Description
Old-Fashioned Southern Tea Cakes are classic soft, buttery cookies with a delicate crumb and subtle spice. These tender treats are easy to make, featuring simple pantry ingredients like sugar, butter, eggs, flour, and a hint of nutmeg for warmth. Perfect with a cup of tea or coffee, they offer a nostalgic homemade flavor that has been cherished in Southern kitchens for generations.
Ingredients
Scale
Tea Cakes
- 1 3/4 cups white sugar
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 325°F (165°C) and grease a baking sheet or line it with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, cream together the white sugar and softened butter using a mixer or by hand until the mixture becomes fluffy and light in color, ensuring a tender texture.
- Add Eggs and Vanilla: Incorporate the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition to fully combine. Then beat in the vanilla extract to enhance the flavor.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: Stir in the all-purpose flour, baking soda, salt, and ground nutmeg until the dough is fully combined and slightly sticky.
- Form Dough Balls: Roll the dough into small balls about 1 inch in diameter and place them evenly spaced onto the prepared baking sheet.
- Flatten Dough: Gently flatten each dough ball slightly using your fingers or the bottom of a glass to create a uniform thickness for even baking.
- Bake: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges of the cookies turn golden brown, indicating they are perfectly baked.
- Cool: Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheet for several minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely, allowing them to set properly.
Notes
- For best results, ensure the butter is softened but not melted before creaming with sugar.
- If desired, sprinkle a little white sugar on top of the cookies before baking for extra sparkle and crunch.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week to maintain freshness.
- You can substitute nutmeg with ground cinnamon or allspice for a different warm spice profile.
- These cookies do not contain leavening beyond baking soda, so do not expect them to rise significantly.
