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Home » Recipes » Cookies

French Sable Cookies

Published: Nov 17, 2021 by Kate Hackworthy · 10 Comments

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Stack of cookies and them on a cooling rack, with text: French sable cookies.
Stack of cookies with text: French Sable Cookies.
Stack of cookies, with text: How to make french sable cookies.

This easy French Sable Cookies recipe shows you how to make this classic butter shortbread. They're crisp, rich, buttery and delicious. Make them for the holidays or share a batch with friends and neighbors.

A stack of cookies on a wooden board.
Buttery French Sable Cookies

Sable cookies are a French cookie that is similar to shortbread or sugar cookies with a rich, buttery taste and slightly crumbly texture.\

In fact, sable means sand in French, so their name comes from their sugary, sandy texture.

These butter cookies originated in Sablé-sur-Sarthe in Sarthe, France in the 1600s and have remained popular.

French sable cookies are delicious because they're crisp on the outside and slightly soft in the middle.

They have a very simple list of ingredients that you can find anywhere so you can easily whip up a batch!

French sables can be made into any shape or size that you want including rounds, squares, or rectangles.

These buttery “sandy” cookies will impress anyone, but they're super easy to make with this authentic French recipe.

If you're looking for more authentic cookie recipes from around the world, be sure to try Icelandic Pipparkokur, German Bethmannchen, and Italian Pignoli.

Jump to:
  • Why You'll Love This Recipe
  • Ingredients
  • Instructions
  • Top tips
  • Variations
  • Storage
  • FAQs
  • More cookie recipes
  • 📖 Recipe
  • 💬 Comments

Why You'll Love This Recipe

This easy sable cookie is simple to make and has just 5 ingredients.

You can shape them in any way you enjoy to fit the theme of the holiday or occasion. Try cutting them into festive shapes for Christmas.

They can be decorated or left plain. You can also stamp them with pretty patterns.

This is an authentic French recipe, but it's quick and easy.

Ingredients

You only need a few simple ingredients for Sable Cookies!

  • Salted Butter - Gives this cookie its classic buttery shortbread flavor and texture when used in the easy cookie dough.
  • Granulated Sugar - Not as much sugar is used in these cookies as you would find in other cookie recipes as the sugar just gives a lightly sweet flavor.
  • Egg Yolks - Binds the cookie ingredients together and helps them set while cooking and baking so they are able to stay in their shape.
  • All-Purpose Flour (plain flour) - This dry ingredient makes up the bulk of the cookies holding the main flavors together.
  • Icing Sugar - Adds additional sweetness to the cookies while also blending with the other ingredients to create a classic sable shortbread texture.

Please see the recipe card below for quantities.

Instructions

Wondering how to make this sable recipe? It's easy! Just follow this step-by-step photo tutorial. Then, scroll down for the recipe card for the full ingredients list and recipe method.

Prepare for baking: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a baking sheet with either parchment or a silicone baking sheet and set it aside.

Butter and sugar beaten in a bowl, plus adding eggs.

Cream the butter and sugar, and eggs: Add the granulated sugar and butter to a large bowl or stand mixer. Beat the butter and sugar together until it is smooth, fluffy, and creamy. Then, add the egg yolks and beat until everything is fully combined.

Sifting dry ingredients in, and bowl of sable dough.

Add the dry ingredients: To the wet ingredients, sift in the flour and icing sugar. Mix by hand with a spoon or rubber spatula until it forms a stiff dough.

Collage of cutting out sables and them baked on a cookie sheet.

Shape the cookies: Roll the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and roll out until it is ¼ inch thick. Using a cookie cutter, cut out the cookie shapes and place them onto the prepared baking sheet. Once all the cookies are rolled out, place them in the fridge to chill for at least 15 minutes.

Bake and serve: Bake the butter cookies for 12 minutes or until they turn golden brown. Remove from the oven and place on a wire rack to cool completely before serving.

Top tips

Before making the dough, leave out the butter and eggs to come to room temperature first. This will help ensure the texture says intact when baked.

Don’t overwork the dough. Mix the cookie dough just until combined. Overworking flour could cause the dough to stiffen up compromising the texture of the cookie.

When adding the cookie shapes to the baking sheet, you may need to use two baking sheets depending on their size.

The cookies should be completely cool before serving. Once cool, the texture of the cookie will be a classic shortbread.

Variations

Flavor the cookies with an extract such as vanilla, maple, or almond for an additional layer of flavor.

Mix in some of your favorite chopped nuts for a nutty taste and crunchy texture.

Add some lemon zest for a great flavor.

Add your favorite colored sprinkles or cookie decorations to the dough before baking for a colorful shortbread cookie.

Dried fruit makes an excellent addition to these cookies giving them a sweet and tart flavor.

Add some cocoa powder to the dry ingredients for a chocolate sable shortbread cookie.

Storage

Storing: French sable cookies can be stored in an air-tight container or ziplock bag for up to 1 week.

Freezing: French sables will stay fresh in the freezer for up to three months. Sable cookies should be placed in an air-tight container or ziplock bag before they're frozen.

A cooling rack of cookies.

FAQs

What’s the difference between Sable and shortbread?

This depends on the country of origin. Sable means sandy referring to a crumbly texture. Shortbread can be the same but also have more of a sugar cookie-type texture depending on how it's made.

