Description
Old-Fashioned Southern Tea Cakes are soft, buttery cookies with a delicate hint of nutmeg, perfect for enjoying with a cup of tea. This classic recipe creates a batch of tender, sweet treats that are simple to make and bring a comforting, nostalgic Southern charm to your dessert table.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
Wet Ingredients
- 1 3/4 cups white sugar
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 325°F (165°C) and grease a baking sheet or line it with parchment paper to prevent the cookies from sticking.
- Cream sugar and butter: In a large bowl, use a mixer or spoon to cream together the white sugar and softened butter until the mixture becomes fluffy and light in color, which helps create a tender texture.
- Add eggs and vanilla: Beat in the eggs one at a time, ensuring each egg is fully incorporated before adding the next. Stir in the vanilla extract to infuse flavor.
- Combine dry ingredients: Gradually stir in the flour, baking soda, salt, and ground nutmeg until the dough comes together evenly without any streaks of flour remaining.
- Shape the dough: Roll the dough into small balls approximately 1 inch in diameter, then place them spaced apart on the prepared baking sheet.
- Flatten dough balls: Gently flatten each dough ball slightly using your fingers or the bottom of a glass to ensure even baking and the classic tea cake shape.
- Bake cookies: Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges of the cookies turn a light golden brown.
- Cool the cookies: Remove the cookies from the oven and allow them to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely for best texture.
Notes
- Make sure the butter is softened but not melted for proper creaming.
- The nutmeg adds a traditional aromatic flavor, but you can adjust the amount to taste.
- Do not overbake; cookies should remain soft and tender in the center.
- Storing the cookies in an airtight container will keep them fresh for several days.
