Description
Southern tea cake cookies bring back memories of grandma’s kitchen, where warm, buttery treats would cool on the wire rack while sweet aromas filled the entire house. Delicate and simple, these cookies offer a taste of Southern hospitality that connects generations through one delightful bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 stick (½ cup) unsalted butter
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
Supporting Ingredients:
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
Spices and Leavening:
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
Instructions
- Blend 1 ½ cups flour, ¼ tsp salt, ¼ tsp baking soda, and ¼ tsp nutmeg together in a medium mixing bowl. Whisk thoroughly to distribute spices evenly.
- Cream ½ cup softened butter and ¾ cup sugar in a separate large bowl using an electric mixer. Beat for 4-5 minutes until the mixture becomes pale and airy.
- Add 1 room temperature egg and 2 tsp vanilla extract to the butter mixture. Mix until completely integrated and smooth.
- Gradually incorporate the dry flour mixture into the wet ingredients. Stir until a soft, cohesive dough forms without overmixing.
- Wrap the dough and refrigerate for 30 minutes to firm up and enhance flavor development.
- Prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper. Heat the oven to exactly 325°F.
- Portion the chilled dough into rounded tablespoon-sized balls. Arrange them 1-2 inches apart on the prepared sheet.
- Press each dough ball gently with a flat-bottomed glass to create uniform thickness.
- Bake at 325°F for 10-12 minutes, watching for light golden edges as your doneness indicator.
- Let the cookies rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes to set. Transfer carefully to a wire cooling rack.
Notes
- Chilling the dough helps prevent spreading and ensures a tender, soft cookie with a delicate crumb.
- Use room temperature butter and egg for smoother mixing and better incorporation of ingredients.
- For a gluten-free version, swap the all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking blend to maintain the cookie’s delicate texture.
- Dust the cooled cookies with powdered sugar for a traditional Southern touch that adds a sweet, elegant finish.
- Prep Time: 40-42 minutes
- Cook Time: 10-12 minutes
- Category: Cookies
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Southern American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 142
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 65 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 19 g
- Fiber: 0.3 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg