Best 4 1800s Tea Cakes Recipes

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In the realm of classic American desserts, tea cakes emerge as delectable treats that evoke a sense of nostalgia. These humble confections, often associated with the Victorian era, hold a special place in culinary history. From the kitchens of resourceful homemakers to the shelves of artisanal bakeries, tea cakes have stood the test of time, captivating taste buds with their simplicity and charm.

This article takes you on a journey through the world of 1800s tea cakes, presenting a trio of authentic recipes that embody the essence of this timeless indulgence. Each recipe offers a unique variation, ensuring there's something to satisfy every palate. Indulge in the classic elegance of Pound Tea Cakes, delight in the zesty tang of Sour Cream Tea Cakes, and succumb to the cozy embrace of Molasses Tea Cakes. Whether you're a seasoned baker or just starting your culinary adventures, these recipes provide a delightful introduction to the enduring legacy of tea cakes.

Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!

BLACK FOLKS SOUTHERN TEA CAKE RECIPE



Black Folks Southern Tea Cake Recipe image

What are Black folks tea cakes?An African American Southern dessert, Black folks tea cake is a sweet little biscuit. Light, airy, and sometimes compared to soda bread or pound cake. Tea cakes are a traditional African American treat that date's back to the 1600s.

Provided by Shaunda Necole

Categories     Dessert

Time 22m

Number Of Ingredients 15

4 cups all-purpose flour (plus 1 cup extra for rolling the dough (I used all-purpose flour, but you could also use cake flour))
4 teaspoons baking powder
½ cup butter (unsalted & softened)
1 cup sugar (granulated )
1 cup light brown sugar
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon lemon zest
1 egg
¼ cup sour cream
1 tablespoon mayonnaise
½ cup evaporated milk
½ tablespoon vanilla extract
2 ½ cups powdered sugar
4 tablespoons lemon juice

Steps:

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
  • In a medium-size bowl, use an electric mixer to combine the butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar for about 2 minutes until creamy.
  • Add the egg, lemon zest, sour cream, mayonnaise, evaporated milk, and vanilla extract.
  • Mix until well blended to make the tea cake batter.
  • Sift together the remaining dry ingredients: flour, baking powder, salt, and nutmeg over a sheet of parchment paper large enough to fit your baking sheet.
  • Fold the parchment paper to pour the sifted flour mixture into the tea cake batter and then mix again.
  • Add the batter to a lightly floured surface and roll the dough to approx ¼ inch thickness. This is where the extra cup of flour will come in handy to help with rolling because the dough is sticky!
  • Cut out the tea cakes with a 2 ½" up to 3″ biscuit cutter. (I used a 2 ¾" biscuit cutter.)
  • Place the rounds onto a parchment paper-lined baking sheet about one inch apart. (You may need to bake more than 1 batch if all your rounds don't fit on your baking sheet.)
  • Bake until light brown (but don't let them get too brown!). 5-6 minutes in the conventional oven and 3-4 minutes in the Instant Pot Omni Plus oven. (Tea cakes don't take long to bake, so keep a close eye on them to avoid burning! Like a biscuit, you want them firm on the outside and fluffy on the inside.)
  • Optional: When the tea cakes are finished baking and cooling, optionally make the lemon glaze frosting by combining the powdered sugar and lemon juice.
  • Mix well with a whisk to remove any lumps from the powdered sugar.
  • Use a small spatula or spoon to drop a dollop of icing onto each cooled tea cake. The icing will harden in about 5 minutes.
  • Optionally, garnish this Southern Black folk tea cake recipe with a sprinkle of lemon zest, then serve and enjoy!

Nutrition Facts : Calories 143 kcal, Carbohydrate 31 g, Protein 2 g, Fat 1 g, SaturatedFat 1 g, TransFat 1 g, Cholesterol 7 mg, Sodium 78 mg, Fiber 1 g, Sugar 20 g, UnsaturatedFat 2 g, ServingSize 1 serving

1800'S TEA CAKES



1800's Tea Cakes image

These are great with coffee or tea, or just as a snack. This recipe is well over 150 years old!

