If you're planning a whimsical get-together and wondering what to serve, you're in the right place. Tea party food should be charming, satisfying, and easy to eat while chatting or sipping from a dainty cup.
Whether you're hosting a backyard gathering, a birthday celebration, a bridal shower, or just having fun with your teens or tweens, this guide to tea party food will help you build a table that's as lovely to look at as it is to eat.
If you're looking for decorating and setup inspiration, be sure to check out this tea party post full of ideas to make your gathering feel extra special.
Sweet Treats to Serve at a Tea Party
Sweets are often the highlight of any tea party menu. They're dainty, pretty, and just the right size for enjoying with a cup of tea. Here are some traditional and creative tea party food ideas to satisfy everyone's sweet tooth.
1. Mini Cakes and Petit Fours
These bite-sized beauties are a staple at many formal tea parties. You can make your own or grab a pretty box from a local bakery. Look for light sponge layers, soft pastel frostings, and fruit or floral accents. They feel fancy, even if you cheat a little and use store-bought.
2. Scones with Clotted Cream and Jam
No tea party is complete without scones. You can go traditional with plain or currant scones, or try fun flavors like lemon poppyseed or blueberry. Don’t skip the clotted cream and jam—it's the classic pairing everyone expects.
Try this scone and clotted cream recipe from Country at Heart Recipes
3. Cookies and Shortbread
Small cookies are perfect for tea time. Think buttery shortbread, vanilla bean sugar cookies, or something seasonal like lavender or rosewater for an elegant twist. You could even serve decorated cookies that match your party theme.
🍪Make tasty lemon lavender shortbread cookies from The Heirloom Pantry
4. Cupcakes or Mini Muffins
Cupcakes let you get playful with frosting and toppings, while mini muffins (like lemon, banana nut, or blueberry) feel a little more laid-back but still festive. Both are great for filling up a dessert tray.
🍋To make these delicious lemon poppy seed muffins, click over to Brunch and Batter
5. Chocolate-Covered Strawberries or Fruit Tarts
Want to add a fresh, juicy element? Chocolate-dipped berries are easy and eye-catching. Mini fruit tarts are another great option if you’re leaning into a more elegant or European vibe.
🍓Try this mini fruit tart tutorial from Jess Recipes for a sweet finishing touch
🍰Want even more sweet, bite-sized treats? I’ve got a whole list of mini desserts everyone will love that are perfect for tea parties, baby showers, or anytime you want something cute, easy, and seriously delicious. Think mini cheesecakes, brownie bites, fruit tarts, and no-bake favorites—all sized for sharing (or not sharing, no judgment).
Savory Tea Party Food Ideas
You’ve got to balance out all that sweetness with a little something savory. These options are typically easy to prep ahead and serve at room temp, so you’re not tied to the kitchen during the party.
6. Finger Sandwiches
Cucumber and cream cheese is the classic tea sandwich, but don’t stop there. Try egg salad, smoked salmon with dill, chicken salad with grapes, or even pimento cheese. Cut the crusts off and go for triangles or fancy shapes using cookie cutters.
There are finger sandwich recipes that cover everything from classic to creative.
☕The tea’s steeping, the scones are baking... but what about the sandwiches? Check out my favorite finger sandwich combos right here—some classic, some unexpected, all totally tea-party approved.
7. Mini Quiches
These are perfect for brunch-style tea parties. You can bake them in mini muffin tins or buy pre-made ones. Flavors like spinach and feta, ham and cheddar, or mushroom and Swiss are crowd-pleasers.
For make-ahead savory bites, this mini quiche recipe from Little Sunny Kitchen is perfect.
8. Cheese and Crackers
Create a small cheese board with bite-sized cubes or slices, a couple of types of crackers, and maybe some grapes or olives. Keep it simple but elevated—this gives your guests something to nibble on between sweets.
9. Savory Pastries
Puff pastry is your friend here. Bake up some mini cheese twists, spinach puffs, or even sausage rolls. They look impressive but come together easily and can be served warm or at room temp.
