Lenguas de Gato – “Cat’s Tongue” Cookies
It wasn’t easy growing up the youngest of five siblings. My three older man-brothers took it upon themselves to toughen up my prepubescent self when I got too good at Donkey Kong and Super Mario Bros. Sore thumbs abruptly turned into sore everything when boxing gloves and elbows in the solar plexus during intense games of pickup basketball followed. All I ever wanted to do was mash buttons and beat the Hi Score.
When things got extra harsh, my sister always had my back. Whereas one word from her and the brothers listen, any time I made so much as a peep, I end up in a headlock. Not even having my own armpit hair at the time, the prickly-moist sensation against the back of my neck was extra disgusting.
My sister and I have a little bond, you see. Since I’m the youngest and she’s the only daughter, we’re automatically the darling family favorites, and we knew how to take advantage of that. Obsessed with Hello Kitty and all things feline, my sister often asked for lenguas de gato, or “cat’s tongue” cookies, as pasalubong from our parents. Sometimes we would lock ourselves in my sister’s room, far away from brotherly physical abuse, with a boxful of the crisp and buttery treats.
The burnt edges and pale center instantly melt in your mouth, giving the cookie an unexpected complex taste considering the simplicity of the recipe. Of course, my sister and I didn’t really know or care about the wonders of caramelization back then. We just thought lenguas de gato were good and addictive.
recipe adapted from Penelope Casas’ The Foods and Wines of Spain
Eat Christmas Cookies hosted by Food Blogga
Lenguas de Gato
“Cat’s Tongue” Vanilla-Butter Cookies
makes about 70 small cookies
Ingredients:
Ingredients Volume Ounces Grams unsalted butter 8 tbsp 4 113 confectioner's sugar 3/4 cup 3.2 90 salt pinch vanilla extract 1/4 tsp lemon zest 1/8 tsp all-purpose flour 3/4 cup 3.4 96 whites from large eggs 2 2.1 60
Notes:
- Have all of the ingredients at room temperature before continuing.
- The use of confectioner’s sugar maximizes the cookie spread and minimizes the amount of aeration in the cookie dough when mixing. It also gives the cookie a finer texture.
Special Equipment:
- A pastry bag
- A #11 or #12 round pastry tip (about 1/4-inch opening)
To Prepare Lenguas de Gato – “Cat’s Tongue” Cookies:
Preheat Oven 400ºF / 205ºC
Prepare two half-sheet pans or cookie sheets lined with parchment or
silicone mats.
Mix Using a rubber spatula, mix together the butter,
sugar, salt, vanilla extract, and lemon zest until
smooth.
Gently fold in half of the flour. Slowly mix in the
egg whites followed by the rest of the flour.
Continue mixing only until thoroughly incorporated.
Pipe Put the cookie dough in a pastry bag fitted with a
round pastry tip (about 1/4-inch opening). Pipe the
dough onto the prepared pans in 2 1/2-inch lengths.
Space the piped dough at least 1 1/2 inches apart
to allow for spread.
Bake Bake at 400ºF / 205ºC for 6 to 8 minutes, until the
edges are lightly browned and the middle is still
pale.
Cool Immediately transfer the cookies to a wire rack to
cool. The cookies will be pliable straight from the
oven but will crisp within minutes.
Chocolate Lenguas de Gato Variation:
- Omit the lemon zest and replace one-fifth of the flour with unsweetened cocoa powder.
Links related to Lenguas de Gato – “Cat’s Tongue” Cookies:
- Langues de Chat with an Asian twist at Chocolate and Zucchini
- An alternate recipe at Cook Mobile
- Must use egg whites at Market Manila
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December 15th, 2008 at 3:40 am
A delightful cookie!
Cheers,
Rosa
December 15th, 2008 at 7:32 am
Those look wonderful! I haven’t had them before, they look so delicate.
As an only child who went on to have 3, I was alarmed at the fighting that the boys do – my daughter is oldest though, so she definitely puts them in their place. She’s more strict than I am!
December 15th, 2008 at 8:20 am
As the oldest I never had to go through as much, though I’d still like some of those cookies
December 15th, 2008 at 9:12 am
What a great cookie! I love how delicate they are and the shape is so elegant too!
December 15th, 2008 at 9:49 am
Those are definitely getting made soon.
Oh, and older siblings are a pain no matter what, but I wouldn’t trade being the youngest in my family for anything! Nothing like being the instant favorite, eh?
