I recently made a batch of these butter cookies for my son's 7th birthday. I took them to his party at the bowling alley as a little snack alongside the chips and pretzels.
When we went to Paris this past Spring, Poilâne Bakery, with their world-famous rounds of sourdough bread, was a must-visit destination for me. We got a little lost along the way on a rainy afternoon but we eventually made it. While I was eager to try the bread, I kept an eye out for their punitions®, or "punishment" cookies, which you can reportedly find in a basket at the counter and help yourself to a sample when you pay for your purchases.
Sure enough, these thin, little 1 1/2 inch cookies were sitting in a bread basket on the table and I got the chance to try their famous butter cookie (they are also available for purchase in small sacks). The story goes that these "punishments" or "punitions®" were called such because grandmothers in Normandy would make these and jokingly call out to the children to come "get their punishments". It's such a good story and part of the charm to these cookies, I think.
The cookies at Poilâne were excellent - simple yet spectacular in a quiet sort of way. The flavor was subtle - not overly sweet or buttery, just simple and harmonious.
At home, I made these 4-ingredient cookies plain, sprinkled a few with sanding sugar, and even filled some with ganache a la Smitten Kitchen (it was for a children's birthday party, afterall).
I think my homemade version came pretty close to the real thing - but not quite. I'm sure it's the ingredients (French butter, for one) as well as the fact that they're made by very experienced hands at Poilâne versus a food processor at home. But even though you may not be able to replicate the exact experience, these are still very good. The cookies are crisp, buttery, and not too sweet. I'd take this kind of "punishment" any day.
At home, I made these 4-ingredient cookies plain, sprinkled a few with sanding sugar, and even filled some with ganache a la Smitten Kitchen (it was for a children's birthday party, afterall).
I think my homemade version came pretty close to the real thing - but not quite. I'm sure it's the ingredients (French butter, for one) as well as the fact that they're made by very experienced hands at Poilâne versus a food processor at home. But even though you may not be able to replicate the exact experience, these are still very good. The cookies are crisp, buttery, and not too sweet. I'd take this kind of "punishment" any day.