Description
Delicate French butter cookies (sablés) showcase the elegance of French pastry with simple, rich ingredients. Crisp, buttery, and melt-in-mouth, you’ll savor these classic treats that connect to generations of French baking tradition.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose or cake flour
- 1/2 cup butter, softened to room temperature
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar, sifted before measuring
Secondary Ingredients:
- 1 egg yolk, at room temperature
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Coating:
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
Instructions
- Craft a luxurious dough by gently blending softened butter and powdered sugar until achieving a delicate, airy consistency. Incorporate egg yolk and vanilla extract, stirring until thoroughly integrated.
- Sift flour into the mixture, carefully folding to create a supple, cohesive dough without overmixing.
- Encase the dough in plastic wrap and allow it to rest in the refrigerator for 20 minutes, enabling the ingredients to harmonize.
- Divide the chilled dough into two equal portions, then meticulously roll each segment into elegant cylinders approximately 4 inches long and 1 inch in diameter.
- Individually wrap the logs in plastic film and transfer to the freezer for 45 minutes to firm and stabilize their shape.
- Heat the oven to 356°F/180°C and prepare a parchment-lined baking sheet. Gently roll the hardened logs in granulated sugar, ensuring a uniform, sparkling coating.
- Using a sharp knife, slice the logs into precise 3/8-inch thick medallions, positioning them carefully on the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake for 15-18 minutes, monitoring until the edges transform into a golden, crisp perfection.
- After removing from the oven, let the cookies rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, allowing them to develop a satisfying crunch before transferring to a cooling rack.
Notes
- Butter Temperature Matters softly soften butter at room temperature to ensure smooth, creamy mixing without overworking the dough.
- Sugar Coating Option roll cookie logs in raw sugar or colored sanding sugar for added crunch and visual appeal.
- Freezing Technique wrap cookie logs tightly in plastic wrap and place in freezer-safe container to prevent freezer burn and maintain dough quality.
- Gluten-Free Adaptation substitute all-purpose flour with a gluten-free blend containing xanthan gum for similar texture and structure.
- Prep Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 158
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 25 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 17 g
- Fiber: 0.3 g
- Protein: 1.6 g
- Cholesterol: 31 mg