After a busy morning, there's nothing quite like indulging in a delightful afternoon tea. But creating a perfect spread doesn't have to be complicated or time-consuming. Here, we've gathered some easy afternoon tea recipes that are sure to impress your guests while keeping your prep time to a minimum.
Classic English Afternoon Tea
No afternoon tea is complete without a selection of finger sandwiches, scones, and cakes. This classic English menu is easy to prepare and can be enjoyed with a pot of freshly brewed tea.
Cucumber and Cream Cheese Sandwiches
Start with these refreshing cucumber and cream cheese sandwiches. They're simple to make and always a crowd-pleaser.
- Ingredients: 8 slices of white bread, 1/2 cucumber, 1/2 cup cream cheese, salt, pepper, and fresh dill (optional)
- Instructions: Thinly slice the cucumber, spread cream cheese on four slices of bread, season with salt and pepper, layer with cucumber slices, top with remaining bread, and cut into fingers.
Scones with Clotted Cream and Jam
Scones are surprisingly easy to make and can be prepared ahead of time. Serve them with clotted cream and your favorite jam for a touch of luxury.
| Ingredients | Instructions |
|---|---|
| 2 cups self-raising flour, 1/4 cup caster sugar, 1/4 cup unsalted butter, 3/4 cup buttermilk, 1 egg, 1 tbsp demerara sugar (for sprinkling) | Preheat oven to 220°C (200°C fan). Mix dry ingredients, rub in butter, add buttermilk and egg, knead lightly, shape into a round, cut into wedges, sprinkle with sugar, bake for 15-20 minutes. |
Victoria Sponge Cake
This light and fluffy cake is the perfect accompaniment to your afternoon tea. It's simple to make and can be enjoyed with a variety of fillings.
- Ingredients: 200g caster sugar, 200g softened butter, 4 eggs, 200g self-raising flour, 1 tsp baking powder, 2 tbsp milk, 1 tsp vanilla extract, jam, and whipped cream for filling
- Instructions: Preheat oven to 180°C (160°C fan). Beat sugar and butter until pale, add eggs one at a time, fold in flour, baking powder, milk, and vanilla, divide mixture between two greased and lined tins, bake for 20-25 minutes, allow to cool, fill with jam and cream.
Afternoon Tea with an Asian Twist
For a unique afternoon tea experience, try these easy Asian-inspired recipes that are sure to impress your guests.
Matcha Green Tea and White Chocolate Mousse
This light and airy mousse is a delightful way to incorporate matcha into your afternoon tea. It's simple to make and can be prepared ahead of time.
- Ingredients: 200ml whipping cream, 100g white chocolate, 1 tsp matcha powder, 1 tbsp sugar
- Instructions: Whip cream until soft peaks form, melt chocolate, mix in matcha and sugar, fold into whipped cream, chill for at least 2 hours before serving.
Crab and Avocado Summer Rolls
These fresh and zingy summer rolls are a perfect light bite for an afternoon tea. They're easy to make and can be served with a variety of dipping sauces.
| Ingredients | Instructions |
|---|---|
| 8 rice paper sheets, 1 avocado, 1 can of crab meat, 1 cucumber, 1 bell pepper, 1 bunch of fresh coriander, 1/4 cup fish sauce, 1/4 cup lime juice, 1 tbsp sugar, 1 tbsp water | Soak rice paper sheets in water, fill with sliced avocado, crab meat, cucumber, bell pepper, and coriander, fold into rolls, mix fish sauce, lime juice, sugar, and water for dipping sauce. |
Afternoon tea is all about taking a moment to relax and enjoy good company and good food. With these easy recipes, you can create a memorable spread that's sure to impress your guests. So, brew a pot of tea, slice a few cucumbers, and enjoy the simple pleasures of afternoon tea.