High tea (and it is high tea, not hi tea or hi-tea) is a reference to a meal that would be enjoyed by the working classes after a hard day in the factory. Many of the factories in the 19th century were situated in the Midlands and the North of England, and coming home the workers would be famished and would want to eat straight away. This post will give you some afternoon tea recipes or snack ideas and recipes to let you organize your own afternoon tea spread party ideas at home. It will also help you understand the difference between ‘high tea‘ and ‘afternoon tea‘, as there is, quite understandably, some confusion as to the meaning of both terms. Below I will link to some of my easy high tea recipes that will enable you to prepare your own English afternoon tea.
21. Mini Lemon Blueberry Cheesecakes
These Mini Lemon Blueberry Cheesecakes feature an easy homemade graham cracker crust, smooth and creamy lemon cheesecake filling, and a simple blueberry swirl! While there are a few steps to these mini cheesecakes with graham cracker crust, they are pretty easy to make. And since they need to be refrigerated for a few hours, they’re a perfect dessert that you can prep ahead of time or freeze for whenever you need them. You can even leave off the blueberry swirl for a regular mini lemon cheesecake or swap out the blueberries with your favorite berry! These mini blueberry cheesecake bites have three components: the blueberry swirl that goes on top, the lemon cheesecake filling, and the graham cracker crust.
Get the recipe here.
20. Glazed Lemon Drop Cookies
Bite-size Glazed Lemon Drop Cookies are soft not-too-sweet cookies dipped into a sweetly tart glaze. These cookies were so irresistible, I happily ate cookies in lieu of my dinner. (shhhh, don’t tell the kids, they thought I ate my dinner after they went to bed.) I’ve been craving a lemon dessert for a couple of weeks now and I had the recipe for these cookies scribbled out and waiting to try. I’m happy to say that the cookies were an awesome success and I managed to eat an embarrassing number of them before I finally packed the remaining cookies in a container and sent them home with friends.
Get the recipe here.
19. Mini Pink Lemon Baked Donuts
These Mini Pink Lemon Baked Donuts are lemony & slightly tart. Enjoy these high tea recipes for breakfast or serve in a party. Since they are mini, it’s totally acceptable to have more than 1 (or 2, 3, 6)! Two weeks ago, I saw these gorgeous pink lemons in supermarket. Oh wow, I have never seen anything like that. These lemons have stripes. The young one have green stripes and the maturer one have pink stripes. The flesh inside is pink, like a grapefruit. How beautiful! Pink lemonade is not a myth!
The taste of these lemons are slightly less tart than regular lemons. These lemon donuts are based on the coffee donuts’ recipe. Instead of using chocolate chips and coffee glaze, I switched out for lemon zest and lemon juice. The main reason for using the same recipe is because of the great texture. The donuts are a little cakey with a bite to it. Perfect baked donuts! With the addition of the lemon zest, these donuts were lemony and fragrant.
Get the recipe here.
18. Ricotta, Chive & Tomato mini tarts
These tiny little tarts are ideal cocktail party nibbly food or food for a morning or afternoon tea. They are best when warm from the oven, as I always think there’s something magical about hot pastry but cool pastry loses it mojo. As for the tomato on the top, I was torn, about whether I should top the tarts with the tomato before or after they were put in the oven. Once they’re baked they collapse a little, like a semi dried tomato so I’ve shown both, one with the baked tomato top and one with the fresh tomato half. You can choose whichever the inner Franck in your prefers.
Get the recipe here.
17. Cucumber Avocado Tea Sandwiches with Dill and Mint
With warmer weather just around the corner, I am ready for some light and simple lunches. I grew up on cucumber and dill havarti sandwiches as a kid and I crave them to this day! Now my kids love this sandwich as much as I do. It’s light, crunchy and full of flavour. I have a gluten sensitivity, yet sprouted grains seem to be okay for me to eat. My favorite bread since I was young has been Jack Spratts.
