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    RECIPES » Easy Make Ahead Tea Sandwiches

    Easy Make Ahead Tea Sandwiches

    Jul 28, 2022 · Last updated: Aug 11, 2022 by Gina · This post may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure policy.

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    Easy Make Ahead Tea Sandwiches , cucumber, strawberry, stacked on plate

    Making the best finger sandwiches are sure to make your next tea party a success! Learn all the tips you need to know about the best tea sandwiches to make ahead. These tips and recipes will save you time, give you the opportunity to enjoy your event, and make sure everyone enjoys your arrangement of little sandwiches.

    tea sandwiches on trays cucumber, tuna, and cheese

    If you need more help with food ideas for your party, check out this Budget-Friendly Party Foods with lots of cheap and easy-to-eat snack foods you can serve! Or you can up your party game by adding a Fun Theme for your tea party!

    To stay organized, check out my Free Printable Party Planner. The key to a fun and stress-free party is to be organized. To get your own party planner sign up for my Free Members Printable Library. Once you join, I will send you the password, and you can print the planner and any other printable whenever you want to.

    Jump to:
    • What Are Tea Sandwiches?
    • When to Serve Finger Sandwiches
    • ❓ FAQ
    • 💭 Tips for Making Ahead
    • What to Serve with Tea Sandwiches
    • Tea Sandwich Fillings
    • The Best Ideas for Tea Sandwich Make Ahead
    • Tea sandwich cookbook 📚
    • More Round Ups to Explore

    What Are Tea Sandwiches?

    Tea sandwiches, also called finger sandwiches are small, delicate mini sandwiches usually eaten at tea time or as a mid-morning/afternoon snack.

    • Made with a variety of fillings.
    • Traditionally served on white, crustless bread slices though today they can be served on a variety of textures and color breads.
    • No more than a couple of small bites. 
    • Tea sandwiches are meant to be delicate and contain a small amount of filling.
    • Cut into small triangles or long, thin rectangles. For a fancier presentation, they can be cut into shapes using a cookie cutter.  
    snack attack ecookbook on ipad

    When to Serve Finger Sandwiches

    The tea sandwich originally comes from England where it is most often served for afternoon tea or high tea.

    The concept of tea parties has been adopted by Americans and other countries and today tea sandwiches are often used for a variety of different types of functions.

    • Ladies brunch
    • Afternoon or morning wedding 
    • Traditional high tea for a ladies' gathering
    • Baby shower
    • Bridal shower
    • Mother's day
    • Casual garden tea party
    • Any mid-morning or mid-afternoon event that you want to serve food but not a full meal.

    ❓ FAQ

    How do you cut a sandwich for afternoon tea?

    To make dainty finger sandwiches for tea, start by trimming the crusts. This is important to create the same texture for each bite of the tea sandwich. Then cut the sandwiches into triangles, long rectangles, or squares. Use a very sharp chef’s knife or serrated knife to gently cut without tearing the bread.

    If you want to cut the sandwiches into fun shapes using a cookie cutter, it is often easier to cut the bread first into the shapes and then assemble the sandwiches.

    How do you serve mini sandwiches on a tea tower?

    Stack the tower by the heaviness of the sandwiches similar to the courses of a meal. Lighter stuff on the top such as egg salad and cucumber sandwiches. Seafood or fish finger sandwiches go in the middle with beef and other meats on the bottom.

    Get creative when cutting and serving your tea sandwiches. These pretty 10-piece frame cookie cutters will elevate your tea sandwiches when served.

    💭 Tips for Making Ahead

    cucumber with thyme sandwiches on white bread with crust cut off

    When planning a morning or afternoon tea party, it’s a good idea to consider serving a few options that can be made ahead of time.

    Prepping in advance means you are free to enjoy the event along with your guests. 

    Here are some tips to keep in mind.

