Tea Cake Recipe - not the cookies

[LisaN]

I am looking for a recipe for Tea cakes like from Martino's Bakery in Southern California - http://www.martinosbakery.com/index.html

They are rectangular shaped little cupcake type things, but are very, very moist and more airy than a regular cupcake.

I tried searching in old cookbooks, and found a recipe and tried it, but it came out very dense.

Thanks
Lisa

[mochi mochi]

These tea cakes remind me of the ones I used to buy as a kid at Grace's Pastries on Jefferson and Crenshaw Blvd. in L.A. They were my favorite! Someone told me that a recipe was posted in a Japanese language paper. I will try to get that for us! Thanks for reminding me of one of my long ago favorites.

[Pei]

OMG you're right! They remind me of packaged Japanese sponge cake with a lemon glaze.

[Nermie]

Those tea cakes were my absolute favorites too!

I went to check out Angel Maid Bakery (Culver City) when I heard they made tea cakes just like those at Grace's. But they're not (they didn't even have any glaze on top) so -- alas, my quest continues . . .

If you can share the recipe, that be great! I'll just bake my own!

[mochi mochi]

I contacted the Rafu Shimpo last month and never got a reply. So I have to see if any of my buddies saw the recipe. I miss those tea cakes! I will be sure to post if I ever find it.

[LisaN]

Thanks for trying!! I'm keeping my fingers crossed!!!

[Densible]

Is it like a sponge cake? In UK, we have songe cakes called fairy cakes cooked like cupcakes but you could use batter for any shape. Here is a link.

www.ivillage.co.uk/food/experts/ coach/articles/0,,177274_673444,00.html - 49k -

A tea cake to me is like a scone, full of currants and a bit lumpy.

[LisaN]

It is more like a sponge cake than a scone. Thanks for the link I will try this recipe

Also, I now know what Paul Mccartney is referring to in his song where he says "Nanny bakes, fairy cakes on Sunday morning!"

[LisaN]

Made these tonight. They are delicious! I haven't put any frosting on them yet, but I like them. They still don't have the flavor of the tea cakes, but they have a similar texture. I looked on the bakery's website and they call that tea cake flavor - buttermilk -- so I think next I will try a buttermilk cake recipe.

This recipe will be my new yellow cupcake recipe! Thanks so much!

[LisaN]

I made the Buttermilk cupcakes from Epicurious - http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/rec...

They came out very similar in texture to the tea cakes, but totally missed the flavor of them. I think the tea cakes are more moist

The frosting recipes were nothing like the glaze on the tea cakes, and everyone preferred the lemon frosting over the chocolate. The frosting recipe also made way to much frosting.

My search continues.

[debisusan]

OMG, I am looking for this recipe too! Did you ever find it?

Thanks,
Debi

[LisaN]

Not yet. I found some that are close. I've got a couple recipes to try, I'm just waiting for it to be cool enough to bake!
There is another person tryin to find a recipe for this as well.

You can follow her progress here
http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/...

[mlgb]

I found an old LA Times article that indicates that the elusive flavor is from cooked milk.

"Not vanilla in flavor, nor like a white, spice or yellow cake, the glazed squares have an elusive flavor produced by cooking the milk used in the batter. That yields delicate caramel tones and makes the small, pale gold cakes irresistible and homey. "

Sorry, no recipe. I gather it's a trade secret, so if you develop a 'copy' you may have something quite valuable.

[auntie elli]

Hey anybody out there have this buttermilk tea cake recipe? Help, been looking for years for this elusive recipe. They used to be sold at Grace's pastry on Crenshaw Blvd. now closed.
Also at the old Fedco bakery on La Cienega...long gone. Now have to trek to Martino's in Burbank for fix.
Forget about Angel Maid, a poor imitation, but do try their fresh banana, whipped cream filled sponge cake sandwich. yum

[LisaN]

STill working on it. I have several I want to test, now that its cooler I can. I made buttermilk cupcakes from either my Gourmet Cookbook or maybe Betty Crocker, and they were good, but not it.

