too, often seen with a simple cross-hatch topping of crust, but we love the rustic and fuss-free style of baking it right on a sheet pan.

Are crostatas and galettes the same?

So, we know that we implied that these desserts are not all the same, but when it comes to crostatas and galettes, the only difference is linguistic. Crostata is an Italian term, and galette is French; however, by definition, you can use these terms interchangeably. They’re referring to the same, easy and distinctly elegant dessert.

Are crostatas sweet or savory?

But, like crostatas and galettes, these can go either savory or sweet, and we certainly do not discriminate here. Whether you opt for a crostata, galette, or tart, may this be the most important takeaway here—if fruit-based, always serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

What is a galette cake?

What is a galette? Galette is a French term that refers to a variety of flat, round cakes, usually made with a flaky pastry dough of some kind. The term is very broad and can actually encompass a wide variety of different desserts, including a type of buckwheat crepes popular in parts of France and even types of cookies in French Canada.

Are galettes sweet or savory?

Galettes can be sweet or savory. When you fill the tart with ingredients vegetables, sausage and cheese can turn a sheet of pastry into a beautiful main course. It is more common for galettes to be filled with fruit, chocolate or other sweet elements and served for dessert, though.