Melt-in-Your-Mouth French Salted Butter Cookies Recipe
Experience the delicate and buttery delight of Melt-in-Your-Mouth French Salted Butter Cookies. These classic cookies blend rich French butter with a touch of sea salt for a perfectly balanced sweet and savory treat that’s crisp on the edges and tender inside. Ideal for a comforting snack or elegant tea-time accompaniment.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
Ingredients
Scale
For the Cookie Dough
- 1 cup Unsalted French Butter, softened
- 3/4 cup Granulated Sugar
- 1 large Egg
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- 2 cups All-Purpose Flour
- 1 teaspoon Baking Powder
- 1/2 teaspoon Sea Salt (or Fleur de Sel) for the dough
Optional Variations
- 1 cup Chocolate Chips, semi-sweet or dark
- 1/2 cup Chopped Nuts, pecans or walnuts
- 1 tablespoon Citrus Zest, lemon or orange
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Set your oven to 350°F (175°C) and prepare baking sheets by lining them with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a mixing bowl, beat the softened unsalted French butter with the granulated sugar until the mixture becomes light and fluffy, signaling that air has been incorporated for tender cookies.
- Add Egg and Vanilla: Incorporate the large egg and vanilla extract into the butter-sugar mixture, blending thoroughly until the mixture is uniform and smooth.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and sea salt to evenly distribute the leavening agents and seasoning.
- Combine Wet and Dry: Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture into the wet ingredients, stirring carefully until a cohesive cookie dough forms without overmixing to maintain tenderness.
- Chill Dough: Cover and refrigerate the dough for 30 minutes to firm up, which helps control spreading during baking and improves texture.
- Form Dough Balls: Roll the chilled dough into tablespoon-sized balls and place them spaced on the prepared baking sheets to allow for spreading.
- Sprinkle Sea Salt: Lightly sprinkle additional sea salt on top of each dough ball to enhance the buttery flavor with a delicate salty finish.
- Bake Cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes or until the edges are golden brown, signaling perfect doneness.
- Cool and Serve: Let the cookies cool slightly on the baking sheets before transferring them to wire racks to cool completely, preserving their delicate texture.
Notes
- For a flavor twist, add chocolate chips, chopped nuts, or citrus zest to the dough before chilling.
- Ensure butter is softened but not melted for best creaming results.
- Do not overbake; cookies should be lightly golden to remain tender inside.
- Use high-quality French butter for authentic flavor.
- Chilling the dough is crucial to control spreading and texture.
Keywords: French Butter Cookies, Salted Butter Cookies, French Dessert, Melt-in-Your-Mouth Cookies, Easy Cookie Recipe, Classic Cookies
