Russian Tea Cakes Recipe (2024)

| Updated | Heather

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This Russian Tea Cakes Recipe creates melt in your mouth buttery cookies that have pecans and are rolled in powdered sugar. A classic holiday cookie to share with everyone you love!

This recipe is super simple, requires very minimal ingredients and are quick to make. These cookies are great to make for the holidays because they can be made ahead of time and frozen until needed. A perfect cookie for cookie exchanges or cookie gift boxes!

My kids love to call these cookies snowballs because obviously they look like snowballs. They are often also called Mexican wedding cakes. Whatever you want or do call them, there is no denying how popular they are around the holidays.

Russian Tea Cakes Recipe (1)

Russian Tea Cakes Recipe Ingredients

Substitution Suggestions:

  • Salted Butter: Feel free to use unsalted butter, but add ¼ teaspoon of salt to the cookie dough.
  • Pure Vanilla Extract: If you like you can substitute with almond extract for a different flavor profile. Or use half vanilla and half almond. Also, use pure extracts, not imitation. The imitation leaves an unpleasant after taste to baked goods.
  • Finely Chopped Pecans: Our favorite way to enjoy these cookies are with pecans, but they are also really good with walnuts, almonds, macadamia nuts and pistachios. Use your favorite! Or if you want them nut free use mini chocolate chips or finely chopped chocolate.
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How to Make Easy Russian Tea Cakes

  1. In a stand mixer or with hand beaters, cream together the softened butter, ½ cup powdered sugar and vanilla extract.
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  • Russian Tea Cakes Recipe (4)
  1. Add the flour and finely chopped pecans and mix on low until it starts to form a dough that will stick together. This can take a few minutes.
  2. Using a small cookie scoop or tablespoon, scoop dough and place 1 inch apart on parchment lined cookie sheets.
  3. Then roll the scoops into smooth balls.
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  1. Bake in a preheated 400°F oven for 10-12 minutes until cookies are set and the bottoms are just golden brown. The tops should not be browned.
  2. Let cookies cool on pan for 5 minutes, then roll in powdered and place on wire rack or cooled sheet pan.
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  • Russian Tea Cakes Recipe (8)
  1. Let cookies cool completely and then roll again in powdered sugar.
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Tips for Making Russian Tea Cakes

  • Fluff your flour before measuring. Then spoon and level the flour to measure. I say this all the time, but it is so important. Especially in this cookie recipe. Too much flour will make the cookies crumbly.
  • Chop the pecans fine. Fine, small pieces will help the dough come together a lot easier and hold together a lot better.
  • The dough will take a few minute to come together in the stand mixer. Just let it keep mixing on low until the dough starts to form and stick together.
  • Don't let the cookies cool for more than 5 minutes. They need to still be warm when rolled in powdered sugar the first time so the sugar will stick to the cookie.

Storing Cookies

Storing: Store cookies in an air tight container between layers of wax paper. Store them for up to 5 days on the counter.

Freezing: These cookies freeze so well! Place the finished cookies in a freezer safe air tight container between layers of wax paper. Label, date and freeze. The cookies will last up to 4 month (sometimes longer) in the freezer.

Thawing: To thaw cookies, place them on the counter at room temp for a few hours. Or you can place them frozen right on the cookie tray and let them thaw while you wait for your guests to arrive!

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FAQs About Russian Tea Cakes

What is the difference between Mexican Wedding Cakes and Russian Tea Cakes?

There really isn't a difference. Both cookies are a butter shortbread cookies with nuts that are rolled in powdered sugar.

Why did my Russian Tea Cakes go flat?

Most common issue is the measuring of ingredients. Make sure the flour and powdered sugar is fluffed before measuring. Spoon and level them to measure. Also, make sure the butter isn't melted or too warm when making the dough. The butter should just be softened to the touch.

Why do they call them tea cakes?

The most common theory for why they are called tea cakes is the cookies were served with afternoon tea.

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More Holiday Cookie Recipes:

  • Raspberry Almond Thumbprint Cookies
  • Chewy Molasses Cookies
  • Sugar Cookie Cut Outs
  • Peanut Butter Temptations
  • Gingerbread People
  • Italian Almond Cookies
  • Butter Spritz Cookies
  • Frosted Pumpkin Drop Cookies
  • Monster Cookies
  • Chocolate Peppermint Drop Cookies
  • Confetti Sugar Cookies

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4.60 from 5 votes

Russian Tea Cakes Recipe

This Russian Tea Cakes Recipe creates melt in your mouth buttery cookies that have pecans and are rolled in powdered sugar. A classic holiday cookie to share with everyone you love!

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes

Plus Cooling: 5 minutes minutes

Servings: 48 cookies

Author: Heather

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400°F and line 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper.

  • In a stand mixer or with hand beaters, cream together the butter, ½ cup powdered sugar and vanilla extract until creamy.

  • Add flour and pecans, mix on low until the dough starts to form and stick together. It can take a few minutes.

  • Using a small cookie scoop or tablespoon, scoop dough and place 1 inch apart on cookie sheets.

  • Roll the scoops into smooth balls.

  • Bake cookies for 10-12 minutes until cookies are set and the bottoms are golden brown. Tops should not be browned.

  • Let cookies cool on pan for 5 minutes, then roll in powdered sugar and set on wire rack or cooled sheet pan.

  • Let cookies cool completely and then roll in powdered sugar again.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cookie | Calories: 81kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 10mg | Sodium: 34mg | Potassium: 14mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 119IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 3mg | Iron: 1mg

Tried this recipe?Please rate the recipe, leave a comment and tell me how much you loved it!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Rita says

    I just tried these, and they are very crumbly. I tasted them and they taste like flour. Help what did I do wrong..

