21 Best Ideas for Your Christmas Tea Party Menu 2024
Have a look at these brilliant 21 Christmas tea party menu items that are simple to prepare in advance so you can relax and have a good time with your guests. Most of these Christmas tea party food ideas can be adapted to be gluten free or vegetarian.
Christmas is the perfect time of year to host tea parties. A festive afternoon tea is a great way to gather close friends and family for a stress-free, fun Christmas celebration.
When planning a Christmas tea party menu, it’s a good idea to have three courses/varieties: sandwiches and savories, scones and quick breads, and desserts.
So if you are wondering what to serve at a Christmas Tea Party, choose one or two items from each category on our list, and you will be all set to host your own tea party this Christmas time.
Christmas Tea Party Sandwiches and Savories
1. High Tea Sandwiches in Christmas Shapes
High tea sandwiches are always popular and they are what many people first think of when they are wondering what to serve at a Christmas Tea party. Traditional tea sandwiches are definitely the quintessential tea menu item, and they make a great addition to your Christmas tea menu.
For traditional tea finger sandwiches – simply cut off the crusts and cut the sandwich to approximately two fingers in width. You can use white bread, rye bread or any slices of bread of your choice.
But, you can also make your afternoon tea sandwiches in Christmas shapes!
Stars, trees and snowmen – whip your Christmas-shaped cookie cutters out of your cupboard and cut your little tea sandwiches in Christmas shapes!
If you don’t have Christmas-shaped cookie cutters, another option is to cut them into rounds, as this looks just as elegant.
- Cheese and ham in a layer with good quality mustard or fresh figs or fig jam.
- Roast beef, lettuce, tomato and herbed cream cheese
- Turkey and cranberry sauce.
- Egg mayonnaise with some daintily sliced spring onion or chives.
- Cut rounds of tomato, mozzarella, and a little pesto (or leave out the cheese for a vegan option).
- Smoked salmon with cream cheese and chives or dill.
- Cucumber sandwiches with cream cheese (or use a dairy free spread to provide a vegan option) are always a popular and traditional combo.
The trick to making these delicate finger sandwiches look good is using a sharp cutter and thin sliced bread. Try to get all the elements with the same cutter for perfect little layered sandwiches.
You can make most fillings the day before and then actually assemble the pre-cut sandwich on the day to avoid the risk of having a soggy sandwich.
You should count on 3-4 finger sandwiches per guest, depending on the size. Or about 7-8 mini sandwiches (bite sized) per person.
Delicate tea sandwiches really are one of the easiest Christmas tea party food ideas!
2. Phyllo Bites With Charred Red Pepper, Asparagus, and Mozzarella
Why you will love these bite sized quiche:
- Quick and super easy recipe
- Crispy outside and flavorful filling
- Can buy gluten free phyllo dough to make a gluten free option
- Christmas red and green color.
- Can make the day before your Christmas afternoon tea party and flash them in the oven before serving.
- Try my super easy and quick mini quiche recipe.
3. Verrines with Cucumber, Carrot and Red Bell Peppers
Why you will love these:
- Easy to make in advance
- Versatile Christmas tea party food ideas – serve a variety of hors d’oeuvres and dessert bites
- Easy to offer vegetarian/vegan/nut free options
- Hygienic – each guest has their own little cup – no double dipping in sauces 🙂
What are verrines? They are a type of French glass that is similar in shape to a small parfait cup. They usually hold around 3-4 ounces and have a wide opening. This wide opening is perfect for filling with all sorts of goodies. And, because they are clear, your guests will be able to see all the tasty layers you’ve prepared.
You can find verrines (literally “small glasses” in French) in most home goods stores or you can just use clear small glass cups you have at home. They are becoming increasingly popular as an elegant way to serve hors d’oeuvres and dessert bites. Here are some Christmas tea party food ideas to get you started:
- Cucumber, carrot, celery and red bell pepper sticks with hummus, ranch or creamy dill dressing
- Cucumber rounds with cream cheese, chives and smoked salmon
- Red bell pepper strips with guacamole or salsa
- “Deconstructed” pie – spoon in your cooked fruits, top with whipped cream and sprinkle with a crunchy speculoos cookie topping
- Raspberry verrines, such as raspberry pavlova trifle verrine, vanilla panna cotta verrine with raspberry coulis or this raspberry mousse verrine recipe are visually delightful.
