French Butter Cookies – recipe jobt9

French Butter Cookies, also known as Sablé Bretons, are deliciously buttery, crumbly cookies that melt in your mouth. They’re simple to make, but the texture and taste are exquisite. Here’s a detailed recipe for these scrumptious cookies:

French Butter Cookies (Sablé Bretons)

Ingredients:

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
2 large egg yolks
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon whole milk (optional, for a softer texture)

Optional for decoration:

Granulated sugar (for sprinkling on top)
Egg wash (1 egg yolk + 1 tablespoon water, whisked together)

Directions:

1. Prepare the Dough:

Step 1: In a large mixing bowl, cream the softened butter and granulated sugar together using an electric mixer (or a whisk if you’re doing it by hand). Mix until the butter is light and fluffy—about 2-3 minutes.
Step 2: Add the egg yolks (not the whites) and vanilla extract to the butter-sugar mixture. Continue mixing until everything is fully incorporated.
Step 3: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour and salt.
Step 4: Gradually add the dry ingredients (flour and salt) to the wet ingredients. Mix on low speed (or fold in with a spatula) just until the dough begins to come together. Be careful not to overwork the dough.
Step 5: If you feel the dough is a bit dry, add a tablespoon of whole milk to help it come together.

2. Chill the Dough:

Step 1: Divide the dough into two portions. Roll each portion into a log (about 1.5 inches in diameter). Wrap each log in plastic wrap.
Step 2: Place the dough in the fridge to chill for at least 1 hour, or until firm. This will make the dough easier to slice.

3. Preheat the Oven:

Step 1: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat to prevent the cookies from sticking.

4. Shape and Bake the Cookies:

Step 1: After chilling, remove the dough logs from the fridge. Slice them into 1/4-inch thick rounds.
Step 2: Arrange the sliced dough on the prepared baking sheets. Leave about 1 inch between each cookie, as they will spread a little while baking.
Step 3: Optionally, you can brush the tops of the cookies with an egg wash (made by whisking 1 egg yolk with 1 tablespoon of water) and sprinkle with granulated sugar for a shiny finish.
Step 4: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden. Keep an eye on them towards the end to ensure they don’t over-brown.

5. Cool the Cookies:

Step 1: Once baked, remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes.
Step 2: After they’ve cooled slightly, transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Enjoy your French Butter Cookies!

These cookies will have a delicate, crumbly texture with a rich butter flavor. They’re perfect for pairing with tea or coffee. You can also store them in an airtight container for up to a week. Enjoy!

Tips:

Chill time is very important for getting that perfect, crispy texture. Don’t skip it!
If you want to get fancy, you can use cookie cutters to shape the dough before baking, or even press a little decoration or imprint into the top of each cookie before baking.
You can also experiment with adding lemon zest, almond extract, or even a little bit of cocoa powder to mix up the flavors!