Hosting a Christmas Afternoon Tea
Capture forever memories by hosting an easy Christmas Afternoon Tea this holiday season. Be inspired by beautiful teatime finger foods, table settings, serving ideas and more.

Hosting a Christmas Afternoon Tea is easier than you might think, with a bit of planning and some inspiration.
So get inspired by the following images, recipes, and ideas to deck your halls, light some candles, and create easy but memorable finger foods and treats.
And we’ve gathered some of the best ideas we could find.

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Christmas Tea Tablesettings and Inspirations
Christmas Afternoon Tea at London’s Ritz Carlton
“During the Christmas season, traditional Afternoon Tea in The Palm Court at The Ritz will be given a festive twist. You can enjoy with your family and friends, servings of delicate finger sandwiches, delicious pastries, mouth-watering cakes and freshly made scones with Cornish clotted cream and strawberry preserve whilst listening to the glorious sounds of The Ritz choir singing well-known carols.”
PHOTO CREDIT: victoriamag.com
Placecards
Christmas Tea China
Holiday Tea Service for a Christmas Tea
Elizabeth (Gold Trim) Footed Cup & Saucer Set by Royal Crown Derby
Photo credit: teatimemagazine.com
Royal Crown Derby “Elizabeth”
“The alluring and versatile gold-trimmed Elizabeth from Royal Crown is festive three ways. Learn how to incorporate this beautiful pattern into your holiday table settings.”
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Hosting a Christmas Tea Recipes
There is nothing more festive, more holiday, than a Christmas Afternoon Tea. And, it's easier than you think to host your own with these delicious, holiday recipes and table setting ideas!
Red Velvet Cake
"The pièce de resistance of any celebration, sumptuous Red Velvet Cake boasts a festive wreath of sugared cranberries and rosemary."
Chocolate Espresso Coffee Cake
“A timeless classic coffee cake filled with a moist and rich dark chocolate flavored with a touch of espresso. A cake you’ll come back to time and again.”
Honey Spiced Clementine Cakes
"Baked in individual portions, Honey Spiced Clementine Cakes dazzle with sliced fruit that caramelizes during the baking process for a mouthwatering dessert" perfect for Christmas Tea.
Soft and Spicy Gingerbread Bundt Cake
"Perfect for a holiday tea… or an evening curled up in front of the fire."
Red Velvet Cupcakes
“Topped with a generous swirl of Coconut Buttercream Frosting, Red Velvet Cupcakes are a tempting treat.”
Orange-Glazed Pound Cake
“Garnished with kumquats and fresh rosemary is a fabulous Christmas dessert.”
Plum Pudding
“This updated interpretation of a traditional English Plum Pudding is made in the microwave oven.”
Chocolate Cranberry Christmas Mini Cakes
“Simple cakes that aren’t complicated to make and look great on a festive table.”
Mini Orange Marmalade Cakes
"An homage to Esther Bolick’s signature dessert in the treasured Mitford series, our Mini Orange Marmalade Cakes feature ribbons of marmalade between layers of fluffy cake crowned with creamy vanilla frosting and fresh begonias."
Swedish Tea Ring: Festive Sweet Bread
Christmas Swedish Tea Ring, filled with cinnamon, sugar, and raisins and topped with a simple powdered sugar glaze, is a beautiful and delicious Scandinavian recipe for the holiday season!
Gingerbread Tea Cookies
Every holiday baker needs a recipe for Gingerbread Cookies that boasts both good taste and a generous yield.
Vanilla Tea Cake Cookies
Vanilla Tea Cake Cookies are a simple buttery, soft vanilla tea cookie perfect for afternoon tea. Much like Scottish Shortbread, the ingredients are simple, but the texture and vanilla flavors are deliciously unforgettable.
Christmas Thumbprint Cookies
Christmas Thumbprint Cookies are buttery cookies filled with jam and rolled in finely chopped almonds. A classic Christmas cookie perfect for parties, cookie platters, or Holiday cookie exchanges.
Mini Snowflake Cupcakes
“Mini Snowflake Cupcakes pictured Gingerbread Candy Bark and Chocolate-Filled Christmas Tree Cookies.”
Buckingham Palace Shortbread Cookies
Buckingham Palace Shortbread Cookies are a recipe from pastry chef John Higgins that's perfect for the holidays or afternoon tea.
Recipe: Mini Victoria sponge cakes
“A party fit for a queen… throw the tastiest street celebration in town with these delicious nibbles.”
Cranberry Crumb Bars with Cinnamon and Ginger
“The cranberry filling is sweetly spiced with cinnamon, ginger, and the zest of an orange. Every bite, truly, takes like Christmas.”
Christmas Tree Tea Sandwiches
“Cucumber tea sandwiches are always welcome at teatime, but this charming version will enchant your guests.”
