One of the simplest Japanese cookie recipes, and also one of the most recognizable, are these traditional dove shaped butter cookies called Hato Sabure.
Since moving from Yokohama to the Bay Area when I was 20 years old, I always get a craving for the snacks I grew up with in Japan. Whenever my mom comes to visit me, I ask her to bring Butter Cookies called Hato Sabure (鳩サブレー) from one famous traditional confectionery store in Japan called Toshimaya. More on that later.
History of Hato Sabure
Hato Sabure (鳩サブレー) is a brand of butter cookies sold at Toshimaya in Kamakura (鎌倉) near Yokohama. These type of sablé cookies go all the way back to 1887 (during the Meiji Era). Around that time, Japan started to open itself up to the world, allowing many foreign goods to come into the country. A foreign visitor to this shop gave the founder of the store a biscuit. That was the first time the founder tasted a western cookie, and he was immediately intrigued to make them. However, butter wasn’t a common ingredient in Japanese food at that time. He had to look for butter in neighborhoods where Westerners lived, so he could start testing and creating his version.
My Other RecipesWhy are Hato Sabure shaped as doves?
You may wonder why these famous Japanese butter cookies are dove shape. The name itself means dove butter cookies. Hato is dove/pigeon in Japanese, and sabure is the Japanese spelling of sable.
This famous confectionery store is very close to Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gu shrine (鶴岡八幡宮), where the founder often went to pray. He was inspired to make dove shape cookies because children at the shrine adored doves. In addition, the shrine’s name contains Japanese character number “eight 八” which resembles the shape of two birds facing each other (to learn more about the story of Hato Sabure, continue reading in Japanese here).
This is a fun Japanese cookie recipe to try, especially with your kids. It’s easy because I’m sure you are familiar with baking butter cookies already, and your kids can help with shaping them as doves. What better way for kids to learn a little about another culture and its history while munching on a delicious butter cookie!
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- 1½ cup all purpose flour (1½ cup = 200 g)
- ½ cup granulated sugar (½ cup = 110 g)
- 6 Tbsp unsalted butter (6 Tbsp = 85 g or ¾ stick) (at room temperature)
- 1 large egg (at room temperature)
- 1 tsp baking powder
Gather all the ingredients.
If you want to make the dove shape cookies, save the image (see Notes) to your computer and print out. Then trace the pattern on parchment paper.
- Sift the flour.
- Fit an electric mixer with the whisk attachment and combine sugar and butter in the bowl. Whisk on high speed until fluffy, about 2 to 3 minutes.
- Add the beaten egg and mix to combine.
- Change the whisk to the beater attachment. Add the flour and baking powder and mix on low speed until flour is incorporated.
- Roll the dough into a ball and wrap it in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 350F (177C). Roll out the dough on lightly floured surface, to 1/4 inch thickness. I put the long cooking chopsticks (it’s about 1/4 inch thickness) on both side of the dough and roll the dough to keep the same thickness.
- Cut out the dough around the dove shape, or cut with 2-inch cookie cutters.
- Place the cookies on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, about 1 inch apart.
- Bake until golden brown, about 15-20 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool completely on wire rack. Store the cookies in an airtight container. Enjoy!
Equipment you will need:
- Dove shape pattern, click here.
Recipe by Namiko Chen of Just One Cookbook. All images and content on this site are copyright protected. Please do not use my images without my permission. If you’d like to share this recipe on your site, please re-write the recipe in your own words and link to this post as the original source. Thank you.
If you make this recipe, snap a pic and hashtag it #justonecookbook — We love to see your creations on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter!
Raymund
Wow you shaped them perfectly. And YAY! I am the first one here
TheKitchenLioness
Nami, these are just beautifully shaped butter cookies – what a lovely story too about their history! I am sure that your kids must adore these as well. Isn´t there always a food that seems to bring back sweet childhood memories.
Have a lovely Wednesday!
Mich Piece of Cake
Looks easy and delicious, will certainly give it a try sometime. Thanks for sharing!
Nandita
The cookies look great nami. I loved the fact that you got the dove shape just perfect.
