Afternoon Tea Recipes - sweet & savoury.

This year Afternoon Tea Week is 12th - 18th August 2024.  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!

Afternoon Tea Recipes – sweet & savoury

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.

Front on close photo of blue and white Willow crockery, with tea cup ans British scone, and text 'Time For Tea'.

Partial shot, overhead of a white table with cake cooling rack and 7 mini chocolate bundt cakes with glaze and sprinkles and mini eggs to the sides.

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.

Long shot of a white plate with 2 British chocolate scone halves with cream and jam, and first half bites missing.

Close partial fornt on shot of a whit eplatter with raspberry jam and coconut topped square cakes, with vintage British pink crockery to the background.

_{Examples of bakes for Afternoon Tea}

Front shot of a table with British cheese scones stacke dona plate to the back, with butter disn, tea cup and halved scone about to be buttered to the front.

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.

Overhead shot of white dinner table with vintage British pink patterned crockery, tea, napkin and white platter with raspberry coconut topped sponge squares.

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

British Scones For Afternoon Tea

Extra close shot of a stacked british scone filled with cream and jam on blue willowcrockery.

Close partial shot of a round cooling rack with well risen chooclate British scones.

Long close shot og a tall British cheese scone on a pink plate with vintage crockery, butter dish and more scones to the background.

Well risen cranberry spiced British scone on a plate.

Try my traditional British scones recipe for all the tips like what NOT TO DO, to achieve this classic rise! Not just one recipe, but cheese scones, cranberry spiced, double chocolate orange & air fryer too! (Click the pic to go to the recipe)

My almost real-time video tutorial

Swiss Roll Recipes

Ckose shot ofa lemon curd Swiss role slice, served on a white plate.

Patterned blueberry Swiss roll/jelly roll cake with slice cut off showing the swirls.

Overhead photo of a chocolate vertical Swiss role cake served, showing its 13 layers looking like tree rings or zebra patter.

Overhead angled shot of a chocolate and cream swiss roll/jelly roll with cream and bluebrries, showing the swirl.

Not just a recipe but tutorial for all you need to know to make perfect Swiss Rolls (Jelly Rolls) every time. Classic lemon curd filled Swiss Roll, a Bluebery Orange Curd Patterned Swiss Roll , Gluten-free, Flour-free Chocolate Swiss Roll or how about an extra special Chocolate Orange Vertical Swiss Roll?

Mini Cakes

Close shot of a cranberry orange mini bundt cake showing strong red colour of fresh cranberries and muffins to the background.

Extra clos eshot of ornage zest glaze on a mini gingerbread bundt cake with more cooling to the background.

Extra close above shot of a mini chocolate bundt cake on a cooling rack, with chooclate glaze on top, orange zest twirl and broken matchmaker chocolate pieces.

Try some mini cakes in the form of mini bundt cakes like mini carrot bundt cake, mini chocolate orange bundts with surpise inside, mini cranberry orange Madeira bundts, mini lemon drizzle poppy seed bundts or mini gingerbread bundts

Layer Cakes

air fryer black forest gateau

classic victoria sandwich cake

funfetti sprinkle layer cake

berry griestorte cream layer cake

egg & butter-free chocolate layer cake

raspberry jam swirl victoria sandwich

chocolate victoria sandwich cake

carrot cake & orange cream cheese frosting

Traybake/Squares

chocolate lamingtons

Low Fat Chocolate Courgette Traybake

raspberry coconut squares

carrot cake slices

Single Layer Cakes

boiled fruit cake

madera cake (plus cranberry orange)

gingerbread loaf & orange glaze

Cranberry Orange Fruit Cake

Biscuits & Cookies

close shot of 2 finger sof Scottish shortbread with a glass of whisky and bottles to the back.

Extra extra close partial shot of a red pattered platter of various sizes and shapes of Scottish shortbread, with some star shaped with centre cut out, and an orange glaze & zest on top, with tartin napkin and Christmas foliage to the background.

Autumn/Fall biege shades and straw decorations, surrounding white plate on white bright table setting with coffeec ups, and plate of Scottish shortbread round cookies, half coated in chocolate and coconut.

Close shot of 2 square cookies with studs of cranberry and pecans with coffee cup to the back.

Try my range of traditional Scottish shortbread recipes – classic Scottish Shortbread, Orange Glazed Shortbread, Chocolate Coconut Shortbread & Cranberry Orange Pecan Shortbread.

Front angled shot of chocolate topped digestive biscuits, stacked 4 biscuits high, with a McVities cookie tin to th ebackground.

Close shot of a stack of chocolate chip cookies on a pink plate.

Cake stand with 3 types of mini cookies 3 ways by Mary Berry recipe.

Overhead shot of a black slate platter with round and heart shaped sandwich cookies filled with jam.

Savoury Recipes

3 tear and share cheese scones stacked, 2 on bottom one on top, with pink table and crockery to the background.

Extra close shot of 3 cheese pastry swirls on a pink plate, showing the layters of puff pastry.

Find more savoury recipes on the savoury page.

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.

Small dome cake with shinny red glaze and white stripes.

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.

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

Close front and angled shot of a Turkish tea glass filled with citrus iced tea and ice cubes, with oranges and 2 more drinks to the background.

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 Learning & Baking!

Caro x

Photo of table with raisin British scones, pink flowers, some served with cream and homemade jam and tea.

Visual Index

Afternoon tea Recipes – sweet & savoury

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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 🙂