30 Best Tea Party Recipes for an Elegant Afternoon Affair
Serve both sweet and savory ideas with ease.
There's just something so special about a tea party! The delicate teacups, pretty pastries, and good company make for the most amazing afternoon. Planning the perfect event is all about the little details, whether you're hosting a fancy garden tea, a beautiful bridal shower, or a sweet Mother's Day celebration. Think: stunning floral centerpieces, fun finger foods, and delicious beverages. And though the decorations draw guests in, it’s the food and drink that keep them there. That’s where these tea party recipes come in handy!
First, you’ll want to decide on a charming theme. You can channel the classics with an upscale tea party with a fancy dress theme or take notes from spring with a floral tea party, complete with floral serveware and fresh flowers. And even if your afternoon tea looks and feels fancy, the tea party ideas included here are actually quite simple to throw together. You can make a lot of them in advance, serve plenty at room temperature, and almost everything is miniature so every guest can enjoy a taste of everything.
Of course, no tea party would be complete without an impressive spread of both sweet and savory bites to enjoy with a brimming cup of Earl Grey or chai. You’ll find a selection of both, from adorable tea sandwiches and salad on skewers to tasty treats like scones, shortbread cookies, and mini cakes. Don’t forget the butter and jam to slather on those biscuits, either! Regardless of what aesthetic, dress code, or menu you decide to go for, you can't go wrong with these easy tea party recipes.
Lemon Shortbread
Every cup of tea needs a cookie companion! These bright, buttery shortbread cookies are infused with both lemon zest and juice, so they're perfect for spring. The embossed flowers on each cookie will look so pretty on your table.
Get the Lemon Shortbread Cookies recipe.
Tea Sandwiches
Apart from tea, the most crucial components of a tea party are the finger sandwiches that line your table. Traditional finger sandwich flavors include cucumber, smoked salmon, and curried chicken salad, which will delight your guests.
Get the Tea Sandwiches recipe.
Lemon Bars
A spring or summer tea party calls for bright, delicious flavors, and lemon certainly fits the bill! Bake buttery, tart-sweet lemon bars, top them with a dusting of powdered sugar, and watch as they disappear from your dessert platter in seconds.
Get Ree's Lemon Bars recipe.
Orange-Vanilla Scones
Scones are a must-have for any tea party, and a subtly sweet flavor like orange-vanilla is a safe pairing for most types of tea. These scones are topped with an orange glaze and orange zest for a dash of fresh citrus flavor.
Get Ree's Orange-Vanilla Scones recipe.
Chai
Everyone has their personal tea preferences, but when deciding on a tea that everyone will love, you can't go wrong with a warm pot of homemade chai. This spicy, sweet, milky tea calls for a few crucial ingredients, including ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, and cloves.
Get the Chai recipe.
Buttermilk Biscuits
A classic American alternative to scones are biscuits! They pair perfectly with butter and sweet jam, or can go savory, making them ideal for any spread you’re planning.
Get the Buttermilk Biscuits recipe.
Blackberry Jam
Speaking of biscuits and scones, definitely offer some jam! While you can certainly buy it at the store, you can easily make some, too. It’ll feel extra special.
Get the Blackberry Jam recipe.
Lemon Curd
Another tea party must-have if you’ve got scones or biscuits on the table is lemon curd. Again, you can buy it—but it tastes absolutely incredible when made from scratch.
Get the Lemon Curd recipe.
Whipped Deviled Eggs with Dill
It’s just not a celebration with deviled eggs. While there are endless ways to make them, Ree’s whipped version, topped with dill, feels fresh and perfect for tea time.
Get Ree’s Whipped Deviled Eggs with Dill recipe.
Fruit Salad with Grapefruit-Vanilla Syrup
How pretty are these individual fruit cups? They will make such a colorful and refreshing palate cleanser during the meal. Best of all, you can assemble them the night before.
Pesto Chicken Salad Croissants
Sure, you can serve croissants. Or, you can turn them into fancy-looking sandwiches instead! Rotisserie chicken and store-bought pesto make it practically effortless to pull them together.
Get Ree’s Pesto Chicken Salad Croissants recipe.
Bacon and Cheese Egg Bites
Quiche is classic mid-day fare. But instead of slicing up a big one, you can make individual egg bites instead. They’re easy to make in advance and reheat quickly before serving.
Get Ree’s Bacon and Cheese Egg Bites recipe.
3-Ingredient Mini Layer Cakes
Pretty little petit fours are so elegant for tea parties, but they can be challenging to make. You know what’s much easier and just as cute and delicious? Ree’s mini cakes!
Get Ree’s 3-Ingredient Mini Layer Cakes recipe.
Sausage Rolls
Puff pastry sausage rolls are a delicious and traditional British bite that make the perfect appetizer or afternoon tea treat. This recipe couldn't be easier to execute, as it calls for pre-made puff pastry.
Get the Sausage Roll recipe.
Everything Cucumber-Smoked Salmon Bites
Aside from the finger sandwiches and treats on your main tiered trays, keep your guests fed by passing out light bites throughout the party. These are the perfect finger food to munch on while mingling with guests and sipping tea!
Strawberry and Goat Cheese Crostini
With all the frilly dresses and beautiful decor, tea parties are the perfect time to go all out with fancy flourishes. Given that, the finger foods you serve should be just as fancy (yet still easy), like these strawberry and goat cheese crostinis!
Get Ree's Strawberry and Goat Cheese Crostini recipe.
Madeleines
Maybe it's cake, maybe it's a cookie. Regardless of what madeleines are, there's one thing we know for sure: they're delicious! These tiny cake-like cookies have notes of almond and vanilla, and they're the perfect accompaniment to tea.
Get the Madeleines recipe.
Brunch Charcuterie Board
If you’re not investing in tiered serving trays, you can serve everything in a more modern and popular way: a charcuterie board! This brunch version is perfect for biscuits, fruit, jam, and dips.
Get the Brunch Charcuterie Board recipe.
Strawberry Danish
A gussied-up tea party needs a few fancy-looking pastries! If you use store-bought puff pastry, you can make fresh, berry-topped danishes without the stress.
Get the Strawberry Danish recipe.
Carrot Cake Muffins
Muffins are always a good idea. You can make these cake-inspired muffins mini if you wish, or keep them standard-sized. Either way, they’ll pair perfectly with tea.
Get the Carrot Cake Muffins recipe.
Edna Mae's Sour Cream Pancakes
Homemade Lemonade
Peaches and Cream Shortcakes
Strawberry Pavlova
