Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Russian Teacakes

     In Kerala, where I come from, the tradition for Christmas is to bake fruit and nut cakes, fry diamond cuts, rose cookies etc.  Here in US, I see the tradition is cookies.  The last two days, I got together with my friend M and we baked and baked and baked.  We made four different cookies Russian Tea cakes or Mexican wedding cakes, lemon laced cookies, pinwheel cookies and cherry wink.  This is also one reason why I could not visit all my blogger friends.  I will hopefully make amends for it today to see what you all have been upto.  

   I photographed some yesterday and it was a time well spent.  As I am writing this I am glad I spend some quality time getting into baking because I am able to share it with you.  The flip side or con of holiday seasons are we are always on a sugar high.  Now then, what is the point cribbing.. lets all indulge and have some fun and then go on a diet the next week, what do you say?  Anyways, here is Russion Tea cakes for you.. I remember something similar called nan cut when in India.  I have made those and its pretty much the same if you avoid nuts.

Russian Tea Cake

Butter - 1 cup
Confectioners sugar - 1/2 cup
Vanilla - 1 tspn
All purpose flour - 2 1/4 cups
Salt - 1/4 tspn
Nuts(add your preferred one I added pecans) - 3/4 cup finely chopped

Method:
1. Beat butter, sugar and vanilla together.  I used a hand blender you could do without it as well.
2. Add flour, salt and nuts and incorporate together until the dough holds together to make small balls
3. Place the doubh balls on ungreased cookie sheets
5. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until set but not brown in a pre heated 400F

Russian Tea Cake

Contributor: Sunitha

55 comments:

  1. oh what a fun thing to do they look fab Rebecca

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  2. hey what a nice and sweet delicacy!! excellent clicks!! Waiting for more baking recipes.

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  3. Yummy tea cakes.....lovely clicks.

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  4. u r so lucky, someone is there to bake along with u. it must b a lot of fun alley?the russian tea cakes look oh so yum.love the click too

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  5. Lovely Mexican wedding cake! I really wonder how many other names this cookie call....
    Merry X'mas!

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  6. Hey excellent pictures..it sometimes is wonderful to see the same recipe has so many different names in diff languages!!....these look absolute cute!!!

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  7. Yummy melting powdery cookies....looks fabulous...

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  8. Dear Sunitha
    Very nice, someday I should be able to make this.
    MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR

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  9. These little cutes will sure melt in mouth!!!

    Merry Christmas to everyone in Collaborative Curry!!!

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  10. lovely pics sunita...infact excellent one.....i have seeen this recipe in one of my cookbooks without pics..:)
    Happy new year and merry xmas from my side to you...

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  11. lovely clicks dear.delicious cookies.

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  12. Irresristable cookies..Happy holidays to you.

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  13. Cookies look fantastic. Merry Christmast to you all.

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  14. cookies looks wonderful and perfect.

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  15. these are perfect for Christmas!
    Merry Christmas and have a Happy New Year!

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  16. Wow, what a beautiful russian cake. It is a feast to the eyes. Sure to taste yummy too!!!
    Wish u All Merry X'Mas..:)

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  17. Oh they look so cute...dear why are they called Russian cookies?

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  18. Lovely cookies, Hope you have a great week end , and happy holidays

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  19. Merry Xmas :)
    this sure looks a delicacy, when I saw the snap i was are these idlis ;)
    Whats the russian connection with these?

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  20. looks very delicious and lovely click as well..merry xmas to all of you

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  21. Never tasted them..but they look really fantastic n yummy..

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  22. Looks fabulous and perfect dear..Merry christmas and new year...

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  23. looks awesome...yummy and tempting..love to grab one from screen!

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  24. They are perfect with my hot cup of tea now!

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  25. Merry X'mas! Tea cakes look yummmm! They look dissolvable in mouths!

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  26. ils ont délicieux j'en croquerai volontiers quelques uns
    à bientôt

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  27. Nan Cuts.yes..you are right!..the basic simple n yummy grannys Cookies..Russian tea cakes...So many Sweet names!!:)..
    Love the cookies here, :)
    Merry Xmas! :)

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  28. hey very nice cookies...tempting pics removed from perfect angle:-)...merry XMAS 2 u

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  29. Awesome! Thanks for sharing.
    Happy holidays to you and your family.

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  30. These are a favorite of mine, though I hate making them... Everybody requests them of me every Christmas... They look awesome :)

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  31. looks like a cookie.why is it called a cake ? Looks so tempting..wanna pop one in my mouth now.Happy holidays !

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  32. Cute cookies...Looks so yumm..Wish u merry x'mas and a very happy new year...

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  33. merry x'mas & happy holidays....nice cookies

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  34. Merry X-mas, russian tea cookies sounds yummo' well said, can't helpt it 'sugar high' during festival season:)

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  35. Cookies look delectable..Merry Xmas and happy holidays guys:)

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  36. Oh wow...looks great.Loved each n every click:)

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  37. cookies look melt in your mouth...nice pics

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  38. These cookies look amazingly perfect! Thanks for sharing such a wonderful story and recipe:)

    Merry Christmas to you all!

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  39. Yummy cakes,nice click.Wishing u & ur family the same Merry X'Mas & Happy new year

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  40. Ur Russian tea cakes are little pieces of JOy. They are simply irresistible. I agree with u here for Christmas its more traditional to bake cookies. I remember when I first came to the US my dear Friend S and I would just bake bake bake for christmas. But it was so much fun..it would keep snowing and we would bake and have some hot coffee and sample our baked goodies. It was really a treat. All that is coming handy now as my kids really love the cookies and they look forward to Christmas. Also love ur awesome Clicks. Happy holidahys..and really sorry abt being a bit late on the comments..but do remember dear..they might be late but they'll be coming for sure...

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  41. U kno they luk super cue....... N listening to all the names of the cookies my mouth is watering..... :) Merry christmas...nd happy new yr to u nd ur family :)

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  42. Oh yeah, holidays = great food! So, let us all indulge in treats... great looking cookies Sunita.

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  43. Thank you all for visiting and leaving your comments.

    Kanchan: I scoured the internet to find our the Russian connection and as per wikipedia this pastry was served in connection with a tea serving ceremony. Later it was adapated and used in US and served in weddings and hence 'wedding cake' Mexican wedding cake is also a name which originated in the US is what is believed.

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