40 Dainty Tea Party Recipes
Updated: Mar. 11, 2021Afternoon tea will be a delight when you serve these tasty tea party recipes. From mini sandwiches to tiny scones, we've got all the tea party food ideas you could ask for.
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Savory Cucumber Sandwiches
Italian salad dressing easily flavors this delicious cucumber sandwich recipe. Serve them as an appetizer for a holiday party or with tea as a snack. —Carol K Henderson, Chagrin Falls, Ohio 2 / 40
Mini Ham Quiches
These quiches are delightful for brunch when you don’t want to fuss. Replace the ham with bacon, sausage, chicken or shrimp, or use chopped onion, red pepper or zucchini instead of olives. —Marilou Robinson, Portland, Oregon
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Chai Tea Latte
My family loves this comforting chai tea latte recipe, especially on cold days instead of cocoa or when they’re feeling under the weather. I simplified this chai tea recipe by using the filter basket of our coffeepot. It’s delicious and great after dinner! —Julie Plummer, Sykesville, Maryland 4 / 40
Dilly Mini Cheese Balls
These mini cheese balls are perfect for any gathering, no matter what time of year it is! Kids love the cheesy, salty flavor, and adults appreciate how easy they are to make. —Carole Lanthier, Courtice, Ontario 5 / 40
Hazelnut Chocolate Chip Scones
Chocolate, hazelnuts and the tangy taste of buttermilk —these delicious scones are easy to make, come together fast, and taste so good with your morning coffee. —Trisha Kruse, Eagle, Idaho 6 / 40
Turkey Tea Sandwiches with Basil Mayonnaise
Basil mayonnaise is the secret to these tasty little sandwiches. Keep any extra mayo in the fridge to spread on other sandwiches, stir into egg salad or layer on pizza crust before topping it with other ingredients. —Lara Pennell, Mauldin, South Carolina 7 / 40
Wild Plum Jelly
I’ve had this wild plum jelly recipe for ages. Each year when the plums are ripe, I’ll fill my pail and make this jelly. It’s so good served with toast, pancakes or waffles! —Ludell Heuser, Mt. Horeb, Wisconsin 8 / 40
Soft Honey Cookies
These old-fashioned honey cookies have a subtle honey-cinnamon flavor and a tender texture. This recipe has been a favorite in my family for years and now it can be one at your house, too. —Rochelle Friedman, Brooklyn, New York 9 / 40
Leek Tart
This tart has a flaky pastry crust and tasty filling of leeks, bacon, eggs and cream. Satisfying and delicious, it makes a nice brunch dish, but you can serve it for any meal. —Anneliese Deising Plymouth, MI 10 / 40
Lemon Spiced Tea
Cinnamon and honey really perk up the flavor of basic lemon tea. Add a splash of lemon extract to take this drink delightfully over the top. —Adeline Russell, Hartford, Wisconsin 11 / 40
Mini Chocolate Wafer Cakes
I first made these cakes for a friend when I lived in the dorms at college and had no access to appliances. Little did I know I would be making them 20 years later for my children! —Lara Pennell, Mauldin, South Carolina 12 / 40
Shrimp and Cucumber Canapes
These cute stacks really stand out in a holiday appetizer buffet. Tasty, cool and crunchy, they come together in a snap. —Ashley Nochlin, Port St. Lucie, Florida 13 / 40
Mini Lamb Burgers
My husband loves this recipe for mini lamb burgers. They’re great for a light dinner or a hearty appetizer. Ground lamb makes really flavorful sliders, but you can use ground beef if you prefer. —Evelyn Rothwell, Los Angeles, California 14 / 40
Chai Cupcakes
You’ll get a double dose of the spicy blend that’s frequently used to flavor tea in these moist single-size cakes. Both the cupcake and frosting use the blend, which combines some of the best flavors of the season. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen 15 / 40
Focaccia Sandwiches
Slices of this pretty sandwich make any casual get-together more speical. Add or change ingredients to your taste. —Peggy Woodward, Shullsburg, Wisconsin 16 / 40
Rugelach
The crisp texture of these crescent-shaped cookies makes them a terrific treat to serve alongside a steaming mug of hot chocolate or coffee. 17 / 40
Summertime Tea
You can’t have a summer gathering around here without this sweet tea to cool you down. It’s wonderful for sipping while basking by the pool. —Angela Lively, Baxter, Tennessee 18 / 40
Brie Cherry Pastry Cups
Golden brown and flaky, these bite-sized puff pastries with creamy Brie and sweet cherry preserves could easily double as a scrumptious dessert. —Marilyn McSween, Mentor, Ohio 19 / 40
Earl Grey Tea Cookies
Biscuit-like Earl Grey cookies are a wonderful addition to holiday cookie swaps because they are truly unique. —Veronica Callaghan, Glastonbury, Connecticut 20 / 40
Cucumber Canapes
I always get requests for the recipe for these canapes whenever I serve them. They're delicate finger sandwiches with a creamy herb spread and festive red and green garnishes. —Nadine Whittaker, South Plymouth, Massachusetts 21 / 40