    Reply

    • Heather Warburton says

      It sounds like there may be too much flour. Fluff flour and spoon it into measuring cup and level off. Also, the nuts should be chopped fine. The dough is crumbly at first but will come together. I hope that helps!

      Reply

  2. Robert Potter says

    Russian Tea Cakes Recipe (17)
    This is a very simple recipe but one to not overlook being accurate with your measurements. I have my 2nd batch of the day in the oven our dog helped me drop the very hot 1st pan full on the floor reason for 2nd batch. Yes making again they are that good.

    Reply

    • Heather Warburton says

      I'm so glad you like them!

      Reply

Leave a Reply

Russian Tea Cakes Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What country are tea cakes from? ›

Tea cakes can trace their origin back to Great Britain where “afternoon tea” is still a part of everyday life. Afternoon tea began in the 1840s as a tradition of having a tea in the afternoons as a way to stave off hunger until the dinner meal was served.

Can you freeze tea cakes? ›

Suitable for home freezingTo enjoy our baking at its best, store in a cool dry place - ideally not refrigerated. Warmer conditions will reduce storage life. If freezing, freeze as soon as possible after purchase.

What's the difference between coffee cake and tea cake? ›

#2 Shape matters. Even when a teacake is a cake, it usually is in a circular shape unless it was baked as a loaf cake. Coffee cakes come in squares, rectangles, bundts, circles, basically whatever shape pan the baker had available. #3 Coffee has coffee but tea has no tea.

Why are they called Russian tea cakes? ›

Originating in Russia, as the name suggests, this cookie was intended to be a dessert to accompany teatime, similar to the way the English enjoy tea with pastries. It is not credited to being invented by any particular person since the whole point of the cookies is that anybody can make them.

Why do they call them tea cakes? ›

Outside the South, the words “tea cake” mean any cake served with tea. But to Southerners, tea cakes are more than that. They are the nostalgic cookies—crispy and golden around the edges, soft and cake-like inside—that are perfect for tea, or just about anything else you choose to drink.

Are tea cakes African American? ›

Tea cakes are an integral part of African American food culture. Originating over 250 years ago, these cookies were a recipe passed down verbally through generations.

What is special about tea cake? ›

Tea cakes are soft roll-out cookies that are tender, chewy and pleasantly dense. They are a cookie with a cake-like texture. The ingredients are very simple (flour, sugar, butter, milk, nutmeg, and eggs), and the gentle flavor of nutmeg is what makes these so special.

What is the shelf life of tea cakes? ›

Tea Cakes and brownies have average shelf life of 3-4 days if kept outside in AC room, wheres in fridge they will last for around 10 days. Other items have long shelf life of 40-80days.

Are tea cakes healthy? ›

Tea cakes contains 120 calories per 28 g serving. This serving contains 7 g of fat, 1 g of protein and 15 g of carbohydrate. The latter is 11 g sugar and 0 g of dietary fiber, the rest is complex carbohydrate. Tea cakes contains 3 g of saturated fat and 10 mg of cholesterol per serving.

What is a Chinese Tea Cake? ›

Compressed tea, called tea bricks, tea cakes or tea lumps, and tea nuggets according to the shape and size, are blocks of whole or finely ground black tea, green tea, or post-fermented tea leaves that have been packed in molds and pressed into block form.

What is baking in England it is called tea cakes? ›

England. In most of England, a teacake is a light, sweet, yeast-based bun containing dried fruits, most usually currants, sultanas or peel. It is typically split, toasted, buttered, and served with tea. It is flat and circular, with a smooth brown upper surface and a somewhat lighter underside.

What is another name for Tea Cake? ›

Although they are widely known, tea cakes have not always gone by this name. They are referred to as currant buns or spiced buns in some regions of the UK.

What is Louisiana Russian cake? ›

Russian Cake is prepared by mixing our almond cake, gold cake and devil's food cake with raspberry jelly, rum flavor and a hint of anise oil (licorice flavor). It is then topped with buttercream and nonpareils (aka sprinkles).

Why do they call them Mexican wedding cookies? ›

History of Mexican Wedding Cookies

As Spanish colonizers brought these recipes to Mexico, they seamlessly integrated into the local culinary landscape. The cookie's association with weddings stems from its sweet symbolism of happiness, unity, and the joyful occasions surrounding matrimony.

Is a Tunnock's Tea Cake a biscuit? ›

The iconic Scottish teacake - delicious chocolate covered marshmallow and biscuit wrapped in distinctive silver and red foil. *Includes VAT where applicable, deliveries outside the EU are VAT free.

Where did tea cake come from? ›

A question we are commonly asked here at the Texas Tea Cake Company is "What is a tea cake?" According to historians, the American tea cake was created over 200 years ago by African slaves in the southeastern United States. Tea cakes were initially made by plantation cooks for the guest of white slave owners.

Who invented the tea cake? ›

Sir Archibald Boyd Tunnock, CBE (born 25 January 1933), is the current owner of Tunnock's, a family-owned confectionery business based in Uddingston, South Lanarkshire, UK. He is the grandson of the firm's founder, Thomas Tunnock, and inventor of the company's famous teacake, which was first produced in 1956.

Which country is famous for cakes? ›

Scotland is known as the land of cakes and it is famous for its oatmeal cakes as in old times, oatmeal cakes were baked only in Scotland.

Which country cake come from? ›

According to the food historians, the precursors of modern cakes (round ones with icing) were first baked in Europe sometime in the mid-17th century. This is due to primarily to advances in technology (more reliable ovens, manufacture/availability of food molds) and ingredient availability (refined sugar).

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