Sue | My Korean Kitchen
Your butter cookies look much better than the recipe that inspired you. 😀 It sounds very easy and quick to make too. (I think I even have all ingredients in my pantry already) Great!
Jenny
what a charming story, Nami. Those cookies look so crisp and creamy… I want one NOW!
Jayne
I personally haven’t had Hato Sabure brand cookies before but my mom LOVES butter cookies. And Butter cake. I think butter flavoured confections in general. This is really easy! It’s quite similar to my chocolate chip cookies recipe that I just finished writing. Thumbs up 🙂
Maureen | Orgasmic Chef
I’m going to give these a try so I can say I made one of Nami’s recipes. They look delightful and I love the story behind them. Real memory food in this post, Nami! I know it’s tough to be away from family even though you’re happy where you are. It’s hard to describe to someone. I get told, “so why don’t you move back there?” I don’t want to. I just need a cuddle from a pie or a cookie every now and then. 🙂
Katerina
I studied in the US too and I remember how much I missed my family and real Greek food! These were two of the reasons I decided to return to my country instead of pursuing a carrier there. To be honest with you now I come to regret it. Anyway, I love the shape of your biscuits and they must be very rich in flavor and texture!
kat
they look perfect!
Mel
Oh wow, looking beautifully baked these butter cookies. I love the dove shape and I really thought you are using the dove shape cookie cutter but instead cutting from the paper stencil shape.
Belinda @zomppa
How can one resist rich buttery cookies? I can’t believe you did these by hand! I was certain it was a cookie cutter!
Baby Sumo
Beautiful cookies Nami, I would probably have to make some other shapes since I dont have a dove cutter.
My Kitchen Stories
These are a great cookie recipe to have in your book. It is wonderful Nami
Purabi Naha
Nice history behind these Japanese dove-shaped cookies! I can guess how crunchy and tasty these cookies would taste. Now I want to make these cute fellas for my kids for sure!
Mandy - The Complete Cook Book
Beautiful cookies Nami, I love butter cookies.
🙂 Mandy xo
Hotly Spiced
Those are gorgeous cookies and I love the cute shape. You were so young when you left your family! I would have been so homesick xx
Sandra's Easy Cooking
Thank you for sharing bit of history behind those yummy cookies. Those cookies look delicious and you did such a great job Nami! I think you became really good baker! Well done!
ashley - baker by nature
You’re such a beautiful baker, Nami! These cookies are so delicate and lovely.
yummychunklet
I love butter cookies, and I love the shapes you made!
[email protected]
I saw these on my Instagram feed and I fell in love! They are so beautiful and elegant and buttery and yummy!!!
carol | a cup of mascarpone
What a lovely story, Nami! Thank you for sharing! These cookies are wonderful…and you formed the dove so beautifully!
Ella-Home Cooking Adventure
I love butter cookies, these looks wonderful. My daughters would love to make them dove shape cookies, great idea.
Ramona
Isn’t it wonderful to make treats from our homelands here in the States. There are so many easy to find foods in Sri Lanka that I miss. These cookies look delicate and beautiful. I can see why you love them so much. 🙂
Kimmi
These are terribly cute!! =) And thank you for sharing the dove template. I’m tempted to make some of these to give to my friend for his birthday. I guess I’ll be baking tonight~~
Nami
Thank you Kimmi! Hope your friend likes it! I was so persistent to make copycat version… 🙂
Sonia aka Nasi Lemak Lover
I like to see the cute pigeon shape of your butter cookies. Oh the taste close to original , then you can sell them in US, hehehe..
Dina
thank you for the interesting history behind the cookies. i’d love to try them. the dove shape is so pretty!
Denise [email protected] Brazil To You
I love the dove cookies, Nami!!! They are so cute…When I saw them on facebook days ago, I got all excited. I think you were preparing this post to share with us and gave there a peek of what you were doing. What an interesting story about these cookies as well.
