Afternoon Tea Recipes – sweet & savoury – Caroline's Easy Baking Lessons

Afternoon Tea

Sweet & Savoury Afternoon Tea Recipes

By Caro

This year Afternoon Tea Week is 7-13th August 2023.  But what is Afternoon Tea and how can I have my own?  Look no further - I am from Scotland & have lots of easy, sweet & savoury bakes for a perfect Afternoon Tea!

long photo of a British scone with cream, jam and strawberry sliced in-between, served on blue & white Willow tea set.

Fresh cherry topped air fryer Black Forest Gaeau cake on white cake stand in white surroundings.

Close shot of a slice of golden fruit cake on it's side and served on white plate with fork.

Front shot of a British cranberry spiced uncut scone, served with tea and more scones behind.

Closer shot of mini carrot bundt cakes with cream cheese frosting orange zest and some mini eggs, on a cooling rack.

Overhead shot of a half eaten British scone with jam and cream serve don blue and white plates with tea.

Overhead shot of white table with blue white napkins, white flowers, tea cups with tea and large strawberry, raspberry & blueberry covered cream layer cake in centre and text Summer Berry Griestorte.

Close partial shot of rhubarb sandwiched cupcakes on a white cake stand.

_{Examples of bakes for Afternoon Tea}

Overhead shot of cheddar swirls plated, served and with tea.

What Is Afternoon Tea?

Afternoon Tea is a tea-related meal, that originated in Britain in the early 1840s.

What Is A Cream Tea?

A Cream Tea consists of hot tea and a warm scone with jam and cream (often clotted cream).

You can also read more in my article A Classic British Cream Tea

What Does Afternoon Tea Consist Of?

Afternoon tea however, is different & consists of the same as a Cream Tea, but with the addition of other finger foods and some dinky little cut sandwiches without the crusts. Popular fillings being salmon paste and cucumber.

Flatlay shot on white wooden table, of black round plate of jam coconut Lamington cakes and red roses and tea cups.

Want To Learn More About Afternoon Tea?

Here is a link to a great website on everything Afternoon Tea – Afternoon Tea.Co.UK. All your possible questions answered, as well as thorough history of that and Cream Tea.

Easy Bakes For Afternoon Tea

Here are just some of my many recipes that have been added to the new site here, that would all be suitable for a proper Afernoon Tea.

Share Your Afternoon Tea Pics

If you make any, or have your own Afternoon tea with friends, please let me know and send me photos. Would love to see them.

Contact via links at the bottom of the page, via the contact form, or tag me in social media. Looking forward to seeing those pics.

Something Sweet For Afternoon Tea

Close photo of a British scone with cream, jam and strawberry sliced in-between, serve don blue & white Willow tea set and more scones and tea to the background.

Classic British Scones

The Only Recipe You Need

Here’s my Classic scones recipe, with thorough instructions, tips and an almost real-time video tutorial I used for a Facebook group bake-along weekend. Learn what things NOT TO DO, so you can achieve a classic rise to your scones.

Go to Classic British Scones recipe

I even have my Air Fryer British Scones recipe too.

My almost real-time video tutorial

Lemon Curd Swiss Roll

Nothing more British than lemon curd, or a Swiss Roll, so here are the 2 yummy recipes, combined to make one beautiful lemon curd Swiss roll cake. My guide to Swiss rolls, includes all the tips for a successful roll.

4 photo collage of a lemon curd filled Swiss roll cake, showing swirl and texture. — *Ultimate Guide To Lemon Curd Swiss Roll*

Cranberry Spiced Scones

This is a variation on my classic scones recipe, with the addition of some flavour in the form of spice & texture from cranberries

Go to Cranberry Spiced British Scones recipe

3 Mini lemon poppry seed bundts with glaze, ready to be eaten.

Mini Lemon Drizzle Poppy Seed Bundt Cakes

Here’s a mini version of my popular lemon & poppy seed drizzle cake. Works great in mini silicone bundt cases, or even as cupcakes.

Go to Mini Lemon Drizzle Poppy Seed Bundt Cakes recipe

Air Fryer Black Forest Gateau

Not of British origins, but a favourite for a long time, is a Black Forest Gateau. This 4-layer, chocolate, cherry & cream filled & covered cake, is made in the air fryer, and with no eggs or butter in sight!

Perfect for a special afternoon tea, in a 6″ or 8″ version and all from scratch.

Air Fryer Black Forest Gateau

Lemon bundt cake with drizzle down the groves and black and white background.

Lemon Drizzle Cake With Poppy Seeds

My very popular lemon cake recipe can also be used in regular cake tins, bundts or even cut into nice little squares for an Afternoon tea.

Go to Lemon Poppy Seed Drizzle Bundt Cake recipe

Overhead shot of a white table with jam and coconut covered cake squares on plate with tea, and title Lamingtons.

