Quick & Buttery Sabl Breton Cookies Recipe for Sweet Cravings

Sablé breton cookies transport you to the sun-drenched coastlines of northwestern France with their buttery, crumbly charm.

These delicate French shortbread delicacies capture the essence of rustic elegance and culinary simplicity.

Rich golden hues hint at the luxurious butter intensely folded into each carefully crafted bite.

Crisp yet tender, these cookies offer a delightful textural experience that melts effortlessly on your palate.

Their distinctive crackled surface promises a harmonious blend of sweet and slightly salty notes that dance across your taste buds.

Originating from the coastal regions of Brittany, these cookies represent a cherished tradition of exceptional French pastry craftsmanship.

Want to elevate your baking repertoire with an authentic and irresistible treat that speaks volumes about cultural culinary heritage.

Why These French Cookies Keep It Fancy

• Butter Up the Flavor: These sablé breton cookies deliver a rich, luxurious taste from the salted butter, creating a melt-in-your-mouth experience that elevates traditional shortbread with a French twist.
• Master Easy Elegance: The recipe requires minimal ingredients and simple techniques, making it perfect for bakers of all skill levels who want to create sophisticated, professional-looking cookies without complex steps.
• Versatile Texture Delight: Expect a perfectly crisp exterior with a tender, crumbly interior that provides a satisfying buttery crunch, ideal for enjoying with tea, coffee, or as an elegant dessert accompaniment.
• Prep-Ahead Convenience: With make-ahead dough chilling and storage options lasting up to 5 days, these cookies offer flexible preparation that fits seamlessly into busy lifestyles while promising consistent deliciousness.

What Goes Into Buttery Shortbread Bites

• Egg Yolks: Rich, creamy base for the cookie dough with essential fat and color.
• Egg Whites: Reserved for another recipe, not used in this specific batch.

• Salted Butter: Soft and high-quality butter provides rich flavor and tender texture. Room temperature is key for smooth mixing.

• Flour, All-Purpose: Provides structure and classic cookie texture. Sifting ensures smooth, lump-free dough.
• Baking Powder: Helps cookies rise and creates light, delicate texture.
• Icing Sugar: Fine sugar that dissolves easily, creating smooth, pale mixture with egg yolks.

• Egg Yolk (for brushing): Creates golden, shiny surface on baked cookies.

How to Mix and Bake the Flakiest Treats

Step 1: Prepare Butter

Take butter out of refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Cut into small cubes and let soften completely. Butter should be soft but not melted.

Step 2: Separate Egg Yolks

Carefully separate egg yolks from whites. Store egg whites in refrigerator for future use.

Step 3: Create Creamy Base

• Smooth
• Pale in color
• Lightweight and fluffy

Step 4: Incorporate Butter

Add soft salted butter to egg mixture. Mix thoroughly until you create a thick, creamy consistency.

Step 5: Form Cookie Dough

• All-purpose flour
• Baking powder

Combine ingredients using a stiff spatula or hands. Work dough until smooth and uniform.

Step 6: Chill Dough

Place dough between two sheets of parchment paper. Roll out to 6 mm thickness. Refrigerate for 1 hour to firm up.

Step 7: Prepare Baking Setup

Preheat oven to 160°C (325°F). Line baking tray with parchment paper.

Step 8: Shape Cookies

Remove dough from refrigerator. Use round or fluted cookie cutter to cut out shapes. Transfer cookies to prepared baking tray.

Step 9: Add Decorative Touch

• Create cross pattern using fork
• Brush each cookie with egg yolk for golden finish

Step 10: Bake and Cool

Bake cookies for 15-18 minutes until golden brown. Transfer to cooling rack. Allow cookies to cool completely.

Step 11: Store Cookies

Place cooled cookies in air-tight container. Cookies will stay fresh for up to 5 days.

Tips for Rich Texture and Golden Edges

• Soften Butter Strategically: Let butter sit at room temperature for 30 minutes, ensuring it's soft but not melted for perfect cookie texture.
• Master Egg Separation: Carefully separate egg yolks, keeping whites for future baking projects to maintain recipe precision.
• Whisk with Purpose: Blend egg yolks and icing sugar thoroughly until the mixture turns pale and smooth for a light, delicate result.
• Chill Dough Completely: Refrigerate rolled dough for at least an hour to prevent spreading and maintain the cookies' elegant shape.
• Fork Decoration Trick: Create a beautiful cross-hatch pattern with a fork before baking to give these French cookies their classic, artisanal look.

Storing Cookies Without Losing Their Snap

• Refrigeration: Store cooled Sablé Breton cookies in an airtight container lined with parchment paper. Separate layers with wax paper to prevent sticking. Keep at room temperature for 5 days or refrigerate for up to 2 weeks.
• Freezing: Wrap cookies individually in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer-safe container. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature for 15-20 minutes before serving.
• Reheating: Warm cookies briefly in a preheated oven at 100°C (212°F) for 2-3 minutes to restore their crisp texture. Avoid microwave reheating to maintain the delicate buttery crunch.

