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French Salted Bitter Cookies Recipe

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★★★★★

4.8 from 108 reviews

These classic French Salted Bitter Cookies combine rich unsalted butter, a touch of sea salt, and delicate vanilla to create tender, buttery cookies with a perfectly balanced salty finish. The cookie dough is chilled for easy handling before being rolled out, cut, and baked to a golden perfection. Finished with a shimmer of egg wash and a sprinkle of flaky sea salt, these cookies are a sophisticated treat ideal for any occasion.

Ingredients

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Cookie Dough

  • 1 cup French unsalted butter, softened
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp sea salt

Finishing

  • 1 egg yolk (reserved for egg wash)
  • Flaky sea salt for finishing (optional)

Instructions

  1. Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened French butter and granulated sugar until the mixture is pale and fluffy, making sure all sugar crystals are dissolved to create a smooth, light base for your dough.
  2. Add Wet Ingredients: Beat in the whole egg and vanilla extract, mixing until fully incorporated and the batter is cohesive and glossy, ensuring even flavor distribution.
  3. Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and sea salt to evenly distribute leavening and seasoning throughout the flour.
  4. Mix Dough: Gradually add the dry mixture to the wet ingredients, stirring gently until a soft dough forms. Be careful not to overmix to keep your cookies tender and flaky.
  5. Chill Dough: Wrap the dough tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Chilling firms up the dough, making it easier to roll out and cut precisely.
  6. Preheat and Roll: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly flour a surface and roll out the chilled dough to about 1/2-inch thickness, ensuring an even texture and bake.
  7. Cut and Arrange: Use a fluted round cookie cutter to stamp out discs, then place them on a parchment-lined baking tray with some space between each to allow minimal spreading.
  8. Egg Wash and Score: Brush the tops of each cookie with the reserved egg yolk to achieve a beautiful shiny finish. Use a fork to gently score a crisscross pattern on each cookie for a classic French look.
  9. Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 15-18 minutes or until the cookies turn golden around the edges and feel firm to the touch, indicating they are perfectly baked.
  10. Cool and Finish: Let the cookies cool on the baking tray for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack. While still warm, sprinkle with flaky sea salt if desired, to enhance the contrast and bring out the flavors.

Notes

  • Softened butter at room temperature is key for creaming properly with sugar.
  • Do not overmix once flour is added to avoid tough cookies.
  • Chilling the dough helps maintain the shape during baking.
  • Using flaky sea salt as a finishing touch adds a lovely texture and flavor contrast.
  • If you prefer less salt, omit the flaky sea salt sprinkle at the end.

Keywords: French cookies, salted butter cookies, buttery cookies, flaky sea salt cookies, French dessert, vanilla cookies

Find it online: https://zestywithzane.com/french-salted-bitter-cookies-recipe/