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Get step-by-step instructions and tips on making tea sandwiches that are perfect for tea time, parties, and brunches. If you’re looking for easy finger sandwiches and party appetizers that are cute and delicious, find them all here!
Tea sandwiches (also called finger sandwiches) are small sandwiches made to be eaten in 2-3 bites with your hands. They’re usually crustless to give them a dainty and delicate look and makes them easier to bite into.
Because they’re small, tea sandwiches are great finger foods to serve as appetizer for parties, baby and bridal showers, and brunches.
Expert Tips
Use a cookie cutter.
To get perfectly uniform tea sandwiches, use a cookie cutter to cut the sandwich ingredients then assemble. A simple shaped cookie cutter (like circles), without any intricate details, work the best.
Use a serrated knife to cut tea sandwiches.
If you’re not using a cookie cutter to cut the bread, make the sandwich then cut using a serrated knife.
Freeze the bread to get clean cuts.
Frozen bread cuts a lot more neatly, and holds its shape better than room temperature bread. Put the bread in the freezer for a couple of hours, or store in the freezer and take it out when you’re ready to make the sandwiches.
Cut off the crust.
Crustless tea sandwiches are easier to bite into and gives them a neater appearance.
Make them bite-sized.
Tea sandwiches are meant to be eaten in 2-3 bites so don’t make the sandwiches too big.
The sandwich fillings can usually be prepped a day or two before and kept in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
To make sandwiches ahead of time, assemble sandwiches the night before and loosely cover them with wax paper then a damp paper towel in an airtight container in the refrigerator. This will keep the sandwiches fresh overnight without drying out the bread.
Don’t let the damp paper towel touch the sandwiches since it’ll make the bread soggy. Take tea sandwiches out of the refrigerator for at least 15 minutes before serving so that they’re not cold. Tea sandwiches should be served when they are room temperature.
Cucumber sandwiches are the trickiest to keep fresh so I would recommend assembling the day of but the bread and cucumber slices can be prepped the day before.
A classic that should be on every afternoon tea menu, this dainty cucumber tea sandwich is easy to make using just 4 ingredients.A round cookie cutter creates a neat, clean cut on the bread.Blotting the sliced cucumbers and spreading on a layer of chive butter keeps the bread from going soggy and limp. Pair these tea sandwiches with a classic black tea, like English Breakfast tea for a delightful tea time.Ingredients: White bread, English cucumber, butter, chives
Dainty and delicate cucumber tea sandwiches, they're cut into rectangles. The cucumbers provide a delightful crunch, which contrasts perfectly with the soft bread and tangy cream cheese mixture. Cucumber sandwiches are the perfect vegetarian tea time snack, party appetizers for baby or bridal showers, Mother’s Day or holiday brunches.The recipe makes 4 sandwiches, which is enough for 2 people, but you can easily scale the recipe up for a larger crowd.Ingredients: White bread, mayonnaise, cream cheese, fresh dill, cucumbers
A cute mini version of a BLT, these tea sandwiches are gone in 2-3 bites. Crusts are cut off the bread using a round cookie cutter and in between each layer is bacon, tomato, and lettuce. It's all held together with a cocktail fork.Japanese mayo is used to give the BLT a little tangy flavor.Make these for a fun tea time and serve them with a pot of tea. They're also great as party appetizers!Ingredients: White bread, bacon, cocktail tomatoes, lettuce, mayo
Jam penny tea sandwiches are known for being a favorite snack of the late Queen Elizabeth II. Jam pennies are cut into circles to the size of an old English penny, hence its name.The 2-bite, crustless sandwiches are super simple to prepare and assemble with no cooking involved. All you need is 3 basic ingredients to make this tasty treat.Ingredients: White bread, salted butter, strawberry jam
Stacked with 2 layers of ham and cheese, these tea sandwiches are perfectly sized for tea time and party appetizers. Crustless and made with a round cookie cutter, it's a great sandwich to make with kids.Mayo and mustard (gives it a little kick) keep the layers together and prevents the sandwich from being too dry.It's a great tasty savory for kids and adults.Ingredients: White bread, ham, Swiss cheese, mustard, mayo, microgreen leaves
Enjoy Tiffany’s tea sandwiches at home! These savory, tangy, and delicate corned beef tea and cheese sandwiches on the iconic jeweler’s menu are perfect for your next afternoon tea. Bonus, there’s no cooking involved!Sliced corned beef adds heartiness and plenty of savory flavor to the delicate tea sandwiches. The mustard spread is a combination of butter, Dijon mustard, yellow mustard, and cornichons. It is tangy and sweet with a slight crunch.Ingredients: White bread, corned beef, Muenster cheese, salted butter, Dijon mustard, yellow mustard, cornichons
