Food and Recipes Recipes Tea Cakes Be the first to rate & review! Even though they're called cakes, tea cakes are old-fashioned cookies made with with butter, sugar, eggs, flour, and vanilla. They're perfect for afternoon tea or to enjoy with a glass of lemonade. By Southern Living Editors Published on November 13, 2019 Print Rate It Share Share Tweet Pin Email Active Time: 18 mins Total Time: 1 hrs 26 mins Yield: 3 dozen Ingredients 1 cup butter, softened 2 cups sugar 3 large eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt Directions Beat butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy; gradually add sugar, beating well. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating until blended after each addition. Add vanilla extract, beating until blended. Combine flour, soda, and salt; gradually add flour mixture to butter mixture, beating at low speed until blended after each addition. Divide dough in half; wrap each portion in plastic wrap, and chill 1 hour. Roll half of dough to 1/4-inch thickness on a floured surface. Cut out cookies with a 2 1/2-inch round cutter, and place 1 inch apart on parchment paper-lined baking sheets. Bake at 350° for 10 to 12 minutes or until edges begin to brown; let stand on baking sheet 5 minutes. Remove to wire racks to cool. Repeat procedure with remaining dough. Southern Living Rate it Print