Hello and welcome to the dainty and delicious world of tea party treats!
We are talking about bite-sized portions of savory snacks and sweet desserts that look absolutely stunning on a platter.
I have gathered 26 tried-and-true recipes here that range from elegant finger sandwiches to classic English bakes that will definitely wow your guests.
So put the kettle on and let’s get into the kitchen!
1. Mini-Decadent Chocolate Bundt Cakes
I received a mini-bundt pan as a gift, and I am honestly surprised by how often I actually use it. I find myself reaching for these little bundts instead of cupcakes because they are just so precious without needing a huge batch of sickly sweet frosting.
You can simply whip up a quick glaze or ganache to pour right over the top. They look extra special if you finish them off with some edible glitter or fancy sprinkles.
2. Cucumber Sandwiches
These cute little crustless sandwiches are probably the first thing that comes to mind when you picture a tea party. They are a classic favorite for a reason because they look great and are incredibly light and easy to make.
This recipe is extra special because it includes fresh chives and dill in the cream cheese mixture.
3. Petit Fours
These stunning bite-sized cakes look absolutely beautiful when arranged on a fancy cake stand. You can use any flavor you like, but I think an almond or vanilla sponge works best to allow for better coverage with that light glaze.
An effortless way to make these is to freeze one large sheet cake until it is solid. You can then cut your squares and let them thaw slightly before glazing.
4. Mini-Lemon Cakes
The issue with making tiny treats like brownies or mini-cupcakes is that they are so easy to overbake. Just one minute too long in the oven can leave them feeling sad and dry.
This recipe uses a little trick to keep the crumb tender by adding instant pudding straight from the packet into your batter. It infuses flavor and helps keep your cakes perfectly soft.
5. Battenberg Cake
Mr. Kipling’s Battenberg is famous for its incredible flavor and color, but it is so worth making it yourself for that first slice. The technique isn’t actually tricky, but it does take a number of steps to perfect.
You essentially make one batter that gets split so half can be colored pink before baking. Then you trim the excess cake, create long rectangles, and glue them together with jam for that checkerboard look before covering the whole thing in marzipan.
6. The Perfect Cup of Tea-British Style
The Brits really love their tea milky and strong. You want enough milk so you can taste it, but absolutely no lemon in sight.
The trick is to boil the water and pour it directly over the bag to stimulate the leaves and help the flavor steep. My brother prefers “builder’s tea,” which means steeping for a solid 3 to 5 minutes before adding milk and way too much sugar, but I prefer gently squeezing the bag after a couple of minutes.
7. Mini-Chicken Pot Pies
This is another recipe you might not see at a traditional tea party, but I think it is nice to bring something warm to the table. Most items on this list are served cold, so you can make them ahead and keep them in the fridge until tea time.
However, guests will thank you for these warm bites if you are hosting in the winter. They don’t take long to make since you use canned soup, leftover chicken, frozen veggies, and crescent rolls.
8. Creamy Vegan Lemon Bars
This recipe is for you if you are in need of something gluten-free and vegan. The filling is crazy-creamy thanks to coconut cream and cashews, and the crust is deliciously crumbly and nutty to boot.
I love that this recipe suggests using boiling water to soak the cashews as a shortcut. I almost always forget to soak them overnight, so this is definitely a time-saver!
9. Crab Salad Sandwiches Recipe
Here is another recipe that uses a round cookie cutter to make the sandwiches look extra cute. I honestly like the look of small triangles or long rectangles too, and you have so much less waste with those shapes.
Your guests will love these crab sandwiches regardless of the shape you choose. They will be gone before you know it since they are made with red onion, peppers, canned wild-caught crab meat, and a creamy yet tangy dressing.
10. Fruit Tarts
You can buy sweetened crusts that work so well for these little fruit tarts, just like you can buy mini-pastry shells for quiche. Sugar cookie shells are extra tasty, though, and they are a cinch to whip up if you use ready-made cookie dough.
Try using mascarpone instead of cream cheese if you want the filling a touch more indulgent. It isn’t quite as tangy, but it gives you an ultra-silky finish.
11. Tuna Tea Sandwiches
Now is the time to try lemon-pepper seasoning if you have never had it before! It pairs so well with tuna and has such a unique and zesty flavor.
I have actually made this recipe using salmon before, and the pink color added nicely to the tea party theme. Simple cream cheese or maybe even Brie would be a great substitute if you aren’t a goat cheese lover.
12. Mini-Quiche (Any Flavor!)
These mini-quiches will look adorable on a tea party cake stand, just like the bite-sized cakes. I know how finicky pastry can be when you are working with smaller portions.
I almost always use frozen mini-pie crusts for recipes like this one. They will cut your prep time in half and look perfect!
13. English Shortbread
Shortbread is akin to sugar cookies, but the good stuff keeps it much simpler. You need a high fat to flour ratio and very little handling to ensure you get that amazing crumbly and rich texture.
