teacake
teacake Lexical Profile
teacake Game Scores & Validity
• noun
British A light, flat, sweetened yeast bun typically containing dried fruit such as currants or sultanas, usually served split, toasted, and buttered with tea.
"We stopped at a cozy cafe in Yorkshire for a pot of Earl Grey and a warm, buttered teacake."
American A small, flat, lightly spiced cake or soft cookie made with sugar, butter, eggs, and flour, traditionally served with tea or coffee especially in the southern United States.
"Her grandmother always kept a tin of homemade nutmeg-scented teacakes on the kitchen counter for afternoon guests."
British A sweet confection consisting of a dome of marshmallow or Italian meringue on a round biscuit base, coated in a thin shell of chocolate.
"The children each chose a chocolate-covered marshmallow teacake from the bakery display."
Word Nuance & Usage
The culinary meaning of 'teacake' varies significantly by region: in Great Britain, it usually refers to a toasted yeast bun with dried fruit (or a chocolate-covered marshmallow treat), whereas in the southern United States it denotes a traditional spiced sugar cookie.