Chocolate Or Jam Lamingtons

Try these Genoise sponges, covered in either chocolate frosting or raspberry jam, and then coated in coconut.

Go to Lamingtons recipe

ANgled front shot of chocolate coconut Lamington cakes on platter with red roses. — *Lamingtons*

Mini Carrot Bundt Cakes With Orange Cream Cheese Frosting

Mini Carrot Bundt Cakes are a smaller scale version of my classic Carrot cake, perfectly paired with an orange cream cheese frosting. Perfect for Easter and Spring simple baking & using up those mini Easter eggs.

Perfect beginner baker recipe

Go to Mini Carrot Bundt Cakes

Mini Gingerbread Bundt Cakes

My easy gingerbread cake recipe, but reduced down to make 12 mini bundt cakes.

Go to Mini Gingerbread Bundt Cakes recipe

Rectangular basket of mini carrot cake loaves and mini bundt cakes with frosting and tiny carrot toppers.

Classic Carrot Cake

My classic carrot cake recipe can be used in different ways, and little bundts or cupcakes would be great for Afternoon tea.

Go to Carrot Cake recipe

Overhead shot of mini chocolate bundt cakes decorated, on a wire rack and Easter eggsdecoration around.

Easy Chocolate Mini Bundt Cakes

Here’s my easy & quick recipe for chocolate cake, but this time with orange extract & used for mini bundt cakes. Perfect for company, and with an optional surprise inside! EGG & BUTTER-FREE

Mini Chocolate Orange Bundt Cakes With Surprise Inside

Or try my similar recipe for Chocolate & Cardamom Cupcakes with Espresso buttercream, below:

angled shot of buttercream topped cupcakes on slate tiles and one to the front with coffee buttercream piped on top, soft flowers to the back. — *Chocolate & Cardamom Cupcakes with Espresso buttercream*

Fruit covered Summer berry Genoise cream layer cake with strawberries, raspberries and blueberries all over it.

Summer Berry Griestorte – A Cream Genoise Cake

A lovely light and creamy layer cake for summer time. Cover with any fresh fruit you like.

Go to Summer Berry Griestorte recipe

Cream filled layer cake on table with teapot and cup to the side.

Victoria Sandwich Cake

Here’s the British classic sponge, Victoria Sandwich Cake. A full beginners’ tutorial. Or try the raspberry version with a raspberry jam swirl through the batter. Can also be made into cupcakes.

Go to Raspberry Swirl Victoria Sandwich cake recipe

Shot of squares of coconut paradise slice, cut on board and one on plate showing soft texture and labelled.

Coconut Paradise Slices

Here’s a classic recipe, but for a good reason. A shortbread style base, raspberry jam filling and a crunchy coconut topping.

Go to Coconut Paradise Slices recipe

Boiled Fruit Cake – For Afternoon Tea

A really simple but enjoyable cake and a classic to British baking.

Go to Boiled Fruit Cake Recipe

Above and angled shot of a chocolate and cream Swiss roll/jelly roll served on a platter.

Flour-free Chocolate Swiss Roll (Jelly Roll) (GLUTEN FREE)

Try my tutorial and Chocolate Swiss Roll video for making this tasty flour-free chocolate and cream cake.

Go to Flour-free Chocolate Swiss Roll recipe

Table with plate or rock cakes and raisins, with tea, cutlery, napkins and fresh fruit, labelled rock cakes.

Diana’s Rock Cakes

Try these super simple rock cakes by Diana, that you can make in a hurry.

Go to Rock Cakes recipe

egg free chocolate later cake slice, with cream and cherry on the plate.

Egg & Butter Free Chocolate Layer Cake

This is a super simple & quick recipe & one you can whip up with whatever you have in the cupboard or fridge. Can be made Vegan, dairy-free, egg-free & lactose free. So no need to miss out on an afternoon tea treat!

Egg & Butter Free Chocolate Layer Cake

Extra close shot of slice of rhubarb cake with title.

Rhubarb & Orange Cake – Recipe review

Try this Rhubarb cake recipe I reviewed lately.

Go to Rhubarb Orange Cake Review

Fog polenta bundt cake with minimal glaze down the sides, with black background and figs, with title.

Fig & Polenta Anise Bundt Cake

Try this recipe I reviewed for an unusual cake.

Go to Fig Polenta Bundt Cake review

Pineapple coconut topped banana bread sliced on table with tea.

Pineapple & Coconut Banana Bread

This is my tropical version of well-loved Banana Bread, with pineapple, citrus and coconut, transforming this popular bake into a truly tropical experience!

Pineapple & Coconut Banana Bread

Individual chocolate tart cut in half on a blue plate served with a strawberry.

Individual Chocolate Tarts

A true indulgent bake, these pastries can also be made into smaller mini tarts.

