Description
Southern tea cake cookies bring back memories of grandma’s kitchen, where comfort and sweetness blended perfectly. Delicate, buttery, and simple, these classic Southern treats will make your afternoon feel like a warm family gathering.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- 1 large egg
Binding Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Leavening and Seasoning Ingredients:
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Warm your oven to precisely 350°F, ensuring the rack sits in the center position for even baking.
- Grab your electric mixer and blend ½ cup softened butter with 1 cup sugar until the mixture transforms into a smooth, pale cream with soft peaks.
- Crack 1 large egg into the butter mixture and pour in 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Blend until completely incorporated and silky.
- Sift together 2 cups flour, ½ teaspoon baking powder, and ¼ teaspoon salt in a separate mixing bowl.
- Gradually fold dry ingredients into wet ingredients, stirring gently until a soft dough forms without overmixing.
- Use a tablespoon to scoop rounded portions of dough onto an ungreased baking sheet, spacing cookies about 2 inches apart.
- Slide the baking sheet into the preheated oven and bake exactly 11 minutes, watching for delicate golden edges.
- Remove cookies and let them rest on the baking sheet for 3 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
- Soft cookies depend on careful butter and sugar creaming, so take time to blend until the mixture looks light and fluffy.
- Use room temperature butter for smoother mixing and better cookie texture.
- Chill the dough for 30 minutes before baking to prevent spreading and create a more uniform shape.
- For gluten-free options, substitute all-purpose flour with a cup-for-cup gluten-free blend to maintain the tender crumb.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10-12 minutes
- Category: Cookies
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Southern American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 142 kcal
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 88 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 27 mg