Tennessee - T cakes


Tea Cakes are a very traditional, southern sweet.  Think cross between a cake and cookie with a not too sweet, vanilla flavor.  Some are dusted with sugar, others frosted and decorated, but all were served with tea (sweet, iced that is) or coffee.  


Now, Tennessee T-cakes are different and were made popular by an entrepreneur in Nashville named Frances Barkley.  She used her family's 100 year old recipe to start a thriving business with a unique product that made it onto Oprah's favorite things list one year. Unfortunately, Frances passed away and her business is no longer around - but I found a copy cat recipe for her famous T-cakes and wanted to feature it for Tennessee. 


what to expect...
While these little baked goodies are shaped like a  cupcake or muffin, and are called T-"cakes", they taste nothing like cake.  They are rich and gooey and in a category of their own that is hard to describe, even after eating a lot of them (in the name of research, of course)!  ; )  





ingredients
3/4 cup packed dark brown sugar
1/4 cup white sugar
1/2 cup salted butter, melted and hot 
1 large egg
2 teaspoons bourbon vanilla
3/4 cup all purpose flour
powdered sugar, for garnish


recipe

  • preheat oven to 350 degrees
  • add the brown sugar and white sugar to the melted butter and set aside (some of the brown sugar will melt)
  • in mixer with paddle attachment, gently mix the egg and bourbon vanilla
  • add the butter and sugar mixture to the egg mixture and beat on low until mixed well
  • add flour all at once to mixer.  mix well until ribbon-like
  • bake in paper lined mini-muffin tin for 14 minutes, turning at 7 minutes.
  • dust with powdered sugar when cool



Simply ahhh-ma-zing!  Love these and can't wait to bake more!  

Enjoy!
mbf

8 comments:

  1. I tried it and it works ! Yum Yummy

    Thank you, Marla Pardilla, Rio Rancho, NM

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    1. Hi Marla! So glad that you tried the recipe and enjoyed them! I think they are pretty fantastic too! Thanks for the comment - let us know if you try any of the other state recipes!

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  2. Delicious!!! So much so that I have a second batch in the oven ( an hour after making my first :-0 )

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  3. Awesome....awesome....awesome....just like the ones Frances sold. Thank you.

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    1. So glad you tried the recipe and loved it! They are addictive little treats, aren't they? Did you ever try any of the other T-cake flavors? I never had the pleasure of eating one of Frances' confections but I was so happy to be able feature these on Sweet State of Mine.

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  4. I made these and they're wonderful. They're great with nuts, too. I've used cashews and pecans. People are beginning to ask me to bring "my" Tennessee Cakes. LOL

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    1. I love the idea of adding nuts to these, Linda! Great addition - can't wait to try it myself! Glad you are enjoying this yummy recipe!

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  5. I've had the original from Ms. Frances, but they are no longer. I understand her daughters have the original recipe but i am going to try these as I love to cook. Regards!!

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