
I’m so biased, but my Grandmother’s tea cookies are out of this world.
For those of you who may have had them, you will agree that they are sensational with a cup of coffee.
I have lost track of how many times she and I have baked cookies together.
When I was little girl, She would let me roll out the cookie dough on her butcher’s block, pick out my favorite cookie cutter and place them on the baking sheet. I would sneak a bite of the extra cookie dough we had left over and she would tell me, “now don’t tell your mom”! I have kept this secret until now. Sorry Mom!
When I asked my grandmother to share her recipe with me and teach me how to make her cookies, she was MORE than thrilled (and flattered of course).
Sharing a wonderful recipe that I hope you can try with your family! I promise you will not be disappointed. You can thank me later!

Here are a few ingredients you will need to make these tea cookies.
- sugar (2 cups)
- flour (5 cups)
- butter flavored crisco (1 cup)
- 3 eggs
- imitation vanilla butternut flavoring (1 Tbsp)
- imitation almond flavoring (1 tsp)
- baking soda (1 tsp)
- sour milk (made by squeezing half a lemon in 1 cup of milk).
- baking powder (6 tsp)
- 1 tsp salt

Pick out a few cookie cutters that you like. These copper cookie cutters have been in my grandmother’s collection all my life. They are a must at Christmas time.


Mix flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in large mixing bowl.

Cream sugar and crisco in a large bowl until it looks like the picture below.

Add in the three eggs (one at time if possible) mixing thouroughly as eggs are added.

add in imitation vanilla butternut flavoring and almond flavoring.

Wisk in bowl until consistency is well mixed.

(Slowly) add in flour alternating between flour and sour milk.

mix in sour milk alternating with flour



Mix well until consistency is “dough like”.

Take a large serving spoon full of dough (picture above) and place on bed of flour. WARNING do not touch raw dough with your hands. Be sure to cover dough in flour so the dough does not stick to your hands.


add much flour to the dough in order to knead properly.

preheat over to 350 degrees before kneading dough.

Knead dough until consistency is easy to roll.

My grandmother stated that this step is the MOST important in order for the cookies to bake well.

Roll out dough on pastry sheet with rolling pan.

Cut out dough with desired cookie cutters.

Place on cookies on baking sheet. We were able to make a little over 7 dozen cookies with all of the dough made.

Raise oven temperature to 365 degrees before placing cookies in oven.

Bake for 25 minutes. WARNING each oven is different so it is suggested you watch cookies to be sure they do not burn.

Take out of oven and ENJOY with a nice glass of milk (or eggnog) this holiday season!

The great baker and mastermind behind these little cakes of heaven, my GeGe.
I can’t tell you how much I enjoy spending time with her. As we were baking, she told me that when she married my grandfather she did not know how to cook and much of her recipes happened by mistake.
Some mistake, right? Can you believe she is 90 years old? She looks amazing!
What I love most about these images are the moments I captured her hands. Those sweet hands have hugged me a million and one times. I will treasure these images, always. I’m so thankful she and I can continue this tradition year round.
I hope you enjoy this post and make a new tradition with your family. Happy holidays!
💋✌🏼