23 Afternoon Tea Party Recipes, From Traditional Scones to Delectable Bite-Sized Sweets Host an elegant afternoon and enjoy warm cups of tea, small bites, and good company. Close Credit: Con Poulos The tradition of afternoon tea began in Britain during the mid-19th century when Anna, the seventh Duchess of Bedford, often grew hungry between lunch and dinner and requested small bites and a warm cup of tea to hold her over until dinner was served. Since then, it has become an English social tradition to share tea and a selection of sweet and savory bites with guests on occasion. While many hotels and cafés around the world offer afternoon tea specials, nothing quite compares to hosting your own tea party. Hosting an afternoon tea party is an enchanting way to bring your friends and family together, indulge in your favorite teas and small bites, and feel a little fancy. From traditional English scones slathered with butter and jam to spicy curry-egg butter tea sandwiches, we've included a variety of recipes for your next afternoon tea party that are sure to delight your guests. Making Your Own Tea Blends Is Easy—Tea Experts Share How to Start 01 of 23 Lemon-Curd Phyllo Tartlets Credit: Paola + Murray A delightfully sweet lemon treat that pairs perfectly with a warm cup of afternoon tea. Our modern lemon curd tartlet recipe is much easier to prepare than the traditional version—no double boiler or tempering required. We use store-bought phyllo shells to save time. View Recipe 02 of 23 Mummy's Sweet White Scones Credit: Julia Hartbeck You can't go wrong with serving traditional English-style scones at your afternoon tea party. They're simple, sweet, and rich with flavor. We love slathering them with butter, clotted cream, and jam. View Recipe 03 of 23 Rhubarb-Buckwheat Scones Credit: Con Poulos These rhubarb-buckwheat scones are packed with flavor and make the perfect addition to your afternoon tea spread. You can pair them with a fruity jam or creamy butter. View Recipe 04 of 23 Rose Raspberry Macarons Credit: Linda Pugliese Wow your guests and make these patisserie beauties at home with just a few simple ingredients. They're an impressive addition to any tea party and even more delicious. View Recipe 05 of 23 Whole-Wheat and-Sesame Crackers Credit: David Malosh Homemade whole-wheat and sesame crackers can be prepared ahead of time and kept frozen for up to three months. They're a simple staple that pairs perfectly with cheese, dips, spreads, and more. For a tea party, it's essential to have these savory treats out paired with cheese and spreads. View Recipe 06 of 23 Vegan Cucumber Tea Sandwiches Credit: Bryan Gardner If you have vegan guests, consider adding these delicate yet delicious tea sandwiches to your display. Vegan cream cheese is mixed with three fresh herbs—chives, parsley, and tarragon—and paired with thin cucumber slices for an added crunch. View Recipe 07 of 23 Saffron Shortbread Credit: Gentl and Hyers This saffron shortbread is full of warm, comforting fall flavors. Its rich taste and texture pair beautifully with a hot cup of tea. If you're hosting afternoon tea in the fall, be sure to add this treat to your spread. View Recipe 08 of 23 Scandinavian Shrimp-and-Cucumber Sandwich Credit: Ren Fuller An open-faced sandwich is a heartier menu item for your tea party. This Scandinavian shrimp and cucumber sandwich is full of bold flavors and packed with protein. You can cut them diagonally in half for smaller portions. View Recipe 09 of 23 Orange Madeleines A simple French butter cookie that comes together quickly and looks impressive, these madeleine cookies are infused with orange essence and lightly dusted with powdered sugar. View Recipe 10 of 23 Curried-Egg-Butter Tea Sandwiches Credit: Raymond Hom Tea sandwiches with a bit of a kick at the end of each bite, these curried-egg-butter tea sandwiches make the perfect savory addition to your party. The spread is made out of hard-boiled