Treat Mum To The Ultimate Afternoon Tea

By Allison Hay

Istockphoto © Mum, daughter and granddaughter with spring flowers for afternoon tea recipes and tips

Pic: Istockphoto

Make your mum’s day with an afternoon tea fit for a queen! These simple afternoon tea recipes and tips include everything needed for a sumptuous spread…

Finding the perfect Mother’s Day gift can be a struggle. The celebration needs to reflect how much you appreciate everything that your mum does for you – and sometimes a box of chocolates just won’t cut it! This year, why not make your gift more personal and go the extra mile to enjoy a homemade mother and daughter afternoon tea? These have become a huge trend in recent years, but you don’t have to eat out to enjoy the experience. Instead, follow our advice and create a gorgeous spread at home.

With so many combinations of sandwiches, cakes and other sweet treats to choose from, it can be difficult to decide what to serve. Renowned chef George Rouse believes that creating your own combinations can be a fun, creative way of treating your mum to a wonderful day. Here’s his top tips…

Chef George Rouse’s 5 Afternoon Tea Tips

1. Savoury Saviours

The traditional savoury treats that feature on afternoon tea menus typically include a selection of finger sandwiches. At George’s Kitchen combinations that incorporate fresh and seasonal ingredients go down so well, such as salmon and herbed cheese or turkey, cranberry and brie. However, there are so many ways you can mix these up if you want to break away from tradition for your girly lunch! For more of a picnic feel, you could rustle up some quiches, homemade sausage rolls or even delicious scotch eggs. Remember to make them mini-sized so there’s plenty of room for sweet treats later! Prepare and store them a couple of days prior to the occasion if you’re trying to save time.

2. Scones with a Twist

No afternoon tea is complete without a scone. The traditional choice would of course be a simple sultana or raisin dotted treat, covered in jam and cream. However, there’s no reason you can’t mix things up and get creative with the flavours. Why not consider your mum’s favourite fruit and see if you can incorporate it into your baking? And where do you fall on the jam first, or cream first debate? Try our delicious recipes for Blueberry Scones, Cherry Scones and Savoury Cheese Scones.

3. The Sweet Stuff

Happy Mothers Day aqua blue vintage retro shaby chic tray with pink cupcake close up with pink hearts and ribbon decoration and gift tag Pic: Istockphoto

Pic: Istockphoto

The best bit about an afternoon tea for anyone with a sweet tooth is definitely the desserts that can be enjoyed alongside a cup of tea. This is also a great opportunity to showcase your baking skills and get creative. It’s always a good idea to have a selection of about 4-5 cakes and biscuits; these could be anything from a simple Victoria sponge to a decorative macaroon. Mini cupcakes or larger cakes cut into dainty squares will allow your guest to try a delicious variety, so be careful to offer smaller than normal portions. See our recipes for Chocolate & Caramelised Pear Cake and Passion Fruit & Almond Drizzle Cake.

4. Make It Themed!

One of the biggest trends for afternoon teas at the moment is themes. From chocoholics and gin lovers, to Disney and Harry Potter fans, there’s an afternoon tea for everyone! Choosing a theme for your own at-home tea party can really make your spread pop. You could theme it around your mum’s favourite film, singer or even opt for a simple Mother’s Day theme by incorporating flowers or hearts into both the decoration and food. Edible flowers can look great on top of cakes for natural decoration, or even in savoury dishes to add a unique, luxury feel.

5. Presentation

Pic: Istockphoto

People eat with their eyes! Your home baking and cooking will be Instagram ready if it’s dressed to the nines. Shop around for some nice cake stands and props that go alongside your theme. Usually, each course is presented on a different tier, but you could mix things up with a variety of unconventional plates and dishes. For example, you could play on the concept of a traditional tea party by serving gin from a tea pot. It’s also important to remember finishing touches like napkins; these are practical but also add colour and a touch of luxury to your table.