So, if you’re looking for a unique way to impress your guests this Christmas season, add verrines to your menu for Christmas Tea Party!
4. Bruschetta With Red, White, and Green Toppings
Bruschetta is a traditional Italian snack. It is quite popular in cafes and adds a modern touch to your Christmas afternoon tea menu.
What you will love:
- Easy to prepare in advance. Simply prepare little bite-sized toasts by toasting a slice of baguette or ciabatta, rubbed with olive oil, garlic, and seasoned.
- Once cooled (these store beautifully in a sealed container), you can top them with sliced meats, cheese, pesto, vegan cashew butter or our Christmas favorite – red onion, tomato, fresh basil and a slight drizzle of balsamic vinegar if you have it.
- Elegant, yet budget friendly option.
- Easy dish to bring out if you find you have more guests than expected. Make extra toasts and then add easy toppings when you need them (even just a slice of cheese or tomato will do). Then if you don’t use the little toasts, put them in the blender and freeze. They make great breadcrumbs 🙂
5. Latvian Piragi with Bacon and Onion
If you’re looking for something a little different to put on your menu for Christmas tea party this year, why not try Latvian piragi? These savory pastries are filled with bacon and onions, and they make a delightful addition to your Afternoon Tea Party table.
Why you will love these:
- Can be made in advance and frozen for up to two months.
- Unique and delicious. The dough is fluffy and light and the filling is savory and satisfying.
- A real crowd pleaser!!! I have made these many, many times and everyone loves them.
- Easy to serve, no mess, no fuss – just place in a pretty bowl or place on a platter.
- Try this Latvian Piragi recipe – Your guests will love these unique eastern European pastries! It’s one of my absolute favorite Christmas tea party food ideas!
6. Tortilla Wraplettes With Smoked Turkey Mayo or Ham
Why you will love these:
- These little wraps will look very pretty on your Christmas Tea table.
- Just fill a wrap (if you can find a spinach wrap, the green color will add to the scene) with smoked or plain turkey mayonnaise and some chopped green herbs, cranberries, nuts, sliced spring onion, and other salad elements.
- A little cream cheese mixed in with the mayonnaise will help this filling to set and be sliced easily. Roll the wrap tightly, refrigerate and cut it into elegant pinwheels for your Christmas tea party menu.
- Can make a day in advance.
- Easy to make variations – beef, vegetarian, chicken, etc.
- Buy gluten free wraps if needed.
7. Brie, Cranberry, and Rosemary Bites
This simple idea involves laying a square of puff pastry or phyllo dough into a greased mini muffin tray, filling it with a slice of brie cheese and cranberry sauce, and then baking it off at high heat. There really is nothing complicated about these tartlets, but if you would like more detailed instructions, here is a Brie, Cranberry and Rosemary in Phyllo Pastry recipe you might enjoy.
What you will love:
- Super easy to make mini tartletts
- Christmas red color and add a sprig of rosemary if you have it for the green bit.
- Can make the day before your Christmas afternoon tea party and flash them in the oven before serving.
- You can buy gluten free phyllo dough if needed.
Christmas Tea Party Scones and Quick Breads
8. Christmas Afternoon Tea Scones with Strawberries and Cream or Pears and Hazelnuts
What would a menu for Christmas Tea Party be without a scone?
Use your favorite recipe or try this delicious traditional Christmas tea party recipe for scones.
Why you will love these:
- Traditional afternoon tea menu item
- Lovely Christmas red colors of Strawberry jam, real strawberries and clotted cream.
- Very easy to make in advance.
To Make the Pear and Hazelnut Christmas Scones version:
Add a little grated pear to your scone mix and a handful of chopped and toasted hazelnuts for a festive twist. We love the idea of serving this scone with a hit of vanilla, cinnamon whipped cream, and a side of your favorite jam or jelly.
Another option is to flavor a bit of softened butter with cinnamon and vanilla. Then spread that onto the warmed scones.
9. Vanilla Pound Cake with Fresh Berries
What you will love:
- Simple to make
- Make in advance
- Can be made with inexpensive ingredients. If raspberries are expensive, then top with raspberry jam or other fresh fruits instead of fresh berries
- Can make gluten free version
Try this foolproof vanilla bean pound cake recipe from baking expert Zoe Francois.
