Russian Tea Cake Cookies Recipe

Julie Grice | Savvy Eats

Russian Tea Cake Cookies are a simple, subtle cookie. A gorgeous flavor of orange salted caramel.

Russian Tea Cake Cookies Photo

When I’m putting together a cookie plate for the holidays, I like to try to find some balance. I always think I’d be perfectly happy with a plate full of Reese's peanut butter cup cookies and chocolate-peppermint treats, but it is never the case. I inevitably end up craving some bright citrus flavors, a cookie packed with warming spices or something buttery.

So when I’m plotting out my “bake all the holiday cookies” weekend-long extravaganza, I do my best to pick a favorite from each category for a cookie plate that will please any guest’s taste buds. This usually includes a buttery Russian tea cake cookie, some form of sugar cookie (usually maple or eggnog-flavored), something with lemon or orange, and a snickerdoodle or other cinnamon-flavored cookie. And of course, those blossoms and peppermint cookies I mentioned as well.

Let’s talk about those orange and lemon-flavored cookies. The most common way to give baked goods a citrus flavor is to throw in some lemon, lime or orange juice and zest, like in these orange cranberry cookies. But I’ve started experimenting and taking my fruity cookies in another direction by adding marmalade to the doughs instead.

Russian Tea Cake Cookies Picture

Take these Russian tea cake cookies, for example. They are based off of one of my favorite tea cake recipes. I ditched the white chocolate (a modification that was somewhat painful to make, because I love white chocolate, but it totally worked out in the end), and instead of orange extract and tangerine zest, I subbed in some orange marmalade.

I also upped the salt content a bit. The salt combined with the cooked sugar flavor of the marmalade is reminiscent of an orange salted caramel, so you’re getting both citrus and caramel flavors here. They are definitely a winner - add them to your holiday cookie plates ASAP!

Are you tired of the dinner routine?

Stuck in a rut or looking for fun new recipes to try?

Our Facebook Group is growing every day! If you haven’t joined yet, we invite you to come check it out and join the fun.

Facebook!

You can ask for recipe ideas, talk about cooking techniques, or get help figuring out the right new pan set for you. If you’ve already joined, invite a friend along!

Print
Save

Russian Tea Cake Cookies Recipe

    50 Servings

Ingredients

  • 1 cup Blanched Sliced Almonds
  • 1 cup Unsalted Butter, Softened
  • 1/2 cup Powdered Sugar, Plus more for sprinkling
  • 2 tablespoons Orange Marmalade
  • 2 cups All-Purpose Flour
  • 3/4 teaspoon Salt

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
  2. In a food processor or blender, pulse the almonds until they are in small, coarse pieces.
  3. Beat the butter with the powdered sugar until light yellow and creamy. Beat in the marmalade.
  4. Add the flour and salt, stirring until there are no dry spots left.
  5. Fold in the almonds until all the pieces are mixed in well.
  6. Form the dough into 1” balls and space them 1” apart on a baking sheet. Bake at 350°F for 11-14 minutes, or until the bottoms are just barely beginning to brown.
  7. Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack. Sprinkle with powdered sugar immediately and allow to cool.

Recommended

Published:
Modified:
Author:
Cooking Method:
Baking
Category:
Cookie Week
Tags:
, , , , , , , ,
Related Recipes:
Cookie Week Recipes, Bottom of the Jam Jar Recipes, Cookie Recipes, Baking Recipes, Baked Recipes, Christmas Recipes, Party Food Recipes, Snack Recipes, Family Meals and Snack Recipes
Recipe Yields:
50 cookies
Prep Time:
Cook Time:
Total Time:
Related Post:
Published:
Author: Julie Grice
Recipe Yields: 50 cookies
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 14 minutes
Total Time: 29 minutes

Nutrition Facts

Servings Per Recipe 50

Amount Per Serving
Calories from Fat 39
Calories 70

% Daily Value*
7%
Total Fat 5g
12%
  Saturated Fat 2g
1%
Sodium 36mg
2%
Total Carbohydrate 6g
0%
  Dietary Fiber 0g
  Sugars 2g
2%
Protein 1g

* Percent Daily Value are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
** Nutrition Facts are estimated based on ingredients and data provided by Fat Secret. Please consult a doctor if you have special dietary needs.
Julie Grice

About Julie

Julie lives in upstate New York, where preserving nature's bounty is what gets you through the long winter. Her blog, Savvy Eats, is one of our favorites. Follow her on Food Fanatic for recipes that use the bottom of the jam jar, or to help fill the jam jar again, as our latest canning fanatic.

Show Comments