Palets bretons are traditional butter cookies originating from Brittany, France. Made with a simple combination of salted butter, flour, sugar, egg yolks, and baking powder, these cookies are known for their thick, crumbly texture and characteristic air-hole appearance, which distinguishes them from thinner French biscuits like sablés. The use of high-quality salted butter, often from the Brittany region itself, is essential to achieving their rich flavor.
Historically, palets bretons were made by Breton homemakers for their nutritional value and long shelf life, which was particularly important during times of scarcity and for long sea voyages. The cookies gained widespread popularity in the early 20th century, notably through the biscuit manufacturer Traou Mad in Pont-Aven, which was one of the first to produce them on an industrial scale. Today, palets bretons remain a symbol of Breton culinary tradition, often used as a base in French pâtisseries for desserts such as strawberry cakes and lemon tarts.