10. Lemon Poppy Seed Loaf
Always a crowd pleaser, you can make this Lemon Poppy Seed Loaf in a loaf pan or in a cake pan or as individual cupcakes.
Why you will love this:
- Easy to make
- Can be made in advance
- Low cost ingredients
- Serve as a loaf, cake or cupcakes
You can try this delicious lemon and poppy seed loaf recipe.
Christmas Tea Party Desserts
11. Christmas Tea Party Pistachio and Raspberry Pavlova
When you are wondering what to serve at a Christmas Tea Party, our Pistachio and Raspberry Mini Pavlova Nests Recipe should be one of the first items on your Christmas tea party menu.
Why you will love this:
- Easy to prepare a day or two in advance.
- Pretty green and red Christmas colors.
- A delicious recipe – the burst of raspberry on top of the crunch of the pavlova is scrumtious!
- Easy mini pavlova nests recipe variations including Vanilla and Forest Fruits, Tropical Fruits and Passion Fruit, Chocolates in a Nest and Hazelnut and Nutella.
12. Ginger and Chocolate Mini Cakes
Why you will love this:
- A super soft, Christmas spice chocolate and mini baby cake recipe.
- You can make these baby cakes days in advance.
- You can freeze them for up to two months.
- No spices? no problem, you can make as a simple, moist chocolate mini cake.
- They look gorgeous on your Christms tea party table
13. White Chocolate Coconut Truffles
The white chocolate coconut truffles’ simplicity and the coconut shavings’ ruffles will add such a light and lovely touch to your menu for Christmas tea party. These sweet treats are one of my favorites!
Why you will love them:
- Tastes like a fancy chocolate truffle.
- Although cashew nuts are included in our White Chocolate Coconut Truffles recipe, you do not taste them at all. In fact, these taste very much like the Raffaello truffles you can buy in stores. But of course, these home made ones are much fresher and taste even better!
- These little snowballs make a pretty display when served in a bowl or in frilly paper cups for your Christmas Tea Party!
- This is one the easiest Christmas tea party recipes ever!
14. Cranberry and Hazelnut Cookies
Take your favorite American-style chocolate chip cookie recipe and give it a Christmas twist.
Use your favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe and add the following (not necessarily all together): chopped candy cane, nuts, ginger, dried apple, cinnamon, or white chocolate chips.
Our favorite is cranberry and hazelnut. Just take out the chocolate chips and replace with dried cranberries and chopped hazelnuts.
Why you will love them:
- You can make these cookies 3 or 4 days ahead of time.
- Budget friendly Christmas tea party recipes.
- Lots of variations and easy to find ingredients.
15. Mini Pancakes with Fresh Fruit
Use an American-style pancake recipe (crumpet, flapjack and pikelet recipes are fine, too) and fry off mini pancakes. Sprinkle them with cinnamon sugar or brush them with warmed maple syrup and top them with a blueberries and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.
If you feel you need to skewer this little treat to keep it all together, go for it! You can make all the fillings the day before and assemble the sandwiches right before serving. Sprinkle these with a little edible gold glitter for that Christmas glow.
Why you will love these:
- Easy to make in advance.
- Elegant, yet budget friendly option.
- Endless variations – use whatever fresh fruit, sugar or garnish you have at home.
16. Christmas Afternoon Tea Cupcakes With Gingerbread Icing
Bake this lovely little vanilla cupcakes recipe. Then flavor your favorite icing or glaze with the well-loved eggnog flavors of cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla. Keep these tiny tea-time treats fresh looking by dusting them with your spices and powdered sugar right before serving. A little gingerbread man, berries or edible glitter will take it to the next level.
Why you will love these:
- Easy to make in advance.
- Can be frozen, but put your frosting on the day you serve them.
- Delicious Christmas flavors.
17. Madeleines dipped in Chocolate
These are one of the easiest Christmas Afternoon Tea desserts to make. These small, light cakes have a distinctive shell-like shape and are a classic French dessert. They are simply perfect for your Christmas Tea Party.
Why you will love these:
- Pretty, elegant addition to your Christmas afternoon tea menu.
- Sprinkle with nuts, coconut, frieze dried raspberries or sprinkles for a Christmas look.
- Easy to make in advance.
