TWD: Spice Sables

This week's TWD pick was sables - a sandy-textured cookie that is a relative of shortbread, though sables contain egg yolks. There are several flavor options in Baking from My Home to Yours, all of which sounded great. Though I want to try all of them, this time around I went with the spice version, which has a combination of cinnamon, ginger and freshly grated nutmeg.

I only made a half recipe, though I kind of wish I'd made more - especially since I included some of these in my secret baker package. I'm pretty sure my bakee isn't a TWD member... These are deceptively delicious cookies. You take one bite and think, "Mmm, these are good cookies." After another bite, you're saying, "Wow! These are fantastic!" After one more bite, you're done for and pretty soon you've eaten 5.

These sables are firmer in texture than shortbread, they have a little more crispiness on the surface. They are gently and perfectly spiced, and the outside of them is coated in a sugar and allspice mixture which adds just a bit of crunch.

I think you'd be hard pressed to find someone who wouldn't like these cookies. Don't let their simplicity fool you, they are outstanding.

Thanks to Barbara of Bungalow Barbara for picking these fantastic cookies, which will certainly be making frequent appearances in my home from now on. You can find the recipe and all of its variations on her blog. There is a parmesan version that I'm dying to try...