Southern Tea Cakes (Sugar Cookies) With Hard Icing

Name: Southern Tea Cakes (Sugar Cookies) With Hard Icing
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: 2 sticks Real Butter; 3 cups Granulated Sugar; 3 whole Eggs (large); 6 cups All-purpose Flour; 3 teaspoons Baking Powder; 1/4 cups Milk; 1 teaspoon Vanilla; 1/4 teaspoons Salt; Food Coloring (optional); 1 pound Confectioners Sugar (for Icing); 3 Tablespoons Meringue Powder (for Icing); 6-8 Tablespoons Cold Water (For Icing)

Servings: persons

2 sticks Real Butter
3 cups Granulated Sugar
3 whole Eggs (large)
6 cups All-purpose Flour
3 teaspoons Baking Powder
1/4 cups Milk
1 teaspoon Vanilla
1/4 teaspoons Salt
Food Coloring (optional)
1 pound Confectioners Sugar (for Icing)
3 Tablespoons Meringue Powder (for Icing)
6-8 Tablespoons Cold Water (For Icing)

1
Cream butter and sugar for about five minutes with an electric mixer. It should be nice and fluffy. Add eggs. In a separate bowl combine flour, baking powder, and salt. Add the flour mixture to the creamed mixture, alternating with the milk. Add vanilla. (Hint: don't overwork the dough. Add the flour quickly.)
2
You may add food coloring along with the milk for even incorporation. Roll to desired thickness and place on a cookie sheet lined with a Silpat or parchment paper. Bake for 6-8 minutes at 375F or until firmly set. Do not brown.
3
You may serve this plain, or frost with the following meringue icing, which dries hard and is delicious.
4
Meringue Icing:
5
1 box powdered sugar (sift)
6
3 Tbsp meringue powder( available at craft stores and cake supply stores, sometimes Walmart)
7
6-8 Tbs. water. Start with the lesser amount.
8
Beat ingredients with electric mixer for 5 minutes. You just want it thin enough to spread. You may apply with a knife, small paint brush, or pipe it on. Allow to dry firmly before stacking cookies. The yield will vary according to size of cutters. You can get as many as 100 small cookies with this recipe.

2203

kcal

Calories

Fat

404

Carbs

Protein

Fat Carbs Protein

* Per serving · 4 servings · Values may vary.

Tips for the best results

Read through all the steps once before you start and measure out your ingredients first — it makes everything go more smoothly.
Preheat the oven fully and bake on the middle rack for the most even results.
Check for doneness a few minutes early — a toothpick in the center should come out with just a few moist crumbs.
Let it cool before slicing so it sets properly and holds its shape.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge and enjoy within a few days.

Variations & substitutions

Use a neutral oil or a plant-based spread in place of butter for a dairy-free version.
Brown sugar instead of white sugar adds a deeper, more caramel-like flavor.
A good 1:1 gluten-free flour blend works well if you need a gluten-free version.

No specific allergen information. Please check the ingredient list for possible allergens.

My Personal Notes

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How did you like this recipe?

This recipe makes 4 servings. You can adjust the portion size directly on this page.

You need 12 ingredients. The key ingredients include: 2 sticks Real Butter, 3 cups Granulated Sugar, 3 whole Eggs (large), 6 cups All-purpose Flour, and more.

Yes, Southern Tea Cakes (Sugar Cookies) With Hard Icing falls under the Baking & Desserts category and is a great choice for this type of meal.

Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3–5 days. For longer storage, freeze for up to 3 months — no need to refrigerate or reheat.

That's it — enjoy your meal!