Marta @ What should I eat for breakfast today
I’m just the same, I miss so many things from Poland, that are obvious there, but you can’t buy it even in a neighbour country. I love the shape of this cookies 🙂
Danielle
Oh how I miss these cookies! I remember my friend brought me to that shop in kamakura and I bought them for every one in my family. I can’t wait to make these!
Laura (Tutti Dolci)
So pretty, Nami! I love the dove shape, beautifully done!
Georgia @ The Comfort of Cooking
Beautiful, simple and delicious butter cookies Nami! I would love to try your recipe. I love that little bird cookie cut-out too! Very fitting for spring and summer. 🙂
Gina
I didn’t know that is why you came here. I can imagine how homesick you must get sometimes. Luckily you can recreate all those foods you miss, but it’s hard not having family around. I have a special spot for doves and cookies in my heart.
-Gina-
Chef and Sommelier
Hi Nami! Simply elegant and beautiful… I thought the doves were made using a mould and never had I thought that you have to trace and cut the outline using parchment paper! Smart idea!
[email protected]
Love the shape of these! And a terrific looking cookie – butter cookies have so much flavor, don’t they? Really good stuff – thank you.
Belinda @themoonblushbaker
What a wonderful blog post into the history of the butter cookie. My father adores this cookes, Often buying them with the honey almond topping on them. I am sure to make these for him. So cute with the extra details
Malou | Skip to Malou
Wow you do it so perfectly. Things that you miss from back home is so much resembled with this post. I would love to have these with my tea this morning. 🙂
Malou
mr. & Mrs. P
Love the dove shape!!!! They came out perfect!
[email protected]
I was surprised to see Japanese Butter cookies but thank you for giving us the history. Love the shape as doves and they look melt in your mouth delicious.
Yelena
O Nami, such a beautiful story about dove cookies. You know that I love when you post about Japan, so much history. The butter cookies look very neat and perfect.
Eileen
These cookies sound so simple and tasty! I love the idea of gentle doves as delicious, soothing cookies. 🙂
Monica
Sometimes the best things are the simple things. Butter cookies have a special place in my heart, too. They are so good and comforting.
Rosa
What cute cookies! They look delicious too.
Cheers,
Rosa
Mallika
Delicious butter cookies. Cant take my eyes of those cute birdie cookies! Lovely.
nipponnin
How neat! 名物を手作りしちゃうって、どうなのかしら？こっちの方が美味しいって、クレーム（？）来たらどうする？まだオリジナル食べてないから比較出来ないけど、なみちゃん、すごいよ。作ってみたいけど、本気でこの体重おとさなくては。
Elisabeth
Beautiful cakes! And what a great way to use chopsticks!
goboroot
The sable looks so adorable!!! My mouth started watering just looking at your photos as I recall eating them as a child whenever my family and I visited our relatives in Kamakura. Thank you for sharing, Nami san!
Nobuko
Hi Nami, I started making your butter cookies but i’m confused.
In the ingredients you write 1 tsp of baking powder and in the instructions, you write add the salt. Can you let me know which one it is?
thanks,
N
Nami
Thank you Nobuko-san for catching my mistake. The real Hato Sabure doesn’t include salt so it was my mistake in the Step #5. It should have been written as baking powder instead of salt. If you alredy put salt in it, no worries. A lot of butter cookie recipes use salt too, but I wanted to stick with real Hato Sabure ingredients… 🙂 Late night work can cause some mistake! Recipe is updated now. Thank you!!
Lokness @ The Missing Lokness
Beautiful cookies, Nami! Thank you for sharing the stories about yourself and the cookies. I haven’t had a Hato Sabure before, but yours look so cute and buttery. Must be very tasty.
I have a similar story like yours. I am always craving for food from Hong Kong. Whenever my parents are visiting, they always bring snacks for me. And sometimes as you said, I just have to figure out how to make my own. When the food I made comes out just like how I remember, that brought back some really good memories.
A_Boleyn
What a lovely story behind these cookies. I’ve never made French sables but have a recipe which I have to try one day. Innovative solution to getting the shape of the doves … make your own template. 🙂
I too use a guide to make my cookies 1/4″ … 2 wooden gadgets for pulling hot dishes out of the oven without having to reach all the way to the back and getting burned.