Provided by Tina Dickerson

Categories     Cookies

Time 40m

Number Of Ingredients 7

1 c shortening
2 c sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
3 c flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt

Steps:

  • 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
  • 2. Cream sugar and shortening. Add eggs and vanilla-mix well. Sift flour, baking powder and salt. Combine with shortening mixture. Knead dough until it can be rolled out on a floured board. Roll about 1/8 inch thick, cut out and place cut 'cookies' on ungreased sheet pans/cookie sheets and bake until edges are just golden. (About 10-12 minutes) Middle of cookie should be fairly light. The longer baked, and the browner the cookie, the crisper it will be.

ORIGINAL FAMILY RECIPE FOR TEA CAKES (FROM 1800'S)



Original Family Recipe for Tea Cakes (from 1800's) image

My great-great-great grandmother, Frances Howard Ezell (b.1828) and her children and grandchildren made tea cakes together each year at Christmas time. They would make bunches and bunches, put them in a pillow case and hang them up in the kitchen for Christmas treats. In memory of my grandmother, Ruby Campbell Parnell.

Provided by Renee' Warnock

Categories     Cookies

Number Of Ingredients 6

1 1/4 c butter
1 c sugar
4 eggs
4 Tbsp sour milk
1 tsp baking soda
flour

Steps:

  • 1. Cream butter and sugar together. Add eggs, one at a time and stir after each one.
  • 2. Dissolve baking soda in sour milk and add this to the mixture.
  • 3. Add enough flour to make dough stiff enough to dump on floured board. Knead in more flour until you can roll the dough out and cut out tea cakes. Bake and cool.
  • 4. Modern day instructions not included in original recipe: Place on cookie sheets and bake at 375 degrees for 10-12 minutes.

GRANDMA'S OLD FASHIONED TEA CAKES



Grandma's Old Fashioned Tea Cakes image

A soft teacake that is best when one to two days old. You can change flavors by substituting almond or lemon extract for the vanilla. Add a few drop of food coloring to dress up the dough for special occasions.

Provided by RGA

Categories     Desserts     Cookies     Sugar Cookies

Time 53m

Yield 24

Number Of Ingredients 8

1 cup butter
1 ¾ cups white sugar
2 eggs
3 cups all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Steps:

  • In a medium bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla. Combine the flour, baking soda, salt and nutmeg; stir into the creamed mixture. Knead dough for a few turnns on a floured board until smooth. Cover and refrigerate until firm.
  • Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough out to 1/4 inch in thickness. Cut into desired shapes with cookie cutters. Place cookies 1 1/2 inches apart onto cookie sheets.
  • Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 187.8 calories, Carbohydrate 26.6 g, Cholesterol 35.8 mg, Fat 8.3 g, Fiber 0.4 g, Protein 2.2 g, SaturatedFat 5 g, Sodium 135.3 mg, Sugar 14.7 g

Tips

  • Use high-quality ingredients: The quality of your ingredients will have a big impact on the taste of your tea cakes. Use fresh, organic ingredients whenever possible.
  • Cream the butter and sugar together thoroughly: This will help to create a light and fluffy texture.
  • Add the eggs one at a time: This will help to prevent the batter from curdling.
  • Don't overmix the batter: Overmixing will make the tea cakes tough.
  • Bake the tea cakes at a moderate temperature: This will help to prevent them from drying out.
  • Let the tea cakes cool completely before frosting them: This will help to prevent the frosting from melting.

Conclusion

These 1800s tea cakes are a delicious and classic treat that are perfect for any occasion. They are easy to make and can be customized to your liking. Try experimenting with different flavors of tea, spices, and frosting to create your own unique tea cake recipe.

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