Madeleines are traditionally made with lemon, orange blossom, or vanilla flavoring. Often they are dipped in white, milk or dark chocolate.
Simply melt your chocolate in a double boiler, being careful not to burn the chocolate. Then dip your madeleine in the chocolate. Sprinkle with nuts, coconut, frieze dried raspberries or sprinkles and let cool on a piece of baking paper. And voilà! they will be set and ready for your table in 30 minutes.
18. Christmas Afternoon Tea Chocolate Covered Strawberries
Why you will love these:
- Easy to make in advance – just cover in wrap and keep in the fridge.
- Look and taste fantastic.
- Beautiful red and green colors for a stunning Christmas tea party menu.
How to make: Simply wash and dry your strawberries thoroughly. It is very important to dry them on a towel and then let them air dry a bit longer so that they are completely dry.
Then melt your favorite chocolate over a double boiler. Dip your strawberry in the chocolate and place on a piece of wax paper to firm up. Keep in the fridge until you need them.
Make sure you do not overheat the chocolate. And do not let water get into the chocolate as it will clot up and start looking like coffee granules! It’s easier if you just melt a bit of chocolate at a time and work in small batches.
Dip them in nuts, sprinkles or coconut for a snow effect. To be honest though, I prefer them simply dipped in dark chocolate.
Serve them in little frilly Christmas candy paper cups.
19. White Chocolate Matcha Cookies
The delicately sweet, slightly earthy flavor of the matcha pairs perfectly with the sweetness of the white chocolate, creating a taste that is simply irresistible.
Why you will love these:
- Lovely green and white Christmas colors.
- Super easy to make in advance and store for days.
- Can freeze for up to two months.
Try our White Chocolate Matcha Cookie recipe – so easy and delicious!
20. Strawberry Cheesecake
And because it is so easy to make ahead of time, you will have more time to spend with your guests.
Here is the best recipe for strawberry cheesecake. It is not overly sugary. Instead, it lets the natural sweetness of the strawberries take center stage in a light and airy no bake cheesecake.
Why you will love this:
- This strawberry cheese cake is light and delicious and the red strawberries will look gorgeous on your Christmas Tea Party table.
- Easy to make ahead of time.
- Can also make individual little strawberry cheesecakes. Just be sure to line your muffin tins with baking paper to prevent them from sticking.
21. Christmas Tea Party Mince Pies
Mince pies are a delicious, festive treat that are perfect for your Christmas tea party menu. These little pies are packed full of Christmas flavors.
Why you will love these:
- A Christmas favorite.
- Delicious Christmas smells will fill your room.
- You can buy them ready made at the supermarket or make your own. This Christmas mince pie recipe by Jamie Oliver is brilliant. Either way, these traditional Christmas Tea Party pies will be appreciated by your guests.
- Easy to prepare/buy extra and take out if needed.
What drinks to serve at a Christmas Tea Party?
For a traditional tea party, you might want to serve black tea, green tea, and/or white tea. I suggest Earl Grey and English Breakfast and then a nice green tea for your Christmas Tea Party Menu.
In addition, you could serve herbal teas, such as chamomile, peppermint, or ginger tea. If you have a smaller number of guests, you can serve loose leaf tea, but if you have a larger bunch, then tea bags may be the easier way to go! (Depending on numbers, you might want to borrow a larger hot water urn to cater for all the hot tea people may drink).
Put out white and brown sugar and honey, slices of lemon, milk and dairy free options such as almond milk and/or lactose free milk.
You can also make your own Christmas tea!
Brewing Christmas Tea is easy! Start with a strong black tea like Assam or English Breakfast, and add a mix of spices that make you think of the holidays. Some favorites include cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves. You can either steep the spices with the tea leaves, or add them to the brewed tea after straining.
For a festive presentation, pour your brewed Christmas Tea into a teapot and serve it with some fresh cranberries or orange slices. Enjoy!
Likewise, hot chocolate, cider and a glass of champagne are also popular drinks for holiday gatherings.
And if you’re looking for non-alcoholic options of what to serve at a Christmas tea party, there are plenty of delicious winter drinks to choose from. Cranberry juice, spiced apple cider or fruit juices mixed with sparkling water are all delicious choices!
How to set up your Christmas Tea Party Table?
When setting up the table, think about making it feel like a winter wonderland. Use a white tablecloth or wooden table as your base. It’s time to use your special tea set or other special dishes you save for special occasions.
