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Grandma’s Southern Tea Cakes

12/7/14

Flaky, cakey and tasty, these tea biscuits are wonderful desserts.

Light Fluffy & Buttery Tea Cakes… Just Like Grandma used to make!

When I was younger, my mom used to always tell me how my great grandmother made the best southern tea cakes. Unfortunately, my grandmother passed when I was a young child and my mom never gotten the recipe . I’ve been on a mission for over 10 years ( without my mom even knowing) to find a recipe that came close to grandmothers! I’ve searched the internet, I’ve asked people, I did whatever I had to do to resurrect my grandmothers recipe.

These fluffy buttery cookies are made with lots of love.

This recipe is actually super easy, and calls for basic ingredients. I usually use my stand mixer when I make the tea cakes, simply because It makes a huge batch of cookies ( approximately 24-36 tea cakes depending on how big you want them!). You can definitely use a stand mixer or whatever else works for you!

Check out the video!

tea cakes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Grandma’s Southern Tea Cakes

These classic tea cakes pair perfectly with iced tea on a hot summer day!
Course Dessert / Treat
Cuisine Southern
Keyword Southern Tea Cakes
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 8 minutes
Total Time 18 minutes
Servings 12 servings
Author I Heart Recipes

Ingredients

  • 4 cups all purpose flour
  • 2 cups granulated sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/2 cup buttermilk OR Sour milk 1/2 cup milk & 2 tsp lemon juice
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp nutmeg
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 1/2 cup butter flavored shortening
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

  • Place your flour into a large bowl. Along with the flour add the baking soda, baking powder, nutmeg, and salt. Sift the ingredients until well combined, then set the bowl to the side.
  • In a separate large bowl, place the butter and butter flavored shortening. Cream the two ingredients together.
  • Add the granulated sugar along with the butter and shortening, and mix until well combined, then add in the eggs.
  • Next, add in the Buttermilk / Sour milk , and the vanilla extract. Mixed until all of the wet ingredients are well combined.
  • Gradually add the dry ingredients along with the wet.
  • Once the all of the ingredients are well combined, and the cookie dough has formed, flour a flat surface, and roll out the dough using a roll pin.
  • Cut out the desired shapes for the cookies / tea cakes, and place them on wax paper.
  • Chill the dough in the refrigerator in the freezer for 10 minutes.
  • Place a baking mat on your cookie sheet ( or skip the baking sheet, it's up to you) , and spray it with baking spray.
  • Place the tea cakes on the cookie sheet, leaving at less 1 inches between each cookie.
  • Bake the tea cakes on 350 F, for 7-8 minutes.
  • Remove the tea cakes from the oven, place them on a cooling rack until they are cool to the touch.
  • ENJOY!!

Video

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Filed Under: All Posts, Dessert Tagged With: baking, Christmas favorites, cookies, desserts, grandmas recipes

Comments

  1. Sharon says

    December 7, 2014 at 12:33 pm

    Thanks for all the recipes!!

    Reply
  2. kay says

    December 7, 2014 at 1:52 pm

    It took me several attempts before getting down my auntie tea cake recipe. I am blessed that she is still here for me to get it just right. My cousins were the taste testers.

    Reply
  3. Mary Strawder says

    December 20, 2014 at 3:15 pm

    Hi rosie, today I tried your recipe for tea cake. I tell you they are delicious. Girl keep sending those good recipes.
    Thx Again.

    Reply
  4. Janice says

    December 23, 2014 at 7:43 am

    Heard all good things on the tea cakes can’t wait to try

    Reply
  5. Mary Strawder says

    January 3, 2015 at 9:17 am

    Hi Rosie

    I tryed your tea cakes recipe and it came out perfedt. I gave some to my friend and she said they taste the same way her mother used to make them. Keep seinding those deliciour recipes.

    Thx

    Reply
  6. Phyllis says

    March 25, 2015 at 3:38 am

    Great!!! Great!!!! Just like my great-great and grandmother made them in Mississippi. My children loved them I have to make a batch everyweek now. Thanks Phyllis

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      March 26, 2015 at 7:09 pm

      Thanks for trying the recipe Phyllis! XOXO

      Reply
  7. Vincent Griffin says

    October 6, 2015 at 10:06 am

    I found the tea cake receipe.
    Thxs

    Reply
  8. Jerica says

    October 8, 2015 at 9:48 pm

    Have you ever thought to use the tea cake for the crust of your sweet potato pie? If you do, can you post the video so I can see how it’s done. My great aunt use to make her pies this way, but she died before she could teach me. Please help me figure this out. Oh can you also teach me how to do a lattice on top the pie. Thanks a lot in advance.