Nancy/SpicieFoodie
Hi Nami! As some one who lives far away from home I can really relate to your feelings. That’s great that you satisfied the craving and made your own cookies. The pigeons look beautiful! I would love to try them, they sound so good.Thanks for sharing.
Chung-Ah | Damn Delicious
I had no idea that you came to the US at 20! Wow. That’s amazing.
And these cookies – YES! I’m sure I could eat an entire batch in one sitting!
Sandy
あああ～～～鳩サブレ－！！！Our family love this cookie. It’s not available in our country so we only get to eat whenever we visit Japan. I will try to follow your recipe later! Thanks Nami san!
Nami
Hi Sandy! はははは！私も鳩サブレー食べたい・・・と思うことがよくあります。あの味は一度食べたら忘れられない・・・。 I hope you like the recipe! The taste and texture is really close!! 🙂
Rhonda
I have not moved countries but I do live across the US from where I grew up and miss some of the local products. It is very neat you were able to recreate something that you missed.
Joyti
It must have been lovely to have grown up in a place as beautiful and rich in culture as Japan. I hope, once I graduate, that I can visit 🙂
The cookies are adorable, and they sound delicious.
Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella
Nami, you really reach into my subconscious. I hadn’t even remembered that I’d eaten these until I saw your pictures and my memories came flooding back! 😀
Bam's Kitchen
Gorgeous doved shaped Hato cookies and thanks for the history about them. You have so much patience for using a pattern, I would have been scouring the stores to look for dove shaped cookie cutters. I bet these cookies are buttery and delicious. I also miss the foods in Japan and I only lived there a year, I can only imagine the withdrawals you are having! Thank goodness my hubby brought me back some of my favorite Japanese treats from his last visit to Yokohama. Are you going back for a visit home in the summer? I hope you are feeling better. Ja Mata, BAM
Anne ~ Uni Homemaker
This is so cute! And you shaped it oh so perfectly! 🙂 I love butter cookies so will have to give this one a try. Thanks for the lovely recipe Nami.
Laura|My Little Gourmet
I can definitely relate to being abroad and missing family and foods from home. Looks like you’ve found the perfect solution to the food issue…just recreate! Love those little doves.
Giulietta | Alterkitchen
Nice cookies! A lot of baking in this 2013 🙂
Adora's Box
I just love old fashioned biscuits. I still remember the taste of my favourite butter cookies when I was little. Unfortunately, it went out of circulation and I have never tasted anything like it again. Your dove cookies looks so delicate and delicious, Nami. Love the shape!
Nuts about food
Isn’t it the best feeling when, as an expat, you find an previously unfindable ingredient or recapture a taste that reminds you exactly of home? Something you haven’t had in ages and look forward to on every trip… it always makes me feel like home isn’t quite as far away.
Jeannie
Love those dove shaped cookies, butter cookies was the first type of cookies that I baked when I first picked up baking interest! they are pretty easy and delicious too!
[email protected]
Perfect cookies, and I know I can make these. You have no idea how happy that makes me 😀 Bookmarking. Btw, do you know, we Asians have very similar taste in cookies?? I have found Japanese cookies to be very similar to those we love fresh from the bakeries back in India. Even if I don’t get the shapes right, I will be happy to have them round, or any other shape for that matter, as long as they taste as delicious as they look.
Nazneen|Coffee and Crumpets
I’ve never tried the traditional dove cookies but I am quite sure they taste wonderful and that yours probably taste even better! You did a great job shaping them…they are so cute!
donna mikasa
I love the dove shape and the story behind it! And 5 ingredients makes it hard to resist trying out the recipe! Will give it a go soon. Thank you for sharing!
Nami
Thank you Donna! I hope you will like this recipe. It’s the closest thing I can make when I cannot get the real Hato Sabure… 🙂
Linda | The Urban Mrs
I adore butter cookies – everything with butter always tastes good. 🙂 And you just mastered the art of baking, they look so neat and perfect! Delish!