What’s the secret to a good shortbread cookie?

Since there are so few ingredients in shortbread cookies, you’ll get the best results from buying high-quality ingredients such as grass-fed butter. 

Why isn’t there any baking powder in this recipe?

Shortbread cookies are famous for being flat and crunchy which means they don’t need to rise. Therefore, no leavening agent is needed in a butter cookie recipe.

More cookie recipes

Maple Cream Cookies - the classic Canadian cookie with a rich maple flavor.

Chocolate Peppermint Cookies - Rich and festive with crushed candy canes on top.

Blackberry Cookies - these easy cookies are naturally bright blue from the blackberries!

Jammie Dodgers - You'll love this British cookie with jam sandwiched in the middle.

Check out more cookie recipes.

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📖 Recipe

A stack of cookies on a wooden board.

French Sable Cookies

Kate Hackworthy | Veggie Desserts
This easy French Sable Cookies recipe shows you how to make this classic butter shortbread cookie. They're crisp, rich and delicious.
4.83 from 23 votes
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Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 12 minutes mins
Total Time 22 minutes mins
Course Dessert
Cuisine French
Servings 24
Calories 128 kcal

Equipment

  • mixing bowl
  • Cookie sheet

Ingredients
 

  • 1 cup salted butter (215 grams)
  • ¼ cup white granulated sugar (50 grams)
  • 2 egg yolks
  • 2 cups all purpose flour (plain flour) (250 grams)
  • ½ cup powdered icing sugar (60 grams)

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a baking sheet with baking parchment paper or a silicone mat.
  • Add the butter and granulated sugar to a medium bowl and cream by beating with an electric mixer until pale and fluffy.
  • Beat in the egg yolks.
  • Sift in the flour and powdered icing sugar and stir by hand to form a stiff dough.
  • Lightly flour the work surface and roll the sable dough out to ¼” thick. Cut out cookies with a round (or other shape) cookie cutter (I use a 2” cookie cutter). Roll out the dough scraps and repeat until it’s all used up.
  • Place the cookies onto the tray (use 2 trays if necessary), leaving room between the cookies, and place into the fridge to chill for 15 minutes.
  • Bake the sable cookies for 12 minutes, or until they're golden brown. Transfer the cookies to a wire cooling rack to cool completely.

Notes

  • Before making the dough, leave out the butter and eggs to come to room temperature first. This will help ensure the texture says intact when baked.
  • Don’t overwork the dough. Mix the cookie dough just until combined. Overworking flour could cause the dough to stiffen up compromising the texture of the cookie.
  • When adding the cookie shapes to the baking sheet, you may need to use two baking sheets depending on their size.
  • The cookies should be completely cool before serving. Once cool, the texture of the cookie will be a classic shortbread.

Nutrition

Calories: 128kcalCarbohydrates: 13gProtein: 1gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 37mgSodium: 69mgPotassium: 15mgFiber: 1gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 258IUCalcium: 6mgIron: 1mg

The nutritional information provided is approximate and can vary depending on several factors, so is not guaranteed to be accurate. Please see a registered dietician for special diet advice.

Tried this recipe?Mention @kateveggiedesserts or tag #veggiedesserts! I love seeing your recreations.

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Comments

    4.83 from 23 votes (12 ratings without comment)

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    Recipe Rating




  1. May

    April 23, 2024 at 2:02 am

    5 stars
    I added 1/4 cup of cocoa powder to make them chocolate and they were so good! I made the vanilla version too and they were also great. Love these!

    Reply
  2. Ammie

    August 02, 2023 at 2:48 pm

    5 stars
    Dough was quite soft, but it worked in the end. And tasted soooo good!

    Reply
  3. Savita

    November 24, 2021 at 1:14 pm

    5 stars
    This was so buttery and crisp, so glad I tried it out!

    Reply
  4. Heidy

    November 23, 2021 at 1:48 pm

    5 stars
    This easy French Sable Cookies recipe was super easy and came out perfectly. I will be saving to make them again. Happy Holidays!

    Reply
  5. Toni

    November 22, 2021 at 1:47 pm

    5 stars
    These are really amazing cookies! My kids couldn't stop eating!!

    Reply
    • Dora

      December 03, 2023 at 9:21 am

      5 stars
      Lovely tender cookies

      Reply
  6. Mellissa

    November 18, 2021 at 8:47 am

    Ah no, that is so disappointing! I was all set to make this till I saw that it had eggs in the recipe.

    Reply
    • lisa moriarty

      May 22, 2023 at 12:14 pm

      Yogurt or butter milk are substitutes for eggs in making cookies. Don't limit yourself; just ask the www world wide web.

      Reply
  7. Gloria

    November 17, 2021 at 2:12 pm

    5 stars
    With the holiday baking heating up, I am always looking for new cookies to add to my list. These sound perfect. I know they will be a hit.

    Reply
  8. Gina

    November 17, 2021 at 1:09 pm

    5 stars
    I've always loved the cute little edges of these cookies. Had no idea how easy they were to make before trying this recipe! So deliciously buttery!

    Reply

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Hi, I'm Kate, a journalist, author and multi-award-winning food blogger. Here you'll find vegetarian recipes and vegan recipes celebrating vegetables, from dinner to dessert! If you love vegetables, you've come to the right place. About Me

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