    Reply
  9. robert jones says

    November 4, 2015 at 3:13 am

    hi do you sell any , i don,t have a cook , iam in calif. if you do sell them email me the price thanks.

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      November 5, 2015 at 1:11 pm

      No, I do not sell food.

      Reply
  10. Samira says

    November 8, 2015 at 11:57 am

    Hi, is there any substitute for the shortening?

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      November 8, 2015 at 2:50 pm

      Butter can be used as a substitute

      Reply
  11. tamia says

    November 17, 2015 at 8:47 pm

    Hi Rosie, Thanks so much for this, my dear grandmother(on my father side) use to make these she passed away none of her kids had the recipe, my mother always loved them so I searched and found your recipe, my mother said these were right on time, taste just like my grandma teacakes, I was happy to make my mother happy, good memories came when we ate these thanks a lot for sharing.

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      November 21, 2015 at 1:08 pm

      Thanks for coming by!

      Reply
  12. Tamia says

    November 17, 2015 at 8:52 pm

    Taste just like my grandmother (on my father’s side) she passed away and none of her kids had the recipe, Thank God I found your recipe, my mother said they tasted just like my Grandma tea cakes, Great memories, Thanks for sharing. Godbless , Happy Holidays.

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      November 23, 2015 at 5:53 pm

      Happy Holidays!

      Reply
  13. Chloe says

    April 10, 2016 at 11:21 am

    Hi Rosie! I can’t find the exact measurements for this recipe and I would love to try this recipe!
    Thanks in advance

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      April 10, 2016 at 11:57 am

      Hi Chloe! I fixed it, and the recipe is now there. XOXO

      Reply
  14. Kevin says

    October 5, 2016 at 9:59 am

    Hey thanks for the recipe, but I have a question. If I use half the amount of flour do I need to cut the other ingredients in half also. Sorry I’m not a cook and since my mom has been dignois with Alzheimers and Dementia I have been trying to recreate some of the dishes she cooked for us growing up. Oh yes my mom never cooked with a recipe.

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      October 5, 2016 at 10:43 am

      Hi Kevin! Sorry to hear about your mom. Yes, you will need to cut all the ingredients in half.

      Reply
  15. Mimi says

    October 26, 2016 at 4:15 pm

    5 stars
    I left a comment on another recipe asking for this one…. ButI hadn’t actually searched… Found it!! Can’t wait to try it!! Thanks….

    Reply
  16. Khanita says

    February 28, 2017 at 10:13 am

    5 stars
    Hello Beautiful Rosie..from long time was in search of tea cookie now i found the one..thanks for posting ..plz post some more easy cookie recipes..thank u.

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      March 2, 2017 at 10:26 pm

      Glad that you like my recipe!

      Reply
  17. Tarasia Griffin says

    April 19, 2017 at 5:02 pm

    5 stars
    I have made these every other week they are to die for!! Thank you for sharing this wonderful recipe!!

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      April 19, 2017 at 7:40 pm

      Thanks so much Tarasia!

      Reply
  18. Gurtha says

    July 22, 2017 at 1:02 pm

    Hi Rosie glad I found ur blog love reading the recipes will b trying them soon

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      July 22, 2017 at 9:19 pm

      I’m glad that you found my blog as well!

      Reply
  19. francine says

    September 28, 2017 at 3:16 pm

    5 stars
    My grandmother made these too and I had to search for a recipe. Yours is delish. Thanks for a taste of childhood once again. Excellent.

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      September 29, 2017 at 9:56 am

      Hi Francine! So glad that you found my blog!

      Reply
  20. Belinda Aguilera says

    November 30, 2017 at 1:01 pm

    Hello Rosie, do you think they would come out OK if I substitute the buttermilk with almond milk?

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      November 30, 2017 at 5:43 pm

      You can give it a try! 🙂

      Reply
  21. Dwight Floyd says

    February 11, 2018 at 6:10 am

    5 stars
    Thanks to you I didn’t have to spend years searching for the recipe. It only took three tries. Just like the ones my mother, grandmother and aunt once made. You’ve made a lot of people happy with this recipe. I think I’ll share it in my blog.

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      February 11, 2018 at 2:29 pm

      Thanks for trying Dwight!

      Reply
  22. Claudia says

    February 27, 2018 at 8:03 pm

    Hi Rosie
    I tried this recipe tonight and followed it to the T. They were delicious.
    My only regret is that my mother is no longer here, she would love this recipe.
    However I text a picture of my teacakes to my son, and his fiance.
    Within minutes seem like my son was letting me know he had arrived to try the teacakes.
    Thank you for sharing this recipe. It really brought home beautiful memories.
    I will treasure this recipe for ever.

