Melt-in-Your-Mouth French Salted Butter Cookies Recipe
Experience the perfect harmony of sweet and salty with these Melt-in-Your-Mouth French Salted Butter Cookies. Crafted with rich French butter and a touch of sea salt, these cookies offer a delicate, buttery texture that melts effortlessly in your mouth, making them an irresistible treat for dessert lovers.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 52 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
Ingredients
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)
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 line your baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking and promote even baking.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a mixing bowl, cream together the softened unsalted French butter and granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, ensuring a tender cookie texture.
- Add Egg and Vanilla: Beat in the large egg and vanilla extract until completely combined, adding flavor and moisture to the dough.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and sea salt, ensuring even distribution of leavening and seasoning.
- Form Dough: Gradually incorporate the dry ingredients into the wet mixture and mix until a cohesive dough forms, avoiding overmixing to keep cookies tender.
- Chill Dough: Refrigerate the dough for 30 minutes to firm it up, which helps maintain cookie shape during baking and enhances flavor.
- Shape Cookies: Roll the chilled dough into tablespoon-sized balls and place them spaced apart on the prepared baking sheets.
- Add Topping: Lightly sprinkle additional sea salt on top of each dough ball to enhance the signature sweet-salty contrast.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the edges turn golden brown, signaling doneness.
- Cool: Let the cookies cool slightly on the baking sheets before transferring them to wire racks to cool completely, preserving their delicate texture.
Notes
- These cookies are best enjoyed fresh but can be stored in an airtight container for up to one week to maintain freshness.
- Optional mix-ins like chocolate chips, chopped nuts, or citrus zest can be added to the dough before chilling for customized flavors.
- Using French butter enhances the rich flavor and contributes to a tender crumb; however, unsalted European-style butter can be a good substitute.
- Make sure the dough is well chilled before baking to prevent spreading and achieve the perfect cookie shape.
