The Most Heavenly Southern Tea Cake Cookies Recipe Ever

Sweet memories of grandma’s kitchen come alive with these delightful southern tea cake cookies that melt softly on your tongue.

Baking traditions from alabama kitchens spark joy in every crisp, tender bite.

Soft and buttery, these classic treats connect generations through simple ingredients and love.

Powdery sugar dusts each delicate circle, whispering stories of warm afternoon gatherings.

Nostalgia wraps around these humble cookies like a gentle Southern embrace.

Comfort waits in every crumbly, sweet morsel – ready to transport you home.

Bake these and watch smiles bloom across hungry faces.

Southern Tea Cake Cookies with Nostalgic Flavor

• Savor Southern Comfort: Indulge in a nostalgic taste of traditional Southern baking that brings warmth and memories to your kitchen with these delightful tea cake cookies.
• Craft with Minimal Effort: Enjoy a straightforward recipe that requires basic ingredients and simple mixing techniques, making it perfect for bakers of all skill levels.
• Perfect for Sharing: Create a batch of soft, delicate cookies ideal for family gatherings, afternoon tea, or as a sweet gift that connects people through delicious homemade treats.
• Customize Your Delight: Easily adapt the recipe by adding a sprinkle of powdered sugar or experimenting with different spices to make these cookies uniquely yours.

Ingredients to Make Southern Tea Cake Cookies

• All-Purpose Flour: A fundamental base that provides structure and texture to the Southern tea cake cookies.
• Salt: Enhances the overall flavor profile of the cookies.
• Baking Soda: Helps the cookies rise and creates a light, tender texture.
• Ground Nutmeg: Adds a warm, aromatic spice that gives these cookies their distinctive Southern charm.

• Unsalted Butter: Creates a rich, smooth foundation that contributes to the cookies' tender crumb.
• Granulated Sugar: Provides sweetness and helps achieve a golden brown color during baking.
• Egg: Binds the ingredients together and adds moisture to the cookie dough.
• Vanilla Extract: Introduces a classic, comforting flavor that complements the other ingredients.

• Baking Sheet: Used for preparing and baking the cookies.
• Clean Cup: Helps shape and flatten the cookie dough before baking.

How to Bake Southern Tea Cake Cookies

Step 1: Whisk Dry Ingredients

Grab a medium bowl and mix together flour, salt, baking soda, and ground nutmeg. Stir these ingredients until they’re completely blended and look uniform.

Step 2: Cream Butter and Sugar

In a larger bowl, use an electric mixer to blend butter and sugar. Whip these ingredients on high speed until they transform into a creamy, fluffy mixture that looks smooth and light.

Step 3: Add Wet Components

Lower the mixer speed and introduce egg and vanilla extract. Blend these ingredients until they’re fully incorporated and the mixture looks silky and consistent.

Step 4: Combine Wet and Dry Mixtures

Slowly fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture. Mix gently but thoroughly until a soft dough forms without any visible flour streaks.

Step 5: Chill the Dough

Place the dough in the refrigerator and let it rest for half an hour. This helps the flavors meld and makes the dough easier to handle.

Step 6: Prepare for Baking

Heat the oven to 325°F. Divide the chilled dough into 12 equal portions and roll each into a perfect round ball using your palms.

Step 7: Shape the Cookies

Position the dough balls on a baking sheet, spacing them about 1½ inches apart. Use the bottom of a clean glass to gently press down on each ball, creating a slight flattened shape.

Step 8: Bake to Golden Perfection

Slide the baking sheet into the oven and bake for 10 minutes. The cookies are ready when their edges turn a delicate golden brown color.

Tips to Nail Southern Tea Cake Cookies

• Chill the dough thoroughly to prevent spreading and maintain the cookies' shape during baking.
• Dust the flattened cookies with powdered sugar for an extra touch of sweetness and classic southern charm.
• Use room temperature butter for smoother creaming and better cookie texture, ensuring even mixing with sugar.
• Swap ground nutmeg with cinnamon for a different flavor profile that still captures the traditional southern essence.
• Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days to preserve their soft, delicate texture.

Variations to Switch Up Tea Cake Cookies

• Gluten-Free Southern Delight: Swap all-purpose flour with almond or coconut flour for a celiac-friendly version. Maintain the same measurements and baking process.
• Spiced Variation: Replace ground nutmeg with cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice for a warm, aromatic alternative. Add a light sprinkle of ground ginger for extra depth.
• Lemon Infusion Cookies: Incorporate fresh lemon zest into the dough and replace vanilla extract with lemon extract. Finish with a light dusting of powdered sugar for a bright, citrusy profile.
• Vegan Southern Cookies: Use plant-based butter, replace egg with mashed banana or flax egg, and choose a non-dairy milk to create a compassionate version of the classic recipe.

