Sweet Southern Tea Cakes Recipe: A Homemade Treat for All

Soft, buttery southern tea cakes dance between classic comfort and sweet nostalgia, tempting taste buds with their delicate southern tea cakes recipe passed down through generations.

These tender morsels carry whispers of southern kitchens and cherished memories.

Grandmothers carefully crafted each delicate cookie with love and precision.

Simple ingredients blend into magical treats that melt in your mouth.

Rich with tradition, these cookies offer a glimpse into southern culinary heritage.

The subtle sweetness and delicate texture make them perfect for afternoon breaks or elegant gatherings.

You’ll find these tea cakes irresistibly charming and wonderfully simple to create.

Keep Old Fashioned Tea Cakes Fresh for Days

• Cookie Jar Magic: Store these delicate tea cakes in an airtight container at room temperature, where they'll stay fresh and delicious for 5-7 days.
• Freezing Friendly: Wrap individual tea cakes in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer bag. They'll maintain perfect texture for up to 3 months when frozen flat.
• Make-Ahead Wisdom: Prepare the dough up to 2 days before baking and refrigerate. This technique allows flavors to develop and makes last-minute entertaining a breeze.
• Room Temperature Revival: Before serving, let frozen or refrigerated tea cakes sit at room temperature for 15-20 minutes to restore their soft, tender texture and enhance their subtle nutmeg sweetness.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 12 minutes

Total Time: 32 minutes

Calories: 168 kcal

Servings: 25

Ingredients for Old Fashioned Southern Tea Cakes

• Plain Flour: Provides structure and tender crumb, choose unbleached all-purpose flour for best texture.
• Salt: Enhances overall flavor and balances sweetness, use fine-grain table salt for even distribution.
• Baking Soda: Helps cookies rise and spread evenly, ensure it's fresh for optimal leavening.
• Powdered Nutmeg: Adds warm, nostalgic southern spice note, select whole nutmeg and grate fresh for more intense flavor.

• Granulated Sugar: Creates golden crisp edges and sweetness, opt for pure cane sugar for rich caramel undertones.
• Eggs: Bind ingredients together and provide richness, select large room temperature eggs for smooth mixing.

• Softened Butter: Delivers classic southern richness and tender crumb, use high-quality unsalted butter at comfortable room temperature.
• Pure Vanilla Extract: Deepens flavor complexity, choose premium extract with authentic Madagascar or Mexican vanilla beans for best taste.

Tools for Making Traditional Southern Tea Cakes

• Large mixing bowl: Perfect for creaming butter and sugar.
• Electric mixer or whisk: Essential for beating ingredients smooth.
• Measuring cups and spoons: Precise measurements ensure tasty results.
• Baking sheet: Flat surface for baking tea cakes evenly.
• Wire cooling rack: Helps tea cakes cool without getting soggy.
• Rolling pin: Helpful for flattening dough balls.
• Spatula: Great for scraping and mixing ingredients.
• Whisk: Useful for combining dry ingredients.

How to Bake Old Fashioned Tea Cakes from Scratch

• Cozy Kitchen Prep

Set up your baking space with a clean workspace and gather all your baking tools. Warm up the oven to a toasty 350°F, creating the perfect environment for these delightful treats.

• Buttery Soft Base

Whip the butter and sugar together until they transform into a dreamy, cloud-like mixture. Gently fold in eggs and a splash of vanilla, creating a rich and fragrant foundation.

• Flour Magic

In a separate bowl, blend the dry ingredients with a gentle touch, allowing the flavors to mingle and promise a delectable outcome.

• Dough Symphony

Combine the wet and dry ingredients, stirring until they create a smooth, irresistible cookie dough. Let the mixture rest and chill in the refrigerator, allowing the flavors to develop and deepen.

• Shaping Memories

Roll the chilled dough into soft, pillowy balls. Gently press them onto the baking sheet, giving each cookie room to spread and become golden.

• Baking Bliss

Slide the baking sheet into the warm oven and let the cookies bake until they turn a perfect, light golden color. The kitchen will fill with an incredible aroma that whispers of Southern hospitality.

