Foodiva's Kitchen: French Fridays With Dorie - Hot Pink Cocoa Sablés

Friday, March 23, 2012

French Fridays With Dorie - Hot Pink Cocoa Sablés

I've never felt like I was in the cookie business. I've always been in a feel good feeling business. My job is to sell joy. My job is to sell happiness. My job is to sell an experience.
~ Debbi Fields (of Mrs. Fields Bakeries)

You can't see the words 'Mrs. Fields' without images of buttery, crumbly/chewy cookies entering your mind immediately afterwards. Well, Mrs. Fields' words above somehow resonated strongly as I baked this week's French Fridays with Dorie recipe, Cocoa Sables. I wanted to bake cookies that would invoke a similar feel good feeling to anyone who sets their eyes on them, and if they're lucky enough, who gets to eat them too.


But first, what in culinary heavens is a sable? It's simply a classic French cookie originating in Normandy. Sable is French for "sand", and refers to the sandy texture of this delicate and crumbly shortbread-like cookie. Butter is what gives these cookies their wonderful, rich flavor. A typical sable would have a coating of raw or granulated sugar around the edges but I decided to forego the sugar and make something that's more visually appealing. And what could possibly be more appealing than a layer of sweet, sweet sugar on a chocolate cookie? How about an eye-catching color, like hot pink, for example? Yes, hot pink dough enveloping dark chocolate is all the rage nowadays. At least in my kitchen it is, I'm not sure about anywhere else :).


My original idea was to pair a more innocent shade of baby pink with the dark brown. However, because I  very rarely play with food coloring, I underestimated the strength of my little blob of pink gel. It proved too much for the amount of plain batter I was using that the 'baby' part of the pink tuned into a very adult 'hot' in 60 seconds... Oh well, we're all grown-ups here, and eating a sexy cookie is really not the worse thing that could happen to you on a Friday!


Dorie's recipe also suggested the incorporation of finely chopped bittersweet chocolate in the cocoa batter, but I decided to keep things simple and omitted that option too. This resulted in a smoother finish to the cut surface of the sables, which I preferred. What I didn't like was the uneven thickness of the cookies when I sliced through the dough using a knife. Somehow it didn't occur to me to use a thread to do a much cleaner job of it. Next time I bake these, I'm going to use pastry flour instead of the all-purpose because I read that it results in more tender cookies.


Not only do these sables invoke a heart-tugging sensation of love-at-first-sight (who can resist that hot pink squiggle?), they may also cause you to fall in love-at-first-bite, too. These shortbreads are crumbly, sweet, slightly salty and very chocolatey. An all-round experience of joy and happiness right there :).

The recipe for these cocoa sables can be found in Dorie Greenspan's cookbook, Around My French Table. The rest of the FFWD cooking group members will have their own take on these cookies, it's totally worth checking them out here.

49 comments:

www.you-made-that.com said...

Your cookies turned out wonderful. I like the design that turned out in them and I bet they taste great too.

Ei said...

Gorgeous! Once again, mine look so jacked up next to yours. lol

Lacy @ NYCityEats said...

Beautiful cookies!! The hot pink looks amazing with the cocoa color of the cookies! Amazing photos too!

Loong said...

These cookies are really pretty...Have a Japanese feel of it against those floral wrapping papers!

well done!

Erin @ Dinners, Dishes and Desserts said...

I love the hot pink! The baby pink would have been cute, but I like this better. They sound perfect!

Cher Rockwell said...

Ooo la la. Pretty cookies :-) They are kind of sassy.

Steph said...

These are so fun!! I am totally obsessed with the hot pink :)

Unknown said...

They are knock outs, these hot pink and chocolate sables of yours! I'm curious if you doubled the recipe, left out the cocoa?to make the pink layer? Sounds like you mixed the
PInk into the butter? I know I'm very curious;-)

Liz That Skinny Chick Can Bake said...

Of course you made these bright and beautiful!!!! Just stunning, Maya! You are amazing, my friend~

laurcl said...

Great idea - they're adorable!

Nami | Just One Cookbook said...

If I'm not mistaken, most of cookies in Japan is sable. We have more European influence in terms of Patisserie (we don't even have cupcakes!!) and I never had typical American cookies until I came here. So these sables are my favorite, esp cocoa! They are so pink and cute - just like my daughter will adore. I know she'll love these.

Mardi Michels said...

SO GORGEOUS!!!! Well done.

Sandra said...

Very creative looking cookies, and pretty too!Great photo shots!xoxo

Julie said...

You are such a show off!. They look amazing. I am jealous..

Adriana said...

Those cookies are seriously good looking. I don't think I would have liked the baby pink as much as these HOT pink ones.

yummychunklet said...

I LOVE your pink swirl twist on these sables! So pretty and creative!

Kiri W. said...

Oh wow, how cool is that? These are gorgeous, and they look like they have that perfect, melty texture :)

Jenny VintageSugarcube) said...