Its local to Utah and has the best flavor and texture. The key to this sandwich is the slicing of the avocado, it has to be thin. I like to slice mine in the skin and then scoop it out with a large spoon. Then fan it out evenly on a slice of bread and sprinkle with salt and pepper. The recipe calls for half an avocado, but feel free to use the whole thing. There’s no such thing as too much avo.
Get the recipe here.
16. Mini Cinnamon Rolls
Moderation is the essence of everything from my diet, my workout regimen, and even my hair washing schedule. In this time where we’re just doing a little less- maybe less work, less planning, or fewer visits with friends- it seems fitting to share a similarly bitty recipe: these mini cinnamon rolls. These are bite-sized treats that work for this moderate period of life, and because they’re super yummy, you’re going to want to try them ASAP. Let’s chat about them. This recipe for mini cinnamon rolls was adapted from my favorite overnight cinnamon rolls recipe. This has long been one of the more popular recipes on this site and for good reason- they’re phenomenal. These pastries of high tea recipes are soft, lightly sweetened, crowd-pleasing, and near-impossible to screw up.
Get the recipe here.
15. Banana Muffins with Chocolate Chips
Soft, moist, and delicious Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins! These muffins of high tea recipes are the perfect way to use up ripe bananas and turn them into a delicious breakfast or snack. Easy to make using simple pantry ingredients. These muffins take my favorite banana bread and chocolate chip muffins and mash them together to create the most delicious breakfast or snack. Not only will these muffins have your home smelling incredible but they are made using the simplest pantry ingredients and take no time at all to whip up. There’s nothing better than a freshly baked warm banana muffin with oozing melted chocolate chips served with a glass of milk, tea, or coffee, they are just so good!
Get the recipe here.
14. Cucumber Sandwiches
Classic cucumber tea sandwiches made easy, delicious, and completely adorable. Get step-by-step directions on how to make these simple and elegant finger sandwiches. They’re perfect for tea time! A cucumber sandwich is a tea time classic. A variation of it is often found in afternoon tea menus.
This dainty and crustless cucumber tea sandwich is made with chive butter, decorated with a thin cucumber slice, and held together with a cocktail fork. Like all tea sandwiches, it’s sized to be eaten in 2-3 bites. Cucumber tea sandwiches are perfect for tea time to be served with a pot of tea. They’re great as appetizers for parties or as after school snack ideas for kids.
Get the recipe here.
13. Mini Victoria Sponge Cakes
Exquisitely rich buttercream and jam are sandwiched between two delicately soft and buttery sponge cakes. This version comes in miniature form of the traditional full-sized cake, allowing you to conveniently pop mini bites of heaven into your mouth over and over…and over.And while we’re on the subject of “mini”, how about starting with a brief history lesson? British afternoon tea, a tradition going back many generations.
Its origins trace back to Queen Victoria and Anna the Duchess of Bedford who served as her lady-in-waiting (ie, personal assistant) for 10 years. Today I’m introducing you to another decadent sweet you can add to your repertoire of tea time indulgences. We’re going to add a modern twist to this very traditional British dessert. It’s Victoria Sponge Cake, in miniature form. These Mini Victoria Sponge Cakes are perfect for your next chic tea party, bridal shower, birthday or other special occasion.
Get the recipe here.
12. Welsh Cakes Recipe
Unforgettably flaky, tender, almost melt-in-your-mouth texture that’s punctuated with sweet currants and laced with a wonderful hint of mace, these Welsh cakes are simply irresistible! Wales is a breathtakingly scenic country with mountainous national parks, glacial landforms, rugged coastlines, some of the most striking fortresses in the world, picturesque villages, and steeped in a rich Celtic culture. But…HOMEMADE…that’s an entirely different story. I am IN LOVE with these traditional homemade Welsh cakes!! Let me say it again: NOTHING compares to the traditional homemade version of these cakes using real lard and mace! These high tea recipes are FABULOUS. Just trust me on this enough to give them a try.
Get the recipe here.