    •  Consider ingredients that can be prepped further ahead to make sandwich fillings Tasks such as cooking chicken, boiling eggs, and grating cheese can all be done 2-3 days in advance. 
    • Consider alternatives to sliced bread. Using tortillas to make roll-ups, mini cream puffs and even mini puff pastry cups may be better options. They typically hold up a little better than sandwich bread which may dry out when exposed to air.
    • Wait to assemble the most delicate sandwiches at the last minute.
    • Sturdier sandwiches such as sliced meats and cheese work best for making ahead. Some salad sandwiches such as tuna, egg, and chicken can be made up to 24 hours in advance.
    • Avoid soggy bread by making sandwiches with thinner sauces at the last minute.
    • Assemble by laying out all the slices of bread and then layering on the ingredients.

    Tips for Freezing

    I have to be honest, I am not a fan of freezing sandwiches. No matter the steps you take, they won’t be the same. But here are a few hints in case that isn’t an option.

    • Avoid freezing anything that contains mayonnaise, as it won’t hold up when frozen.
    • Any sandwiches with fresh, sliced, or chopped veggies don’t work to freeze. So cucumber sandwiches and sandwiches with salad fillings that contain chopped onion or other vegetables are not recommended for freezing.
    • Use cream cheese and butter as spreads instead of mayonnaise when you want to freeze make ahead tea sandwiches.
    • Rather than freezing whole sandwiches, look for other steps you can take ahead of time to make ingredients that are freezable. Cooking chicken, cutting out shaped bread, sliced meats, some cooked vegetables, and fillings such as salmon mousse that are made without mayonnaise.

    Make sure you take steps for the best results when freezing foods. This includes the containers used for storage and how you place them in the freezer. For more, check out this article on Freezer Storage Ideas.

    More Tips for Storing Little Sandwiches

    • When making sandwiches in advance, store them in the refrigerator with a damp paper towel in between the layers to keep the bread from drying out. For the most freshness wrap them in plastic wrap and store them in an airtight container.
    • Whenever possible, leave the sandwiches or tortilla rollups whole and slice at the last minute. 

    Bread, Wraps, or Crackers to Use

    White bread is the old standard when making finger sandwiches, but these days you can get creative and plan out a menu using different shapes and textures of bread.

    • Sliced bread: White bread, wheat bread, rye bread, country loaf, or any type of bread with nuts, dried fruit, olives, or seeds all make a striking tea sandwich.
    • Vol au vent: This small hollow puff pastry is usually made by cutting two circles in rolled-out puff pastry. A hole is cut in one of the circles and then stacked on top of the intact circle. When baked, it puffs up creating a hole perfect for filling.
    • Tortillas: Spread large, colored tortillas with cream cheese and a variety of fillings and roll them up. When ready to serve, slice into 1-inch pieces. 
    • Crackers: Work great for serving open-faced sandwiches. I prefer these for little rosettes of salmon mousse or an herb cream cheese delicately topped with fresh herbs such as fronds of dill. Make some homemade cheese crackers or pick up a box at the store as an easier solution.

    What to Serve with Tea Sandwiches

    After choosing a variety of flavors and textures of sandwiches to offer, I think a minimum of 3-5 is perfect, let’s look at what else to serve.

    • Hot Tea: Black loose tea with milk and sugar is traditional.  However, if you are serving a large group of people you can consider having a selection of teas such as Assam, Earl Grey, Mint Tea, or others flavors that you feel are appropriate for the group. 
    • Coffee: Offer decaf and regular to satisfy everyone!
    • Signature Mocktail: Serve up a signature, fancy Apple Cider Mocktail or pick a seasonal drink such as one of these Spring Mocktails. 
    • Cocktails: Choose the British classic, Pimms and Lemonade for a traditional vibe! But some of my other favorites are an Azalea Cocktail with its brilliant pink color or a fall-inspired Ginger Pear Cocktail.
    • Sweets: I like to keep the sweets delicate and small for tea parties or events serving bite-sized sandwiches. Madeleines, Pistachio Cranberry Cookies, and Chocolate Strawberry Tarts all are top choices.

