Description
Old Fashioned Southern Tea Cakes are classic, tender cookies with a delightful hint of nutmeg and a rich buttery flavor. These tea cakes are perfect for afternoon tea, gatherings, or as a sweet snack, made from simple ingredients and baked to a golden perfection.
Ingredients
Scale
Wet Ingredients
- 1 ¾ cups white sugar
- 1 cup butter
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Dry Ingredients
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
Instructions
- Beat Sugar and Butter: In a large bowl, beat sugar and butter with an electric mixer until the mixture is light and fluffy, creating a smooth base for the dough.
- Add Eggs and Vanilla: Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition to ensure they’re fully incorporated. Stir in the vanilla extract for flavor.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, and ground nutmeg to evenly distribute the leavening and spices.
- Mix Dough: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing gently until a soft dough forms.
- Knead and Chill Dough: Lightly flour a surface and knead the dough briefly until smooth, then cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes to firm up the dough and enhance texture.
- Preheat Oven and Roll Dough: Preheat the oven to 325°F (165°C). Roll the chilled dough to ¼-inch thickness on a floured surface, then use cookie cutters to cut into desired shapes.
- Arrange on Baking Sheets: Place the cut cookies on ungreased baking sheets, spacing them about 1 ½ inches apart to allow for slight expansion.
- Bake: Bake the cookies for 8–10 minutes, or until the edges turn lightly golden, indicating they are done.
- Cool: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely, ensuring they firm up properly.
Notes
- For best results, use room temperature butter and eggs to aid mixing.
- You can add a sprinkle of sugar on top before baking for a slight crunch.
- Store cookies in an airtight container to keep them fresh for up to a week.
- These tea cakes freeze well when wrapped tightly; thaw before serving.
- If you prefer a spicier flavor, increase nutmeg to ½ teaspoon or add cinnamon.
