Hello, Good News! If you are looking for a delicious and easy recipe to make Busken tea cookies at home, you have come to the right place. Busken tea cookies are a classic treat that originated from Busken Bakery, a family-owned business that has been serving Cincinnati since 1928. These cookies are soft, buttery, and slightly sweet, with a hint of vanilla and nutmeg. They are perfect for enjoying with a cup of tea or coffee, or as a snack anytime.
In this article, we will show you how to make Busken tea cookies from scratch, using simple ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry. We will also share some tips and tricks to make your cookies even better, as well as some variations and substitutions that you can try. Plus, we will answer some frequently asked questions about Busken tea cookies and their history. So, let’s get started!
What You Need to Make Busken Tea Cookies
To make Busken tea cookies, you will need the following ingredients:
- Unsalted butter: This is the main ingredient that gives the cookies their rich and tender texture. Make sure to use softened butter, not melted, for the best results.
- Granulated sugar: This adds sweetness and helps the cookies spread slightly in the oven.
- Egg: This binds the dough together and adds some moisture.
- Vanilla extract: This enhances the flavor of the cookies and complements the nutmeg.
- All-purpose flour: This is the base of the dough and provides structure.
- Baking powder: This helps the cookies rise and become light and fluffy.
- Salt: This balances the sweetness and brings out the flavors.
- Nutmeg: This is the signature spice of Busken tea cookies, giving them a warm and cozy aroma. You can use freshly grated or ground nutmeg, but fresh is always better.
You will also need some basic equipment, such as:
- A large mixing bowl and a wooden spoon or an electric mixer
- A small bowl and a fork
- A cookie sheet and parchment paper or a silicone mat
- A cookie scoop or a tablespoon
- A wire rack for cooling
How to Make Busken Tea Cookies Step by Step
Making Busken tea cookies is very easy and straightforward. Here are the steps to follow:
First, preheat your oven to 350°F (177°C) and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat. This will prevent the cookies from sticking and make cleanup easier.
Step 2: Cream the butter and sugar
In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. You can use a wooden spoon or an electric mixer for this step. Creaming helps incorporate air into the batter and makes the cookies soft.
Step 3: Add the egg and vanilla extract
In a small bowl, lightly beat the egg with a fork. Then, add it to the butter-sugar mixture along with the vanilla extract. Mix well until fully combined.
Step 4: Add the dry ingredients
In another bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, salt, and nutmeg. Then, gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until a soft dough forms. Do not overmix or your cookies will be tough.
Using a cookie scoop or a tablespoon, drop rounded balls of dough onto the prepared cookie sheet, leaving about 2 inches (5 cm) of space between them. Flatten them slightly with your fingers or a spatula. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until the edges are golden brown. The cookies will look soft in the center but they will firm up as they cool.
Step 6: Cool and enjoy
Remove the cookie sheet from the oven and let the cookies cool on it for 5 minutes. Then, transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely. Enjoy your homemade Busken tea cookies with your favorite hot beverage or store them in an airtight container for up to a week.
Tips and Tricks for Making Perfect Busken Tea Cookies
Here are some tips and tricks to make your Busken tea cookies even better:
- If you want your cookies to be more crispy, bake them for a few minutes longer or reduce the amount of butter slightly.
- If you want your cookies to be more chewy, add a tablespoon of honey or maple syrup to the batter or increase the amount of sugar slightly.
- If you want your cookies to be more cakey, add a teaspoon of cornstarch or arrowroot powder to the flour or increase the amount of baking powder slightly.
- If you want to make your cookies more festive, you can sprinkle some colored sugar or sprinkles on top before baking or drizzle some melted chocolate or icing over them after cooling.
- If you want to freeze your cookies, you can do so either before or after baking. To freeze unbaked cookie dough, shape it into balls and place them on a baking sheet. Freeze until firm, then transfer to a freezer bag or container. To bake from frozen, add a few minutes to the baking time. To freeze baked cookies, let them cool completely and store them in a freezer bag or container. To thaw, let them sit at room temperature for 15 minutes or warm them in the oven for 5 minutes.
Variations and Substitutions for Busken Tea Cookies
One of the great things about Busken tea cookies is that they are very versatile and adaptable. You can easily customize them to suit your preferences and dietary needs. Here are some variations and substitutions that you can try:
- If you want to make gluten-free Busken tea cookies, you can use a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend instead of regular flour. Make sure to check the label for any added gums or starches that may affect the texture of the cookies.
- If you want to make dairy-free Busken tea cookies, you can use vegan butter or margarine instead of regular butter. You can also use coconut oil, but it will make the cookies more crispy and coconutty.
- If you want to make egg-free Busken tea cookies, you can use a flax egg instead of a regular egg. To make a flax egg, mix 1 tablespoon of ground flaxseed with 3 tablespoons of water and let it sit for 15 minutes until thickened.