[kterri]

Here's the link for the Grace pastries tea cakes. Just made them and they are delicious!
Enjoy!
http://www.dailybreeze.com/food/ci_12...

[mlgb]

Since the Daily Breeze links can go dead pretty quickly, I am cutting and pasting the recipe here so we don't lose it again!

GRACE'S PASTRIES DANISH TEA CAKES

3 cups cake flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups plus 2 tablespoons brown sugar, packed
3/4 cups plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 cup oil
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 large eggs, slightly beaten
1 3/4 cups buttermilk, divided use

For the glaze:
6 tablespoons butter
1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 tablespoons boiling water

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Whisk or sift together flour, baking soda and salt in a bowl.

In another bowl, cream sugars and oil. Add vanilla.
Add 1/3 of the eggs to sugar mixture and mix. Repeat 2 times. Mix for 3 minutes. Add 1/2 of the buttermilk and mix. Add flour mixture and mix 3 minutes. Finally, add the remaining buttermilk and mix until smooth. Batter will be thin. Pour into cupcake tins.

Bake 20 minutes. Test with a clean toothpick to make sure cupcakes are done. Frost with a glaze.

To make the glaze, melt butter until golden. Add to confectioners' sugar, along with vanilla and water. Whisk until the texture is smooth and creamy. Dip cooled teacake tops into the glaze. Place on a rack and let them sit until the glaze hardens. If it is a humid day, refrigerate them in order to speed the process. Makes about 24.

[mrsdutoit]

I haven't tried this yet, but I have also been scouring the Internet looking for a recipe for these tea cakes. I seem to recall that these were available in Asian neighborhoods, but that makes no sense because of the buttermilk. Has anyone else tried this recipe yet? Does it capture the flavor?

[mochi mochi]

I happened to know the son of the owner of Grace's Pastries and he gifted us the recipe on Facebook. I loved the "tea cakes" from his dad's bakery. The owners of this particular bakery were 2nd generation Japanese Americans born to immigrant parents so the recipes were not brought from Japan, but created here in the U.S. hence the use of buttermilk. I have made the recipe and it's not exactly what I remember, but very delicious. Now if I can just get the dobash cake recipe, I would be set for life!

[mochi mochi]

This is the Danish Teacake I made from Grace's Pastries recipe.

[LisaN]

That looks pretty good. So is the recipe above the same recipe you have? I'm tempted to make some this weekend.

[mochi mochi]

Sorry, Lisa didn't see your post. I just checked the recipe I was gifted with and it's slightly different.

[jasonronee]

Mochi mochi, is it possible to share your recipe that was gifted? I too grew up in that area and miss the weekly treats during the Fedco shopping trips!

[vkmartin]

re: mochi mochi Did mochi mochi ever reply with the other recipe? Tried the Daily Breeze version. Seems like the Graces teacake not sure if something was missing.BTW they still carry the square muffin pans at Walmart for $9.97 I read that the round paper liners still work in the square pan. Now if I could just recapture my youth!

[LisaN]

Cool! As soon as the weather cools down, I'll have to try it out!

[jadeitelady]

Thanks soooo much! I need to diet, but I have thought about these teacakes since I was a kid. I grew up in L.A. and remember three pastries from George Izumi (who, I believe, named Grace Pastries after his wife!)...the individual strawberry tarts, the teacakes and those awesome cocoa macaroons---have not found recipes for the latter two. I am anxious to try this recipe...this recipe was one of my favorite things to eat as a kid---the square shape, the soft, moist cake and the maple flavor....thought the frosting was maple, too, but it was a very loooooong time ago!!

[jadeitelady]

almost forgot about that ?seven-layered dobash cake, too!!! it was also incredible. I now live in Hawaii and they sell dobash cakes...not as good as George's, though!!!