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      February 27, 2018 at 8:13 pm

      Thanks so much for trying my recipe Claudia! XOXO

      Reply
  23. Jackie Wooten says

    June 7, 2018 at 9:25 am

    5 stars
    Hi Rosie, just made your tea cakes recipe. Will be using this recipe for a little girls birthday tea party in July. However. Your recipe calls for 1/2 cup of butter. Is this correct?

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      June 8, 2018 at 9:17 am

      The written recipe is correct 🙂

      Reply
  24. Bonita Nunn says

    January 15, 2019 at 2:09 pm

    Can’t wait to try. I’ve been looking for the perfect tea cake just like this little lady that use to baby sit us use to make.

    Reply
  25. Pam says

    March 29, 2019 at 8:34 pm

    5 stars
    Thank you so much! I’ve been searching for years to come close to the recipe my great grandmother always had in her cookie bin! She did not use a written recipe but they always turned out just like these! I found your blog with this recipe last night and baked a batch today. My 91 year old mother tasted them and immediately said these were “Just like her grandmother ‘s”. I remember the slight hint of nutmeg, the soft texture and a hint of lemon. (Made my sour milk with lemon juice like my great grandmother must have done! Bless your heart for posting this recipe!

    Reply
  26. Vonne Harris says

    May 5, 2019 at 4:48 pm

    5 stars
    I have made these a couple of times and each time they’re delicious. Made a couple of modifications to tweak the flavor. My Aunt is in her 80’s and says these taste just like my grandmother’s. Rolling the dough in wax paper and cutting into mini bite size teacakes makes for a great snack. Truly appreciate you sharing this recipe.

    Reply
  27. Michaela-Jean says

    July 25, 2019 at 7:47 am

    5 stars
    Hello Ms. Rosie! I am from Mississippi and all the ingredients you used to make your tea cakes are all in my grandmother’s tea cakes (just with different measurements). My grandmother adds cinnamon and honey to hers though. If I were to incorporate those two ingredients into your recipe, how much should I put of each? (I’m a new cook)

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      July 29, 2019 at 12:37 pm

      Hi there! You would have to play around with it until it meets your satisfaction 😉

      Reply
  28. Isaaca Johnson says

    February 13, 2020 at 11:01 pm

    This flavor was spot on. Thank you so much!

    Reply
  29. Deborah Hopper says

    June 25, 2020 at 6:11 pm

    These teacakes take me back when I was at my Grandmother’s house, she would make a batch and I couldn’t wait for them too cool off, Thank you.

    Reply
  30. Callie West says

    November 22, 2020 at 4:15 pm

    5 stars
    It’s close I would add.. a sprig of vanilla bean to the recipe.. I loved her cookies too.. My momma bought them for me anytime she made them.. Your Grandmother and mom were very special to my mom. I also had tried for yours to recreate her cookies.. Your recipe is close to the mark just add a fresh sprig of vanilla and BOOM.. I think you would have made your grandmother proud <3 Sooo grateful you posted this cause I lost my recipe for it.. So ty ty ty ty ty

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      November 24, 2020 at 5:20 pm

      XOXOXO

      Reply
  31. Latrice Campbell says

    November 13, 2021 at 6:04 pm

    5 stars
    I made these a few months ago and substituted gluten free (measure for measure) and they were AMAZING! My family loved them and they tasted like I remember my Granny Lois tea cakes tasting as a kid. Thank you!

    Reply
  32. Nicholette says

    November 21, 2021 at 9:08 pm

    5 stars
    Thank you so much for posting this. These look EXACTLY like my family’s recipe I used to make 43 years ago when I was 10. I can’t wait to try them. I have to try to make them keto because I don’t eat flour anymore. Wish me luck!

    Reply
  33. KETURAH YISRAEL says

    January 9, 2022 at 9:19 am

    Hi Rosie! Just want to know if you can uses oat milk with recipe? Because I don’t do diary.

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      January 11, 2022 at 4:46 pm

      Hi there! I’ve never tried oat meal with this recipe. You can give it a test run though.

      Reply
  34. Jessica says

    January 16, 2023 at 9:08 pm

    Is there a way to 1/2 this recipe? Seems like it will yield a lot of cookies . Thanks!

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      January 19, 2023 at 8:04 am

      Sure, you can cut the recipe in half.

      Reply

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