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April 13, 2018

The Sable – A Classic French Cookie

The “sable” (pronounced saab-luh’)has its origins in Caen in the Normandy province of France. Its name means “sand” due to its crumbly and sandy texture. The truly French version of this cookie is eaten alone and not sandwiched together with ganache or other fillings – not that it would be such a bad idea!

Some say this delicate cookie is reminiscent of the American icebox cookie. I tend to disagree for one reason – “decadent flavor”. The sable may look quite humble, but the flavors are divine and after one cookie, your sweet tooth feels quite satisfied.

I tend to dress mine up a bit with a slightly ruffled edge and a dusting of coarse sanding sugar on top. Traditionally the dough is rolled into logs and frozen and then slightly defrosted, sliced and baked. The result is a somewhat round cookie, but I prefer to roll the dough and give each cookie a nice ruffled edge with a cookie cutter. The result: a much more elegant and precise cookie.

I think this type of cookie is deserving of two traditional flavors – French Vanilla and Chocolate Orange Espresso. I can’t say that I love one more than the other. The one I choose on any given day is really based on mood.

The French Vanilla has a browned butter flavor with a sweet crunch. The Chocolate Orange Espresso is quite decadent as well – just in a different way. The chocolate and orange are quite pronounced and the espresso gives it the rich darkness that I was looking for in such a cookie. Even if you are not a coffee-drinker, you will most likely think the richness you taste is the chocolate itself.

Whichever you choose, they are both quite indulgent in taste and flavor and easily disguise themselves in their humble display. The French are decidedly ingenious in their creation of pastries and cookies – from quite elegant and complex to quite simplistic. But the taste is always perfection!

Sweetly,
Christine

Filed Under: Featured Confection Tagged With: chocolate, cookie, espresso, France, French, indulgent, Normandy, orange, sable, vanilla

January 27, 2018

Langues-de-Chat… Fancy and French

Are you familiar with the Langues-de-Chat, or what Americans call “Cat’s Tongues”? If you are not, you will surely want to be. This is a long, thin French cookie that is light, crisp and slightly sweet. As its name states, it is the shape of a cat’s tongue. It belongs to the category “Petit fours secs” or “dry petit fours”, as opposed to the smaller versions of pastries involving butter creams or pastry creams.

The langues-de-chat dates back to the 17th century where refined white sugar was just coming onto the baking scene. It was a staple among the wealthy class of Northern Europe. You would see this French cookie served with fine liqueurs or sparkling wines and would be a lovely addition to a dessert table.

What makes this cookie unique is its versatility. It is not meant to be gobbled up like a chocolate chip cookie, but rather it acts as an accompaniment to such desserts as mousse, ice cream or just a simple cup of tea or coffee. It is more of a “nibble” than a full fledged dessert.

The ingredients are household staples, but the trick is in the execution of this piped beauty. It is a matter of practice and patience to get the shapes to be consistent. And to mix it up a little bit, you can change the flavor of the cookie – swap vanilla for either lemon zest, orange zest, cardamom, or even nutmeg.

Want to try this authentic French cookie? I hand-dip each one in bittersweet chocolate and sprinkle them with chopped green pistachios. And if you have a nut allergy, no worries. I can substitute various colors of nonpareils or sprinkles.

Trust me…..sit with you cup of tea/coffee, close your eyes and taste this lovely French treat. You’ll swear you’re in a French cafe with nothing else to do but enjoy a moment away from the busyness of your day.

Bon Apetit!
Christine

Filed Under: Featured Confection Tagged With: cat's tongues, chocolate, French cookies, langues-de-chat, pistachios

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