eggs, butter, yogurt, curry powder, jalapeño, and cilantro. View Recipe 11 of 23 Oat-and-Spelt Shortbread Credit: Sidney Bensimon The oat and spelt flour combination creates a nutty shortbread cookie. For a sweet finish, we dip the shortbread cookies in melted dark chocolate and sprinkle flaky salt on top. View Recipe 12 of 23 Savory Cottage Cheese Tartines Credit: CHELSEA CAVANAUGH Tartines are easily customizable for sweet or savory bites. We recommend using sturdy crackers, like Wasa Thins, instead of bread for this recipe. Spread cottage cheese on each cracker as the base, then top with sliced plums or figs and sprouts or sliced radishes. View Recipe 13 of 23 Creamy Deviled Eggs Credit: Victoria Pearson Deviled eggs suit a variety of occasions—and afternoon tea is one of them. They're always the first to go, so make sure you make enough for guests to have seconds and even thirds. Our creamy deviled egg filling is made with mayonnaise, mustard, vinegar, minced shallot, and a dash of hot sauce. For the final touch, we sprinkle a little paprika on top. View Recipe 14 of 23 Mini Chocolate Cakes With Dark-Chocolate Ganache Credit: John Kernick This recipe yields 56 mini cakes, ensuring you won't run out of sweets during your tea party. The rich, dark chocolate flavors are sure to satisfy all taste buds. View Recipe 15 of 23 Lemon-Date Bars Credit: Marcus Nilsson The sweet and tangy flavor combination makes these lemon-date bars irresistible. They're bite-sized and sure to be a crowd pleaser at every afternoon tea party. The lemon flavors pair perfectly with a variety of teas. View Recipe 16 of 23 Apricot-and-Cream Cheese Squares Credit: Yuki Sugiura This modern, sweet riff on the apricot-cheese Danish swaps the pastry dough for focaccia. For easy prep and simple serving, we use canned or jarred apricots, then bake in a 9-by-13-inch pan and cut into squares. View Recipe 17 of 23 Strawberry Shortcake Cupcakes Serve everyone's favorite strawberry shortcake dessert effortlessly with this cupcake recipe. We add a strawberry filling, top them with freshly whipped cream, and garnish with a slice of strawberry. View Recipe 18 of 23 Lemon Scones Credit: Jason Donnelly You can never have enough lemon treats to go around during an afternoon tea party. We love these lemon scones—they're perfectly flaky, with a rich lemon flavor. For a touch of sweetness, we drizzle each scone with a simple lemon glaze. View Recipe 19 of 23 Flakey Buttery Biscuits Credit: Grant Webster Flaky, buttery biscuits are a tea party's best friend. These come together in 25 minutes and are best served warm. You can dress the biscuits up with jam, butter, and honey, or make them mini savory sandwiches with smoked salmon or chicken salad. View Recipe 20 of 23 Ham and Cheese Mini Croissants Homemade croissants are quite impressive, and this savory ham and cheese rendition is perfect for an afternoon bite. While homemade croissants may seem intimidating to make, we use pre-made croissant dough to speed things up. View Recipe 21 of 23 Mini Brioche à Tête A mini take on the classic French breakfast, these mini Brioche à Têtes are individual portions and traditionally served for breakfast or as a teatime treat in France. Some Parisians embellish them with jam, but they are often enjoyed just as they are. View Recipe 22 of 23 Chive Blini With Creme Fraiche, Quail Eggs, and Tarragon These savory, bite-sized blini are topped with chives, a dollop of creme fraiche, diminutive quail eggs, and trout roe. Their elegant flavors and presentation are sure to impress your guests at your next tea party. View Recipe 23 of 23 Glazed Lemon Pound Cake Credit: Lisa Cohen There is nothing more comforting than a decadent slice of lemon-glazed pound cake. It's a timeless treat that can be enjoyed year-round. The tangy sweetness of the lemon glaze complements the rich, buttery cake. View Recipe Here Are All the Healthy Reasons to Drink More Tea Explore more: Food & Cooking