Adorable heart-shaped tea sandwiches perfect for Valentine’s Day, bridal showers, and baby showers. Soft white bread is layered with a strawberry cream cheese spread.There’s no cooking involved with this recipe. All you need to do is prep ingredients and assemble. A heart cookie cutter is the key to getting the adorable shape but any simple cookie cutter shape will also work.Ingredients: White bread, freeze-dried strawberry powder, cream cheese, sugar, lemon juice
A cheese and pickle sandwich is a British classic and this mini version is perfect for tea time. It’s one of the easiest afternoon tea recipes to make at home. It only takes 3 ingredients and there’s no cooking involved, just some prep and assembly.Ingredients: White bread, Branston pickle, sharp cheddar cheese
Cocktail tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, and bread are cut into circles then stacked together. It's topped with basil that stays in place with a cocktail fork.There's no cooking required and they're super easy to make.The recipe makes 4 tea sandwiches and it can be doubled or tripled to make enough for a small group.A good rule of thumb is to make 4-5 tea sandwiches per person.Ingredients: White bread, mozzarella cheese, cocktail tomatoes, basil
Egg salad sandwiches are on many traditional afternoon tea menus and it's a good one to make ahead of time since the egg salad keeps well in the refrigerator.A basic egg salad sandwich is made of white bread, chopped hard-boiled eggs, and mayonnaise. These are given an extra zing with dijon mustard and Japanese mayonnaise.Serve these tea sandwiches with green tea, oolong tea, and black tea.Ingredients: White bread, eggs, mustard, mayo, sea salt, parsley
Chopped smoked salmon with cream cheese tea sandwiches are easy to make and so easy to eat! These 2-bite finger sandwiches are a quintessential part of the afternoon tea experience. No cooking is required, just prepping and assembling.Ingredients: Whole wheat bread, smoked salmon, cream cheese, lemon juice, dill
These PB&J tea sandwiches are perfect for tea time with kids.Plastic sandwich bags are used as piping bags for the peanut butter and jelly so it's mess-fess. Get more tips and tricks to make these 3-ingredient tea sandwiches using step-by-step instructions.Pair these sandwiches with a kid-friendly caffeine-free tea like hibiscus tea.Ingredients: White bread, peanut butter, jelly or jam
A delicious combination of ham, brie and honey mustard in one tea sandwich.The smoky, creamy, and sweet flavors of the three ingredients are so good together, and the addition of peppery arugula ties the tea sandwiches together while giving it a bright pop of color.Ingredients: White bread, brie, ham, arugula, honey, mustard
A mini Fluffernutter sandwich, this is stacked with peanut butter, marshmallow creme, and Nutella.Kid-friendly, it's perfect for children's tea parties. The trick to making them perfect is using a round cookie cutter and using plastic bags as piping bags.Pair these sweet tea sandwiches with an herbal or caffeine-free tea if they're for kids.Ingredients: White bread, peanut butter, marshmallow fluff, Nutella
A crowd-pleaser, these stunning tea sandwiches are made by forming sliced radishes into a rose shape.Are they a bit of a pain to make? Yes. Are they super pretty and will wow your guests? YES.A mandoline slicer is key to getting the radishes the same size. Butter is used to keep the radish rose in place on top of the bread.They're perfect for baby showers and bridal showers.Ingredients: White bread, radishes, butter, sea salt
Blue cheese and pears are a delicious tea sandwich combination. These 2-bite sandwiches are the perfect balance of sweet and salty, with added crunch from chopped walnuts.There’s no cooking involved to prepare this easy recipe. All it takes is a little mixing, cutting, and assembling.Ingredients: White bread, blue cheese, pear, walnuts, unsalted butter, parsley
Sweet and salty, these apricot jam and aged cheddar tea sandwiches are a perfect for afternoon tea or as party appetizers.Made with 3 ingredients, ready in minutes, and there’s no cooking involved. Ingredients: White bread, apricot jam, aged cheddar cheese
A decorative rose is made using prosciutto, an Italian ham. It's rolled into a rose and placed on top of white bread.The tea sandwich under the prosciutto rose is made with sweetened goat cheese and basil.It's a delicious flavor combination that you and your guests will love.Ingredients: White bread, prosciutto, basil, goat cheese, honey
These tea sandwiches have everything you love about club sandwiches, but they are daintier and easy to eat in 2 bites. They have 3 different kinds of meat (bacon, turkey, and ham) and 3 layers of bread.The only ingredient that requires cooking in this recipe is the crispy bacon, which no club sandwich is complete without.Ingredients: Thin white bread, bacon, turkey, ham, butter lettuce, cocktail tomatoes, mayo
Adorable mini roast beef tea sandwiches that has a little kick from horseradish mayo.There's no cooking involved in making these tea sandwiches so all that's needed is prepping and assembling.The roast beef is from the deli section of the supermarket and get it cut thin so that they're easy to bite into.Ingredients: White bread, roast beef, watercress, horseradish, mayo, pepper
Thin, white bread is traditionally used to make tea sandwiches since they’re the easiest to bite into but you can use whole wheat if you like.
