Mother's Day Tea Menu

Mother’s Day Tea Menu: Ideas, Activities, and Instructions

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Mother’s Day Tea Menu in 2023: Are you planning a Mother’s Day tea party but don’t know where to start? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered!

mother's day afternoon tea menu

With our complete Mother’s Day afternoon tea menu, step-by-step cooking schedule, and consolidated grocery list, you’ll have everything you need to plan a memorable tea party for Mom.

How do you host a Mother’s Day Tea Party?

Hosting a tea party can be a lot of work, but with the right planning and preparation, it can also be a lot of fun! Here are some tips to help you host a successful Mother’s Day tea party:

  1. Choose a Theme for Mother’s day Tea: Choose a theme for your tea party to make it more memorable. For example, you could have a garden party theme, a vintage tea party theme, or a tea party inspired by Mom’s favorite color.
  2. Set the Scene for Mother’s day tea Party: Create a cozy and inviting atmosphere by setting the scene with beautiful tablecloths, floral arrangements, and candles. Add some personal touches like family photos and Mom’s favorite books.
  3. Select the Menu for Mother’s Day Tea: Choose a menu that suits your guests’ tastes and dietary requirements. For example, you could serve a combination of sweet and savory treats like scones, finger sandwiches, and mini tarts.

Read: Mother’s Day Brunch

Mother’s Day Tea Menu Ideas

Here are some Mother’s day afternoon tea menu ideas to inspire you:

mother's day tea activities

Tea:

  • Assortment of tea, including at least one black tea such as Earl Grey or English Breakfast and one herbal tea

Savories:

  • Lemon Tarragon Chicken Salad Tea Sandwiches
  • Asparagus and Smoked Salmon Pinwheels with Lemon Chive Cream Cheese
  • Pimento Cheese Tartlets

Sweets:

  • Mini Lemon Meringue Pies
  • Strawberry Shortcake Cupcakes
  • Chocolate-Dipped Madeleines

Related: Mother’s Day Restaurants 

Mother’s Day Tea Activities

Make your tea party extra special with some fun Mother’s Day tea activities. Here are some ideas:

  1. Mother-Daughter Tea Party: Host a mother-daughter tea party and encourage guests to bring their moms or daughters.
  2. DIY Tea Bags: Provide guests with loose tea leaves and tea filters, and encourage them to create their own custom tea blends.
  3. Tea Leaf Readings: Hire a professional tea leaf reader to provide guests with readings.

Impress your guests with a Mother’s Day afternoon tea featuring an array of delicious treats. With this easy-to-follow menu, cooking schedule, and consolidated grocery list, you can take the stress out of planning and enjoy some well-deserved relaxation before your guests arrive.

Mother’s Day Tea Menu Ideas & Cooking Instructions

Planning a Mother’s Day afternoon tea ideas can be easy with this full menu, step-by-step cooking schedule, and consolidated grocery list. You can even relax before your guests arrive!

For a stress-free experience, follow the menu, which can serve six people, and sub out any items for similar ones. Most of the recipes can be made in advance, and a resource is available with full recipes, a schedule, and shortcuts for store-bought items.

How do you host a Mother's Day tea?

You can adjust the number of servings to suit your needs and customize the grocery list. Start with tea, which is arguably the most important part of a tea party, and provide an assortment of tea bags or a big pot of loose leaf tea.

Savories like chicken salad tea sandwiches, pimento cheese tartlets, and smoked salmon and asparagus pinwheels with lemon chive cream cheese spread are perfect for lunch.

For dessert, try bite-sized mini lemon meringue pies. The full recipes and grocery list are available below, and there are even vegetarian options.

Tea

  • 12 bags of assorted teas (caffeinated, decaf, and herbal)
  • sugar
  • honey
  • cream or half and half

Lemon Tarragon Chicken Salad Tea Sandwiches (makes 12)

  • 2 cups cooked chicken, finely diced
  • 1/4 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/3 cup finely diced fennel bulb
  • 1 tbsp chopped fresh tarragon
  • 1/8 tsp onion powder
  • 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • salt and pepper
  • 8 slices white bread

Pimento Cheese Tartlets (makes 12)

  • 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
  • 2 oz jarred pimentos, drained
  • 2 oz cream cheese, softened
  • 1/4 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/8 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/8 tsp onion powder
  • 1/8 tsp paprika
  • 1/4 tsp pepper blend (such as Jane’s Krazy Mixed-Up Pepper)
  • 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
  • 1/8 tsp Old Bay seasoning
  • 12 Mini Tartlet Shells (see recipe below)

Smoked Salmon and Asparagus Pinwheels (makes 12)

  • 9 stalks asparagus, ends snapped off
  • 6 slices white bread
  • 3 tbsp lemon chive cream cheese spread (see recipe below)
  • 6 oz smoked salmon

Lemon Chive Cream Cheese Spread (makes 3 tbsp)

  • 2 oz cream cheese, softened
  • zest from 1/2 lemon (about 2 tsp)
  • 1/2 tsp finely chopped chives, plus more for garnish
  • 1/2 tsp mayonnaise

Chocolate Covered Coconut and Nut Butter Truffles (makes 18)

  • 1/4 cup butter, softened
  • 1/4 cup gourmet nut butter (such as almond butter, cashew, or macadamia nut butter)
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 2 tbsp coconut cream (from the top of an unshaken full-fat can of coconut milk)
  • 2 tbsp marshmallow fluff
  • pinch of kosher salt
  • 1 cup powdered sugar, plus extra if necessary
  • 1/2 cup shredded coconut
  • 6-8 oz Ghirardelli dark chocolate melting wafers
  • crushed nuts or almond cookies for topping

