Old Fashioned Southern Tea Cakes Recipe
With just a handful of simple ingredients, these Old‑Fashioned Southern Tea Cakes bring nostalgia with every bite. Soft, sweet, and reminiscent of Southern gatherings, these tea cakes are perfect for afternoon tea, holiday gift baskets, or that cozy moment with a glass of sweet iced tea.
What are Tea Cakes?
Tea cakes vary widely depending on where you are in the world. In the Southern United States, tea cakes are simple, cake-like cookies that have been enjoyed for generations. Unlike Russian Tea Cakes or English Tea Cakes, Southern tea cakes are more akin to a sweet, soft cookie, perfect for pairing with a cup of tea or coffee.
Why This Recipe Works
- Simple ingredients you probably already have on hand.
- Quick to prepare—mix, roll, cut, and bake.
- Great texture—soft inside with a delicate golden edge.
- Customizable—easily tweaked with lemon, almond, or spice.
Ingredients
- 4-5 cups self-rising flour
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- ¼ tsp salt
- 2 eggs
- ½ cup oil
- ½ cup milk
- 1 tsp vanilla flavoring
- 1 tsp lemon flavoring (optional)
I prefer to use the King Arthur brand of self-rising flour because it is not bleached, and they don’t use aluminum in their rising agent. It’s the only brand that I am aware of that has those two features.
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 450°F. Prepare baking sheets by lining them with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, and salt. Create a well in the center.
- Add the eggs, vegetable oil, milk, lemon extract, and vanilla extract into the well of the flour mixture. Mix with a spoon until fully combined.
- Place the dough onto a lightly floured surface. Knead until smooth, adding more flour as needed.
- Roll the dough to your desired thickness and use a large biscuit cutter or cookie cutter to shape the dough. (I usually use the rim of a large cup.)
- Place the shaped dough onto the prepared baking sheets and bake for 5-7 minutes or until golden brown.
- Allow the tea cakes to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack.
Old Fashioned Tea Cakes
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat oven to 450° Fahrenheit.
- Place flour, sugar and salt in a large mixing bowl.
- Make a well in the center and add remaining ingredients. Mix until all ingredients are thoroughly combined. The dough will be stiff.
- Place on lightly floured surface and knead. Roll out and cut using a cup.
- Place on baking stone and bake for 7-9 minutes or until lightly browned.
- Cool and enjoy.
Nutrition
Video
Tried this recipe?
Let us know how it was!If classic Southern comfort food makes your heart happy, you’ll love these other recipes, too. My Ooey Gooey Butter Cake is a rich, indulgent dessert that melts in your mouth, while this Easy Peach Cobbler Using Canned Peaches delivers fruity sweetness in every bite. And if you’re craving something savory, don’t miss my Quick and Easy Chicken and Dumplings — a cozy bowlful that’s every bit as comforting as these tea cakes.
Variations & Flavor Twists
- Butter swap: Some say that you can replace oil with melted butter or use half butter and half shortening for an authentic neater texture. (Note: I have not tried this.)
- Spices: Try adding a pinch of nutmeg or cinnamon.
- Flavorings: Almond or rum flavoring work well, or double the lemon for citrusy zest.
- Toppings: Sprinkle with cinnamon-sugar or dip half in melted chocolate once cooled.
Serving & Pairing Ideas
- Serve warm with sweet tea, cold milk, or coffee for a classic Southern vibe.
- Use as a base for minichee or pudding cups, or crumble into desserts.
- Package with twine and festive wraps for gift giving during holidays.
Storage & Freezing Tips
Thaw at room temperature and refresh in a low oven if needed. Store in an airtight container for up to 7 days. Freeze in bags for up to 3 months.
FAQs
Yes. Add 1 ½ tsp baking powder and ¼ tsp salt per cup to mimic self‑rising flour
It could be your oven. Try reducing oven temp by 25 °F or rotating trays mid-bake for even browning.
Yes—resting it in the fridge for 30 minutes helps firm it up for neater clean cuts. (Note: I have not tested this.)
If Grandma had WiFi, she’d tell you to share this recipe with a friend and leave a note about how yours turned out. So go ahead — bake a batch and then drop a comment to let me know if they taste like the ones you grew up with!
These looks super yummy!
I never had a tea cake before, but I’d love to try one sometime. 🙂
I would love to try those with some yummy jasmine tea!
Ooh so yum with some hot tea. My grandma made the best 🙁
Courtney do you have your Grandma’s recipe? I have been hunting for a good tea cake recipe for over 30 years. My husband’s mother use to bake tea cakes for her children and I would like to get as close as I possibly can to her recipe. She has passed and this would be a nice gift for my hubby. They lived around the Abilene, TX area.
This would be a first to make for me. These look really good!
those look really tasty i’d love to try them
I’ve never had a tea cake before. They sound really good though.
The Tea cakes I remember were the ones my Great Grandmother in Georgia made, They were sooo good! This sounds like it could be the recipe!!I hope so
Mmmm. Can you talk with a British accent while eating them? I wouldn’t be able to resist!
I’ve never had tea cakes before, but have always wanted to try them.
I’m not sure I have ever had any type of tea cake, but these sound delicious!
That’s fascinating – I had no idea there were so many different meanings. I’m English so for me it’s a kind of bread roll with fruit, ideally to be served toasted with butter 🙂
These look really good! They kind of look like scones, which I love! I want to try making these for a little tea and biscuit treat!
Will ask my English mum in law about these and try making them for hubs. Thanks for the recipe and hello from SitsSharefest
It would be interesting to see what she thinks about the differences between English tea cakes and the Old South’s tea cakes.
I only have good memories of these. My mom used to make them often when I was younger. A few weeks ago I asked her about how she made them and we found ourselves taking a walk down memory lane. She told me how her mother made them literally by hand. She knew just the right amount of ingredients to use by measuring them without spoons or cups.
Now that’s skill and love!
LOVE tea cakes — my husband’s grandmother makes these too. 🙂
I haven’t seen these in forever. I would love to have a few with a nice cup of English breakfast tea. Yum!