Afternoon Tea Recipes and Ideas

Thinking of hosting an afternoon tea? My afternoon tea recipes and ideas make it easy to put together a celebration of any size.

You can host a tea for as many people as you like. Tea for two is a great way to catch up one on one with a friend or you can serve a large group buffet-style so people can help themselves. Either way, these afternoon tea recipes and ideas can help.

A Traditional Afternoon Tea

Afternoon tea traditionally consists of tea sandwiches (also called finger sandwiches), followed by scones with jam and cream and then cakes and pastries.

Afternoon Tea Recipes and Ideas for Tea Sandwiches

• Cream cheese and smoked salmon
• Egg salad
• Coronation Chicken (cut the chicken pieces very small)
• Cheddar Cheese and chutney
• Shredded carrot and hummus
• Thinly sliced ham or chicken
• Cucumber sandwiches with butter or cream cheese (try adding finely chopped mint to the cream cheese)

Quick and Easy Scone Recipe

One of my favourite afternoon tea recipes is my Grandma’s Orange and Raisin Scones. They take less than 30 minutes to make start to finish and are delicious served warm. Of course you can leave out the orange rind and raisins to make plain scones if you prefer. Click here for the recipe. Or check out my step by step video instructions.

Be sure to seek out gluten-free afternoon tea recipes if you or your guests require them. My gluten-free Blackberry and Apple Scones are a delicious alternative to traditional scones.

Recipes for Cakes

If you are serving a multi-course afternoon tea, it’s nice to serve a selection of cakes. Here are some afternoon tea recipes to inspire you. Lemon Drizzle Cake is very traditional or try one of my favourite variations, Rhubarb and Ginger Drizzle Cake (pictured above). You might also like Gluten-Free Coffee and Walnut Cake (there’s a version with gluten too), Easy Cherry Loaf Cake, or my Auntie’s Old-Fashioned Spice Cake (g/f version available).

What Else Can I Serve at Afternoon Tea?

Pastries, squares and traybake are a lovely addition to afternoon tea. Try Raspberry Bakewell Tart Squares (or my Lemon and Blueberry variation). Lemon Almond Streusel Bars are delicious afternoon tea recipes. I serve these treats cut in small squares. Or make an easy No-Bake Orange Cheesecake in a loose-bottomed square pan and cut in squares to serve.

A big bowl of ripe, juicy strawberries looks absolutely gorgeous on the table and while it is not traditional, no one has ever complained when I have served them! In fact, I got the idea when an afternoon tea I enjoyed at The Goring Hotel in London began with champagne and strawberries.

A glass of sparkling wine, champagne or Prosecco makes a lovely addition to a festive afternoon tea. Offer a cold, non-alcoholic beverage like old-fashioned lemonade or chilled infused water for those who do not like hot tea.

It’s Okay To Keep Things Simple

Don’t let the idea of the work involved in preparing a multi-course afternoon tea put you off. While it may not be traditional, there is no reason you have to go all out. Freshly baked scones with jam and cream served with your favourite tea make a perfect afternoon tea celebration all on their own.

Raspberry Bakewell Tart Squares or Orange Pecan Cookies are also great afternoon tea recipes and can be substituted for the scones if you prefer.

How to Decorate for Afternoon Tea

If the weather is fine, you can afternoon tea outdoors. Either way, set a table with pretty placemats, napkins and your favourite china or crockery. Feel free to mix and match your china to keep things elegant but casual.

Afternoon Tea for Kids

Kids love tea parties. A fun and playful afternoon tea is also a great idea for children’s birthday parties at any time.

I recommend non-breakable plates and cups for a children’s afternoon tea. Offer kid friendly treats like jello or jelly with whipped cream, biscuits or cookies or maybe even cupcakes made from your favourite cake recipe.  

Substitute a delicious kid-friendly cold drink for tea if you prefer.

Afternoon Tea for a Crowd

To serve afternoon tea to a large group, serve everything buffet style so people can help themselves. Make sure everything is easy to pick up by cutting cakes, traybakes or squares into individual serving size pieces.

To keep costs and effort down, consider a ‘pot luck’ afternoon tea. Guests can bring sandwiches, scones or cakes to contribute to the party. Be sure to organise who is bringing what in advance. If your guests are keen cooks, consider asking people to share their afternoon tea recipes too.

If you don’t have a lot of your own teacups or plates, consider vintage china hire/rental. You can also build up your own collection of non-sentimental china by visiting your favourite charity shops.

Hosting afternoon tea can be a really fun way to catch up with family and friends. I hope you will try these afternoon tea recipes and ideas soon!

More Inspiration

Easter Afternoon Tea

Everything You Need To Know About Afternoon Tea

My Favourite Places for Afternoon Tea in London