Have you ever wondered what to serve with tea in the afternoon? It’s an awkward time between lunch and dinner; we all fancy snacking, but what should we eat? Well, afternoon tea tends to consist of light sandwiches, cakes, and a selection of tea options.
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What To Serve With Tea In The Afternoon
Nobody wants a heavy meal in the middle of the afternoon, but most of us enjoy a light little something, especially if we’re visiting each other or marking a special occasion. A cup of tea and a biscuit might cut it some days, but on others, you want a little more.
So, what are the best snacks to offer when you’re serving tea in the afternoon?
Biscuits
Biscuits are probably the most common pairing to serve with tea in the afternoon, and they’re perfect for dipping in any kind of tea. It always amazes me how many different kinds of biscuits there are; you’re really spoiled for choice.
Biscuits are also easy to serve, with no need to cut them up, provide spoons, clean up sticky fingers, etc., making them great for a very informal afternoon tea.
Shortbread is an excellent option, very easy to make, and deliciously salty to pair with its sweetness. You can buy shortbread easily if you aren’t particularly handy in the kitchen.
Chocolate chip cookies are another good choice, lovely with a cup of tea, and very popular with any kids who may be attending. If you’re feeling very decadent, you can add extra chocolate chips, or even do chocolate cookies.
Viennese whirls both look and sound fancy, making shortbread just a little more interesting and appealing for those (like me) who are chocolate-lovers. You can add chopped nuts or syrups to the chocolate for additional flavors if you fancy it.
Cakes
For slightly more elaborate options to serve with your tea in the afternoon, cake may be the way to go. Indeed, many people think of cakes first when they think of afternoon tea, and with good reason; they are a pretty crucial component of what makes afternoon tea truly afternoon tea!
You can choose from a vast array of options, but coffee cake is always much-appreciated. Victoria sponge is another lovely cake, along with carrot cake, chocolate cake, lemon cake, or the ultra-luxurious red velvet cake.
Again, it’s easy to purchase high-quality, very tasty cakes if you don’t have the time or inclination to make a whole selection of flavors. Alternatively, you could ask each of your guests to bring a cake of their choice, making a wonderful array and ensuring everyone has at least one cake they will enjoy!
Having several different options is perhaps the most important aspect of afternoon tea, and cakes certainly don’t disappoint when it comes to variety. Some of the more unusual ones include marzipan cake, orange cake, walnut cake, and plum cake – but almost anything can be turned into a cake, so get as inventive as you choose!
Remember that you can freeze leftover cake if you want to – though if you’re like me, you might wonder what “leftover” means when it comes to cake.
Pastries
Pastries might be the prettiest twist to bring to afternoon tea, and again, there is an amazing amount of choice. Eclairs, macarons, strudels, danishes, cannoli, even pretzels – bring the whole world to your cake stand and make it pretty with the best selection of treats from all over the world.
Pastries are generally a bit more demanding, so if you aren’t buying your treats in, make sure you have the skills to make them, and don’t go too ambitious without a bit of practice first. The internet is full of amazing ideas for making your creations beautiful, so be inspired, but don’t overwhelm yourself by trying to achieve too much!
Sandwiches
What if you’re really rather peckish and cake and biscuits aren’t cutting it? What should you serve with tea in the afternoon then? Well, sandwiches are the traditional choice.
We aren’t talking great big, chunky sandwiches overflowing with meat or pickles, but if you want something a little more substantial than sweets for your afternoon tea, mini sandwiches are the way to go.
You can have a lot of fun with the presentation of these, cutting them into dainty triangles, removing the crusts, or even using a cookie cutter to create fun shapes. If you’re sharing your afternoon tea with kids, they’ll love this!
You can go for any fillings you like, but popular ones include ham, cheese, egg, or salmon with cream cheese. Add a little salad to bring a healthy edge to the meal, or keep them simple, light food. They’re more of a snack than a meal, but that’s perfect for afternoon tea.
Summary
The food you could serve with tea in the afternoon is almost limitless; the only criteria is really that it should be light and pair nicely with the refreshing tingle of tea. Whether you opt for biscuits, cakes, pastries, sandwiches, or an array of all, it will be delicious and look great, so enjoy!
