Afternoon tea

My friend hosted a lovely tea party a few months ago to celebrate a mutual friend's birthday.

Her tip was to use a square cake tin for baking (and a loaf tin for a light fruitcake so slicing into dainty thin slices was easy) then her cakes - she made three different ones - could be neatly cut into tiny squares. They looked very dainty and she decorated the squares with either a teaspoon of icing or fresh whipped cream and
small bits of fresh fruit. She said it was much easier than messing about with individual tiny cakes. They looked a picture - very professional. She also made some really tiny cheese scones which were delicious.

It was all served on mismatched bit of bone china, the tea in dainty cups - a few of us contributed - and it was a lovely, special experience. Good luck!

Iceland sell packets of tiny frozen eclairs. Marvelous for afternoon yes.

Iceland sell packets of tiny frozen eclairs. They are marvelous for a dainty tea.

That works. I used to roll out bread really thinly, butter it and cut out circles with a scone cutter to make little pastry cases. You just bake until crisp and add filling. A change from vol an vents.

I can remember reading something about making dainty sandwiches. You should use a rolling pin to flatten each slice before buttering and filling the sandwich. No one wants doorstop bread at a cream tea!

All welcome, 3.30 on Friday!

Pinwheel sandwiches! I'd forgotten all about those. Used to make them once upon a time. That's a good idea.

You're welcome, henbane. I just popped back to say that I'd forgotten what might well be a crucial step. Wrap tightly in clingfilm and chill for 30 minutes before slicing. And cream cheese as part of the filling helps keep it all together.

Thanks Maggiemaybe have noted pinwheel sandwich details for future use - I bet DGD will love them (& we're taking her for a picnic on Weds)

But the cream goes on first in Devon!

Scones without butter, no need for butter when having clotted cream and jam,as I have just tasted in Cornwall, soo delicious, oh dont forget, the jam goes on first in Cornwall!

Can we all come?

I agree Hilda a really good cream tea is excellent.
The afternoon teas we have had ( eye wateringly expensive in The Cotswolds) have been disappointing.

But anyway, finger sandwiches ( crustless) with smoked salmon, egg and cress,
Or ham and chutney,
Small cakes to choose from and a choice of teas.

I hadn't realised thin sliced bread was a thing of the past! If it helps I have occasionally made pinwheel sandwiches, which are very dainty. Cut the crusts off white bread, flatten and lengthen it with a rolling pin, spread filling on, roll up and slice into bite-sized pinwheels. They've always gone down well.

Oh dear, I didn't know you can't buy thinly sliced bread, I rarely buy bread and certainly can't cut it myself.
What I can do myself is cook, wouldn't dream of buying cakes from Mr Kipling or M&S!

And perhaps some tiny sausage rolls?!

Anya, pensionpat - The thinnest I've found are medium, but specifically in the ultra cheap ranges - Lidl's Simply, Sainsbury's Basics, white or wholemeal - though I'm sure they're still thicker cut than the old thin sliced we used to use for posh sandwiches!

I'm doing a tea for friends tomorrow and wanted thin-sliced bread. Not seen any for years.is medium sliced the same as thin was? And thick sliced what medium was? And farmhouse what thick was?

Dainty sandwiches and a Victoria Sandwich always go down nicely with a pot of tea.

Have my friend coming to lunch on Wednesday, decided on quice ordered from Waitrose, cheese and onion, cheeses, French bread, dishes of pickle, cucumber and cherry tomatoes. Making a cake and selection of biscuits and tea.oh and some rocket.

henbane I've not found any. Let me know if you do.

I think the delight of "afternoon tea" is having it prettily presented by someone else. Nice china etc. It has to be done properly.

Is it still possible to buy thin cut bread for sandwiches? It seems to have gone out of fashion! If I buy sandwiches when out for the day, I usually wind up ditching one round of bread and having an open sandwich - too much carbohydrate otherwise. But sandwiches at home are also a problem, I can't find thin cut bread to buy, and can't slice it thin enough myself.

Yuk! Can't stand that taste of bergamot Ana - yes offer a choice of tea too.

Not everyone likes Earl Grey (or Ear Grey!) tea, so not sure about that...