Recipes for Tea Parties

These recipes for tea parties will help you entertain your friends with ease, and class! Whether your tea party is formal or casual, lots of people or just you and your best friend, these recipes are sure to fit the occasion.

Typically, tea sandwiches, scones, tea breads, sweets, and a deliciously brewed pot of tea will be served.

However, your recipes for tea parties can include appetizers and, if entertaining a High tea, you may also serve meat, cheese, or egg dishes.

Enjoy these recipes for tea parties and make sure to check out the links for more goodies!

Tea sandwich refers to the small sandwiches served during the late afternoon tea meal. These sandwiches, traditionally, were small because the meal itself was meant to be a light meal. Lunch was eaten about midday but the next main meal was later in the evening. In order to keep the hunger pangs down, afternoon tea taken with small sandwiches and sweets was the perfect solution.

Of course, the Afternoon tea became a rather formal affair. Even today we can celebrate in the elegance of fine china, dainty savories and sweets, and friendly conversation. We can also enjoy the same delicacies in more casual and less formal settings.

A tea sandwich can be different shapes (rectangle, triangle, circle, or any cookie cutter shape you would like) and capable of being eaten in two to three bites. Traditionally the bread is white, thinly sliced and buttered. Yet in today's world with a variety of delicious breads, feel free to choose wheat, pumpernickel, rye, or other choices available. And, the crust is removed after the sandwich is prepared.

Fillings are light and dainty in proportion to the amount of bread. Spreads might include cream cheese or a mayonnaise mixture along with fresh vegetables such as radishes, cucumber, asparagus, or watercress. The cucumber tea sandwich is the quintessential tea sandwich. Other popular fillings include smoked salmon, chicken, ham, and egg salad.

Definitely try some of the more traditional recipes but don't be afraid to experiment or use a special spread of your own.

TIP: Sandwiches can be made ahead of time but to keep them from drying out, place a damp cloth over them.

Cucumber and Mint Tea Sandwiches

1/4 C fresh mint leaves, chopped
6 oz cream cheese, softened
8 slices of white bread
1/2 of a medium seedless cucumber, peeled and thinly sliced
4 T butter
salt and pepper

Directions:

1. Combine the mint and cream cheese until well mixed.
2. Lightly season the cucumber slices with the salt and butter.
3. Spread the bread slices with the butter.
4. On half of the bread slices, spread the cream cheese and mint mixture.
5. Lay the cucumber slices onto the mint-cream cheese side, overlapping the cucumbers.
6. Top with the remaining bread slices and remove the crusts.
7. Cut each sandwich into 4 squares or cut diagonally twice to make 4 trianges. NOTE: You can also cut once lengthwise or once diagonally for larger sandwiches.

Alternative: Omit the cream cheese and combine the mint with 1/2 stick of butter.

More Tea Sandwich Recipes:

Crab and Avocado Tea Sandwiches

Crab and Olive Tea Sandwiches

Egg Salad with Smoked Salmon Tea Sandwiches

More Egg Salad Sandwich Recipes

Smoked Chicken and Walnut Salad Sandwiches

Stilton Blue Cheese and Pear Savories

Watercress Tea Sandwich with Ham

Combination Suggestions to Create Your Own Recipes for Tea Parties

• Thinly sliced ham or roast beef with mustard on buttered bread
• Ham and chutney served on pumpernickel
• Thin slices of roast beef with a butter you have lightly seasoned with garlic or another seasoning of choice
• Finely chopped shrimp combined with mayonnaise and seasoning of choice, e.g. lemon/pepper
• Finely shredded crab meat with seasoned butter
• Finely shredded crab meat combined with chives and mayonnaise
• Smoked salmon with cream cheese or butter
• Smoked salmon with capers and cream cheese
• Salmon and cream cheese seasoned with dill
• Egg salad combined with chopped green olives
• Cream cheese with watercress
• Thinly sliced avocado with seasoned butter or cream cheese
• Thinly sliced avocado with mustard and mayonnaise
• Pimento cheese spread
• Blend chopped green olives and nuts with cream cheese
• Cream cheese combined with a little milk, chopped celery and chopped walnuts on whole wheat bread

Recipes for Tea Parties - SCONES Cream Scones with Lemon 2 C unbleached flour 1/3 C sugar 1 T baking powder 1/4 tsp salt 1/2 C golden raisins 1 tsp lemon peel, grated fine 1 C whipping cream 3 T water 1 egg, beaten Directions: Preheat oven to 375 F and prepare a greased baking sheet. In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Mix in the raisins and lemon zest (grated lemon peel). Slowly add the cream and water and combine until a dough forms. Do NOT overwork the dough. Turn out the dough onto a lighly floured surface and knead the dough for approximately 1 minute. Form the dough into a circle, approximately 8 inches in diameter, and place onto the baking sheet. Using a knife that has been dipped in flour, cut the dough into 8 to 12 wedges (depending on the size scone you want). For a nice glaze, brush the tops of the scones with the beaten egg. Bake for 25-30 minutes for until golden brown. More recipes for scones and scone toppings can be found at Best Scone Recipes. Recipes for Tea Parties - SWEETS Lemon Bars Crust: 2 sticks butter 1/2 C confectioner's sugar 2 C flour Topping: 4 eggs 1 3/4 C granulated sugar 1 1/4 tsp baking powder 1/4 C lemon juice zest of 2 lemons 1/4 C flour Directions: Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease a 13 x 9 inch baking pan. For the crust: combine butter, confectioner's sugar, and flour. Using electric mixer, blend on low speed until the mixture is a coarse meal. Pour the crust mixture into the baking pan and press evenly on the bottom. Bake 20 minutes and remove from oven. For the topping: Combine the eggs, sugar, baking powder, lemon juice, lemon zest, and 1/4 cup of flour. Beat together until fluffy. Pour the topping over the baked crust. Bake 25 minutes and remove from oven. Cool and cut into squares. You'll find more recipes for sweets at Chocolate and Dessert Recipes and Dessert Recipes. Enter your search terms Submit search form   Web www.a-cup-of-tea-please.com Thank you for checking out Recipes for Tea Parties. Return from Recipes for Tea Parties to Home Page