Tea cakes are perfect for afternoon garden parties or to enjoy with a glass of lemonade.

Depending on where you grew up, these may already be a part of your family history.

Learn how to make tea cakes.

Southern Living Tea Cakes on plates to serve

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Ingredients for Tea Cakes

Essential baking ingredients are all you will use for this recipe.

Gradually add sugar, beating well.

Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating until blended after each addition.

Southern Living Tea cakes ingredients

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Add vanilla extract, beating until blended.

Cut out cookies:

Roll half of dough to 1/4-inch thickness on a floured surface.

Remove to wire racks to cool.

Southern Living Tea Cakes on a tray to serve

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Repeat procedure with remaining dough.

Southern Living Tea Cakes beating together the butter and sugar

Credit:Greg Dupree, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen

Southern Living Tea Cakes adding the eggs to the batter

Credit:Greg Dupree, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen

Southern Living Tea Cakes adding the flour

Credit:Greg Dupree, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen

Southern Living Tea Cakes wrapping the dough to chill

Credit:Greg Dupree, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen

Southern Living Tea Cakes rolling out the dough

Credit:Greg Dupree, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen

Southern Living Tea Cakes cut on the baking sheet

Credit:Greg Dupree, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen

Southern Living Tea Cakes afte baking

Credit:Greg Dupree, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen