Healthy English Tea Recipes

High tea is all about enjoying an afternoon break with a warm cup of tea and a fair amount of snacks, both sweet and savory! So, the holidays are the perfect time to share a seasonal high tea menu with friends and family.

I’ve gone out for high tea a couple of times and even with sometimes limited vegan options, it still is such a fun, low-key experience. If you’re not familiar with the concept of high tea, it started out as an afternoon meal to hold you over until a late dinner. So, instead of the traditional tea time where you would have maybe some biscuits as a light snack, this tea venture is more involved AKA more delicious.

Now, in my experience, high tea features both savory and sweet foods, and many bread-type things. What’s not to like? For my menu I wanted to have a good variety of seasonal flavors, but also not be super overwhelming. So, yes, there are some cookies and baked goods, but there are also finger foods that take literally 5 or so minutes to make. Hooray!

Afternoon Tea Party Sandwiches (indian Inspired)

This is another recipe that already resides on my site but definitely needed a refresh, so this worked out swimmingly! I updated the measurements with metric equivalents and put everything in a recipe plug-in. The whole recipe makes 30 cookies, so I recommend making a 1/3 recipe which I’ve outlined below so you don’t have to do the math! But, follow the link above for the full directions/recipe.

This is a recipe I already have on the blog in full-size form, but if you 1/2 the ingredients, cut the scones into 2-inch triangles, and bake for 13-15 minutes, you will have 12 perfect lil’ scones for tea time.

This recipe is new, and made just for this! Though I was inspired by some similar vegan turkey rollups that I posted last year.

Afternoon Tea Recipes For A Proper British High Tea

In an effort to substitute the quintessential cucumber tea sandwich with a more seasonal, and vegan-friendly version, I came up with these tea sandwiches that have thinly sliced, roasted winter squash, fresh arugula, and a chickpea salad seasoned with rosemary and lemon. YUM! And while cutting the crust off of these isn’t for the faint of heart, it makes for a polished main.

I LOOOOOVE this recipe, and actually developed it as a New Year’s appetizer a couple years back. I’ve made it a few times since then, and maybe just had 6 of them as part of my lunch today. They’re so incredibly easy to make, and you only need a 1/2 recipe for this High Tea menu. If you aren’t a fan of vegan cream cheese, sub it out with vegan ricotta and it will still be great.

I recommend making these pretty dang close to when you’re going to put the spread together as they only take a few minutes, and you don’t want the toasted crostini to get stale. And these can easily be made gluten-free if you use GF bread or crackers in place of the baguette.

Healthy Afternoon Tea Ideas

Where there is an actual recipe. But, because I want this to be fun, easy, and seasonal, please use whatever veggies suit your fancy!

In this case, I used chard stems (in lieu of celery sticks), quartered radishes, sugar snap peas, carrot sticks, and baby greens. All you have to do is place them standing up in a ramekin or shot glass, but first fill it with a couple tablespoons of vegan ranch, or other desired dressing. Et voilà! You have a cute lil’ veggie snack that can double as a palate cleanser of sorts between the other bites. And really, I think you only need one per person.

Now, if you’re super unfamiliar with high tea, you may need tea suggestions. It really is personal preference, but I do suggest avoiding lattes or heavy tea drinks. Here are a few tea options that would pair well with this menu: peppermint, chamomile, English breakfast, Earl Grey, black tea, Rooibos, anything citrusy, and I wouldn’t dabble in anything too herbal/rooty or super-spiced, in this case.

Best Afternoon Tea Recipes And Ideas 2022

Of course, it’s nice to have a little soy or oatmilk milk on hand for some milky tea, plus some agave in place of honey. Now go, enjoy your wonderful High Tea, and let me know how it goes!

All of your selections look wonderful . I especially like the marmalade thumb cookies drizzled with chocolate. I've only had high tea on a cruise and it was quite the fancy ordeal. They even had a few options for vegans and gluten-free.

