Cookie of the Day: French Butter Cookies

These delicate, tender, short cookies are rich and delicious. The key to baking them successfully is to use the best quality butter you can find. Since the cookies rely on butter for their flavor, employing the creamiest butter will only heighten their beauty.


The dough is made in logs which can be prepared in advance and refrigerated. The logs are rolled in turbinado sugar before slicing. My mother uses both turbinado sugar and large-grained colored sugar to achieve a festive effect for Christmas. Each cookie is sliced from the log and then pierced with a wooden skewer to produce four holes—resulting in the look of a large sparkling button. Imagine a crystal dish piled with these gorgeous cookies. They’re a delightful and elegant way to celebrate any holiday.