Rosemary Focaccia
The savory aroma of rosemary as this classic bread bakes is simply irresistible. This bread tastes great as a side dish with any meal, as a snack or as a pizza crust. 22 / 40
Blueberry Lemon Cake
I always set aside some of my fresh-picked blueberries to make this tender lemon blueberry cake. Using cake mix makes it a quick and easy dessert. —Leona Luecking, West Burlington, Iowa 23 / 40
Chicken Salad Party Sandwiches
My famous chicken salad arrives at the party chilled in a plastic container. When it’s time to set out the food, I stir in the pecans and assemble the sandwiches. They’re a hit at buffet-style potlucks. —Trisha Kruse, Eagle, Idaho 24 / 40
Sweet Pea Pesto Crostini
I made a healthier spin on my favorite celebrity chef’s recipe by subbing in vegetable broth for some of the oil and going easy on the cheese. To top crostini, use this recipe for a pastelike pesto. For use on pasta, add more broth for a saucelike consistency. —Amber Massey, Argyle, Texas 25 / 40
Swedish Butter Cookies
It’s impossible to eat just one of these Swedish cookies. Naturally, they’re a favorite with my Swedish husband and children—but anyone with a sweet tooth will appreciate this treat. My recipe is “well-traveled” among our friends and neighbors. —Sue Soderland, Elgin, Illinois 26 / 40
Beef & Blue Cheese Tart
This elegant, rustic recipe goes together in minutes and is so simple. Perfect for entertaining! —Judy Batson, Tampa, Florida 27 / 40
Mediterranean Apricot Phyllo Bites
Apricot and almonds make these flaky little bites a delicious ending to a meal or a special evening snack. Try the tropical filling for another sensational treat.—Taste of Home Test Kitchen 28 / 40
Warm Spiced Cider Punch
This is a nice warm-up punch. I like to serve it when there is a nip in the air. The aroma of the apple cider, orange juice and spices is wonderful as the punch simmers in the slow cooker. —Susan Smith, Forest, Virginia 29 / 40
Chocolate-Dipped Strawberry Meringue Roses
Eat these pretty treats as is or crush them into a bowl of strawberries and whipped cream. Readers of my blog, utry.it, went nuts when I posted that idea.—Amy Tong, Anaheim, California 30 / 40
Mint-Cucumber Tomato Sandwiches
I jazzed up the quintessential teatime cucumber sandwich to suit my family's tastes. This was my absolute go-to sandwich last summer when I was pregnant. It hit all the right spots! —Namrata Telugu, Terre Haute, Indiana 31 / 40
Lemon Blueberry Drop Scones
I enjoy serving these fruity scones for baby and bridal showers. They're a bit lower in fat than most other scones, so you can indulge with little guilt. —Jacqueline Hendershot, Orange, California 32 / 40
Almond-Bacon Cheese Crostini
For a change from the usual toasted tomato appetizer, try this baked crostini recipe. If you like, slice the baguette at an angle instead of making a straight cut. —Leondre Hermann, Stuart, Florida 33 / 40
Parisian Chicken Bites
When a friend of mine returned from a trip to Paris, she raved about the food she had and described one of her favorite meals. It inspired me to create a similar hors d’oeuvre. —Noelle Myers, Grand Forks, North Dakota 34 / 40
Luscious Blueberry Jam
This perfectly spreadable blueberry jam boasts a beautiful dark color with a sweet, seasonal flavor. —Karen Haen, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin 35 / 40
Chai Tea Sandwich Cookies
You’ll love these cookies filled with a dreamy chai-infused ganache. They’re perfect after a meal, with a cup of tea, as a breakfast treat—or anytime at all. —Lauren Knoelke, Des Moines, Iowa 36 / 40
Steak Crostini with Carrot-Horseradish Marmalade
I've been making little tweaks to this family favorite for years. Prep everything ahead, then layer up the crostini right before party time. —Greg Fontenot, The Woodlands, Texas 37 / 40
Cinnamon Fruit Biscuits
Because these sweet treats are so easy, I'm almost embarrassed when people ask me for the recipe. They're a snap to make with refrigerated buttermilk biscuits, sugar, cinnamon and your favorite fruit preserves. —Ione Burham, Washington, Iowa 38 / 40
First-Place Coconut Macaroons
These coconut macaroons are my husband's favorite and earned me a first-place ribbon at the county fair. I especially like the fact that this recipe makes a small enough batch for the two of us to nibble on without lots left over. —Penny Ann Habeck, Shawano, Wisconsin 39 / 40
Mini Sausage Quiches
These bite-sized quiches are loaded with sausage and cheese—and all nestled into easy crescent roll dough. Serve the cute muffinettes at any brunch or potluck gathering. —Jan Mead, Milford, Connecticut 40 / 40
Jam-Topped Mini Cheesecakes
We turned cheesecake into irresistible bite-sized snacks. Feel free to swap in any favorite flavor of jam. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen Originally Published: March 11, 2021
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