Brown butter and pistachio sable recipe

These brown butter and pistachio sable cookies have a rich flavour with a crumbly texture.

A sablé is a delicate French biscuit with similar ingredients to a classic shortbread. These cookies use brown butter for a rich indulgent flavour. They sound fancy but are very easy to make. Make a big batch of brown butter and keep it in the fridge for other bakes.

Ingredients

• 200g unsalted butter, softened
• 80g icing sugar
• 2 free-range egg yolks
• 160g plain flour
• 100g shelled, unsalted pistachios, finely chopped

Method

1. Melt the butter in a small pan over a medium heat. Continue to cook, stirring until it gives off a nutty aroma and the top is covered in foam. Transfer to a heatproof bowl and chill until solid.
2. Beat together the browned butter, icing sugar, and a pinch of salt in a bowl. Add the egg yolks and beat again until smooth. Sift in the flour and add half the pistachios. Mix and bring together to form a soft dough.
3. Shape the dough into a 20 cm-long sausage, about 4cm in diameter, then wrap in cling film and roll along a work surface several times to create a tight, even sausage shape. Chill for 1-2 hrs, until firm.
4. When ready to bake, heat the oven to 160C Fan/Gas 4. Remove the dough from the cling film and roll in the remaining chopped pistachios, pressing firming so they stick all around the outside. Slice into 1cm rounds and arrange on trays. Bake for 8-10 mins until very pale golden.

Top tips for making our brown butter and pistachio sable

For a variation, swap the pistachios for toasted hazelnuts, almonds, or walnuts, or add 1tsp spice or some citrus zest.

Jessica Ransom

"Once you've tasted brown butter and know how easy it is to make, I think you'll be adding it to all your bakes and cakes. Once it is cooled and solid in the fridge, you can use it in any recipe that calls for regular butter. t's an excellent addition to banana bread or blondies."

For this recipe, it’s best to use a few non-stick baking trays. Hand Wash them to keep the non-stick coating in good condition.

Stellar Non-Stick Swiss Roll Tin - View at Amazon 

This baking tray is made from carbon steel which ensures even heat distribution and will give your cookies a perfectly flat base.

For something savoury consider baking Paul Hollywood's Gruyère biscuits. Our easy Cheddar cheese and chutney biscuits are also delicious. You might also like our easy chocolate chip cookies recipe.