Sweet Tips and Ideas for Tea Cake Variations

• Chill the dough at least an hour to prevent spreading and create perfectly tender tea cakes with delicate edges.
• Sprinkle ground cinnamon or add lemon zest to the dough for an unexpected twist that elevates the classic southern treat.
• Keep tea cakes in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days, layering between parchment paper to maintain their gentle crumbly texture.
• Swap traditional flour with a cup-for-cup gluten-free blend to make these nostalgic cookies accessible for everyone with dietary restrictions.
• Dust cooled tea cakes with powdered sugar or drizzle with a light vanilla glaze for a simple yet elegant presentation that honors southern baking traditions.

How to Serve Southern Tea Cakes with Charm

• Cozy Comfort Companion: Pair these Southern tea cakes with a steaming mug of hot Earl Grey tea for a classic afternoon treat that feels like a warm hug from grandma.
• Festive Gift Idea: Package these delicate cookies in a vintage tin or mason jar with a ribbon, creating a heartwarming homemade gift perfect for holidays or special occasions.
• Dessert Plate Perfection: Arrange tea cakes alongside fresh berries and a light dusting of powdered sugar for an elegant dessert presentation that delights both eyes and taste buds.
• Family Memory Maker: Invite children or grandchildren into the kitchen to help roll and flatten the dough, transforming baking time into a cherished family bonding experience.

Heavenly Southern Tea Cakes

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• Total Time: 32 minutes
• Yield: 25 1x

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Description

Southern tea cakes bring nostalgia from Grandma’s kitchen, blending simple ingredients into delicate, buttery cookies. Delightful memories of Southern hospitality shine through each tender, sweet bite you’ll savor.

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Ingredients

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• 2 large eggs
• 1 ¼ cups (300 milliliters/10.14 fl oz) granulated sugar
• 1 cup (240 milliliters/8 fl oz) softened butter
• 3 cups (720 milliliters/24.34 fl oz) plain flour
• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
• ¼ tsp powdered nutmeg
• ¼ tsp salt
• ¼ tsp baking soda

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Instructions

1. Preparation: Preheat the oven to 350°F and prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper to ensure even baking and effortless removal.
2. Creaming Mixture: Thoroughly cream butter and sugar until the mixture becomes light and fluffy, creating a smooth, aerated foundation for the tea cakes.
3. Wet Ingredient Integration: Incorporate eggs and vanilla extract, whisking until the mixture achieves a uniform consistency and rich flavor profile.
4. Dry Ingredient Combination: Sift together flour, baking soda, salt, and nutmeg, eliminating any potential lumps and ensuring perfect ingredient distribution.
5. Dough Formation: Gently fold dry ingredients into the wet mixture, creating a cohesive dough without overworking, which could compromise the tea cakes’ delicate texture.
6. Chilling Process: Wrap the dough and refrigerate for 1-1.5 hours, allowing flavors to develop and butter to solidify, facilitating easier handling and shaping.
7. Shaping and Baking: Portion chilled dough into uniform balls, spacing them on the prepared sheet. Flatten each ball slightly with your palm or a glass bottom to create consistent disk shapes.
8. Final Baking: Bake for 10-12 minutes until edges turn a golden brown, signaling the perfect doneness of the Southern tea cakes.
9. Cooling and Serving: Remove from the oven and transfer to a wire rack, letting the tea cakes cool and set for a few minutes before enjoying their delightful texture and flavor.

Notes

• Chill Dough Strategically: Refrigeration develops richer flavor profiles and prevents excessive spreading during baking, creating more structured tea cakes.
• Handle Dough Gently: Overmixing can result in tough, dense cookies, so fold ingredients softly and minimize aggressive stirring techniques.
• Measure Ingredients Precisely: Baking requires exact measurements, so use standard measuring cups and level off dry ingredients for consistent results.
• Control Baking Time Carefully: Watch edges closely during final minutes to achieve perfect golden-brown color without burning, as Southern tea cakes require delicate timing.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 12 minutes
• Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: Southern American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 25
• Calories: 168
• Sugar: 12 g
• Sodium: 54 mg
• Fat: 8 g
• Saturated Fat: 5 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 23 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 2 g
• Cholesterol: 33 mg