Teacake

This article is about a type of bread or cake. Tea cake can also be used to describe Compressed tea. For the chocolate-covered teacake, see Chocolate-coated marshmallow treats.

A teacake or tea cake is a kind of bread or cake. The name is commonly used for whatever bread or cake is traditionally served for afternoon tea within a region, but can be applied loosely to any kind of cake that is sturdy enough to be picked up with the fingers. Teacake is normally not frosted.

Regional variations

Northern Ireland and Scotland

In Northern Ireland and Scotland, a teacake is a soft, chocolate-coated marshmallow on a biscuit base.

England

In England, a teacake is usually a light, sweet, yeast-based bun containing dried fruits such as currants, sultanas or peel. It is typically split, toasted, buttered, and served with tea. It is flat and circular, with a smooth brown upper surface and a somewhat lighter underside. Although most people refer to a tea cake as a cake containing fruit, in certain areas of West Yorkshire, Lancashire and Cumbria, teacake recipes omit currants and sultanas. In Kent the tea cake is known as a "huffkin", which is often flavoured with hops, especially at the time of harvesting hops in September. In Sussex a luxurious version of the tea cake with added aromatics such as nutmeg, cinamon and rose water is still sometimes made and called a manchet or Lady Arundel's Manchet.

Europe

In Sweden, the word for teacake (tekaka) refers to a sweetened wheat soda bread, resembling a farl and served warm with butter and jam.

North America

In southeastern United States, a tea cake is a traditional cookie, though somewhat larger, similar in appearance to a sugar cookie but not as sweet.

Oceania

In Australia, a teacake is a larger sweet cake of the type made with a mixture of flour, eggs, fat and sugar. It is served sliced as an accompaniment to tea. Australian teacakes are sometimes sprinkled with cinnamon and fine (caster) sugar, and are often served warm from the oven.

In some parts of Australia, the term "tea cake" is used to refer to a Boston Bun.

Translation

The word "Teacake" occurs as such in the following languages: English, Polish.