Afternoon Tea Recipes – sweet & savoury

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!















Examples of bakes for Afternoon 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.

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

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.
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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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.

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:

Summer Berry Griestorte – A Cream Genoise Cake
A lovely light and creamy layer cake for summer time. Cover with any fresh fruit you like.

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.

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.

Boiled Fruit Cake – For Afternoon Tea
A really simple but enjoyable cake and a classic to British baking.
Go to Boiled Fruit Cake Recipe

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.

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

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!

Rhubarb & Orange Cake – Recipe review
Try this Rhubarb cake recipe I reviewed lately.

Fig & Polenta Anise Bundt Cake
Try this recipe I reviewed for an unusual cake.

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!

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

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





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

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.


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):

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

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.
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.

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.
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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Thanks for reading
Happy Baking & Making
Happy Tummies & Memories!
Caro xx


This is a superb collection, each and every one of them!
loved it all
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 🙂