Mini Tartlet shells (makes 24)

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 4 tbsp cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
  • 1 tbsp ice water
  • 1 egg yolk

Mini Lemon Meringue Pies (makes 12)

  • 12 Mini Tartlet Shells (see recipe above)
  • 1 cup lemon curd (see recipe below)
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 egg whites

Cardamom Orange Scones with Orange Glaze

  • 1 orange, zested and juiced (about 2 tbsp of the juice)
  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 egg
  • 1/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 8 tbsp cold unsalted butter, diced
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream, plus a little extra for brushing tops of scones
  • 2 tsp cream of tartar
  • sugar with large crystals (such as

Lemon Curd:

  • 4 lemons juiced and zested (about 1/2 cup juice and 2 tsp zest)
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 4 eggs two whole and two yolks
  • 8 tbsp butter
  • Other Spreads:
  • 1 small jar jam or marmalade
  • 1 jar clotted cream

Cooking Instructions

afternoon tea mothers day

3-6 Days Ahead:

  1. Make Chocolate Covered Coconut and Nut Butter Truffles (1 hour 30 minutes)
  2. Make Lemon Curd (35 minutes)
  3. Make Pimento Cheese (10 minutes, plus time for cream cheese to soften)
  4. Make Lemon Chive Cream Cheese Spread (5 minutes, plus time for cream cheese to soften)
  5. Make sure to soften cream cheese only once by making Pimento Cheese on the same day.

1-3 Days Ahead:

  1. Make Lemon Tarragon Chicken Salad
  2. Make Mini Tartlet Shells (from recipe for Mini Lemon Meringue Pies) and store them in a sealed plastic bag at room temperature.
  3. Save extra egg white(s) in a sealed container in the refrigerator for the meringue.

1 Day Ahead:

  1. Make Cardamom Orange Scones with Orange Glaze and wait for glaze to completely harden. Store in a sealed container on the countertop.
  2. Blanch asparagus for Smoked Salmon and Asparagus Pinwheels (Step 1 of recipe) and store in the refrigerator.

Day of Tea – 4 Hours Before:

  1. Set the table and make sure decorations are in order.
  2. Set a three-tiered plate stand on the table, without the plates, where you’d like it to go.
  3. Set a sugar bowl and honey bowl on the table with spoons for serving.
  4. Spoon half the lemon curd, jam, and clotted cream into small bowls with tiny spoons.
  5. Fill creamer with half and half or cream. Cover and refrigerate.

Day of Tea – 3 Hours Before:

  1. Set out Pimento Cheese and Lemon Chive Cream Cheese Spread to soften for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
  2. Put bread for Lemon Tarragon Chicken Salad Tea Sandwiches in the freezer for 30 minutes.
  3. Make meringue for Mini Lemon Meringue Pies. Keep in the refrigerator until ready to assemble pies.
  4. Using the other half of the lemon curd, assemble Mini Lemon Meringue Pies, and fill the other half of the tartlet shells with pimento cheese.
  5. Broil Mini Lemon Meringue Pies for 4 minutes or until meringue is golden brown on top.
  6. Arrange Mini Lemon Meringue Pies and Chocolate Covered Coconut and Nut Butter Truffles on a plate. Cover and refrigerate.

Day of Tea – 2 Hours Before:

  1. Follow steps 2-6 of Smoked Salmon and Asparagus Pinwheels. Refrigerate at least 30 minutes until ready to plate everything.
  2. Remove bread from the freezer. Spread half the pieces with 1/2 cup of chicken salad each and top with the other half of the bread. Trim off crusts and cut each sandwich into 3 fingers, 4 triangles, or 4 squares.
  3. Remove Smoked Salmon and Asparagus Pinwheels from the refrigerator and cut each roll into four pieces.
  4. Arrange Smoked Salmon and Asparagus Pinwheels and Chicken Salad Tea Sandwiches on a plate, leaving room for Pimento Cheese Tartlets. Cover and refrigerate.

Day of Tea – 1 Hour Before:

  1. Put the kettle on to boil.
  2. Turn oven to broil and toast Pimento Cheese Tartlets for 4 minutes or until melty. Add tartlets to sandwich plate.
  3. Arrange scones on a plate.
  4. Set sandwich plate, sweets plate, and scones plate on a three-tiered plate stand.
  5. Take curd, jam, and clotted cream out of the refrigerator and set on the table with little spoons or knives. Put a creamer of milk or half and half on the table.

10 minutes before the tea:

  1. Boil the kettle.
  2. Turn the oven to broil and toast the pimento cheese tartlets for 4 minutes or until melty.
  3. Add tartlets to the sandwich plate.
  4. Arrange the scones on a plate.
  5. Set the sandwich plate, sweets plate, and scones plate on a three-tiered plate stand.
  6. Take the curd, jam, and clotted cream out of the refrigerator and set on the table with little spoons or knives.
  7. Put a creamer of milk or half and half on the table.
  8. Welcome your guests and enjoy the fruits of your labor!

Conclusion

With these Mother’s Day tea menu ideas, tips for hosting a tea party, and fun activities, you’ll be sure to create a memorable Mother’s Day celebration for Mom.

Whether you’re hosting a small gathering or a larger party, the key is to plan ahead, have fun, and make it personal. Don’t forget to take lots of photos to remember this special day!

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