Kristy
These are so cute Nami! And how wonderful that you were able to recreate a taste from home. That’s so hard to do. I’m so happy it worked out on your first try! Now you can have a little taste of home whenever you need one. I am positive we would enjoy these as well!
By the way – we had your honey soy chicken for dinner. It earned the highest reviews from both of the kids and Mike and I were licking our fingers clean too. 🙂
Tania @ A Perfect Pantry
These look so adorable, and I love the bird shapes.
Florence
Hi Nami,
I’ve been following your blog, great recipes!
I will be in the SF area next week, could you recommend any authentic Japanese restaurants?
Thanks!
Nami
Hi Florence! So sorry for my late response. I’ve been a little behind in replying my email… please email me with what kind of Japanese food you are looking for ie sushi, ramen, izakaya food, etc. I’ll do my best. 🙂
Florence
Hi Nami,
Thanks for getting back to me! I’d love some recommendations on sushi or ramen restaurants.
Thanks!
Hannah
Nami, your cookies are just beautiful! I love simple butter cookies like these. What a lovely meaning behind their dove shape!
Monet
The dove shape is so beautiful. Goodness, I wish I had a few right now. They would go perfect with my evening pregnancy tea! Thank you for sharing…I love coming to your blog. Each time is a treasure.
Candice
Yum! this cookies reminds of this Japanese cookie I bought at a Japanese market. It’s manufactured by Fujiya and the box says Milky (it’s a girl with two pigtails). Have you seen it before?
Thanks for sharing the history behind these cookies. =)
Nami
Hi Candice! Yes I think I know what you are talking about! 😀 I haven’t had those for AGES. Glad to hear you enjoy my post!
Kiran @ KiranTarun.com
These are perfectly shaped, delish cookies! I would love dunking it into my tea, everyday 🙂
Tataya Kudo
I’ve been to Kamakura and got to try these cookies (free samples). They tasted quite delicious and were so pretty that I couldn’t resist. So at the end, either my brain or my desires betrayed me I bought 2 boxes.
The Ninja Baker
I visited Toshimaya in Kamakura after visiting the shrine. Of course, I purchased their famous cookie. So, お疲れ様でした。Thank you for finding and making the Hato Sabure maker friendly.
Ola Jane Gow
Hi! Made the cookies last night and they are delicious. But you show in your ingredient list as using baking powder, but in your written description you don’t mention baking powder but say to add the flour and the “salt”. You might want to review and adjust if necessary. I used the baking powder and put less than a 1/4 t of salt, just to be “safe.”
Nami
I think I sent you my response via email, but I’ve updated the recipe – there is no salt in this recipe. Sorry about my mistake!
[email protected]
Nami, thanks so much for sharing such a fun, great looking cookie recipe. I love that you shared the origin of the recipe and such detailed instructions. As a recent transplant to the US, I can’t help but to smile when I learn that so many of us share the same emotions and experience. Recreating foods we grew up with become the easiest way for us to feel connected to home.
Patty
Love the sweet shape of your butter cookies- and I can imagine how much you miss some of the special treats from Japan! Great job creating these lovely birds at home-please pass the tea 😉
Mi Vida en un Dulce
What a wonderful recipe. And you really have patient to make the cookies using a template. But the doves look wonderful.
Kristi Rimkus
How wonderful that you were able to recreate a cookie that brings back such lovely memories of your home growing up. With such simple ingredients, I bet even this non-baker could make these.
Raymond
Hello!! I was just wondering for step 5, since I don’t have a paddle attachment, can I just use the beaters I used to beat egg/butter/sugar?
Thank you!!
Nami
Yes beater is fine. Recipe updated. 🙂
Charles
Such sweet little cookies Nami – I must admit I thought you were making “Twitter” cookies when I saw the first picture, hehe :D. That’s the second time I’ve seen someone rolling dough out against two wooden blocks or chopsticks to gauge the thickness recently. I never would have thought of that before… so glad I could learn the tip!
Laura @ Family Spice
Okay, I love that you made your own cookie template! Just beautiful!!!
Lail | With A Spin
Lovely story and great shaped cookies, Nami.
