French Butter Cookies (Sablés Bretons) Recipe

If you’re in the mood for a bite of pure buttery bliss, French Butter Cookies (Sablés Bretons) are an absolute must-try. These classic cookies hail from the Brittany region in France and deliver a melt-in-your-mouth experience that’s hard to match. Loved for their rich flavor, tender crumb, and effortless elegance, these treats come together with simple ingredients and a dash of patience. Whether enjoyed with afternoon tea, packed into a tin for gifting, or nibbled straight off a cooling rack, French Butter Cookies (Sablés Bretons) showcase everything there is to adore about French baking.

this Recipe

Ingredients You’ll Need

The magic behind French Butter Cookies (Sablés Bretons) lies in their minimalist ingredients—each one essential, playing a starring role in the taste and texture of every buttery bite. Fresh, high-quality ingredients truly shine here, so don’t skimp!

• All-purpose flour: Gives the cookies structure while keeping them tender and light.
• Unsalted butter (softened): The heart and soul of Sablés Bretons—choose the best butter you can find for that trademark richness.
• Powdered sugar: Dissolves beautifully for a smooth dough and subtly sweet cookie.
• Egg yolks: Provide richness and help achieve that golden hue and crumbly texture.
• Vanilla extract: Adds cozy, warming flavors that play so well with all that butter.
• Salt: Just a hint sharpens the flavors and balances the sweetness.
• Baking powder: Lends just the right amount of lift for a delicate, tender crumb.
• Optional: Zest of 1 lemon or orange: For a fresh, citrusy twist that makes these cookies uniquely yours.

How to Make French Butter Cookies (Sablés Bretons)

Step 1: Cream the Butter and Sugar

Start by creaming your softened butter and powdered sugar together in a mixing bowl. Take time here—a few minutes of beating transforms those two ingredients into a fluffy, pale base, ensuring every French Butter Cookie (Sablés Bretons) will be melt-in-your-mouth tender when baked. Scrape the bowl as needed to make sure everything is well blended.

Step 2: Add Egg Yolks and Flavorings

Mix in the egg yolks, adding them one at a time and beating until fully incorporated before you add the next. Stir in the vanilla extract and salt. This is the stage where your kitchen starts to smell heavenly! If you’re feeling adventurous, this is also the moment to fold in citrus zest for a deliciously bright note.

Step 3: Incorporate Dry Ingredients

Sift the flour and baking powder together directly over your wet mixture. This guarantees the leavening is distributed evenly. Gently mix until a smooth, soft dough forms—stop as soon as there are no visible streaks of flour. Take care not to overmix, as you want your French Butter Cookies (Sablés Bretons) to stay crumbly and delicate.

Step 4: Chill the Dough

Shape the dough into a log or flatten it into a disk, then wrap it snugly in plastic wrap. Chilling it for at least an hour makes rolling and cutting much easier, and gives the cookies their signature texture. If you have time, a few hours or overnight rest in the fridge makes the flavors even better.

Step 5: Roll and Cut

Once chilled, roll the dough out on a lightly floured surface to about ½ inch (1.2 cm) thickness. Use a round cookie cutter to shape your cookies. Don’t worry about perfection—part of the charm of homemade Sablés Bretons is their rustic edges!

Step 6: Decorate and Bake

Place the rounds on a parchment-lined tray. You can gently score them with a fork or use a cookie stamp for an extra flourish. Pop them into a preheated oven (170°C/340°F) and bake for 12–15 minutes, just until the edges show a hint of gold. Be vigilant: French Butter Cookies (Sablés Bretons) are meant to stay pale and tender, not brown all over.

Step 7: Cool and Enjoy

Allow the cookies to cool on the tray for a few minutes—they’re quite fragile when hot—then carefully transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely. Savor the anticipation; their aroma is irresistible!

How to Serve French Butter Cookies (Sablés Bretons)

Garnishes

For a beautiful finish, you can dust your cookies with a light shower of powdered sugar, drizzle with melted chocolate, or even top with a small sprinkle of flaky sea salt. Each accent brings out a different facet of French Butter Cookies (Sablés Bretons), whether you aim for sweet or a sophisticated touch of salt.

Side Dishes

French Butter Cookies (Sablés Bretons) are just the thing for afternoon tea or coffee. Pair with a bowl of fresh seasonal fruit, a scoop of vanilla ice cream, or a spoonful of fruit preserves. If you want a true café vibe, serve alongside brewed espresso or hot cocoa for a classic French-inspired pick-me-up.

Creative Ways to Present

Layer cookies in a pretty tin lined with parchment for gifting, or stack them under a glass cloche on your kitchen counter for an irresistible snack display. Arrange them in a crescent around a cheese platter for a surprising sweet-salty twist, or slip a few into a lunchbox to brighten someone’s day.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Keep French Butter Cookies (Sablés Bretons) in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week. Their shortbread texture holds up beautifully, but make sure they’re fully cooled before sealing to avoid any sogginess.

Freezing

These cookies are wonderful make-ahead treats! You can freeze the unbaked dough (shaped into a disk or log), tightly wrapped, for up to two months. Alternatively, freeze the baked cookies in a single layer, then transfer to a freezer bag. Thaw at room temperature before enjoying.

Reheating

If you crave a freshly-baked touch, reheat cookies in a preheated 300°F (150°C) oven for about 3 minutes. This will revive their crispness and warm those buttery notes, almost as if they just came out of the oven.

FAQs

Can I use salted butter instead of unsalted?

Yes! If salted butter is what you have, simply reduce the added salt in the recipe to a tiny pinch or omit it entirely. The flavor will still be rich and delicious, though unsalted butter gives you better control over the seasoning.

Can I double the recipe?

Absolutely. French Butter Cookies (Sablés Bretons) are perfect for sharing, and the recipe doubles (or even triples) well. Just make sure to chill the dough thoroughly for easy rolling and cutting.

Why is it important to chill the dough?

Chilling the dough allows the butter to firm up, making the cookies easier to handle and helping them hold their shape during baking. It also develops that signature crumbly texture you want from Sablés Bretons.

How do I get perfect edges and designs?

For cleaner edges, use a sharp metal cookie cutter and dip it in flour between cuts. For decorative tops, gently press a fork or a cookie stamp into each uncooked round before baking. Both add a delightful, artisanal look to the French Butter Cookies (Sablés Bretons).

Can I add other flavors or mix-ins?

Definitely! While the classic recipe is simple, you can experiment by adding chopped nuts, a teaspoon of almond extract, or a grating of tonka bean. The optional citrus zest also adds a lovely dimension to the batch.

Final Thoughts

There’s so much joy in baking a batch of French Butter Cookies (Sablés Bretons)—from watching the dough come together to savoring that very first tender bite. These cookies are a celebration of simple ingredients and the magic they create when treated with care. Don’t wait for a special occasion; treat yourself and those around you to a little taste of Brittany. Happy baking!