Old Fashioned Tea Cakes

Instructions

1. In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy.

2. Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract.

3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until a soft dough forms.

4. Divide the dough into two equal parts and shape each into a disk. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or until firm.

5. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.

6. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the chilled dough to about 1/4-inch thickness. Use cookie cutters to cut out shapes or simply use a round cutter for traditional tea cakes.

7. Place the cut-out dough onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving some space between each cookie.

8. Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are just lightly golden. Be careful not to overbake to keep the cookies tender.

9. Remove from the oven and let the tea cakes cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

10. Once cooled, serve these delightful Old Fashioned Tea Cakes with a cup of your favorite tea or store them in an airtight container for up to a week. They also make a lovely homemade gift for friends and family.