Smoked Turkey and Cranberry Cream Sandwiches
“These Smoked Turkey and Cranberry Cream Sandwiches are a delightful addition to any holiday tea event.”
Egg and Cress Tea Sandwiches
“These tea sandwiches look very festive when we cut them out with a holly leaf cookie cutter. We use both white and wheat bread to vary the color and flavor.”
Beef au Poivre and Watercress Tea Sandwiches
“These watercress tea sandwiches are made even better with caramelized shallot butter.”
Ham Salad Tea Sandwich Stackers
“These Ham Salad Tea Sandwich Stackers are a delightful treat.”
Tea-Poached Eggs Benedict
“Eggs poached in a mixture of white wine and spiced white tea add a new twist to Eggs Benedict. Serve them over flaky Tarragon Scones with Truffled Hollandaise Sauce.”
Make-Ahead Tip: Tarragon Scones can be mixed, rolled, and cut up to a week ahead of time. Place unbaked scones on a rimmed baking sheet, and freeze. Store in a resealable plastic bag. Bake scones, unthawed.
Cranberry-Pecan Scones
“Cranberries, toasted pecans, and chopped rosemary make flavorful Cranberry-Pecan Scones.”
Cinnamon-Date Scones
"Serve at a Christmas tea — or simply curl up before a fire with Cinnamon-Date Scones and a freshly brewed cup of tea."
Ginger Pecan Cranberry Scones
“A cozy treat throughout the holidays, made perfect with a cup of tea.”
Holiday White Chocolate Cranberry Scones
It's the holiday baking season and these White Chocolate Cranberry Scones are top of my list! Buttery, mildly sweet, infused with fresh cranberries and rich, velvety white chocolate.
Royal Currant Scones Recipe
A Royal Currant Scones Recipe, from the archives of Queen Elizabeth, to serve with afternoon tea, or anytime you're craving an authentic British style scone.
Cranberry-Orange Scones
A beautiful and seasonal scone for Christmas.
Butter-Pecan Scones
“These Butter-Pecan Scones are delicious with clotted cream.”
Gluten-Free Banana-Nut Scones
“These delicious Gluten-Free Banana-Nut Scones feature pecans, banana chips, and cinnamon.”
Texas Caviar and Goat Cheese Crostini
“Traditional Texas caviar is a mixture of corn kernels, black-eyed peas, and bell pepper tossed in a light vinaigrette. Served with goat cheese on toasted baguettes, this Southern favorite becomes a gourmet treat.”
Mini Cranberry Pecan Goat Cheese Balls Appetizer
Mini Cranberry Pecan Goat Cheese Balls, a festive, delicious appetizer or snack for the holidays, that's so simple and easy it will become your go-to recipe. Packed with cranberries, pecans, fresh parsley and seasoned with cinnamon and honey. It's incredibly delicious.
Creamy Chestnut Mushroom Soup
“This is an easy, festive, perfect-for-the-season soup. Earthy chestnuts and mushrooms are simmered in a fresh herb-infused broth before being pureed into a creamy soup.”
Mini Cheese Ball Bites
"Perfect sized cheese ball bites make the perfect savory for a festive afternoon tea."
Pepper Jelly Brie Bites
“Pepper jelly brie bites are the perfect appetizer for any party or gathering. Crispy phyllo shells filled with slightly spicy pepper jelly topped with creamy brie cheese. Sweet and spicy bites of flaky deliciousness!”
Mini Yorkshire Pudding Canapes
Mini Yorkshire Pudding Canapés with roast beef and horseradish sauce, perfect for Christmas Tea.
Chocolate Waffles with Earl Grey Syrup
Chocolate Waffles, flavored with cocoa powder and chocolate tea, make a delightful breakfast treat on Christmas morning. The added surprise: The syrup is infused with Earl Grey tea.
Make-Ahead Tip: Earl Grey Syrup can be made up to a week in advance and refrigerated until needed. Get a head start on Christmas morning breakfast by mixing dry ingredients for waffles (baking mix, sugar, and cocoa powder) the night before. Then add wet ingredients in the morning.
Spicy Curried Walnuts
“These Spicy Curried Walnuts are simple to make and are a lovely Christmas gift for family and friends to enjoy during afternoon tea.”
Mincemeat Braid
“A medley of dried fruits, distilled spirits, and spices, mincemeat reflects Canada’s—particularly British Columbia’s—English roots, where this fruity mix originated.”
Afternoon Tea Resources
Afternoon Tea at 31Daily
Make Ahead Afternoon Tea Sandwiches
Afternoon Tea Scones
Afternoon Tea Savory Ideas
Afternoon Tea Sweets
How to Serve an Easy Afternoon Tea
An Autumn Afternoon Tea
A Summer Afternoon Tea