Les Navettes de Saint Victor (Shuttle Cookies)

These boat-shaped, orange-blossom-scented sugar cookies, named after an unmanned boat bearing a wooden statue of the Virgin Mary that arrived in Marseille during the 13th century, are a signature Marseillais treat.

  • Serves

    makes 16 cookies

Ingredients

  • 34 cup sugar
  • 6 tbsp. unsalted butter, softened
  • 2 tsp. orange blossom water
  • 18 tsp. kosher salt
  • 2 eggs
  • 3 cups flour

Instructions

Step 1

Heat oven to 350°. Using an electric hand mixer, beat sugar, butter, orange blossom water, salt, and eggs until fluffy, 1–2 minutes. With the motor running, slowly add flour until a stiff dough forms. Transfer dough to a work surface and knead briefly until smooth. Divide dough into sixteen 1¾-oz. pieces.

Step 2

Working with one piece dough at a time, and using hands, roll dough into a 6″ log about ½″ thick.

Step 3

Flatten the ends of the dough.

Step 4

Transfer log to a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Using a knife, cut a ¼″-deep slit lengthwise in top of log beginning and ending about ¼″ from each end.

Step 5

Using fingers, splay dough open slightly. Bake until pale golden and slightly crisp, about 20 minutes. Let cookies cool completely before serving.
  1. Heat oven to 350°. Using an electric hand mixer, beat sugar, butter, orange blossom water, salt, and eggs until fluffy, 1–2 minutes. With the motor running, slowly add flour until a stiff dough forms. Transfer dough to a work surface and knead briefly until smooth. Divide dough into sixteen 1¾-oz. pieces.
  2. Working with one piece dough at a time, and using hands, roll dough into a 6″ log about ½″ thick.
  3. Flatten the ends of the dough.
  4. Transfer log to a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Using a knife, cut a ¼″-deep slit lengthwise in top of log beginning and ending about ¼″ from each end.
  5. Using fingers, splay dough open slightly. Bake until pale golden and slightly crisp, about 20 minutes. Let cookies cool completely before serving.
Recipes

Les Navettes de Saint Victor (Shuttle Cookies)

  • Serves

    makes 16 cookies

Shuttle Cookies
LANDON NORDEMAN

These boat-shaped, orange-blossom-scented sugar cookies, named after an unmanned boat bearing a wooden statue of the Virgin Mary that arrived in Marseille during the 13th century, are a signature Marseillais treat.

Ingredients

  • 34 cup sugar
  • 6 tbsp. unsalted butter, softened
  • 2 tsp. orange blossom water
  • 18 tsp. kosher salt
  • 2 eggs
  • 3 cups flour

Instructions

Step 1

Heat oven to 350°. Using an electric hand mixer, beat sugar, butter, orange blossom water, salt, and eggs until fluffy, 1–2 minutes. With the motor running, slowly add flour until a stiff dough forms. Transfer dough to a work surface and knead briefly until smooth. Divide dough into sixteen 1¾-oz. pieces.

Step 2

Working with one piece dough at a time, and using hands, roll dough into a 6″ log about ½″ thick.

Step 3

Flatten the ends of the dough.

Step 4

Transfer log to a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Using a knife, cut a ¼″-deep slit lengthwise in top of log beginning and ending about ¼″ from each end.

Step 5

Using fingers, splay dough open slightly. Bake until pale golden and slightly crisp, about 20 minutes. Let cookies cool completely before serving.
  1. Heat oven to 350°. Using an electric hand mixer, beat sugar, butter, orange blossom water, salt, and eggs until fluffy, 1–2 minutes. With the motor running, slowly add flour until a stiff dough forms. Transfer dough to a work surface and knead briefly until smooth. Divide dough into sixteen 1¾-oz. pieces.
  2. Working with one piece dough at a time, and using hands, roll dough into a 6″ log about ½″ thick.
  3. Flatten the ends of the dough.
  4. Transfer log to a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Using a knife, cut a ¼″-deep slit lengthwise in top of log beginning and ending about ¼″ from each end.
  5. Using fingers, splay dough open slightly. Bake until pale golden and slightly crisp, about 20 minutes. Let cookies cool completely before serving.

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