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.
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!
Grandma’s Southern Tea Cakes
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!!
Sharon says
December 7, 2014 at 12:33 pmThanks for all the recipes!!
kay says
December 7, 2014 at 1:52 pmIt 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.
Mary Strawder says
December 20, 2014 at 3:15 pmHi rosie, today I tried your recipe for tea cake. I tell you they are delicious. Girl keep sending those good recipes.
Thx Again.
Janice says
December 23, 2014 at 7:43 amHeard all good things on the tea cakes can’t wait to try
Mary Strawder says
January 3, 2015 at 9:17 amHi 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
Phyllis says
March 25, 2015 at 3:38 amGreat!!! 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
Rosie says
March 26, 2015 at 7:09 pmThanks for trying the recipe Phyllis! XOXO
Vincent Griffin says
October 6, 2015 at 10:06 amI found the tea cake receipe.
Thxs
Jerica says
October 8, 2015 at 9:48 pmHave 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.
robert jones says
November 4, 2015 at 3:13 amhi do you sell any , i don,t have a cook , iam in calif. if you do sell them email me the price thanks.
Rosie says
November 5, 2015 at 1:11 pmNo, I do not sell food.
Samira says
November 8, 2015 at 11:57 amHi, is there any substitute for the shortening?
Rosie says
November 8, 2015 at 2:50 pmButter can be used as a substitute
tamia says
November 17, 2015 at 8:47 pmHi 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.
Rosie says
November 21, 2015 at 1:08 pmThanks for coming by!
Tamia says
November 17, 2015 at 8:52 pmTaste 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.
Rosie says
November 23, 2015 at 5:53 pmHappy Holidays!
Chloe says
April 10, 2016 at 11:21 amHi Rosie! I can’t find the exact measurements for this recipe and I would love to try this recipe!
Thanks in advance
Rosie says
April 10, 2016 at 11:57 amHi Chloe! I fixed it, and the recipe is now there. XOXO
Kevin says
October 5, 2016 at 9:59 amHey 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.
Rosie says
October 5, 2016 at 10:43 amHi Kevin! Sorry to hear about your mom. Yes, you will need to cut all the ingredients in half.
Mimi says
October 26, 2016 at 4:15 pmI left a comment on another recipe asking for this one…. ButI hadn’t actually searched… Found it!! Can’t wait to try it!! Thanks….
Khanita says
February 28, 2017 at 10:13 amHello 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.
Rosie says
March 2, 2017 at 10:26 pmGlad that you like my recipe!
Tarasia Griffin says
April 19, 2017 at 5:02 pmI have made these every other week they are to die for!! Thank you for sharing this wonderful recipe!!
Rosie says
April 19, 2017 at 7:40 pmThanks so much Tarasia!
Gurtha says
July 22, 2017 at 1:02 pmHi Rosie glad I found ur blog love reading the recipes will b trying them soon
Rosie says
July 22, 2017 at 9:19 pmI’m glad that you found my blog as well!
francine says
September 28, 2017 at 3:16 pmMy grandmother made these too and I had to search for a recipe. Yours is delish. Thanks for a taste of childhood once again. Excellent.
Rosie says
September 29, 2017 at 9:56 amHi Francine! So glad that you found my blog!
Belinda Aguilera says
November 30, 2017 at 1:01 pmHello Rosie, do you think they would come out OK if I substitute the buttermilk with almond milk?
Rosie says
November 30, 2017 at 5:43 pmYou can give it a try! 🙂
Dwight Floyd says
February 11, 2018 at 6:10 amThanks 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.
Rosie says
February 11, 2018 at 2:29 pmThanks for trying Dwight!
Claudia says
February 27, 2018 at 8:03 pmHi 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.
Rosie says
February 27, 2018 at 8:13 pmThanks so much for trying my recipe Claudia! XOXO
Jackie Wooten says
June 7, 2018 at 9:25 amHi 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?
Rosie says
June 8, 2018 at 9:17 amThe written recipe is correct 🙂
Bonita Nunn says
January 15, 2019 at 2:09 pmCan’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.
Pam says
March 29, 2019 at 8:34 pmThank 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!
Vonne Harris says
May 5, 2019 at 4:48 pmI 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.