How many tea sandwiches should I make for each person?
Make 4-5 tea sandwiches per person.
How many different kinds of tea sandwiches should I make?
Up to 5 different kinds of tea sandwiches can be made so that each person getting 5 tea sandwiches can get one of each. But making 5 different tea sandwiches is highly ambitious so I would stick with making 2 or 3 for a little variety.
What kind of tea should be served with tea sandwiches?
Traditionally, black tea is served with afternoon tea and they pair great with tea sandwiches. Earl Grey,English breakfast tea, and Assam are all great black tea options.
What are some classic, traditional tea sandwiches?
Cucumber is the most popular tea sandwich and can be found in almost all afternoon tea menus. Smoked salmon and egg with mayo are also popular and are considered classics.
I just want to say a huge thank you! I am hosting my niece’s Baby Sprinkle. It’s just a 2 hour Open House, but I thought serving tea sandwiches was a nice light snack. This post was SO very helpful! I made egg salad, and bought chicken salad. Everything came together well, but your advice about making the sandwiches the day before, and storing them overnight saved me! I really do appreciate this post. If I find myself actually hosting tea, I will come flying back to your blog!
Hi Jee,
So glad to have come across this article! I am hosting a bridal tea in a few weeks and have a question about prepping the tea sandwiches. You mention freezing the bread first for getting neat edges. Do you make the sandwiches on the frozen bread then cut off the crusts? I plan to play around with gluten free bread as an option for some of my guests.
Hi Lori, I cut the frozen (slightly thawed) bread first then assemble the sandwiches. The bread circles are pretty small so it thaws fairly quickly so it most likely won’t be frozen when you make the sandwiches.
Thanks for the article, links, recipes! Ordered the cookie cutters which worked perfectly, and the little wooden forks were just right!! Everyone loved the spicy avocado sandwiches (I made with dark rye as I could not find pumpernickel at any of my local stores), and the cucumber ones were refreshing! Thanks again!!
Coming over from the tea drinkers group! These all look fabulous! We have our own herbal tea farm and tea shop online. We have a great affiliate program if you are ever interested 🙂 Cheers!
These are absolutely gorgeous and look delicious too. Thank you for sharing; I can’t wait to make some of these for guests!
Awesome Recipes! We love High Tea in Our Home!
I just want to say a huge thank you! I am hosting my niece’s Baby Sprinkle. It’s just a 2 hour Open House, but I thought serving tea sandwiches was a nice light snack. This post was SO very helpful! I made egg salad, and bought chicken salad. Everything came together well, but your advice about making the sandwiches the day before, and storing them overnight saved me! I really do appreciate this post. If I find myself actually hosting tea, I will come flying back to your blog!
Hi Jee,
So glad to have come across this article! I am hosting a bridal tea in a few weeks and have a question about prepping the tea sandwiches. You mention freezing the bread first for getting neat edges. Do you make the sandwiches on the frozen bread then cut off the crusts? I plan to play around with gluten free bread as an option for some of my guests.
Hi Lori, I cut the frozen (slightly thawed) bread first then assemble the sandwiches. The bread circles are pretty small so it thaws fairly quickly so it most likely won’t be frozen when you make the sandwiches.
Hi!
How do you get the jam/peanut butter/Nutella/marshmallow fluff so perfectly neat and tidy on the bread?
Hi Melissa, I use a plastic sandwich bag to use as piping bags. Here is the step-by-step: https://www.ohhowcivilized.com/fluffernutter-tea-sandwiches/
I am so glad I found you! I host a weekly tea party and needed some new ideas. This is it! I love tea!
This is a great resource, thank you very much!
Thanks for the article, links, recipes! Ordered the cookie cutters which worked perfectly, and the little wooden forks were just right!! Everyone loved the spicy avocado sandwiches (I made with dark rye as I could not find pumpernickel at any of my local stores), and the cucumber ones were refreshing! Thanks again!!
Wonderful! Happy to hear the tea sandwiches were hits!
Coming over from the tea drinkers group! These all look fabulous! We have our own herbal tea farm and tea shop online. We have a great affiliate program if you are ever interested 🙂 Cheers!