Go to Individual Chocolate Tarts

Shot of a bundt cake with slice served with cream and sauce, titled cinnamon apple bundt cake.

Easy Apple & Cinnamon Bundt Cake

Here’s a super simple but tasty recipe for you.

Go to Cinnamon Apple Bundt cake recipe or Cinnamon Apple Bundt Cake video

Reader Photos

4 photo collage of Diana's Scottish shortbread rounds, with cream and strawberries inbetween.

Diana's photo of cake stand with round mini tarts with chocolate ganache and pastry cream, as well as long slim tart.

Some lovely bakes by Diana (left to right) – Scottish Shortbread, pastry tarts with pastry cream and chocolate ganache. Lemon curd, British scones with cream and homemade strawberry jam (see plum jam recipe). Meringues with cream and lemon curd.

Something Savoury For Afternoon Tea

Overhead shot on dark black table, grey plates with 6 cheese scones, one sliced and buttered and cup of tea.

Cheese Scones – Savoury Version Of My Classic British Scones

Try my savoury version of classic British scones.

Go to British Cheese Scones recipe

Or if a beginner baker, try my easy, Tear-&-Share Cheese Scones.

Tear & share cheese scones pilled hogh, up close, orange from cheese and baking. — *Easy Tear-&-share Scones*

Partial close shot of spiral of cheese swirls and trail of chopped spring onion and basil leaves.

Speedy Cheese Swirls

Try my very popular but really quick and easy, cheesy swirls recipe for your afternoon tea.

Go to Speedy Cheese Swirls recipe

In a hurry, use ready-made puff pastry instead, for these Quick Cheese Puff Pastry Swirls (below):

Round plate of puff pastry swirls on a dining table. — *Quick Cheese Puff Pastry Swirls*

Savoury Turkish Biscuits/cookies

Turkish Tuzlu Kurabiye is my take on a savoury biscuit with a hint of salt. Or try my cheese version.

Cheesy Turkish Biscuits

Savoury Turkish Biscuits

If you like savoury bits more than sweet, check out some more on my New year & Party Recipe Page.

A Very Special Afternoon Tea

Here’s a link to go to my friend Sally’s website, and her totally exquisite White Chocolate Raspberry Dome! On that post she also reviews Eric Lanlard’s Afternoon Tea recipe book.

Sally was on the American version of Great British Bake Off and has been blogging since 2009! That is her ‘hobby’ while working as a biochemist & teacher!!

White chocolate raspberry dome

Sally is also our Macaron Queen in our Bake Off Group, and any of her macarons would be fit for a fancy Afternoon Tea table! Check our her blog with many many mac recipes, or this macaron video tutorial she did.

Sally’s Macaron Recipes

Collage of 6 types of macarons by Sally newton. — *Just a small percentage of Sally’s Macarons*

Collage of British biscuits - shortbread, digestives, jammie dodgers and Easter biscuits

Biscuits & Cookies With Afternoon Tea

Nothing to say you can’t have some biscuits or cookies with your Afternoon tea. So here are some British biscuits for you to pick from. My popular traditional Scottish shortbread, my version of Jammie Dodgers, or Chocolate Digestives. You could make mini size to fit your on your cake stand. Find them all on my biscuit & cookie page.

Go to Biscuits & Cookies page

A Very British Biscuit

Here is another classic British biscuit/cookie. I love Viennese Whirls and had a review on my old site. But here is a lovely recipe by my friend Tanya, who also appeared on The Great American Baking Show with Sally.

Tanya works full-time now on her blog, Global Bakes sharing her love of baking, travelling the world (especially Scotland), and teaching stunning piping work with her sugar cookies and cakes.

Check out her YouTube page for videos tutorials or Global Bakes Patron page with exclusive content.

V iennese Whirls

Viennese Whirls

Cold Tea In The Heat

Is it too hot for you to have hot tea? Then why not try a refreshing citrus iced tea to go with your afternoon tea cakes? Made from combination of Earl Grey, Red Bush & Chai teas.

Citrus Iced Tea

Money Saving Afternoon Tea

Jump to my Baking On A Budget series with recipes using the air fryer, as well as money saving tips and ideas, that you can easily apply to your afternoon tea. More tips found on my Tea Party page.

Have a great afternoon tea!!

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Happy Baking & Making

Happy Tummies & Memories!

Caro xx

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Photo of table with raisin British scones, pink flowers, some served with cream and homemade jam and tea. — *Afternoon tea with scones & jam* by Mrs D

Caroline’s Easy Baking Lessons

2 Comments

SallyBR says:

10/08/2021 at 4:02 pm

This is a superb collection, each and every one of them!

loved it all

1. Caro says:
  
  10/08/2021 at 6:18 pm
  
  Thank you so much Sally. That is quite a complement coming from yourself. Thanks too, for taking the time to leave a comment and feedback 🙂