11. Strawberry Tea Sandwiches
Three-ingredient strawberry cream cheese tea sandwiches are perfect for spring holidays and brunches. Cute and dainty, these petite bites are as fun to eat as they are to assemble. They have just three ingredients and don’t require any cooking. Strawberry tea sandwiches are fun for kids and adults alike. Serve for breakfast, as a light lunch, or as an after school snack. Petite sandwiches – also called finger sandwiches – are ideal for brunch buffets, bridal or baby showers, Easter menus, Mother’s Day, and more. An assortment of small nibbles is a fun way to enjoy lunch with friends – with or without tea.
Get the recipe here.
10. Spicy Chickpea Avocado Cucumber Bites
Whip up a batch of blackened chickpeas and use them to make these delicious spicy chickpea avocado cucumber bites! These is a bite-sized summery appetizers or high tea recipes that is very refreshing. I was originally inspired to make this after coming across Closet Cooking’s blackened shrimp avocado cucumber bites. I replaced the shrimp with an ingredient that’s cheaper, easier to cook, and just as tasty: the almighty garbanzo bean. Use my blackened chickpea recipe or your own favorite crispy pan-fried or roasted chickpeas to top these little pieces of cucumber heaven.
As for the rest of this appetizer, it simply consists of sliced cucumber rounds, topped with mashed avocado (or guacamole if you please), an optional drizzle of chipotle crema or chipotle mayo, and sprinkled with fresh herbs (parsley, basil, or chives are all great here).
Get the recipe here.
9. Lemon Bars with Shortbread Crust
Lemon Bars have always been a beloved classic treat and this delicious and easy recipe only uses 6 Ingredients! Buttery shortbread crust, tangy lemon filling, and a dusting of powdered sugar on top – so yummy! These lemon bars are my absolute favorite dessert! Not only because they are delicious, but also how simple these are to make. Use fresh lemon juice. Store bought can also be used if that is all you have, but you can tell a big difference when using fresh lemon juice.
Lemon filling can get a bit tricky to cut at times. Place the bars in the freezer for 30 minutes before cutting to get the perfect cuts! If you decorate with powdered sugar, sprinkle on the top right before serving. If left out or stored, the sugar will dissolve.
Get the recipe here.
8. Easy Bacon Cheddar Egg Bites
Have you tried those little sous vide egg bites they’re serving now at Starbucks? If you haven’t, let me tell you, they’re something special – dainty little bites of egg and cheese with a smooth, custardy texture. And they’re a great low-carb alternative to the usual bagel or granola. The only problem? The price. Close to five bucks, for two itty-bitty egg Bites. Clearly, this recipe was crying out for a copycat version. And it turns out, my Instant Pot was the perfect tool for the job. It steams the eggs at a steady pressure and temperature, so they come out just right – not runny or hard, but velvety smooth and soft. These high tea recipes are best for morning meal or evening snacks.
Get the recipe here.
7. Lemon Tea Cookies
Lemon Tea Cookies are an easy lemon cookie made with a few ingredients and fresh lemon juice and zest. They require less than 15 minutes of prep before baking in the oven. Lemon cookies are a lovely little cookie. They are the perfect cookie to enjoy while sipping afternoon tea. These high tea recipes are great for serving at special events like Mother’s Day brunch, bridal showers and baby showers. But really, these cookies are for anyone that loves lemon. Kids and adults love them! These cookies are made from scratch with a few simple cookie ingredients like butter and flour. Fresh lemon zest and juice gives these cookies the perfect amount of lemon flavour.
Get the recipe here.
6. Chicken Sandwiches
These Chicken Katsu Sandwiches are ultra crispy and super delicious. Better still, they couldn’t be easier to make! There’s nothing better than golden crunchy chicken wedged between soft fluffy slices of bread. The contrast in texture is heavenly. Sure, Chicken Katsu is great, but Chicken Katsu sandwiches are MUCH better. If you’ve never tried your hand at making Katsu before you’re in for a treat!
If you just bread the chicken right away not only will it cook unevenly, but it’ll be way too thick to put in a sandwich, especially dainty ones like these. By halving or pounding the chicken you even out the chicken, which not only means it’ll cook quicker (because it’s thinner) but also means it’ll cook more evenly.
