Imagine a table full of fine china and miniature desserts. Sounds like heaven, yes? It’s also a great way to host a very inexpensive baby shower. An afternoon tea party is a fun and fancy way to celebrate an impending bundle of joy. Simply collect your rarely-used fine china (or borrow some), make some adorable munchies, put together some favors, plan a few games and you’ll be ready to go.
For inspiration, here’s a short video showing the sweet treats and beautiful table settings at the Savoy in London.
You may also choose to offer tea bags and hot water so that you can provide your guests with a variety of flavor options. Many teas, especially English Breakfast or Earl Grey, pair well with sugar and cream. Others like lemon or honey in their tea, so don’t forget to provide them (and spoons to stir them in)!
Most English tea services will include savory treats like dainty sandwiches, simple pastries like scones and sweet treats like truffles. While you can skip the cucumber sandwiches, providing some sweet and simple bite-sized treats will make your tea all the more enjoyable. Additionally, making the refreshments bite-sized plays beautifully into a theme of tiny things that bring joy (like babies)!
Some of my favorite dishes to make for an afternoon tea party are tiny cinnamon rolls, petite scones and sweet-stuffed strawberries. For guests who want to avoid caffeine or prefer a cold drink to a hot one, you can offer infused ice water. Served in a glass pitcher, infused waters can be as beautiful as they are delicious. Fruits, vegetables and herbs can all be added in different combinations for a simple, upscale treat. Head over to Infusedwaters.com for a variety of recipes and inspiration.
Food.com offers a simple recipe for tiny cinnamon rolls made with crescent roll dough to simplify the process. My very favorite petite vanilla scone recipe comes from Ree Drummond, also known as the Pioneer Woman. She makes just about everything from scratch and isn’t afraid of butter or heavy cream. Rightly so, since her family lives on a ranch and probably burns more calories in a day than most of us do in a week. Regardless, these scones are a perfect treat for a tea party. Cream-filled strawberries are a delightful treat. The full recipe is available at Joyofbaking.com and you can see how to make them below!
A native of Wales, Catherine came to the U.S. to study culinary arts and ended up marrying her instructor. They both specialize in preparing food for people with special dietary needs. Catherine loves sharing her recipes with fans online.