To make these amazing spinach puffs, click over to All We Eat
10. Deviled Eggs
These little classics are always a hit. You can go traditional with paprika or get creative with add-ins like bacon, pickle relish, or a touch of sriracha. They’re easy to make ahead, hold up well in the fridge, and feel both retro and fancy.
🥚Get this classic recipe from Life Made Simple Bakes
11. Mini Caprese Skewers
Add a touch of freshness with caprese skewers made with mozzarella balls, cherry tomatoes, and basil leaves drizzled in balsamic glaze. These are colorful, refreshing, and super easy to assemble right before the party.
Fresh and Fruity Tea Party Options
Fresh fruit adds color, lightness, and a healthy-ish touch to the spread. It also helps balance the richness of your other dishes.
12. Fruit Skewers or Fruit Salad
Thread bite-sized pieces of fruit onto mini skewers or cocktail picks for a fun and pretty way to serve them. Use a mix of colors like strawberries, pineapple, kiwi, blueberries, and melon.
Use cookie cutters to cut melon slices into hearts, stars, or flowers. This is especially fun for a kids’ tea party, but honestly, it’s adorable at any age.
Or serve fruit salad in teacups or decorative bowls for a cute presentation.
13. Parfaits
A layered fruit parfait with yogurt or whipped cream, served in small cups, makes a lovely addition to your table.
Make this refreshing treat with the help of Great Grub Delicious Treats
Drinks to Pair with Tea Party Food
Obviously, you need tea, but you can also include some fun extras to make sure everyone finds something they enjoy.
14. Hot Tea Options
Offer a few varieties: Earl Grey, English Breakfast, and a caffeine-free herbal option like chamomile or mint. If you have the setup, a teapot with loose-leaf tea and a strainer adds a vintage touch.
15. Iced Tea or Infused Water
Great for warmer weather, iced tea can be sweetened or unsweetened and garnished with lemon slices, herbs, or berries. Infused water with cucumber and mint or citrus slices is also refreshing and easy.
16. Lemonade or Sparkling Drinks
For a fun twist, serve sparkling lemonade or mocktails in teacups or flutes. Even simple drinks feel fancy when served in the right glass.
🍸45 Best Party Juice Recipes Perfect For Your Next Bash
Set of 2, 1 Gallon with Stand
Kid-Friendly Tea Party Food Ideas
If your tea party includes tweens, teens, or little kids, keep some playful options in the mix. These fun bites are more likely to get eaten (and less likely to end up smeared on their outfit).
17. Mini PB&J or Nut-Free Alternatives
Use a small cookie cutter to turn classic PB&Js into tea-sized bites. Sunbutter and jelly work great for allergy-friendly homes.
18. Mini Donuts or Sweet Cereal Mix
Kids love familiar snacks. Set out a tray of mini donuts, or serve a sweet mix of cereal, mini marshmallows, and chocolate chips in teacups.
19. DIY Cookie Decorating
Put out plain sugar cookies, frosting, and sprinkles, and let kids decorate their own treats. It’s an activity and a dessert all in one.
How to Build Your Tea Party Food Table
Once you’ve picked your menu, it’s all about the setup. A well-arranged food table can be just as much of a showstopper as the decor.
- Use tiered trays to create height and interest
- Group similar foods together (all sweets on one end, savory on the other)
- Label items with little handwritten cards for that vintage tea party vibe
- Add flowers, lace, or a pastel tablecloth to pull everything together
And remember, you don’t have to make everything from scratch. Mix homemade with store-bought, and if a blogger has a recipe you love, link out to them! Your guests won’t know (or care) who made the tartlets—they’ll just be happy to eat them.
Planning a tea party menu doesn’t have to be fussy or overwhelming. Just aim for a good mix of sweet, savory, and fresh, and focus on presentation to make things feel special.
If you're involving kids, keep it playful. If it's for grown-ups, don't be afraid to add a little flair. Either way, tea party food should be a fun part of your gathering, not a stressor.
And if you're still in the planning phase, make sure you check out my full tea party guide here for more inspiration.
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