Pairings That Work Well with Tea Cake Cookies

• Complement the nutmeg-infused cookies with a delicate, bergamot-rich Earl Grey tea that enhances the cookie's subtle spice notes and provides a refined refreshment.
• Select a local Southern muscadine wine with honeyed undertones that harmonizes beautifully with the cookie's buttery sweetness and creates a delightful regional experience.
• Serve alongside a smooth, chilled vanilla custard that mirrors the cookie's soft texture and amplifies its delicate vanilla undertones, offering a luxurious dessert combination.

Storage Guidelines for Tea Cake Cookies

• Refrigerate: Store Southern Tea Cake Cookies in an airtight container, layered between parchment paper. Keep refrigerated for up to 5 days, maintaining their soft texture and delicate flavor.
• Freeze: Wrap individual cookies tightly in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer-safe container. Freeze for maximum 3 months. Thaw at room temperature for 30 minutes before serving.
• Countertop Storage: Place cookies in a sealed container with a tight lid, keeping them at room temperature. Consume within 3 days for optimal freshness and taste.
• Reheating: Warm cookies briefly in a preheated oven at 300˚F for 2-3 minutes. Alternatively, microwave for 10-15 seconds to restore their original soft and tender consistency.

FAQs

• Are Southern Tea Cake Cookies authentic Southern dessert?

These cookies originated in the Southern United States, particularly in areas like Georgia and Alabama, where they’ve been a traditional homemade treat passed down through generations of families.

• What makes these cookies different from regular sugar cookies?

Southern Tea Cake Cookies have a distinct texture that’s softer and more delicate, with a hint of nutmeg that gives them a unique, subtle spice flavor compared to standard sugar cookies.

• Can I make these cookies without an electric mixer?

While an electric mixer helps create a smoother, more consistent texture, you can use a wooden spoon and mix manually, though it will require more arm strength and may result in a slightly less uniform dough.

Southern Tea Cake Cookies Recipe

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4.8 from 34 reviews

• Total Time: 55 minutes
• Yield: 24 1x

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Description

Sweet southern tea cake cookies provide a nostalgic taste of Southern hospitality. Delicate, buttery rounds carry generations of family tradition while offering warm comfort with each tender bite you’ll savor.

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Ingredients

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• 1 stick (113 g) unsalted butter (at room temperature)
• 3/4 cup (150 g) granulated sugar
• 1 large egg (at room temperature)
• 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups (180 g) all-purpose flour
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg

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Instructions

1. Sift together flour, salt, baking soda, and ground nutmeg in a medium bowl, ensuring complete and uniform distribution of dry ingredients.
2. Utilize an electric mixer to vigorously cream butter and granulated sugar until the mixture transforms into a light, fluffy consistency, approximately 4-5 minutes.
3. Reduce mixer speed and integrate egg and vanilla extract, blending until the wet ingredients harmonize smoothly.
4. Incrementally fold the dry ingredient mixture into the wet ingredients, stirring until a cohesive dough forms without overmixing.
5. Refrigerate the prepared dough for 30 minutes to enhance flavor development and improve texture.
6. Heat the oven to 325˚F (163˚C) while dividing the chilled dough into 12 uniform portions, gently rolling each into precise spherical shapes.
7. Position dough spheres on a baking sheet with adequate spacing, then delicately flatten each cookie’s surface using the bottom of a clean glass.
8. Bake for precisely 10 minutes, watching for subtle golden edges as an indication of optimal doneness. Remove from oven and allow cookies to cool completely on the baking sheet.

Notes

• Chill the dough thoroughly to prevent spreading and maintain the cookies’ shape during baking.
• Dust the cookies with powdered sugar for an extra touch of sweetness and a classic Southern presentation.
• Use room temperature butter and egg to ensure smooth blending and consistent texture in the dough.
• Customize the spice profile by experimenting with additional warm spices like cinnamon or cardamom for a unique flavor twist.

• Prep Time: 45 minutes
• Cook Time: 10 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: Southern American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 24
• Calories: 115 kcal
• Sugar: 6 g
• Sodium: 55 mg
• Fat: 6 g
• Saturated Fat: 3.7 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 2.3 g
• Trans Fat: 0.1 g
• Carbohydrates: 15 g
• Fiber: 0.3 g
• Protein: 1.4 g
• Cholesterol: 22 mg