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French Salted Butter Cookies Recipe

French Salted Butter Cookies Recipe


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4.6 from 21 reviews

  • Total Time: 27-30 minutes
  • Yield: 12 1x

Description

These classic French salted butter cookies bring a delightful crunch to your afternoon tea. Crisp, buttery, and simple to make, they’ll transport your taste buds straight to Brittany with just a few pantry ingredients.


Ingredients

Scale

Cookies:

  • 300g all-purpose flour
  • 250g unsalted butter
  • 200g sugar

Supporting Ingredients:

  • 1 egg yolk

Finishing Ingredients:

  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ teaspoon salt

Instructions

  1. Warm the oven precisely to 350°F with a rack positioned in the center for consistent baking.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, whip 250g softened butter and 200g sugar until the mixture transforms into a pale, airy texture with soft peaks.
  3. Introduce 1 teaspoon vanilla extract and ½ teaspoon salt into your butter mixture, blending thoroughly to distribute flavors evenly.
  4. Gently fold 300g all-purpose flour into the creamy base, stirring carefully until your dough reaches a smooth, cohesive consistency.
  5. Incorporate 1 egg yolk into the dough, mixing until completely integrated and your texture becomes uniform.
  6. Roll small portions of dough into 1-inch spheres, placing them 2 inches apart on an ungreased baking sheet.
  7. Press each cookie ball gently with a fork tines, creating delicate crosshatch patterns across the surface.
  8. Slide the baking sheet into the preheated 350°F oven, baking for exactly 14 minutes until cookie edges turn a soft golden brown.
  9. Remove the sheet and allow cookies to rest at room temperature for 10 minutes, enabling them to firm and develop a delicate crunch.

Notes

  • Use high-quality butter at room temperature for the best texture and flavor in these French salted butter cookies.
  • Chill the dough for 30 minutes before shaping to help the cookies maintain their form and prevent spreading during baking.
  • For a gluten-free version, swap regular flour with a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend that includes xanthan gum.
  • Sprinkle a tiny pinch of flaky sea salt on top of each cookie before baking to enhance the classic French butter cookie’s signature salty-sweet profile.
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 12-15 minutes
  • Category: Cookies
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: French

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 12
  • Calories: 184
  • Sugar: 8 g
  • Sodium: 82 mg
  • Fat: 11 g
  • Saturated Fat: 7 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
  • Trans Fat: 0.3 g
  • Carbohydrates: 18 g
  • Fiber: 1 g
  • Protein: 2 g
  • Cholesterol: 37 mg