Homemade Afternoon Tea (how-to guide with recipes)

Hosting a homemade afternoon tea is a delightful way to mark a special occasion! Whether it’s Mother’s Day, a birthday, a baby shower, or simply a gathering with friends, serving a gorgeous selection of afternoon tea recipes is sure to make it extra special.

Follow this simple how-to guide featuring delicious recipes, helpful tips, and creative ideas to create a beautiful afternoon tea experience in the comfort of your own home.

This blog post is kindly sponsored by Whittard of Chelsea, however all opinions expressed are my own.

Irresistible Sweet Treats

Homemade afternoon tea desserts should be bite-sized, beautiful, and delicious! Balance fresh and fruity bakes with richer chocolate indulgences, to offer a variety of flavours and a visually irresistible display of sweet treats. Texture is also important! Provide a variety of crunchy, soft, fluffy, creamy, and crumbly desserts. From delicate pastries to mini cakes, and fudgy brownies to buttery biscuits, I’ve gathered my favourite afternoon tea recipes to inspire you:

Mini Victoria Sponge Cakes

An all-time baking classic but in miniature form, perfect for your afternoon tea at home! These Mini Victoria Sponge Cakes have two soft sponge layers filled with whipped cream and strawberry jam, topped with icing sugar.

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Lemon Flower Tartlets

These flower-shaped Lemon Tartlets have a shortcrust pastry case filled with zingy homemade lemon curd! They’re beautiful to look at, full of flavour and ideal as an afternoon tea recipe.

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Chocolate Dipped Raspberry Shortbreads

These buttery shortbread biscuits are made for dunking into tea! They’re dipped in melted chocolate and decorated with freeze-dried raspberries.

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Fudgy Chocolate Brownies

Indulgent fudgy brownies are always welcome at an afternoon tea! Cut these brownies into 16 bite-sized portions and feel free to top with a little whipped cream and fresh strawberries.

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Savoury Finger Sandwiches

With homemade afternoon tea, you can keep the finger sandwiches simple with classic options, or get creative with different flavours. I’ve been to an afternoon tea in London with pink beetroot sandwiches and bright green pesto bread! But personally, I prefer classic flavours like ham and wholegrain mustard, cucumber and cream cheese, egg and cress, and smoked salmon with cream cheese.

When making your sandwiches, remember to trim off the crusts (snack on them as you go!) and arrange them neatly on a plate to showcase the filling. You can make the sandwiches the day before and keep them wrapped in clingfilm in the fridge. Aim to serve four finger sandwiches per person (each a different flavour), and only unwrap the sandwiches at the last minute to keep the bread fresh and soft.

Sweet and Savoury Scones

There’s nothing more comforting than a warm, freshly baked scone! For your afternoon tea at home, bake a variety of sweet fruit scones and savoury cheese scones. They should have a slightly crunchy exterior with a soft and fluffy inside. Serve sweet scones with clotted cream and jam, and cheese scones with salted butter and chutney. Delicious! I love this sweet scone recipe and cheese scone recipe, both are super easy and from BBC Good Food.

Variety of Teas To Sip

As an ambassador for Whittard of Chelsea, I’m excited to share tea pairing suggestions straight from the tea experts themselves! We’ve matched three delightful teas with three of my dessert recipes, creating the perfect homemade afternoon tea experience.

• Whittard Regal Blend – This loose-leaf black tea is blended with Madagascan vanilla and a royal flourish of red, white and blue petals. Brew the tea leaves in a pretty teapot and sip whilst enjoying these Mini Victoria Sponge cakes.
• Whittard Earl Grey – Known for its wonderful bergamot aroma, Earl Grey has become an afternoon tea favourite. Whittard’s take on the blend has flavours of citrusy bergamot – with a scattering of blue cornflower petals for an elegant flourish. Place an infuser filled with the tea leaves into your favourite teacup, and enjoy with or without milk, paired with these Lemon Flower Tartlets.
• Whittard Rooibos – Malty and moreish with a smooth honey-sweetness, Whittard Organic Rooibos teabags are deliciously flavoursome and naturally caffeine-free. Brew in a mug (with or without milk) and pair with these chocolate dipped shortbreads for dunking.

Pretty Table Arrangement

Now that you’ve prepared your homemade afternoon tea, it’s time to showcase it with a stunning table arrangement! The options are endless, but for a simple yet elegant table arrangement, follow these steps:

• Tablecloth: Start with a clean, neutral, ironed tablecloth for a polished look.
• Plates and napkins: Layer two small plates (one for sweets and one for savouries) with linen napkins or patterned floral paper napkins.
• Teacups and saucers: Bring out your finest teacups for the occasion! These Earl Grey Tea Cups from Whittard are beautiful and dainty.
• Teapot, milk jug and sugar pot: Brew a pot of tea at the last minute and use a cosy to keep it warm. Remember to place a jug of milk and a pot of sugar on the table too.
• Cutlery: Cake forks, teaspoons and butter knives are the essentials. Remember to place an extra teaspoon on the saucers for stirring the tea.
• Tiered stand: Place in the centre of the table within easy reach of all your guests. I used this pretty but affordable tiered stand to display the sweet treats.
• Condiment pots: Use small pots and jars to contain jams, clotted cream, butter and chutney to serve with the scones.
• Decor: Add flowers for bright pops of colour and candles to create a warm ambience.
• Menus: Showcase your amazing homemade afternoon tea selection with printed menus. Use this easy Canva template to design your own menu.