December 15th, 2008 at 10:50 am
Ooch. When me and my older brother would fight, since we are nerds, we used words (or good old-fashioned silent treatment). I’m the younge(r)st but not the favorite!
Containers Lengua de gato always get emptied speedily in these parts– it’s that heady scent of butter that makes them so addictive! I love the chocolate ones you made!
December 15th, 2008 at 11:50 am
Wonderful cookies… u r such a professional. I grew up along, I have no idea about sibling fights…
December 15th, 2008 at 12:11 pm
I don’t know much about cat’s tongues either, but I agree these biscuits are tasty and adictive. We get something like these in our local bakeries in this shape and as smaller round ones too.
Do they have a cake like taste?
December 15th, 2008 at 12:20 pm
Great story!
Those sound really good, a nice and interesting version of lace cookies, I always thought.
December 15th, 2008 at 1:44 pm
Growing up, my 5 brothers and I always fought over this cookies to see who can get the most. My sister has to step in and divvy up. Anyways, just to let you know I just revised my Christmas baking list to include this cookies. Thanks, Jude!
December 15th, 2008 at 2:12 pm
Sibling wars, yikes! I just had an older sister, and we settled all of our problems by just not talking. Seriously, I think I barely talked to her for all of high school. Luckily, we talk a bit more often now
I bet these cookies are awesome as cookie sandwiches though – chocolate ones with a nice chocolate-mint filling, yum!
December 15th, 2008 at 2:59 pm
These are how cat’s tongues should look…not like the baking sheet of one big blob of dough my turned out to be.
December 15th, 2008 at 3:01 pm
Haha that Super Mario story was awesome. I was the exact same way, dude. I probably spent years of my life playing old school NES games.
Not that you’d want to ruin such a nice cookie, but I bet those make nice flying objects if a brother bugs you
December 15th, 2008 at 3:06 pm
These are way better than the Pepperidge Farms version. Although I’d love to see them get sandwiched with chocolate ganache anyway, just for kicks.
December 15th, 2008 at 3:42 pm
Hi Jude!
These cookies are classical in Spain and several
Latin-American countries…a lot of cakes use them
as decoration especially at the sides, because
they look wonderful and so yummy
Gera .:. sweetsfoods
December 15th, 2008 at 4:18 pm
Okay, just adorable…love the name and they look just like it! What a wonderful surprise this was.
December 15th, 2008 at 4:46 pm
Mmmm….how good would these be dipped in chocolate! Great blog!
December 15th, 2008 at 6:58 pm
happy food to share with your sister is always a welcome thing.
December 16th, 2008 at 3:10 am
Hi Jude! Your blog is looking fabulous these days
I’m hunting down cookie recipes (we’re going cheap and cheerful for xmas gifts this year) and I’m seriously considering your death by chocolate cookies (if I can get over my macaron fear). Do they keep well?
December 16th, 2008 at 5:38 am
Beautiful cats tongues! Could easily eat a whole handful of these
December 16th, 2008 at 9:14 am
These cookies have such a fun name
. I like how delicate and crunchy they look, delicious 
.
December 16th, 2008 at 9:44 am
what a terrific name for some awesome little cookies! i could and would definitely plow my way through an entire batch of ‘em.
December 16th, 2008 at 10:15 am
As a lover of cats, their tongues and baking I have always wanted to make these. Don’t know why I haven’t. You make them. I should make them… They sound really incredible.
December 16th, 2008 at 11:06 am
I don’t have siblings – yeah, unica hija po ako- so i never had the pleasure (or horror) of fighting with my siblings.
Love these cookies! This reminds me of my favorite “pasalubongs” when someone comes from Baguio. They make the best lengua de gatos there…. thanks for the recipe.. i’ll definitely try ‘em..
December 16th, 2008 at 11:19 am
Langues aux chats cookies bring back many memories. It was a favorite of all the kids in our house growing up. My mom use to serve them with ice cream sometimes when we had guests or we had them for snack time as well.
Your sister sounds great, Jude!
December 16th, 2008 at 12:04 pm
I’ve never had these but they look so cute and delicious! I’m dying to try. And I had a very similar childhood– my brother and two cousins beat the crap out of me with bop bags during a game of dark hide-and-seek and I managed such a convincing cry that my parents bought me a mouse. Ha ha!
