How to make Grandma's Old Fashioned Tea Cake

Make tea cakes just like Grandma used to.

Tea cakes are a term for a cake or bread traditionally served with afternoon tea. Tea cakes can also refer to any small cake that can be held with your fingers. While there are a wide variety of tea cakes that you can make, old fashioned ones, similar to what your grandma might have made, are very simple. These old fashioned tea cakes are plain and similar to a sweet biscuit. You can serve the tea cakes with jam, preserves, clotted cream, fruit curd or fruit butters.

Things You'll Need

• 1 cup softened butter
• 2 cups sugar
• 4 eggs
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 4 cups flour
• 3 tbsp. baking powder
• 1 tbsp. milk
• 2 bowls
• Spoon
• Sifter
• Baking sheets
• Biscuit cutter

Instructions

1. Mix the butter and sugar together until creamy.

2. Stir in the eggs one at a time and mix well.

3. Add the milk, vanilla and cinnamon to the mixture.

4. Sift the flour and baking powder three times in a separate bowl.

5. Mix the flour mixture with the sugar mixture and stir well.

6. Roll out the dough, so it is about 1/4- to 1/2-inch thick. Cut out the tea cakes with the biscuit cutter.

7. Place the tea cakes on the baking sheet and cook for 15 minutes at 325 degrees.

8. Serve the tea cakes hot.

References

• "Afternoon Tea"; Susannah Blake and Martin Brigdale; 2006
• "Alice's Tea Cup: Delectable Recipes for Scones, Cakes, Sandwiches, and More from New York's Most Whimsical Tea Spot"; Haley Fox and Lauren Fox; 2010
• "SCONES MUFFINS & TEA CAKES"; Heidi H. Cusick; 1996
• "Victoria The Essential Tea Companion: Favorite Menus for Tea Parties and Celebrations"; Kim Waller and From the Editors of Victoria Magazine; 2009
• "Tea with Mrs Simkins: Delicious Recipes for Making a Meal Out of Tea-Time: Cakes, Pastries, Cookies and Savouries"; Mrs Simkins; 2010