Description
Délicieux French Butter Cookies melt right into your afternoon tea moments with buttery, crisp perfection. Crumbly and delicate, these traditional treats from Brittany bring pure French bakery charm straight to your kitchen counter.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 cups (250g) all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (226g) unsalted butter, softened
- ¾ cup (150g) granulated sugar
Supporting Ingredients:
- 3 large egg yolks
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Finishing Ingredients:
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon milk or water
Instructions
- Cream 226g (1 cup) softened unsalted butter with 150g (¾ cup) granulated sugar until the mixture transforms into a pale, airy consistency that looks almost cloud-like.
- Incorporate 2 large egg yolks and 1 tsp vanilla extract, mixing thoroughly until the ingredients blend smoothly and create a uniform texture.
- Gently fold 250g (2 cups) all-purpose flour and ½ tsp salt into the butter mixture, stirring carefully to prevent overmixing and maintain a delicate dough structure.
- Shape the dough into a compact log or flat disc, then refrigerate for precisely 30 minutes to help the butter firm up and enhance flavor development.
- Preheat your oven to exactly 350°F (175°C) while preparing a baking sheet with parchment paper or light greasing.
- Remove chilled dough and slice into uniform ¼-inch thick rounds or cut into desired shapes using cookie cutters.
- Optional: Create a glossy egg wash by whisking 1 egg yolk with 1 tsp milk or water, then gently brush the cookie surfaces for a beautiful golden sheen.
- Arrange cookies 1 inch apart on the prepared baking sheet and bake at 350°F (175°C) for 12-15 minutes, watching carefully until edges turn delicate golden brown.
- Transfer cookies to a wire rack and allow them to cool completely, which helps them develop a crisp, melt-in-your-mouth texture.
Notes
- Chilling the dough helps prevent spreading and maintains the cookies’ crisp, delicate shape during baking.
- For the most tender texture, use room temperature butter and mix just until ingredients combine without overworking the dough.
- Decorative touches like sparkling sugar or a light egg wash can elevate these classic French butter cookies from simple to elegant.
- Store cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week, separating layers with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Prep Time: 35 minutes
- Cook Time: 12-15 minutes
- Category: Cookies
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 212 kcal
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 48 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 0.3 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 45 mg