Sablé (biscuit)

Sablé is a French round shortbread cookie that might have originated in Sablé-sur-Sarthe in Sarthe.

History
According to the letters of the Marquise de Sévigné, the cookie was maybe created for the first time in Sablé-sur-Sarthe in 1670.

The French word sablé means "sandy", a rough equivalent of English "breadcrumbs". Generally, the baker begins the process by rubbing cold butter into flour and sugar to form particles of dough until the texture resembles that of breadcrumbs or sand.

Recipe
Among the most well-known sablé recipes are those of La Mère Poulard, and the cookies of Saint-Michel and Pont-Aven.

Sablés can be flavoured with almonds, lemon, parmesan, green pepper, or orange zest.