Jean (Lemons & Anchovies)
I still remember you saying a while ago that you weren’t a baker (I used to say the same thing)…but seeing all the goodies that have been coming out of your oven lately, I’d say you’ve got that covered, too. These cookies look darling and I liked reading about its history. 🙂
Gemma @andgeesaid
these are stunning! (: xx
Sissi
Nami, your cookies look beautiful. So buttery, light, mouth-melting and so neatly shaped… You do have a lot of patience and dexterity!
POH chin
Hi Nami,
Thanks for sharing great recipe here. I baked the soufflé cheesecake last night , it was great but crack at the corner of the cake , I think I should not beat the egg white till stiff .,,,today I will like to try this butter cookies , may I know 6tbsp of butter equivalent to how many grams ?
Nami
Hi POH! I’m sorry to hear the souffle got cracks. Hope next try will be successful. Hope it was still tasty. 🙂
6Tbsp of butter = 85grams = 3/4 stick of butter
(1 Tbsp butter = 14.18 gram)
Hope that helps. I’ll update the recipe with gram as well.
Christine @ Cooking Crusade
Aww wow these biscuits are so cute! I love the dove shape you made with them 🙂
Lynna
That`s a really cute story! I love butter cookies. I wish I had a dove shape cookie cutter to make this easier. LOL. But, I think using a print template is a smart idea.
[email protected]
I’ve seen these Hato cookies in Japan before but I had no idea the reason behind while they were made into this shape 🙂 It’s very meaningful to know that it’s because of the character ‘8’ hehe
Looks like a great simple recpie ~
S
Thank you so much for this recipe! One of my good friends always brings back these “bird cookies” from her Japan trips and they are my favorite!!!
Nami
So happy to hear you enjoy Hato Sable cookies! They are my favorite too and I can finish the whole package very quickly… 🙂
Stephanie
Thank you for sharing the back story! It’s always interesting to hear about the origins/history of some traditions.
Jocelyn (Grandbaby Cakes)
Butter cookies are my absolute fave cookie! I grew up on them. I adore these!
Katherine
I tried out this recipe, today and the cookies turned out amazing. I’m so bad at baking, particularly making cookies, but today is a success. Thank you
Nami
Hi Katherine! Yay! So happy to hear you enjoyed my favorite cookie. 🙂 These are very simple butter cookies but quite addicting. Thanks for trying this recipe and for your feedback! 😀
Maya
I made it into flower shapes. Everyone loved it. Thank you.
Nami
Hi Maya! So happy you enjoyed this recipe. Thank you for letting me know. 🙂 xo
Elizabeth @Mango_Queen
How did I miss this delightful butter cookie post? I love baking cookies. This is so pretty. I remember going to one of the large department stores on Ginza st. in Tokyo — and in the lower level where there was a food section, I bought a box of sables. The packaging was so pretty, and inside the cookies were even more beautiful. I will try your recipe here. As always, thanks for sharing, Nami.
Nami
Oh the food section under the department stores in Japan is SO FUN! Each department stores have different shops too (some popular ones are always same), and I can spend hours looking for gifts and food that I want to buy for myself. And the packaging – some are “excessive” and waste of materials (LOL) but it certainly looks nice especially if it’s gifts. Wrapping after one another… 🙂 Thank you Elizabeth! Hope you enjoy these cookies – very nostalgic taste for me from the Hato Sable store. 🙂
Esther Tan
Hello! May I know if I can leave the dough in the refrigerator overnight instead of 30mins?:) I’m planning to bake these for 310 people so may I know how many cookies can I make with this recipe? 🙂 thank you and great recipe!
Nami
Hi Esther! 310 people! Wow. This recipe will yield 30 round small cookies (you see in the photos). You might want to see how many you want to make based on that. I usually follow this recipe to make the cookies, and haven’t refrigerated overnight for this recipe (obviously I can’t wait to bake so that I can eat. haha). I assume it’ll be okay, but I just hope that dough won’t become too hard. You have to try it to see as I’ve never refrigerated for that long. Sorry I wish I could help. Good luck with baking many cookies! 🙂
Yukthi Manjunath
Hi Nami,
I liked your blog very much. I visited today for the first time.
