Tea Time: The Old-Fashioned Way
The thought of old-fashioned teacakes takes me back to my childhood. I can remember going to my great-grandmother’s house and always receiving a yummy teacake, or two. The family called her “Teacake Mamaw” because she always had two or three cookie jars filled with teacakes.
So, what exactly is a teacake anyway?
Just in case you don’t know, a true Southern old-fashioned teacake is not really a “cake” at all. It is a small round slightly sweet cookie, similar to a sugar cookie, that originated in England. Years ago, the British served this particular type of teacake with their afternoon tea.
Now, teacakes conjure up fond memories for many people, especially Southerners, here in the United States, because a lot of us can recall having them as children.
Although, the ingredients for my favorite teacakes are incredibly basic, the flavor of this teacake is wonderful, especially when eaten with a good cup of coffee.
Here is the recipe that I use:
Ingredients:
- 1 cup butter
- 1 cup sugar
- 3 eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 3 1/2 cups flour
Directions:
- Cream butter and sugar by beating butter until smooth and fluffy.
- Gradually add sugar, beating well after each addition until light and fluffy.
- Add eggs one at a time, beating thoroughly after each egg.
- Stir in vanilla.
- Gradually add flour, mixing well after each addition. Use only enough flour to make dough stiff enough to handle.
- Cover and chill to make rolling easier.
- Place on a lightly floured surface and roll thin, about 1/4 inch thick.
- Cut with cookie cutter and place on a lightly greased cookie sheet.
- Bake at 350˚ for 10 minutes or until light brown on bottom. Cool on wire rack and store in airtight container.
Note: If you don’t have a round cookie cutter, you can turn a glass upside down and cut the cookies with the rim of the glass.
Makes 5 dozen.
Other than the sheer time it takes to create these delicate cookies, they are really quite simple and utilize ingredients that are generally already on hand. I hope that you will try them and let me know what you think.
My son recently had a tea party at his preschool, and I had the opportunity to make and take these cookies for his classmates to enjoy. It was a success! Despite the fact that these cookies have very little sugar, kids seem to thoroughly enjoy them.
As an added bonus for you, here are a few basic cookie baking tips to help maximize your baking success.
- Let your butter sit on the counter until it softens (usually about 30-45 minutes). Do not put it in the microwave, the consistency of the butter will not be right.
- Let eggs come to room temperature, instead of using them straight out of the refrigerator.
- Have all ingredients out and ready before starting to mix the dough.
- Use a light colored pan for baking. Since, darker pans absorb more heat, there is a greater chance that the underside of your cookies will brown too quickly.
- Always let the cookie sheet cool before placing the next batch on the sheet for cooking.
If you‘ve had any problems in the past baking cookies, I hope that these little hints will prove useful to you.
Do you have any baking tips that you can add to this list? If so, I would love to hear them.
For more great recipes and tips, visit Blessed with Grace for Tempt My Tummy Tuesday, Balancing Beauty and Bedlam for Tasty Tuesday and Tammy’s Recipes for Kitchen Tip Tuesdays.
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These look fantastic! I love tea parties, and these would be a great addition to any. I wish I’d had this recipe for the tea bridal shower I threw a couple years ago–they would have been a huge hit.
I have a baking tip to add: if you don’t have a light-colored baking sheet, putting parchment or a silicon mat between your sheet and the cookies will help avoid burning. You can sometimes find silicon mats on sale–I got mine for under $2 so it is affordable.
Amanda @ Mrs.W’s Kitchen’s last blog post..Rum Raisin Cheesecake Ice Cream
This would be just right for our church’s ladies’ tea. Thanks for sharing the recipe.
Susan (A Happy Heart at Home)’s last blog post..Amish Friendship Chocolate Muffins
@Amanda - Thanks for the tip.
@Susan - I have actually taken these to a ladies’ meeting at my church, and they were a hit.
So fun : ). Your tea cake is very pretty! My son LOVES sugar cookies. I am sure he would love these!
Life with Kaishon’s last blog post..To-die-for chocolate
They sound wonderful! When it’s cold or rainy we have ‘tea time” and these would be perfect.
~Kim
Kim @ Forever Wherever’s last blog post..Daily Thanks - Small Things
these sound easy i had no idea they where cookie like i need to have some friends over for tea and tea cakes
@Life with Kaishon - One thing I really like about tea cakes is that they are very similar to sugar cookies but just not quite as sweet.
@Kim - That’s a fun idea for those dreary days.
@Pamela - They are very easy, and yes these are great cookies for “tea time” with friends.
First, welcome to Tempt My Tummy Tuesday. Thanks for joining us. This recipe looks great. Also, thanks for the extra baking tips. Hope you can join us again, real soon.
Lisa@BlessedwithGrace’s last blog post..Tempt My Tummy Tuesday….Lasgana -YUMMO!
I am so glad you posted these, along with your tips and memories. I so want to have a few recipes like this which start the fond memories of my children and this sounds like one to try (especially since we love our tea parties.
Thanks for sharing them for Tasty Tuesday.
Jen@Balancing Beauty and Bedlam’s last blog post..Melt in Your Mouth Apple Coffee Cake - Tasty Tuesday
Mmmm! I’m getting hungry with all of these great recipes that I’m finding on Mommy blogs today! Chocolate covered strawberries and now tea cookies. Ooool. They sound great together!!
Jen
Creative and Curious Kids!
http://raisingcreativeandcuriouskids.blogspot.com
@Lisa - I will be joining you again for TMTT. It’s fun! I’ve already found some recipes that I’m trying next week.
@Jen - I can’t wait until my little girl gets old enough for us to have little tea parties. This will definitely be the cookie I’ll be serving. I hope you enjoy them as much as we do.
these are great old fashioned recipe we used a similiar one on Lottie Moon season at our church
@Angela - Thanks so much for commenting. This is the only recipe I’ve ever used because I know it’s good and it’s easy. I’m sure there are a lot of other good ones out there though.
Those cookies look so light and airy, yum! Thanks for stopping by my blog and checking out the Earth Day Cupcakes!
~Liz
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My aunt used to make this often for afternoon teas. This recipe brings back great memories.
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@Liz - Thanks for the comment.
@Pam - Isn’t it wonderful how some of the simplest things can bring back the greatest memories.
I have not ever made these before but they look really good!
Brenda’s last blog post..Company Pork Chops for TMTT
Growing up, I used to love making tea cakes with my mom and my aunt. They’re still one of my cookies!
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I’ve never had tea cakes, though it looks like a good recipe to try. I grew up with a grandma’s sugar cookies. Thanks for the baking tips; I usually warm the butter in the microwave but never considered it might change the consistency.
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