    Tea Sandwich Fillings

    The sky is the limit for fillings for finger sandwiches! Here are some popular choices for British tea sandwiches:

    • Cheese and pickle: Sliced cheddar cheese and a pickled chutney.
    • Prawn cocktail:  Chopped shrimp and cocktail sauce mixed together.
    • Egg and watercress: Egg mayonnaise (salad) and fresh watercress.
    • Tuna and Miracle Whip (salad cream): Tuna mixed with creamy salad dressing (not mayonnaise).
    • Roast beef and French mustard: Sliced fresh roast beef and spicy French mustard.

    Here are some more sandwich-filling ideas for your own tiny sandwiches. Serve up these easy salads on your favorite bread!

    The Masters Egg Salad
    This authentic Southern-style egg salad recipe, copied from the Masters Golf Tournament, is perfect for finger sandwiches. It works great to make it the day before, just wait to assemble the sandwiches until the day of your event.
    GO TO THE RECIPE PIN FOR LATER
    Perfectly simple and delicious describes this authentic recipe for The Masters Egg Salad.
    Masters Chicken Salad Sandwich Recipe; Copycat
    Even if you can not make it to the tournament, you can have a taste of the Masters when you make this copycat Masters Chicken Salad Sandwich Recipe. Augusta National serves a classic chicken salad and then elevates it by serving it on a sweet butter brioche bun.
    GO TO THE RECIPE PIN FOR LATER
    Masters chicken salad sandwich sitting on the table.
    Masters Pimento Cheese Recipe
    The famous Masters Pimento Cheese Recipe is s traditional southern sandwich spread that has been served at the Augusta National golf tournament concession stands for over 50 years.
    GO TO THE RECIPE PIN FOR LATER
    The Masters Pimento Cheese Recipe is a classic southern tradition, full of creamy swiss and cheddar cheese mixed in with just the right amount of pimentos.
    Best Spicy Egg Salad Recipe
    This Spicy Egg Salad kicks up a classic egg salad recipe by adding bacon, chili paste, onions, and Siracha. Spicy Sriracha egg salad is perfect on crackers or served as a sandwich for an easy dinner.
    GO TO THE RECIPE PIN FOR LATER
    Best Spicy Southern Egg Salad in a bowl with sriracha in back

    The Best Ideas for Tea Sandwich Make Ahead

    Use these recipes to prepare finger sandwiches for your next event!

    Be sure to keep an eye out for tips along the way about how to make different types of sandwiches in advance.

    Tea Sandwich Ideas

    Tuna Cucumber Tea Sandwiches
    Open-faced tuna sandwiches made with solid white albacore topped with English cucumbers make a beautifully delicate tea sandwich for any event. Cut out the bread and make the tuna salad in advance leaving only the assembly the day of your event!
    GO TO THE RECIPE
    Open face tuna and cucumber tea sandwiches on a platter.
    French Pressed Tiny Sandwich Bites
    My French pressed sandwich bites, inspired by the pan bagnat, have 3 different flavour varieties in one loaf! A party food with a difference!
    GO TO THE RECIPE
    French Pressed Tiny Sandwich Bites
    Tricolor Tea Sandwiches - Herbivore Cucina
    An easy to make tea time snack; this tricolor sandwich is a double decker sandwich with two dips and cheese slices. Serve it with some masala chai or enjoy it for brunch! Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no extra cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click...
    GO TO THE RECIPE
    tri color tea sandwiches
    Beef Tenderloin Sliders
    Fresh roasted beef tenderloin replaces boring old roast beef in this beef tenderloin sliders recipe. Served up with dijon mustard on mini rolls instead of sliced bread, they are a heartier tea sandwich you can offer. The beef can easily be prepared ahead of time and the sturdiness of the rolls will help these slider sandwiches hold up longer than sliced sandwich bread.
    GO TO THE RECIPE
    Beef tenderloin slider on the table with greens and a platter of beef behind.
    English Tea Finger Sandwiches
    Choose between the traditional cucumber, pimento cheese or a Greek tzatzski filling made with Greek yogurt, dill and lemon. The simple flavors and preparation of these three easy tea sandwiches are perfect for any tea time.
    GO TO THE RECIPE
    Tea tower with little sandwiches on it.
    Strawberry Tea Sandwiches
    Strawberry cream cheese and fresh sliced strawberries top off soft sandwich bread in this fruit-flavored tea sandwich that’s delicately sweet and lovely for all types of occasions. It's a nice change from all the savory tea sandwiches and for weddings and bridal showers, they’re perfect cut into hearts as shown in the article.
    GO TO THE RECIPE
    Heart shaped strawberry finger sandwiches on a plate.
    Green Goddess Tea Sandwiches
    The perfect vegetarian option for tea sandwiches! An herbed cream cheese and butter spread is layered with freshly cut veggies for a crisp and flavorful sandwich.
    GO TO THE RECIPE
    Stack of tea sandwiches on a plate.
    Salmon Mousse
    Smoked salmon mousse flavored with lemon juice and fresh dill makes an elegant finger sandwich for your tea party! Serve on top of bread or cucumber slices and garnish them with diced red onion, caviar or a fresh sprig of dill.
    GO TO THE RECIPE
    Salmon mousse rosettes on cucumber slices.
    Irish Egg Salad Finger Sandwiches
    A simple egg salad with veggies that’s served on buttered bread makes a nice, change to traditional American egg salad. Boil the eggs in advance but this delicate spread is best made no more than 24 hours in advance and the sandwiches assembled the day of the event.
    GO TO THE RECIPE
    Triangle shaped tea sandwiches on a platter.