Get the recipe here.
5. Deviled Egg Salad Finger Sandwiches
Today I’m kicking off a brand new weekly feature, Tea for Tuesdays, with classic deviled egg salad finger sandwiches! You might have noticed in addition to comfort foods, Southern influenced foods, and recipes from the farmers’ market or the garden, I also gravitate towards foods that provide an elegant dining experience. And I don’t think there’s anything quite as elegant as a luncheon consisting of scones, bite-sized sweets, dainty sandwiches, and a hot cup of tea with just a little cream.
The great thing about high tea recipes is they’re so versatile! You can plan and host a full-fledged afternoon tea: Afternoon tea is a fitting choice for a bridal or baby shower or a themed birthday party, finger sandwiches make a darling addition to an Easter brunch, or you can plan a tea for Mother’s Day.
Get the recipe here.
4. Mini Chicken Pot Pies
These mini chicken pot pies are ridiculously easy. Seriously… they only have 4 ingredients! And you can make them from start to finish in about 30 minutes. Serve them with a little side salad and it makes a quick and simple weeknight dinner! These mini chicken pot pies feel like comfort food to me. Somehow, the combination of chicken, veggies and fresh biscuits smells soooooo good when it’s baking! And that perfect, golden brown crust, and bubbly filling? Mmmmm… so good when they are fresh out of the oven!
Get the recipe here.
3. Cream Tea Scones with Blackberry Whipped Cream
Today I want to show you how to turn a plain scone into a really pretty treat that looks fancy but is so easy! I used King Arthur Flour’s recipe for Cream Tea Scones, baked them in a mini bunt pan, and filled them with Blackberry Whipped Cream! I have a passion for “pretty baking” and am always trying to turn my baked goods into little works of art for the Tea Table! Also, I was really happy with how these turned out! The filling is easy peasy and goes together in 1-2-3! Carefully slice scones in half and place on a baking sheet. Whip ingredients together and spoon or pipe onto bottom halves, then replace top halves. Pipe or spoon a bit more of the filling onto the top halves and decorate each with a blackberry!
Get the recipe here.
2. Smoked Salmon Cream Cheese Tea Sandwiches
These easy Smoked Salmon Cream Cheese Tea Sandwiches are quick, elegant and an easy addition to a light lunch or afternoon tea. A simple treat to wow the crowd at a party or major gatherings! These little sandwiches, also called ‘buterbrodi’ are a must at holidays and many times served with other offerings. Smoked Salmon Cream Cheese Tea Sandwiches are a delicious treat and usually the first to disappear from the table. So simple but so elegant at the same time. The sour cream adds a bit of tang to the sandwich, and the dill perfectly compliments the salmon.
Get the recipe here.
1. Almond Biscotti
You can’t resist these Italian almond biscotti, they’re super crispy and taste delicious, with lovely hints of orange, honey, and amazing toasted almonds. Forget tons of butter, food coloring, and sprinkles, these almond biscotti are packed with wholesome, real ingredients that make them irresistible. And if you love almonds, you can’t miss these super easy almond cookies or vegan biscotti. Plus, they’re so easy to make, they last up to 2 weeks and are perfect to give as a homemade Christmas gift. That’s what I do every year for our friends and neighbors, and I use convenient white pastry boxes lined with white parchment paper, they look so pretty.
Get the recipe here.
Suggested Recipes You May Like:
Gingerbread Recipes
Keto Air Fryer Recipes
Chocolate Dessert Recipes
Chia Seed Recipes
Snacks For Breastfeeding Recipes
Brunch Recipes
High Protein Salad Recipes
Peaches Recipes
Weight Watchers Air Fryer Recipes
High Protein Vegan Meals
Weight Watchers Recipes
Ground Chicken Recipes
Margarita Cocktail Recipes
Carrot Recipes
BBQ Chicken Side Dishes
Protein Ice Cream Recipes
Fruit Dessert Recipes
If you like this article about “high tea recipes”, please share this with your friends on Facebook and Twitter. Also, you can subscribe to my blog to get all the latest articles first on your mobile.