One recipe you should most certainly have in your collection is an Old Fashioned Tea Cake recipe.

Although the name alludes to a cake, these are actually thin little sugar cookies, much like a shortbread cookie. They are not too sweet, just exactly right, and perfect for Christmas cookie decorating.

Rolled sugar cookies are to Christmas what Pumpkin pie is to Thanksgiving. They are a must. Think of rolling out chilled cookie dough and then cutting each cookie with your favorite Christmas cookie cutters.

This recipe for Old Fashioned Tea Cake cookies comes with a story of how I acquired the recipe.

I love a good recipe story, don’t you? This recipe came from a former neighbor. She was a seldom-seen sweet little older lady who lived behind us. Always waving when we may both be outside at the same time. 

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One afternoon there was a knock at my back door. Back-door guests are the best you know. It was the sweet neighbor lady bringing me a plate full of her Old Fashioned Tea Cakes. I had never heard of such a cookie. That was nearly 40 years ago. This is her recipe which she shared in the church cookbook and I of course purchased a copy.

Sugar Cookie Cutouts are good any time of the year

You can use this roll out sugar cookie recipe any time of the year. Decorate cookies for spring, summer, or any occasion cookie cutters to suit your purpose.

• Easter cookie cutter set
• Summer Fun Cookie cutter set
• Birthday number cookie cutters
• Christmas cookie cutters

Pour a cup of coffee and enjoy reading Christmas cards while nibbling on a few delicious Old Fashioned Tea Cake Christmas Cookies.

Scroll Down for the Printable Recipe

MAKE THESE COOKIES IN ADVANCE

These Old Fashioned Tea Cake cookies can be made a day or two in advance. Store them in an air-tight container like one of these. Plan ahead to have a cookie decorating party with family or children!

The icing I used was simply a thick mixture of sifted powdered sugar with a drop of milk. My husband says these cookies are ‘bakery quality’ and his compliments mean so much since he is quite the baker himself. 

You know that making cookies from scratch is always best and that does mean a little more work on your part but I promise, it is going to be so worth it!

Ingredients

• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 eggs, at room temperature
• 3½ cups all-purpose flour sifted
• 2 tsp. Baking powder
• 1 tsp. Baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 2 Tbsp. milk (2% is fine)
• 2 tsp. vanilla extract

Directions

Begin by letting your butter soften at room temperature.

Step 1

Add the dry ingredients; flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt to a large bowl and blend together with a whisk. Set aside.

Step 2

In a large mixing bowl, Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.

Step 3

Add eggs one at a time, blending after each addition.

Step 4

Using the dough hook of your mixer, begin mixing in dry ingredients, a little at a time to avoid a big cloud of flour dust. Continue to mix until a stiff dough is formed.

Step 5

Roll dough into workable-sized logs. Wrap each log in plastic wrap and chill for several hours or overnight.

Step 6

Remove one cookie dough log at a time from the refrigerator. Roll out the dough on a floured surface. Roll tea cake cookies out slightly thin. These are not thick soft cookies.

Step 7

After rolling out the dough, cut with your cookie cutters and transfer each cookie to a prepared baking sheet.

Step 8

Bake at 375° until lightly browned. Remove from the oven and allow to cool on a cooling rack. Ice cookies after they are completely cool.

More Christmas Cookie Recipes

• Chocolate Pecan Pie Bars Recipe
• Cream Cheese Sugar Cookies
• Grinch Blossom Cookies Recipe
• Easy Chewy Gingersnap Cookies Just Like Grandma’s
• Pecan Snowdrop Cookies Recipe

More Merry Christmas recipes

• Cranberry Goat Cheese Log Recipe appetizer
• Christmas Grinch Punch Recipe (Kid-Friendly)
• Sweet & Salty Candied Pecans Recipe
• Hot Spinach Artichoke Dip
• Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks Easy Recipe
• Make This Easy Family Christmas Movie Night Snack Bar

Originally published November 2014. Updated Oct.28, 2022