    Classic cucumber tea sandwiches

    The most popular tea sandwich is the classic cucumber sandwich. Here are three different ways to make it!

    Cream Cheese Cucumber Sandwiches
    These easy cucumber sandwiches are made with just three simple ingredients, soft white bread, cream cheese, and sliced cucumbers. Assemble the sandwiches the night before and then cut the day of your event.
    GO TO THE RECIPE
    Cream cheese and cucumber tea sandwiches cut into rectangles on a platter.
    Cucumber and Coleslaw Tea Sandwiches
    Tea time is easy with this two-for-one tea sandwich recipe. Try out a little spin on the cucumber sandwich which combines sliced cucumbers with a cream cheese-based sandwich spread. Or for something different, there’s an option for a creamy coleslaw filling as well. Choose one or serve up both for a striking presentation of different colors, flavors, and textures.
    GO TO THE RECIPE
    Cucumber and coleslaw mini sandwiches cut into triangles on a platter.
    Cucumber Sandwiches
    This cucumber sandwich is made with a homemade dill and chive spread with mayonnaise and cream cheese. The herbed cream cheese mixture is served up on soft sandwich bread of any flavor for an easy tea sandwich. You can make the spread several days in advance and then assemble the night before or the day of the event.
    GO TO THE RECIPE
    Cucumber finger sandwiches on wheat bread.

    Tea sandwich cookbook 📚

    These 55 mouthwatering Tea Sandwich Cookbook recipes are delicious, dainty, and delicate, just as they should be. What began as an English tradition has made its way across the pond to households all around the globe.

    The step-by-step Tea Sandwich recipes are so simple, from meat-filled finger sandwiches to veggie-spreads tea sandwiches. You’ll see why the little delicacies that have made history in Britain are also making waves around the world.

    More Round Ups to Explore

    • What to Serve with Tilapia
    • 50 Mexican Party Theme Ideas and Recipes
    • Easy and Fun Cinco de Mayo Dessert Recipes
    • The Best 33 Mexican Appetizers for a Party

     Stay in touch with me through social media @ Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook. Don't forget to tag me when you try one of my recipes!

    🎉 Be sure and sign up to get your free Party In The Freezer Ecookbook. I'll send it right to you and keep you up to date with all that is happing on Intentional Hospitality

    I appreciate your shares! xox

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    About Gina

    Hey y'all, I am here to help you build community and nurture faith around your table. You will find fun party ideas and delicious recipes for easy-to-make meals and party food. I want to help you create a table where people come together, enjoy a meal and linger with good conversation.

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