Sips and Spreads That Fit the Flavor

• Pair with Silky Champagne: Complement the buttery, delicate texture of Sablé Breton cookies with a crisp, elegant champagne that highlights their rich, subtle sweetness.
• Match with Smooth Earl Grey Tea: Brew a fragrant Earl Grey tea to balance the cookie's richness, creating a harmonious blend of subtle butter and bergamot flavors.
• Serve with Creamy Vanilla Custard: Enhance the cookie's delicate crumb by pairing it with a smooth, cool vanilla custard that provides a luxurious contrast to the crisp texture.
• Combine with Sweet Dessert Wine: Select a light French dessert wine like Sauternes to echo the cookie's delicate butteriness and add a luxurious finishing touch.

Variants That Add a New Cookie Vibe

• Lavender Shortbread Sablés: Infuse the dough with dried lavender flowers, creating a subtle floral essence that transforms the classic French cookie into an aromatic treat.
• Chocolate-Dipped Sablés: After baking and cooling, dip half of each cookie into melted dark chocolate, adding a rich and decadent layer to the buttery base.
• Citrus Zest Sablés: Mix in fresh lemon or orange zest during the mixing stage, bringing a bright and tangy note that cuts through the cookie's rich butteriness.
• Nutty Crunch Sablés: Incorporate finely chopped almonds or pistachios into the dough, introducing a delightful textural contrast and subtle nutty flavor to the traditional recipe.

Sabl Breton Cookies Recipe

---

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.7 from 12 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 48 minutes
• Yield: 8 1x

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

Classic French Sablé Breton cookies offer delicate buttery richness with a melt-in-mouth crumbly texture. Salt-kissed and golden, these elegant shortbreads from Brittany will transport you to charming French patisseries with their irresistible delicate charm.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Ingredients:

• 175 gr (1 cup + 1 ½ tablespoons) Plain/All-Purpose Flour
• 100 gr (7 tablespoons) Salted Butter, very soft
• 75 gr (¾ cup) Icing Sugar

Egg Ingredients:

• 3 Egg Yolks at room temperature
• 1 Egg Yolk for the Egg Wash (optional)

Leavening Agent:

• ½ teaspoon Baking Powder

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Remove salted butter from refrigerator 30-45 minutes prior to baking, allowing it to soften to room temperature without melting. Cut into small, uniform cubes.
2. Carefully separate egg yolks from whites, reserving egg whites for future culinary use.
3. Using a whisk, blend egg yolks and powdered sugar in a spacious mixing bowl until the mixture transforms into a smooth, pale cream with consistent texture.
4. Incorporate softened salted butter into the egg mixture, stirring until a thick, homogeneous consistency develops.
5. Gently sift all-purpose flour and baking powder over the wet ingredients. Fold and knead with a sturdy spatula or hands until a cohesive, uniform dough forms.
6. Position dough between two parchment paper sheets, then roll to approximately 0.24 inches (6 millimeters) thickness. Refrigerate for minimum 60 minutes to firm the dough.
7. Preheat conventional oven to 160 degrees Celsius (325 degrees Fahrenheit). Cover baking sheet with parchment paper.
8. Extract chilled dough from refrigerator. Remove parchment paper and utilize round or scalloped cookie cutter to shape delicate cookies.
9. Optional: Create decorative crosshatch pattern using fork tines and apply whisked egg yolk for enhanced golden appearance.
10. Position cookies on prepared baking sheet, maintaining consistent spacing.
11. Bake for 15-18 minutes until edges turn golden brown. Transfer to wire cooling rack.
12. Once completely cooled, store cookies in sealed container for optimal freshness, consuming within 5 days.

Notes

• Prep butter ahead by letting it soften at room temperature for 30 minutes, ensuring it’s soft but not melted for the perfect cookie texture.
• Separate egg yolks carefully, reserving whites for future baking projects to maximize ingredient usage.
• Whisk egg yolks and sugar thoroughly until the mixture becomes pale and smooth, creating a light, creamy base.
• Chill the rolled dough for at least an hour to help cookies maintain their shape and develop a crisp, delicate texture.
• Optional fork pattern and egg yolk wash add a professional bakery-style golden finish to these elegant French shortbread cookies.
• Store cooled cookies in an airtight container to preserve their delicate crumbly texture for up to 5 days.

• Prep Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 18 minutes
• Category: Snacks, Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: French

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 8
• Calories: 232 kcal
• Sugar: 10 g
• Sodium: 110 mg
• Fat: 14 g
• Saturated Fat: 8 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
• Trans Fat: 0.5 g
• Carbohydrates: 23 g
• Fiber: 0.5 g
• Protein: 3 g
• Cholesterol: 95 mg