Langues du Chat- Le Chat's Meow

There is a phenomenal French cookie, known as the langue du chat or cat's tongue. It's a buttery crisp in the shape of a feline's tongue and is a wonderment to our own tongues. This a cookie that goes equally well at a party or an elegant tea. They're also good for an indulgent snack.



Langue du chat got their start in 17th Century Europe. They were also big in Italy where they're known as lingua du gatti and Germany where they're known as katzenzungen. The last is also made into melt in your mouth milk chocolate candy wafers. They are very thin cookies, resembling more of a wafer. Langue du chats have rounded edges and skinny middles , resembling - what else - kitties' tongues. The shape is made by squeezing the dough out of a pastry tube with a blob of dough at one end, followed by a streak and then another blob. The trick to making cat's tongues is to be stingy when putting them on the cookie sheet. Too large and they'll look like lady fingers. Too small and they burn quickly. These cookies only take six minutes to bake up.

If you haven't experienced this treat yet, now is the time. I'm including a recipe I found on a z French studies site from Mississippi State University , Splendors of Versailles http://splendors-versailles.org/Activities/2.html. However you can also log on to www.latulipedesserts where they're $11.50 for a package. Either way you will enjoy them.



Langue du chats recipe


Langue Du Chat (Cat's Tongues)
Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup white sugar
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla or almond extract, or lemon rind
3/4 cup flour
Steps:
Cream together 1/2 cup butter with 1/2 cup white sugar.
Add 1 egg, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla or almond extract, or lemon rind.
Beat in 3/4 cup flour into mixture.
Drop cookies onto a greased cookie sheet.
Bake at 375%F for about 6 minutes.
Comments:
These delicate buttery cookies will have slightly browned edges.


Note: Please use real butter for this and not margerine. Make these the way the French do for a more delicate and authentic taste.