Soooo darn pretty and I'm certain they taste even better. Have a great weekend Maya. xo

Kathy said...

Maya, As always a beautiful job…love the red mixed with the dark brown! Lovely job!

Unknown said...

Thanks for all your comments, you wonderful, gorgeous people! Wish I could hug and squeeze all of you right now :).

xoxo <3

Unknown said...

Ei, you gotta stop comparing, sweetie! Yours probably taste miles better than mine, lol!

Unknown said...

Patty, I actually halved the recipe and out of that, I took 1/3 of the butter and sugar mixture and added it with 1/3 of plain flour stated - this was the pink dough. Then I just reduced the cocoa and added that to the 2/3 remaining plain flour for the chocolate dough. In other words, I winged my way through this! LOL.

Frolicking Night Owl said...

VERY FUN!!!

Jean (Lemons and Anchovies) said...

These are gorgeous! Who needs baby pink when you've got hot pink beauties like these? Can't stop looking at these. :)

Unknown said...

I love how many of your pink tails inside the cookie looks like hockey sticks. I know that wasn't your intention but to replicate this with a white cookie and blue dough could reference the old Canuck logo. Soo very cool! I love your creativity!

Mary Hirsch said...

So, the first thing I am thinking is, "I didn't know hot pink was "in" as a baking color of choice. " But, yes, I think you will have started something with this week's Post. They are beautiful and happy and joyful, even without a first bite. Your Post made me laugh and, wasn't that the point? Mary http://www.lightsonbrightnobrakes.com/

Susan said...

WOW! These are amazing! I really like how you made them your own.

Unknown said...

Allison, I made exactly the same comment about the hockey sticks to my cousin when she saw these cookies! Except that she thought I meant hockey 'pucks' because that was what the cookies were shaped like to her...LOL.

Nana said...

Absolutely beautiful. The coloring with the red
and chocolate gives it that something extra. Great job.

Trevor Sis Boom said...

Hot pink lovelies!
Creative choc'late color!
They are all the rage!

Choc Chip Uru said...

This is sooooo cool! I love how vivid the contrast is and it looks fantastic :D
Winner!

Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Latest: Colossal Caramel Peanut Monster Cookies

Elaine said...

Leave it to you to take these to another level altogether. They look fabulous! I love the hot pink with the dark chocolate. Fantastic job, Maya.

Betsy said...

These are the prettiest cookies I've seen this week, Maya! They look so modern and festive, and sexy, all at the same time. Nicely done.

Unknown said...

che meraviglia! complimenti :) un bacio e buona domenica!

Anonymous said...

These are totally sexy cookies! I love it! We sell a candle that I always describe as sexy and I think some people don't get it, but I sense that you would. I LOVE the hot pink!

Robin said...

What a great idea, they look lovely!

Nancy said...

These are so cute Maya! I love the colors and pattern. Definitely makes me happy looking at them. But sables are one of my faves so It be even better to eat a few :)

Liren said...

Love how these turned into sexy cookies! Oops! (and in a good way!)

Torviewtoronto said...

beautiful colour very creative

Kristy and Adam said...

Hi Maya!

Your cookies look totally delicious and beautifully presented! We created a truly decadent and luxurious dessert this weekend for our Sweet Mondays segment today. We would love you to pop on over to check out our dessert 'Citrus and Chocolate surprise with roasted pistachio filo cigar' http://earthwalkersfpcp.blogspot.com.au/2012/03/citrus-and-chocolate-surprise-with-filo.html?utm_source=BP_recent

Cheers,
Kristy and Adam
earthwalkersfpcp.blogspot.com.au

Kris' Kitchen said...

Love the hot pink layer. You win! You deserve the award for most beautiful sables. Love your creativity and your cookies look really good.

Vicki Bensinger said...

I'm not sure why I haven't gotten your last few posts I'll have to check what's going on. These are beautiful though. Leave it to you to kick up Dorie's cookies a notch.

Daisy@Nevertoosweet said...

These are soooo pretty :D I love sables!!! I love the sandy kind of texture and particularly like it when it's used as a cake base hehe! I really want some of these right now!!! :D

Jennifer (Delicieux) said...

Your cookies are so cute and perfect! I love that bright pink colour.

Healthy cooking Blog said...

You always come up with a very cerative idea about cookies and stuff. almost like paiting through making cookines. very clever.

Allison said...

A sexy cookie for sure!

easyfoodsmith said...

Awesome! These look so pretty and the pink and brown colours certainly are a lovely combo.

Susan said...

I always enjoy your creativity!

I've given you the "Versatile Blogger Award!" Please stop by my blog to "Pick it up." http://www.createamazingmeals.com/2012/03/versatile-blogger-award.html

Congratulations!

Unknown said...

Thank you do much, Susan! That's very generous of you to think of me, I do appreciate the award!

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