December 16th, 2008 at 1:07 pm
i <3 lenguas de gato. one of my favorite cookies when i was a kid and now as an adult.
as far as siblings go, i’m the ate so i had no problems with familial turf wars, since i always won. my baby sister got bossed around by all three older siblings, but she’s definitely the favorite.
December 16th, 2008 at 4:27 pm
lol about the stories from childhood. The cookies look fantastic–I’ve had things like them, but I can’t recall ever having cat’s tongues specifically, so I’ll have to get on this. So many great looking cookies I need to try have come out of this month!
December 16th, 2008 at 5:35 pm
Those are beautiful looking cookies. I could devour a whole lot of them.
I admit, when I first saw the post title, I thought you were making some kind of burrito filling using cat’s tongues instead of cow tongues.
December 16th, 2008 at 10:39 pm
Natashya, Caroline – Why is it always the sister that sets everyone straight?
Caitlin – We also call “not talking” as giving the “dagger look”
Adam – Make an x out of it to make shuriken?
Gera – I think I need to check out recipes for cakes that use lenguas de gato…
Dee – I actually don’t know if they keep well… They barely last a day around here.
Jescel – I remember stuff like ube jam and strawberries from Baguio. Never got to try lenguas from there.
Alexa – She’s a pretty cool cat.
DD – Don’t know what bop bags are, but I hope they weigh less than small pillows.
Monzie – I guess you’re the bully, then?
Nate – I’m seriously hoping there aren’t any delicacies with real cat tongues.
December 16th, 2008 at 11:21 pm
Ooooh! These really are addicting! Lengua de gato is something you can eat a hundred of if you don’t watch it
Yours came out just perfect!
December 17th, 2008 at 11:26 am
Your lenguas de gato look fantastic! Crisp, buttery, and delicious.
December 18th, 2008 at 8:44 pm
I used to love these but didn’t know what they were called. Cool!
December 19th, 2008 at 6:53 pm
Thanks for sharing this wonderful cookie! The ones I have had before were excellent but I never knew the cookie’s name. I can’t wait to try your recipe.
December 19th, 2008 at 7:43 pm
those are cute! while they are certainly the shape of cat’s tongues i am glad they are not the same, spikey texture
December 20th, 2008 at 1:08 pm
You’ve made langues de chat….aaaah, I’m in love with them you know, my first cookie love!
December 20th, 2008 at 3:48 pm
This looks so good! Can’t wait to try!
December 21st, 2008 at 1:13 pm
So, that is the secret…confectioner’s sugar! Thanks Jude. Lovely pictures, as always!
February 6th, 2009 at 1:51 pm
This is my mom’s favorite cookies, thanks for sharing the recipe with us.
Did you beat the egg whites before mixing it in?
February 7th, 2009 at 12:54 pm
Alemar, I didn’t beat the whites mainly to keep the air out of the batter. It will look separated at first but will come together with the flour and butter.
March 9th, 2009 at 12:43 pm
I like your site! I will surely visit often and subscribe to the feed. I love baking and I would love to try the recipes here
June 25th, 2009 at 6:41 pm
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September 29th, 2009 at 4:29 pm
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March 17th, 2010 at 8:49 am
[...] a child, he and his sister would lock themselves inside her room with a whole tin of rich, buttery Lenguas de Gato Cookies (Cat’s Tongue Cookies). They don’t lock themselves away anymore, but they still love their cookies. Rosa of [...]
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September 22nd, 2010 at 10:25 am
I tried this recipe last night and they’re just as I remember the best ones made by nuns from Baguio City’s Good Shepherd Convent. Lemon rind is the key, simple ingredients yet so tasty & elegant. Thank you so much!
October 16th, 2010 at 9:55 pm
it’s soo delicuos I think that it soo delicuos because nice cookie and my brother’s taste he say ate it’s deliuos thanks for yhe recipe>>>>>>>>>>>>>
November 17th, 2010 at 10:41 pm
do you whip the eggwhites first, or do you just add them into the butter mixture straightaway? thanks!
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August 30th, 2011 at 4:34 pm
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October 11th, 2011 at 4:10 am
We can try it for Halloween, with making some Different Shapes.thanks so much for the recipe.
January 27th, 2012 at 6:50 pm
Is this really a cat tongue?
February 10th, 2012 at 5:27 am
Thank you verymuch for providing such a wonderful recipe for cats tongue ….its yummyyyy…he ..he …
April 29th, 2012 at 6:12 am
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May 9th, 2012 at 10:21 pm
Incredibly easy. Prep and baked in under 15 minutes. Thanks!
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