Can you pleas explain me what is the use of refrigerating cookie dough for sometime?
Yukthi
Nami
Hi Yukthi! Thank you so much for your kind words about my blog. It’s necessary to cool it down so that you can slice it. If you are going to use a cookie cutter, you can still refrigerate for some time so it’s easier to handle the dough to keep the good shape.
Sarah
Hey we tried out the recipe and loved it. However, we added a few things like vanilla extract and my family wished it to be sweeter. Still, we loved the cookies and they came out great. We made them heart shaped and loved them. Thank for such an easy cookie recipe. I’m 15 and was able to cook them well. Thanks again.
Nami
Hi Sarah! So glad to hear you liked this recipe! I like the addition of vanilla extract. 🙂 For this recipe, I wanted to make a copycat version of “Hato Sables” so I didn’t include any other ingredients, but it’s totally optional. 🙂 Thank you for your kind feedback, Sarah! xo
Esther
These are so good and are easy to make! I made a batch yesterday, and they are all gone. Am making another batch now. (Seriously, they are so addictive!) My whole family likes them. 😀 Made them in teddy bear, heart, hippo, star, and flower shapes, and for the second batch I added a 1/4 teaspoon of salt.
Thank you Nami for this recipe! Keep up the good work.
Nami
Hi Esther! I’m so happy to hear you enjoy this recipe! It’s one of my favorite cookies! Love that you made into different shapes. My kids would love the different shapes. Thank you so much for your kind comment!
meng
Not only my friends and family love them, they can’t seem to stop! I am planning on buying a bigger oven because I can’t seem to make enough of them. Thanks for another great recipe.
Nami
Hi Meng! Aww I’m so happy to hear yours came out very well! Thank you for trying my recipe! 🙂
Erika Smith
i jist got my cookies out of the oven and they turned out amazing! I’ve had Hato Sabure before and this recipe is right on. I never leave a reply on recipe websites but I had to do it this time because these cookies are amazing.
Nami
Hi Erika! Thanks so much for leaving a comment! Your kind feedback means so much to me! I’m happy to hear your cookies came out well. Aren’t these so delicious? Thanks for trying this recipe, Erika!
Judy
Waaaahhhhh~~~ Thank you so much! This really brings back memories, when i was little my mother worked at a Japanese owned hotel, and she would bring me these cookies, and I LOVED these cookies.
Nami
Hi Judy! So happy to find another Hato Sable fan! 😀 It’s so delicious, I can eat a few cookies at one sitting… 🙂
Nancy
you can also buy dove shaped cookie cutters on amazon 🙂
Nami
Hi Nancy! Thanks so much for your tip! I went to look for a dove cookie cutter like Hato Sable but the shape wasn’t the same…
The original cookie looks like this:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BHj2I3kBqsA/
I wish they have similar ones! Thank you for your comment, Nancy! 🙂
JJ
Thank you for this recipe! I recently visited Kamakura and, thanks to your post, made sure I did not leave without stopping by their store! Now I can recreate that wonderful flavour and all the memories of a lovely trip to a very friendly town. 🙂
Nami
Hi JJ! That is so cool! I’m glad I introduced my favorite cookies to you! So buttery and delicious right? I hope you enjoyed it. 😀 Ah I miss it! I can’t wait to go back to Kamakura in the summer again. 🙂
Dre Nakao
Thank you Nami! I’ve made 3 trials and on the third the variation suggested by my boyfriend was adding turbinado sugar sprinkled/pressed on the to, baked for 20 minutes-they came out great with lightly browned edges. All the best in the New Year!
Nami
Hi Dre! Oh that sounds delicious and crunchy! Great idea suggested by your BF! I’m so happy you enjoyed the cookies. Thank you for your kind feedback. Happy New Year!
Claudine
Thank you so much for all the recipes. Also making it so easy to download. Thanks!!!
Claudine
Nami
Hi Claudine! I’m happy to hear you enjoy my recipes. Thank you for your kind words and support! xo