Vegan Palets Bretons
Palets Bretons are rich, golden, buttery biscuits from Brittany, France: known for their dense, tender‑crumb texture, deep buttery flavour, and subtle salty note that perfectly balances sweetness. Unlike crumbly shortbread, these have a satisfying, moist bite and a lovely golden crust. This 100% vegan version replaces dairy butter with high‑quality plant‑based butter and simple ingredients, capturing the authentic taste and texture without any animal products at all.
Shared by james
Time
65 min
Serves
4
Difficulty
easy
đź›’ Ingredients
- 120 g plain all‑purpose flour.. 80 g fine caster sugar
- 100 g salted vegan butter, firm and chilled.. 1 tbsp cornstarch
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract.. 1–2 tbsp unsweetened plant milk (only if needed to bind)
- ½ tsp fine sea salt (adjust if using unsalted vegan butter)
👩‍🍳 Instructions
- 1
Mix dry ingredients: Whisk flour, cornstarch, sugar, and salt together in a medium bowl until evenly combined.
- 2
Form the dough: Cut the chilled vegan butter into small cubes and add to the dry mix. Rub gently with your fingertips until the mixture looks like coarse, sandy crumbs. Add vanilla, then press and gather the mixture into a smooth dough — only add a tiny splash of plant milk if it feels too dry to hold together. Do not knead, or the palets will turn tough.
- 3
Chill: Shape the dough into a round disc, wrap tightly, and chill in the fridge for 30 minutes until firm.
- 4
Shape: Preheat oven to 170 °C (340 °F). Roll out the dough to roughly 1.5 cm thickness. Cut out rounds using a plain or fluted cutter, and place on a baking tray lined with parchment paper. Chill for another 10 minutes before baking to help them keep their shape.
- 5
Bake: Bake for 18–20 minutes until deep golden around the edges and lightly coloured on top. They will still feel soft when hot but will firm up and develop their signature dense texture as they cool.
- 6
Cool & serve: Leave on the tray for 10 minutes, then transfer carefully to a wire rack to cool completely. Best enjoyed with tea, coffee, or a glass of cider.