13 Afternoon Tea Recipes to Enjoy as You Watch Bridgerton Season 3

The social season is upon us and Lady Whistledown has returned—and so has our appetite for scandal and sumptuous fare.

By
Kelli Solomon
Headshot of Kelli Solomon
Kelli Solomon
Senior Social Media Editor
Kelli Solomon is a freelance writer, editor, and recipe developer constantly dreaming up beautiful breads and badass briskets. While her tastes are eclectic, her favorite things involve fire or fermentation.  She's contributed to Food52, where she has worked on some of their top series, including Bake It Up A Notch, Sweet Heat, The Secret Sauce with Grossi Pelosi, Off-Script with Sohla, Weeknight Dinners, and Cook and a Half. She's also worked as an assistant food stylist for Sara's Weeknight Meals and Driveby History Eats on PBS.
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Updated June 05, 2024
A Hong Kong custard tart on a flowered plate with two cups of tea

Credit: Serious Eats / Kelli Solomon; Tim Chin

Gentle Reader,

When one asks a friend or suitor for tea, it is never JUST for tea. It is an opportunity to present oneself in the highest regard in the most elegant settings available in the light of day. And when one has a tea party expectations are even higher. One’s dress should be elegant yet appropriate for the occasion. And comportment must be refined at all times. But no shrinking violets here—you must be prepared to sparkle with wit and charm throughout the conversation.

And, yes, even though you have invited your guests for tea, additional refreshments must be served. For eating, yes, but more for dazzling your guests with the thoughtfulness and planning you put into the event. You must not be outshone by the latest fete of the season; always start with a showstopper.

  • Croquembouche

    Crouquemboche

    Serious Eats / Amanda Suarez

    Once your guests have arrived, bring out the pièce-de-résistance. A croquembouche relies on puffs―a lot of them―made from pâte à choux, piled sky-high and held together with strands of shiny caramel. A mountain of sugar indeed.

  • Genoise Sponge

    A two-tier Genoise sponge cake

    Serious Eats / Amanda Suarez

    Lighter-than-air genoise sponge cake is not just a nice-to-have; it is expected at a proper gathering. Possibly the most elegant of sponge cakes, it relies solely on air to rise (not unlike certain gentlemen). It requires more than sophistication to pull off; technique is everything.

  • Giant Eclair Cake

    Overhead view of Eclair Paris brest slices

    Serious Eats / Jen Causey

    Could you make regular éclairs? Certainly. But that would not provide the wow-factor of this magnificent éclair cake. Light and airy choux is baked in a large ring and then filled with vanilla crème mousseline topped with a glossy chocolate glaze. Truly a feast for the eyes.

  • Japanese Fruit Sando

    Side view of stacked fruit sandos

    Serious Eats / Debbie Wee

    Fruit is an edible way to add color to your tablescape. Studded with strawberries, kiwis, or mangoes, these sandos are dainty yet lavish thanks to a velvety-smooth, mascarpone-enhanced whipped cream. A lady with this in hand will appear as colorful and cool as these sandwiches themselves.

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  • Shortbread Cookies

    Overheav view of shortbread cookies with coffee

    Serious Eats / Amanda Suarez

    Leave shortbread off your menu, and a certain author will certainly think it was an oversight. The Scots have truly made their mark with this treat. Each bite is rich and buttery, with a tender, crumbly texture that melts in your mouth. Make sure you have a handkerchief at the ready to remove any lingering evidence of your satisfaction from your chin.

  • Cucumber Sandwiches

    Overhead view of cucumber sandwiches on a green plate

    Serious Eats / Victor Protasio

    Cool as a cucumber may not be how your guests will feel if certain royals arrive, but at least they’ll have these sandwiches for refreshment. Don’t forget to salt your cucumbers—no one wants to soil their gloves with a soggy sandwich.

  • Bakery-Style Cream Scones With Milk Chocolate Recipe

    20170125-chocolate-scones-vicky-wasik-15.jpg

    Serious Eats / Vicky Wasik

    No tea is complete without scones and cream. Since plain scones are so last season, opt for ones speckled with dark chocolate instead. The more cacao, the better. And instead of jam and clotted cream, surprise your guests with, gasp, fruit-flavored whipped cream instead.

  • Onde-Onde (Malaysian Sweet Palm-Sugar Dumplings)

    Overhead view of two plates of onde-onde with two drinks

    Serious Eats / Michelle Yip

    A favorite teatime treat in Malaysia, onde-onde is a fluffy, chewy green ball flavored with aromatic pandan filled with melted palm sugar and covered with coconut. Small bites are a must, as etiquette dictates that you be dainty and not open your mouth too wide when eating—wise advice for any social occasion.

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  • ​​Smoked Salmon and Dill Tea Sandwiches

    Side view of tea sandwiches

    Serious Eats / Amanda Suarez

    In a room filled with confections, do not make the mistake of forgetting to add a savory bite to the menu. Smoked salmon and cream cheese brightened with lemon and dill provide a much-needed respite from sugary tea treats. Remember to remove the crust or risk your guests'  judging looks.

  • Daan Tat (Hong Kong-Style Egg Tart)

    Three Hong Kong egg custard tarts on a plate net to a cup of tea and a tea pot.

    Serious Eats / Tim Chin

    Sweet egg custard and crisp and tender puff pastry is a match made in heaven. In my opinion, far superior to the British egg custard tart (which often uses custard powder), these Hong Kong-style egg tarts include custard made the old fashioned way.

  • Choux au Craquelin

    20210217-choux-au-craquelinRAW-debbie-wee

    Serious Eats / Debbie Wee

    One choux is simply never enough. Choux au craquelin are the true diamonds of the season. They appear humble on the outside with their sweet, crackled crust, but on the inside, they reveal their true nature as luscious, creamy, and positively delectable.

  • Chocolate-Covered Digestive Biscuits

    20170301-chocolate-digestives-mcvities-vicky-wasik-27.jpg

    Serious Eats / Vicky Wasik

    True, no one comes to tea just for the biscuits, but these aren’t just any old biscuits, they’re quite close to a shop favorite, McVitie's. We don’t use words like knock-off or copycat here. How base. These are, in fact, better than the original. Dare your guests to say otherwise. 

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  • L'Aventura Punch

    A punch bowl with L'Aventura punch
    Photography copyright: Kelly Puleio © 2019

    Finally, the marriage mart can be intimidating, especially for those new to society. A crowd-pleasing punch is in order. Vodka-based and flavored with mint tea syrup, amaro, and a full-bodied blanc vermouth, this drink provides just the right balance to set your guests slightly off-balance.

Ok, enough. If you’re as excited as I am about Bridgerton returning for another season, you’ll want to host a tea, but not just any tea. For this afternoon tea,  break out all your very best and most elaborate cakes, sandwiches, and scones to accompany your very fancy tea (or just your favorite). And yes, you even have a cocktail or glass of bubbly to wash it all down and celebrate, maybe not Regency (because well, yeah, problematic), but the glitz, the glamour, and yes, the drama that only the Shonda Rhimes can deliver. So to that I say, pinkies up!

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