Afternoon Tea Party

An afternoon tea party is an event for all the ladies to get together and have a good time with some tea and snacks. It can be considered as a light lunch affair and was initiated by the British as tea was, and still is a favorite with them. You can always have a tea party for any occasion such as a shower, birthday, graduation or simply as a get together. It's a great opportunity to spend some quality time with friends and family when you on a day off from work or it's been a long time since you've caught up with them. Scroll down for some interesting afternoon tea party ideas.

Afternoon Tea Party Ideas

Hosting an afternoon tea party can be fun as you get to make some tasty recipes for the tea party. Usually an afternoon tea party can be scheduled to 4:00 pm or a little earlier. Given below are some tips to organize an afternoon tea party which your friends will love. So think of a day and invite them over.

Table Settings

If you want to have a theme you can, but preferably keep it simple and quiet. The table for an afternoon tea party is the most important place of the occasion. You can mix and match the colors of the table cloth and the crockery in your own way.

If you set a white floral cloth, then co-ordinate the tea set accordingly. Set a white banquet to keep the food, while water glasses will go to the sides. Use a floral centerpiece or just a round bouquet in a vase would look attractive. Complement or match the napkins with the table color and lay out the china along with spoons and knives. Your lovely afternoon tea party table is all set for the party.

Afternoon Tea Party Menu

The main item of your tea party is the afternoon tea. With this tea you can serve a number of other eatables like sandwiches, cupcakes, scones, flavored tarts, biscuits, muffins, cakes and fruits. Given below are some afternoon tea party recipes which will surely give your guests an enjoyable treat.

Blueberry Pancakes
Ingredients

• 1 cup flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon baking soda
• 2 tablespoons white sugar
• 1 large beaten egg
• 1 cup buttermilk
• Fresh frozen blueberries
• Melted butter or oil for greasing
• Salt

Directions
In a large mixing bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and sugar together properly. In another bowl, mix the egg, buttermilk and butter thoroughly. Mix both these mixtures together and whisk them well so that there should not be any lumps in the batter. Refrigerate for about 24 hours. Heat a pan on low flame and grease it with some oil or butter. Pour the batter on the pan to make a small circle and then sprinkle some fresh blueberries on it. After it is slightly brown from the lower side, turn it over and then cook it from the other side. Serve them hot and crispy.

Chocolate Almond Torte
Ingredients

• 7 ounces of bitter chocolate, chopped
• 11 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 150 gms white sugar
• 4 large separated eggs
• ½ teaspoon vanilla
• 100 gms ground almond
• ¼ teaspoon cream tartar

Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 ºF and roast the almonds on the baking sheet for some time. Separate the egg whites and yolks in two different bowls and whisk them well. Melt the chopped chocolate and butter in a sauce pan and then place it in simmering water. In a large mixing bowl, add the egg yolks and sugar and mix them with an electric beater. Beat the chocolate and vanilla with it and then add in the ground almonds. In another bowl, add the egg white and the cream of tartar to beat it together. Then mix the sugar slowly so that it mixes well. Combine both these mixtures to prepare a complete batter and then pour it into the prepared baking dish. Bake it for about 45 minutes in the oven and then remove from the oven. Dust it with some sugar when it is crispy and hot.

Puppy Cheesecakes
Ingredients

Crust

• 1 cup graham wafer crumbs
• 1 tablespoon white sugar
• 4 tablespoons melted unsalted butter

Filling

• 8 ounces cream cheese
• 3 cup white sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• ½ cup sour cream

Directions
Preheat the oven to 300 ºF. For the crust, take a small bowl combine the wafer crumbs, sugar and melted butter. Take this mixture in a spoon and press it deep into 12 muffin cups lined with parchment paper. Cover it and refrigerate till you finish the filling. For the filling, beat the cream cheese with sugar in a bowl with an electric beater. Beat the eggs, vanilla and the sour cream together and add them to the first bowl to make the batter smooth and lump-less. Pour it in the cups and bake it in the oven for about 20 minutes till they are cooked well. Let them cool at room temperature and then refrigerate overnight. Peel the parchment paper off the cakes and then serve them with strawberry sauce topping.

With those ideas for your afternoon tea party, I am sure you're all set to throw one. So, pick out a date and have a great time with all your friends.