Then add in some festive touches like cardinal red napkins with riboon napkin rings, Christmas crackers and Christmas decorations at each place setting. A Christmas tree in the corner is nice, but if not, you can put fairy lights on a house plant or mantlepeice or place a wreath on a wall or your table. It’s the little details that will make your festive afternoon tea stand out.
You can also decorate your coffee table in the same color scheme and place sugar cookies and gingerbread cookies in pretty dishes.
Centerpieces are also key—a beautiful poinsettia plant or an arrangement of holly sprigs would be perfect. Or you can purchase some good quality artificial flowers and greenery to decorate your table.
A dusting of powdered sugar will set the scene, and whole cinnamon sticks and mini pine cones are easy to find and add to your Christmas high tea display. You can even buy some star glitter for your table.
Use ribbons, little tea lights, and fairy lights as twirling décor between your Christmas high tea treats. We suggest choosing two or three colors and sourcing décor elements within that scheme to give you a consistent look.
Finally, playing some holiday music in the background will help set the mood and get everyone into the spirit of Christmas time!
When Should You Host Your Christmas Tea Party?
If you are celebrating with good friends and close family, then either Christmas Eve and Christmas day are fine.
If you are celebrating with a larger group or colleagues, then any time in December is a perfect time, just keep in mind that people tend to get busier the closer you get to Christmas Day.
But the Christmas season is not the only time you can host your own Christmas tea party. You can also have a Christmas in July Tea Party! Either way, timing is everything when hosting a tea party.
First of all, you’ll want to give your guests plenty of notice so that they can clear their schedules. Send out invitations at least two weeks in advance. Christmas time is a busy time of year.
Then, for the actual day of the party, afternoon teas are typically served between 2:00 and 4:00 pm. 3pm is perfect. This gives guests enough time to have lunch beforehand and leaves plenty of time for a late dinner afterwards.
What do you do at a Christmas tea party?
Eat and drink tea of course. But aside from that, a party game or activity can be the perfect way to get things going.
Cookie exchanges are a popular activity. Each guest brings some home made (or store bought) cookies in a box or bag and they are exchanged with another guest (pick a name out of a hat or let the winner of another game choose first).
Simple game idea: Place a bunch of cookie cutters and Christmas decorations on a tray. Take away one cookie cutter or decoration and have the guests guess which one it is. This short game works well if you have children present. The winner can win a cookie cutter.
What To Wear To A Christmas Tea Party?
For ladies attending the tea party, dress code is semi-formal or business casual. Think about wearing a pretty holiday dress or skirt suit combo. And don’t forget about accessories! Gloves and a pearl necklace would be perfect finishing touches.
As for gentlemen attending, jackets are optional but encouraged. A button-down shirt with slacks or khakis would be appropriate.
Generally, if you’re hosting the party, you’ll want to dress slightly nicer than your guests since you’ll be acting as the hostess with the mostest! Finding the right outfit is half the fun—after all, this is an excuse to break out that special occasion dress you’ve been dying to wear all year long! Just make sure it’s seasonally appropriate (think rich jewel tones and velvet fabrics) and you’ll be good to go.
What to bring to a Christmas Tea Party?
It is always polite to ask the host or hostess what you could bring along. They might appreciate the gesture and really, it is always the polite thing to do to bring a little something along whenever you are invited to a special occasion.
You could bring a small bouquet of flowers, a bottle of wine, a small box of chocolates or a little Christmas ornament.
After the tea party, make sure you call to thank the host or hostess for the party.
Christmas Afternoon Tea at Harrods
Many people are curious about Christmas Afternoon Tea at Harrods. Here is a fun video showing you what it looks like and what they serve on a Christmas Tea party menu. Check out the tea sandwiches cut out in different shapes!
Wrapping up (excuse the pun)
We hope this list of Christmas afternoon tea ideas brings you joy and helps you when you are wondering what to serve at a Christmas Tea Party.
You can also get some inspiration from a book about tea.
Have a look at my list of my favorite 73 Best Tea Books (I put them in categories so it’s easy for you to find what you want – best books about hosting a tea partie and food, best tea pairing books, best history of tea books, bubble tea books, coffe table books, fiction books… you get the idea, there are 73 great books to give you inspiration!)
Merry Christmas!
