5/16/11

12 Sable Cookies - A Buttery Alternative....


There are not very many cookies that I will buy from the store.  Oreos are one.  Pecan Sandies are another.  There's something about the crunchiness of these cookies that I crave.

I decided it's time to expand my cookie collection...I really, really wanted a pecan sandie.  The crispy cookie with the melt in your mouth "sandy" texture and this is the recipe I found.

Sables.  The name for a classic  French Butter cookie, "Sable" literally means "sand."  Kind of unnerving to think of eating sand in anything, but this is a delicate, crumbly, smooth, melt in your mouth kind of sandy texture.  You'll have to try it for yourself and see.

It begins with an unlikely ingredient.  A hard boiled egg.


I know what you're thinking, but the yolk is what gives this cookie it's sandy texture!  All you need is one perfectly boiled and peeled egg.  Too bad I didn't find this recipe around Easter time!

The yolk is pushed through a mesh strainer into a creamed mixture of butter and sugar.


I chose to make two batches:  one vanilla, and the other chocolate.  Check this post for a neat cocoa measuring tip! 


I took half of each dough and rolled them into a 3" log, wrapped in plastic and chilled for one hour.

The rest, I rolled each dough into a rectangle 1/4" thick, wrapped them in plastic, and chilled them in the fridge for one hour.

The plain chocolate and plain vanilla logs were cut into 1/4" slices,


while the layered doughs were rolled into a tight log and cut into 1/4" slices.


The tops were brushed with a mixture of egg white, (the raw liquid kind) water, and sprinkled with coarse (turbinado) sugar.

I couldn't wait to taste these decadent, pretty cookies!


This cookie is rich, buttery, and has just the right sandy texture.  These cookies were not very sweet, so the sugar topping complimented these cookies very well.  My favorites were the vanilla and the swirls.  The all-chocolate ones were just a wee bit cocoa-y for me, but you may like them!

My mom said these would be pretty enough for a bridal or baby shower.  I thought they would make an excellent addition to a Christmas cookie platter.

In any case, they were way much better than the store bought sandie cookie! 

Cravings cured!

French Butter Cookie (Sables)
(4x6 recipe download)     (full page printable recipe)

12 comments:

  1. I never would have guessed about the hard boiled egg. Such a fun recipe.

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  2. So glad your site is up again - couldn't get in all weekend! Love this idea - so unusual using a boiled egg! I'm right there with you on Pecan Sandies - I've always loved them - so I have to try these.

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  3. egg yolk? really? WOW! Who would have thought :)

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  4. Wow! These sound REALLY great! Bookmarked to try!

    New to your blog; happy I found you!

    Mary xo
    Delightful Bitefuls

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  5. amazing!
    Love from Spain
    Marialuisa

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  6. Wow those look great. Wonderful pictures.

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  7. How interesting! Thse look great, and so pretty!

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  8. Frieda, I LOVE your site. I am totally addicted to reading food blogs:) Please check out my page. You have an award! Soon I will be starting a "Fit and Fabulous Fridays" linky party on my site. I would love for you to post some recipes. It should be up soon. If you "like" my facebook page, I will post updates on there. Looking for other great bloggers to share their favs~
    www.ameessavorydish.blogspot.com

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  9. Oh those look so tempting especially with the chunky sugar. I may have to break down and try this recipe!

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  10. I don't like packaged or bakery cookies. Homemade is better by far. These look so very great!! I never heard of using boiled egg.

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  11. Oh these look just like a chocolate pinwheel cookie my mom would make us growing up! Yum!

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  12. Your cookies look so pretty. Great photos too!

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