- If you want to make sugar-free Busken tea cookies, you can use a natural sweetener like monk fruit, erythritol, stevia, or xylitol instead of granulated sugar. You may need to adjust the amount depending on the sweetness and volume of the sweetener.
- If you want to make nutmeg-free Busken tea cookies, you can omit the nutmeg or replace it with another spice like cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, or clove.
- If you want to add some extra flavor and texture to your Busken tea cookies, you can mix in some chopped nuts, dried fruits, chocolate chips, or shredded coconut to the dough.
Busken Tea Cookies Nutrition Facts
Here is a table that shows the approximate nutrition facts for one Busken tea cookie (based on this recipe):
| Calories | Carbohydrates | Fat | Protein | Fiber | Sugar |
|———-|—————|—–|———|——-|——-|
| 121 | 14 g | 7 g | 2 g | 0 g | 6 g |
As you can see, Busken tea cookies are not very high in calories or fat, but they are also not very high in protein or fiber. They are also relatively high in sugar and carbohydrates, which may not be ideal for people with diabetes or those following a low-carb diet. However, they are still a delicious treat that can be enjoyed occasionally and in moderation.
FAQs About Busken Tea Cookies
Busken tea cookies are soft and buttery cookies that are flavored with vanilla and nutmeg. They are a specialty of Busken Bakery, a family-owned business that has been serving Cincinnati since 1928. They are also known as Cincinnati tea cookies or Hyde Park tea cookies.
They are called tea cookies because they are traditionally served with tea or coffee as an afternoon snack or dessert. They are also small and round in shape, which makes them easy to eat with one hand while holding a cup with the other.
You can store Busken tea cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. You can also refrigerate them for up to two weeks or freeze them for up to three months.
You can reheat Busken tea cookies by placing them in a microwave-safe plate and heating them for 10 to 15 seconds or until warm. You can also reheat them in a preheated oven at 300°F (149°C) for 5 to 10 minutes or until warm.
You can buy Busken tea cookies at any Busken Bakery location in Cincinnati or online at their website. You can also find them at some grocery stores and coffee shops in the area. However, the best way to enjoy Busken tea cookies is to make them at home with this easy recipe.
No, Busken tea cookies are not vegan because they contain butter and egg. However, you can make vegan Busken tea cookies by using vegan butter or margarine and a flax egg instead of regular butter and egg. See the variations and substitutions section above for more details.
Busken tea cookies are not very healthy because they are high in sugar and carbohydrates and low in protein and fiber. They also contain butter, which is high in saturated fat and cholesterol. However, they are still a delicious treat that can be enjoyed occasionally and in moderation. You can also make healthier Busken tea cookies by using whole wheat flour, coconut sugar, and coconut oil instead of regular flour, granulated sugar, and butter.
One Busken tea cookie (based on this recipe) has about 121 calories, 14 grams of carbohydrates, 7 grams of fat, 2 grams of protein, 0 grams of fiber, and 6 grams of sugar. See the nutrition facts table above for more details.
What is the history of Busken Bakery?
Busken Bakery is a family-owned business that has been serving Cincinnati since 1928. It was founded by Joseph and Ana Busken, who immigrated from Germany and started baking breads and pastries in their basement. They soon opened their first store on Madison Road in Hyde Park, where they introduced their famous tea cookies. Over the years, Busken Bakery expanded to more locations and products, including cakes, pies, donuts, muffins, bagels, and more. Today, Busken Bakery is run by the third and fourth generations of the Busken family and has 17 locations in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky.
What are some other popular products from Busken Bakery?
Some other popular products from Busken Bakery are:
- Smiley face cookies: These are large sugar cookies with a smiley face design made with icing. They come in different colors and flavors and are often customized for special occasions.
- Birthday cake donuts: These are donuts with a cake-like texture and a colorful glaze. They are topped with sprinkles and candles and are perfect for celebrating birthdays.
- Pumpkin pie: This is a seasonal pie made with fresh pumpkin puree and spices. It has a flaky crust and a creamy filling and is served with whipped cream.
- Cinnamon bread: This is a soft and moist bread with swirls of cinnamon and sugar. It is great for making toast or French toast.
- Danish pastries: These are flaky pastries with various fillings such as cheese, fruit, nuts, or chocolate. They are drizzled with icing and are ideal for breakfast or dessert.
Conclusion
We hope you enjoyed this article about how to make Busken tea cookies at home. Busken tea cookies are a classic treat that originated from Busken Bakery, a family-owned business that has been serving Cincinnati since 1928. They are soft, buttery, and slightly sweet, with a hint of vanilla and nutmeg. They are perfect for enjoying with a cup of tea or coffee, or as a snack anytime.
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