[Rainy7]

Hi Lisa - any luck? I have been looking for this recipe for yearsssssss! And eating the tea cakes for about 35 years!! THE BEST!!!!! I SO WANT TO make these at home!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If I come across anything I will let you know too...

[LisaN]

Not yet, I still have to try the recipe posted above, jsut with the holidays I haven't had time. I'll keep ya posted, maybe I can try this weekend.

[LisaN]

Ok, just finished glazing them using the recipe below. Its pretty close, thought not EXACTLY the same. the flavor is there, the Martino's ones are moister (actually oilier would be a better description)

Later I'll take them to a friend who is a better teacake expert than I and I'll let you know what she says

I think this is about as close as we can come!

I'll attach pictures so you can see.

[LisaN]

Just got back from dropping some off to my friend. She said the cake is right on, has the same flavor, the glaze not so much, its close, but not there.

[arlinek]

Hi Lisa & thanks for the update at my email!! Your pics look exactly like the right texture; I'm excited to try. The recipe is rather close to one of mine I had that I was disappointed with but I'm def. going to try this asap. I will keep you posted!! ... arline

[CherylR]

Lisa, I don't see the recipe here. Was it deleted? I've also been on a quest for the Martino's recipe. I used to live near Burbank and bought them often when I had to take a dessert somewhere. But we moved to SC 5 years ago, and I've been craving them! Would you mind emailing me your latest recipe? [e-mail] Thanks so much!

[LisaN]

the recipe is above, but I emailed it to you, that way I've got a copy archives as well.

[bottomsupranch]

Hi All, I've been searching for Martino tea cake recipe also. I made Grace's tea cakes over the weekend and have to say I love them just as much as Martino's if not better. I even found a square cup cake pan at Wal-Mart for $10. I did find the cake part to be a little more dense than the Martino's but I kind of liked it better. I also find Martino's to be a little on the greasy side. These were nice and light without the greasiness. GREAT recipe!

[seesemichaelj]

Hey Lisa, I'm a college student at UF and have been roaming the internet looking for teacake recipe hunters for a good 2-3 years now. I'm a big baker and would love to send emails back and forth about perfecting a copy cat teacake! What is your current status on the recipe? Still working on the glaze? I still have to try out the Grace's recipe. You said thats the one that seemed to get the closest cake? Email me at seesemichaelj[at]gmail[dot]com and we'll figure this out! Thanks :]

[Rainy7]

I'm so glad to see people still working on this! There is nothing like a Martino's Tea Cake - and it is very difficult to describe to someone. It has a taste like nothing else I have ever had. I have to take a trip there soon!! Good luck everyone, I'm hoping someone will come up with a close recipe!

[thecreolelady]

I too have been craving the Grace's Tea Cakes since I moved back to New Orleans. I remember the tea cakes from Grace's having a light lemon flavor. Does anyone else agree with this?

[gt000]

I have been searching for this recipe for a long time as I purchased mine from Fedco (boy do I miss Fedco). Anyway, it's been so long but I thought I remember them having a light lemon flavor too. I will try the recipe and hope that they come real close to the ones that I Fedco sold. I be sure to update everyone on the recipe as soon as I make them.

[Rainy7]

Hi gt000,
Yes, please let us know if you can figure out something. I have not made the recipe yet. Martino's Bakery sells those exact tea cakes from Fedco if you ever want to get some - I used to get them at Fedco also. RIP Fedco. I wouldn't say the flavor is lemon, that's the problem, it's hard to tell WHAT the flavor is, it is so unique! Good luck!!

[auntie elli]

Listen people, look no further, from my original post in 2008, I've made "Grace's" tea cake recipe and the one from the South Bay News. They are soooo close in ingredients and results. Just go ahead and make the posted "Grace's" recipe and you won't have to trek to Martino's ever again, unless you like a moister, more oily cupcake. It is also worth it to search out a square cupcake pan, it completes the childhood memory. And no, there was never a lemony glaze ever. Just be sure to brown the butter for the glaze. Bring these to your next potluck and Wow the crowd.
AuntyElli