Description
Sweet memories of Southern hospitality shine through these delightful tea cake cookies, offering a nostalgic taste of home-style comfort. Buttery, delicate rounds melt in your mouth, connecting generations with each tender, perfectly crafted bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients:
- 2 ½ cups (315 g) all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon nutmeg (optional, for a traditional touch)
Wet Ingredients:
- ½ cup (115 g) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ cup (60 ml) whole milk
Instructions
- Sift the powdery ingredients including flour, baking powder, and salt into a medium mixing vessel, ensuring a uniform blend without lumps.
- In a spacious mixing bowl, vigorously cream the softened butter with granulated sugar using an electric mixer, whipping until the mixture transforms into a pale, airy consistency with a notably fluffy texture.
- Introduce the egg and vanilla extract into the butter-sugar emulsion, blending thoroughly until the mixture achieves a silky, homogeneous appearance.
- Gently fold the dry ingredient mixture into the wet ingredients, stirring with minimal manipulation to prevent gluten development. If the dough appears excessively firm, incorporate milk sparingly to achieve optimal consistency.
- Wrap the prepared dough in plastic film and refrigerate for a minimum of half an hour, allowing the ingredients to meld and preventing excessive spread during baking.
- Heat the oven to 350F (175C). Dust a clean surface with flour and roll the chilled dough to approximately 14-inch thickness. Utilize a cookie cutter to create uniform shapes, traditionally circular but adaptable to personal preference.
- Arrange the cut cookies on a parchment-lined baking sheet, leaving slight intervals between each. Optionally, brush cookie surfaces with egg yolk for an enhanced golden sheen.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes until edges develop a delicate golden hue while maintaining a tender center. Transfer to a cooling rack, allowing complete temperature reduction before serving.
- Present these delicate tea cakes alongside a steaming beverage or enjoy as a standalone confection, embodying the essence of Southern culinary tradition.
Notes
- Softening butter is crucial for achieving a creamy, smooth texture that helps bind ingredients perfectly without creating tough cookies.
- Chilling dough prevents spreading and helps cookies maintain their delicate, traditional Southern shape during baking.
- Avoid overmixing the dough to keep tea cakes tender and prevent developing excess gluten that can make cookies tough and dense.
- Experiment with adding subtle flavor variations like lemon zest, almond extract, or a sprinkle of cinnamon to customize these classic Southern treats while maintaining their delicate character.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Southern American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 50 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg