Cozy and lightly sweet, this elderberry tea cake is perfect with a warm mug of tea. Simple to make and irresistibly comforting — get ready to enjoy every bite!
This light and refreshing elderberry tea cake is pure bliss. It’s just right for when you need a nice comforting treat to enjoy with a warm cup of tea. It’s simple to make and has a delightful touch of elderberry, elevating this tea cake to a whole new level.
I just can’t get enough of it! The same goes for my kids and husband. I literally have to hide a couple of slices as soon as it’s finished because they’ll devour it and leave me with nothing but crumbs. It’s THAT good.
The best part: It’s not a complicated recipe. This tea cake is a great choice when you’re deciding what to bring to a friend’s or hosting a gathering. Everyone will fall in love with the crumbly, moist texture and the delicate, fruity flavor — utterly mouthwatering.
Kick back and relax with this divine elderberry tea cake and some delicious tea because this recipe doesn’t disappoint.
Reasons You’ll Adore This Recipe
Whether you’re still deciding or have your heart set on this recipe — here are some reasons why this tea cake will become your new go-to.
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Wellness-Packed Elderberry: This cake has one very special ingredient — elderberry. Elderberry makes this cake both nourishing and delicious with its various immune-boosting antioxidants.
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Kid-Friendly: Your kids will love to help pour in ingredients and see how these sweet treats are made — plus, they’ll love the outcome.
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Uncomplicated Baking: Pretty sure we all love this one. This tea cake has straightforward instructions and is very easy to whip up.
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Perfect for Any Occasion: Share with friends, pair with breakfast or enjoy it all by yourself during a quiet tea break.
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Pairs Beautifully With Tea: Longing for something light and airy to complement your mug of tea? Look no further — this cake is a flawless pairing.
Now that you know why this is such a great recipe, let’s dive into one of the most important ingredients: elderberry jam.
The Wonderful Benefits of Elderberry Jam
You may be wondering, why elderberry? There are so many jam options out there, but this one is definitely more on the unique side.
Personally, I love the flavor of elderberries. But that’s not the main reason I prefer it over other berries and fruits. Elderberries have outstanding health benefits.
Here are a few impressive perks of elderberry:
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Full of immune-strengthening antioxidants
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Rich in vitamins and minerals
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Shortens the duration of sicknesses
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Helps reduce inflammation
Elderberries are truly a superfood. I’d recommend making this jam a day or two before you bake your tea cake to make prep time easier.
Let’s Talk Ingredients
Ready to enjoy this heavenly tea cake? I don’t blame you. So here’s the complete list of all the ingredients you’ll need to bake this sweet treat.
For the Elderberry Jam:
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2 cups Organic Elderberry Syrup
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2 ½ tbsp of organic cornstarch
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½ cup of lemon juice
For the Tea Cake:
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1 ½ cups all-purpose flour (or sub for gluten-free 1:1 flour)
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⅓ cup granulated sugar
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1 tsp baking powder
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½ tsp baking soda
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1 tsp salt
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4 tbsp butter, melted
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2 large eggs, beaten
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½ cup dairy sour cream
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1 ½ tsp vanilla extract
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½ cup elderberry jam
These ingredients combine wonderfully to create that buttery, soft, crumbly texture we all crave. Let’s get started and bring this luxurious tea cake to life!
Step-by-Step Elderberry Tea Cake Instructions
Make sure you have all your ingredients ready to go. Then, follow these step-by-step instructions and be prepared to fall in love with this tea cake.
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Make the Elderberry Jam: Grab a medium-sized saucepan and pour the elderberry syrup, cornstarch and lemon juice. Whisk them all together and bring to a boil. Once it starts boiling, reduce the heat to a low boil and stir occasionally for 20-30 minutes. Once it thickens and has a jam consistency, pour it into a jar and let it cool until you need it for the cake.
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Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350℉ — this way, it’ll be prepped by the time you finish making the cake batter.
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Mix the Dry Ingredients: Sift the flour, baking powder and baking soda into a large bowl. Afterwards, mix in the salt and sugar.
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Prepare the Wet Ingredients: Now, whisk together your melted butter, sour cream, beaten eggs and vanilla extract until creamy.
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Whip Up the Batter: Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir until smooth — this batter is rather thick, so don’t be alarmed. Pour your batter into an 8-inch baking pan lined with parchment paper and even it out.
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Add the Elderberry Jam: Spoon out dollops of your jam evenly on top of the batter. Then, take a butter knife and swirl the jam around into the batter, more towards the top.
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Time to Bake: Slide the pan into the oven, bake for 40-45 minutes and use a toothpick to test if it’s done. The toothpick should come out clean when it’s finished baking.
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Cool and Serve: When you take the cake out of the oven, let it cool for about ten minutes before removing it from the pan. You can then use the parchment paper to slide the cake out. Serve it warm or let it cool completely — up to your preference.
Your kitchen smells amazing, doesn’t it? Each slice is moist, crumbly and packed full of flavor from the elderberry jam. Enjoy it as much as you can.
Sweet Ways to Top It Off
Want to add an extra flair? We’ve got some great ideas for you. They’re all visually appealing and equally delicious.
Here are a couple of ideas:
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Dust Powdered Sugar on Top: The white adds a nice little pop of color — and contrasts great with the elderberry jam. This is a super simple way to add a classy touch to your tea cake.
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Add Fresh Berries on Top: Garnish with some berries, like raspberries or blueberries. They add some nice flavor and look gorgeous, too.
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Use Some Whipped Cream: Add some whipped cream to your slice for a nice creamy flavor to balance out the cake’s sweetness perfectly.
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Drizzle Some Elderberry Glaze: Stir together some elderberry syrup with powdered sugar and drizzle over your tea cake for a sweet finish.
Extra toppings or not, this elderberry tea cake will definitely become one of your favorites. So, grab some tea and indulge in this wonderful treat.
How to Store Your Tea Cake
Saving some for later? No worries, I’ve got you covered.
Store your remaining slices in a glass container in the fridge to keep them fresh. Or you can freeze them if you plan to keep them longer – just put your slices in a plastic bag and separate them with parchment paper.
This way, you’ll always have a cozy dessert on hand whenever you get a sweet tooth.
Pair This Treat With Some Tea
If you’re looking for great teas to complement this tea cake, you’re in luck! We have some amazing organic teas with various flavors.
Sip on a warm, calming cup of our tea, and savor your elderberry tea cake — pure comfort with every bite.
Check out our teas here:
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