The best recipes have just three ingredients, which are flour, sugar, and butter, and they do not need long in the oven. It should be super pale when you pull it out.
14. Cheesy Shrimp Tea Sandwiches
This definitely isn’t a traditional British tea party recipe, but we will let that slide. You won’t give those cucumber sandwiches a second look after one bite of these!
Feel free to cook your own shrimp if you have the energy and time so you can add some spices. Otherwise, frozen pre-cooked shrimp work just as well as long as you thaw them overnight and drain the excess liquid.
15. Mini-Lemon Meringue Pies
I simply cannot overstate how genius this recipe is! It is such a clever hack for making a recipe that can otherwise be quite complicated.
You use a quick lemon cheesecake filling and store-bought meringue nests instead of agonizing over weepy meringue and making lemon curd from scratch. Just top the whole thing with crumbled ginger biscuits, and they are ready in minutes!
16. Mashed Avocado Finger Sandwiches
These cucumber, avocado, and sprout sandwiches will be a welcome sight to your vegan and vegetarian guests. Just remember that they need to be made right before serving so the avos don’t go brown!
Garden cress, sprouts, or microgreens are a lovely addition that give you some fresh green flavors and a nice crunch. Microgreens are actually super easy to grow at home with a simple kit.
17. Tea Cake Cookies
Pretty much all Brits drink tea, and they absolutely dunk biscuits in said tea! A Rich Tea is the traditional biscuit, though plenty of people will dip a Hobnob or Chocolate Digestive.
Since you can’t always find those classics over here, why not try a batch of these tea cake biscuits? They are sweet, buttery, and just the right size for dunking in a cuppa.
18. Classic Deviled Eggs Recipe
Deviled eggs are a relatively cheap and straightforward recipe. You will already be boiling eggs if you are making egg salad, so why not make a few extra?
Gently cut them in half once cooled and scoop out the yolk, mashing it up pretty smooth before adding mayo to prevent lumps. It is best to keep the filling in the fridge until just before serving, then pipe or scoop it in and dust with paprika.
19. Smoked Salmon Tea Sandwiches (Canapés)
Smoked salmon is just one of those ingredients that people really love because it is tasty, vibrant, and super easy to work with. I like to keep things simple since it isn’t the cheapest ingredient. You don’t want to overpower it with too many extras, which is why these little crostini are perfect.
The dill cream cheese used here is almost exactly the same as the one for the cucumber sandwiches, so you can use it for both recipes.
20. Crinkle Top Brownie Bites
This recipe might not be the most traditional choice, but I guarantee it will be the most popular because who doesn’t love brownies?!
They only need around 12 to 15 minutes in the oven since they are made to be bite-sized. They won’t be fudgy if you leave them in any longer.
21. Easy Ham & Cheese Tea Sandwiches
Don’t these little sandwiches look just fantastic? It is amazing how a simple cookie cutter can totally elevate your sandwich game!
A great way to reduce waste is to buy an uncut loaf of white bread. You can cut slices lengthways instead of across the width to give yourself a lot more area to work with.
22. Downton Abbey Egg Salad Tea Sandwiches
I know that most egg salad recipes usually have a pretty smooth consistency without too much crunch. That is probably why I avoid it because texture is a big deal in my house.
But this egg salad takes crunch to a new level with crisp bites of red onion and chopped celery throughout! It is still super creamy, but the mayo gets a kick from a dash of lime juice and a spoonful of dijon mustard.
23. Mini-Chocolate Cakes
These might not be quite as bite-sized as the petit fours, but they are single-serve and super cute! I am sure you have some ceramic ramekins at home that are just the right size for these babies.
One ramekin equals one cake. You just let them cool, slice them in half, and fill them with frosting.
24. Butterfly Raspberry Fluff and Nutella Tea Sandwiches
I know what you are thinking, but these sandwiches really are for the grown-ups too! The butterfly shape is admittedly for the kids, but you can skip that part if you prefer.
I had never thought to mix marshmallow Fluff with raspberry jam before, but I don’t think I can eat it any other way now that I’ve tasted it. It is dangerously addictive with the Nutella.
25. Earl Grey Shortbread Cookies
I find lavender shortbread too overwhelming to eat because the smell gets in the way. These Earl Grey bites are exactly what your tea party needs instead.
The flavor is strong enough that you can smell it on the cookies, but it is wonderfully subtle. Don’t worry about working the tea leaves into the butter if you are in a rush, because I found adding it with the sugar was much quicker and gave the same results.
26. Mini-Cupcakes
These mini-cupcake liners are a must-buy if you don’t have a specific mini-cupcake pan. They are so pretty with the gold and pink lining, plus you can just line them up on a regular baking sheet.
The recipe says to bake for 18 minutes, but I really think that is a typo. They are so small that they will only need about 8 to 10 minutes.