If I say “I had a tea cake after lunch” I would be referring to something that looks like this: a round, shortbread-like cookie with nuts and powdered sugar.
When my boyfriend says “tea cake” he means something entirely different. Something like a cupcake though with a coarser texture. I can’t find a representative picture, but maybe some others in SoCal will know what I’m talking about.
When I look at Google images, I see many things called “tea cakes.” What do you think of?
I think a “tea cake” could be just about anything. I’ve always called those things you linked to Russian tea cakes.
I would have assumed the cake/muffin-type thing since I find it rare that only one cookie-style tea cake is eaten.
I’d never say tea cake, because I’ve never been sure what they are (I assume that’s what “fairy cakes” from Little House On The Prairie also are, though). I’ve certainly never been served one or seen one in a store.
I’ve only ever heard “fairy cake” to refer to a cupcake.
I have no idea what a “tea cake” is
Me neither, PSXer.
I don’t think I would ever refer to something as a “tea cake,” but if I did, it would be a small, round, muffin-like confectionary like that what you linked to, not a slice of a full-sized cake (which seems to be what a lot of Google hits are showing.)
Maybe it’s the British heritage, but in Australia “tea cake” means the sort of cake you’d have at afternoon tea … something sweet, but not overly complicated. Like this: http://www.taste.com.au/recipes/5106/apple+tea+cake or this: http://allrecipes.com.au/recipe/10244/lavender-tea-cake.aspx
“Tea cakes” in our house are round & flat, like cookies are, are shortbreadish, and there’s a circular hole in the top layer which is filled with a fruit filling of some sort. (The bottom layer supports this so the bottom of the tea cake isn’t sticky & drippy in the middle.
Just first thought, first venture, I think basically of a coffeecake. Second thought I think of scones or a shortbread with Jam.
That’s what I was thinking of as well (and also British/NZ/Australian heritage).
I think of a shortbread type cookie. Not overly complicated, but goes well with an afternoon cup of tea.
Bit of shortbread, marshmallow bit, dipped in chocolate. The perfection that is the Tunnock’s Tea Cake.
Mostly, when I say it, I mean one of these: a sweet bread bun with dried fruit in it, preferably split and toasted, and served with butter.
Sometimes, though, I mean a “chocolate teacake” like this: a biscuit base topped with mallow and covered in chocolate.
A shorbread sugar cookie.
Yes, yes! That’s a teacake,
Mmmmmmmmmm.
Thirding the Tunnock’s Tea Cake. Yum!
In Britain, many tea shops will serve toasted tea cakes (at least, they used to).
Oh yes, those are both very acceptable versions of a teacake. I prefer the toasted version but fully endorse those that choose the way of the chocolate.
Incidentally, there is no funnier phrase than “Tunnocks Caramel Wafer” said in a very broad Aberdeen accent. Try it (the phrase and the caramel wafer)
