French Vanilla Sablé Cookies
These melt-in-your-mouth French butter cookies boast a rich vanilla flavor and a delicate, sandy texture.
Ingredients
- •1 cup unsalted butter, softened (226g)
- •2/3 cup powdered sugar (80g)
- •1 large egg yolk
- •2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- •1 vanilla bean, scraped (or 1 extra teaspoon vanilla extract)
- •2 cups all-purpose flour (250g)
- •1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
- •1/4 cup granulated sugar for rolling (50g)
Instructions
- 1
In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and powdered sugar together until smooth and creamy, about 2 minutes.
- 2
Add the egg yolk, vanilla extract, and scraped vanilla bean seeds, mixing until fully incorporated.
- 3
Whisk the all-purpose flour and fine sea salt together in a separate bowl, then add them to the butter mixture.
- 4
Mix on low speed or by hand just until a soft dough forms and no dry streaks of flour remain.
- 5
Divide the dough in half and shape each portion into a log about 1.5 inches (4 cm) in diameter.
- 6
Roll each log in granulated sugar, wrap tightly in plastic wrap, and chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours until firm.
- 7
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two large baking sheets with parchment paper.
- 8
Slice the chilled dough logs into 1/3-inch thick rounds and place them on the prepared baking sheets about 1 inch apart.
- 9
Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, or until the edges are just barely golden brown.
- 10
Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
💡 Chef tips
- For the best flavor, use high-quality vanilla extract and a real vanilla bean.
- You can freeze the unbaked dough logs wrapped tightly in plastic for up to 2 months; just slice and bake straight from frozen, adding a couple extra minutes to the bake time.
- Store baked cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
✅ How it should turn out
The finished cookies are pale golden with crisp edges, a delicate sandy crumb that melts on the tongue, and an aromatic, rich vanilla fragrance.