@Judee@glutenfreeA-Z Blog, Oooh I can imagine it being super fancy on a cruise! Glad to hear they had some allergy-friendly options, too!Afternoon Teas have a long history here in the UK, and for good reason. They provide that perfect mix of great company, flavoursome food and delicious tea, and are a great way to catch up with friends.

Tea Sandwiches (3 Recipes!)

These traditional get-togethers have seen a real revival over recent years, with more and more of us discovering what a great way an afternoon tea is to get everyone together and share some memorable times. Although they’re typically crammed full of fatty, high calorie treats, there are healthier ways to enjoy an afternoon tea. Here are a few of our very top tips so you and your guests can indulge without even a hint of guilt.

Afternoon tea simply wouldn’t be the same without some delicious cakes. However, these are often the treat that packs the most fat and sugar on the menu, so finding a healthier version wherever you can is a great idea. First off, choosing the right low-fat spread will cut down the saturated fat in your cake significantly, and skimmed milk or low fat yogurt can often be used to replace whole milk or single cream. Another handy swap is to use fat-free ricotta cheese with a little sweetener to replace thick creams in recipes. To sweeten your cakes, it’s a good idea to use lower amounts of anything containing sugar. Try adding half or three-quarter quantities of the cane sugar that you usually would and your favourite recipes really will still taste delicious. You could also replace this lower quantity with alternatives like dates, ripe bananas or fresh fruit. These make delicious, moist cakes, but do still count towards your daily allowance of sugar, so be sure to keep an eye on how much you add to your baking.

Many people feel that sandwiches are a must-have at an afternoon tea, but if you or your guests are looking to go gluten-free, baking your own with gluten-free flour, or opting for a shop bought gluten-free bread, can ensure you still provide sandwiches which your guests will love. Open sandwiches are another great option; they look and taste great, whilst halving the amount of bread used. If you do decide on traditional afternoon tea sandwiches, you’ll find that most include butter and either mayonnaise or cream cheese. To slash the fat in your sandwiches, include light (or extra light) versions of these essentials. To add a few more vitamins and minerals - as well as a great flavour - to your sandwiches, include fresh foods like pepper, rocket, spinach and tomato. With these tips in mind, there really is no need to cut out the smoked salmon and cream cheese, egg mayonnaise or prawn cocktail flavours from your next afternoon tea.

Afternoon Tea Party Recipes

Alongside your healthy cakes and sandwiches, you could choose to keep it simple by offering a fresh bowl of fruit salad, or you could go all out with the healthy snacks! For a delicious and healthy treat, why not try slicing apples or pears up thinly, and roasting them in the oven until they’re crispy on both sides? Add a little cinnamon once they’re cooked and you’ll be bound to satisfy your sweet tooth! Also, batons of crisp celery and carrot served with low-fat hummus or yogurt are a nutritious afternoon tea snack. Finally, why not consider making fruit kebabs? Simply prepare and slice a few vibrant coloured fruits like strawberries, pineapple, kiwi and orange and carefully slide them onto a wooden skewer – delicious!

Sandwich Inspiration! These three delicious, colourful, tasty options are all completely vegetarian (two are vegan) and they’re made with gluten free bread.

These cashew & vanilla cupcakes may be totally vegan, gluten free and free from refined sugar but they’re perfectly sweet and moreish with a melt-in-your-mouth sponge and the creamiest frosting you could wish for.

Vegan Holiday High Tea

These delicious vegan brownies are nutty, fudgy, and seriously moist, ideal for vegans, those with dairy intolerances or the chocolate lover in your life.

One of the most important elements of a healthy lifestyle is getting involved in physical activity. If you’re looking to make your afternoon tea that little bit healthier, why not line up some fun activities for people to get stuck in to? Playing a game of croquet or badminton is a great way to keep tradition alive at your afternoon tea, or if you’re enjoying tea with children, why not try hiding some toys or fruity treats around the garden and