For any special occasion, serve Tea Sandwiches. I’m sharing three favorites – cucumber and butter, roast beef with horseradish, or cornbread muffin and ham.
Growing up in the tiny, rural town of my childhood was an experience completely unlike any that I know of today. It was two parts Mayberry and one part Peyton Place.
It was a place where children had the freedom to roam around town without parents having to worry. A time well before the Internet or satellite television. We largely made our own fun and we most definitely made time for social occasions.
Special Occasions
Some of the most important social occasions other than weddings in my little hometown were showers. Wedding showers and baby showers. These were huge events and it was not unusual for several hundred people to be included on the guestlist for either.
Each occasion required printed invitations which were hand addressed by the hostesses and mailed with sufficient time to allow everyone to clear her calendar for the big day. Gifts were purchased and arrived at the shower accompanied by the engraved calling card of the giver. Yes, these were very special occasions.
Special Food and Decor
When the date for the big event arrived all the guests and the honoree gathered and enjoyed an afternoon of visiting and catching up on the latest news (i.e., gossip). The venue was always beautifully decorated with white linen-draped tables and lovely floral arrangements.
There was, of course, the ever-present punch bowl with its matching tiny punch cups. And silver serving trays held delicacies of all kinds – fruits, vegetables with dips, and charming little Tea Sandwiches. Making the sandwiches for this post took me right back to those times when we planned special events months in advance, hand addressed correspondence, and put on our Sunday best to show how much we cared for those with whom we shared our lives.
If you have a special occasion coming up try adding a few tea sandwiches to your menu. You’ll feel so very retro. And you know how chic retro is these days :-)
How to Make Tea Sandwiches
I have three little tea sandwiches to share with you. The first one is a very traditional cucumber and butter sandwich. Another is roast beef with horseradish and watercress and the third is definitely not traditional with its cornbread muffin and ham.
Cucumber and Butter
For the cucumber-butter sandwiches, mix softened butter, grated lemon zest, and chopped fresh dill. Spread onto thin white sandwich bread. Top with thinly sliced cucumber. Trim the crusts and cut into pieces.
Beef with Horseradish and Watercress
For the roast beef and horseradish version, mix sour cream, mayonnaise, horseradish, salt, and pepper. Spread on whole wheat or rye bread. Top with thinly sliced roast beef, thinly sliced tomato and watercress. Trim the crusts and cut into pieces.
Ham and Cornbread
For the ham and cornbread sandwiches, mix softened butter, chopped scallions, and honey. Spread on split mini corn muffins. Fill with thinly sliced ham and hot pepper jelly.
More Options and Variations
The above are just three of my favorites, but there are loads and loads of ideas for tea sandwiches! Some others you might like:
- Spread a split baguette with softened butter. Top with smoked turkey, cheddar cheese, and sliced apple. Slice thinly.
- Spread softened cream cheese onto slices of date-nut or other fruit bread. Layer with sliced strawberries. Cut into pieces.
- Chicken salad makes a lovely presentation when served in tiny puff pastry rounds. Cut the rounds with a 1.5 to 2-inch cutter. Fill with your favorite chicken salad recipe.
- Pimiento cheese is always popular in the South. Use my traditional pimiento cheese recipe on marbled rye. Cut into pieces and top with a tiny slice of pickled okra.
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Recipe
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Tea Sandwiches Three Ways
Ingredients
Cucumber-Butter Sandwiches
- 4 tablespoons softened butter
- ½ teaspoon grated lemon zest
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill
- 4 slices Very thin white sandwich bread
- 1/2 English cucumber thinly sliced
Roast Beef-Horseradish Sandwiches
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons sour cream
- 1 teaspoon prepared horseradish
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 4 slices Very thin whole wheat or rye bread
- 2 ounces Medium rare roast beef thinly sliced
- 1 Roma (plum) tomato thinly sliced
- Watercress (optional)
Ham-Cornbread Sandwiches
- 6 tablespoons softened butter
- 2 teaspoons chopped scallion
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 12 Mini corn muffins
- 4 ounces Thinly sliced deli ham
- 3 teaspoons Red pepper jelly
Instructions
Cucumber-Butter Sandwiches
- Mix the butter, lemon zest and dill.4 tablespoons softened butter, ½ teaspoon grated lemon zest, 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill
- Spread on bread and top with cucumber slices.4 slices Very thin white sandwich bread, 1/2 English cucumber
- Trim crusts and cut into serving size pieces.
Roast Beef-Horseradish Sandwiches
- Combine the mayonnaise, sour cream, horseradish, salt and pepper.2 tablespoons mayonnaise, 2 tablespoons sour cream, 1 teaspoon prepared horseradish, ¼ teaspoon salt, ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper
- Spread on bread.4 slices Very thin whole wheat or rye bread
- Top with roast beef, tomato slices, and watercress.2 ounces Medium rare roast beef, 1 Roma (plum) tomato, Watercress (optional)
- Trim crusts and cut into serving size pieces.
Ham-Cornbread Sandwiches
- Mix the softened butter, scallions and honey. Spread a small amount on the bottom of each split corn muffin. Top with ham and red pepper jelly. Replace the top.6 tablespoons softened butter, 2 teaspoons chopped scallion, 1 teaspoon honey, 12 Mini corn muffins, 4 ounces Thinly sliced deli ham, 3 teaspoons Red pepper jelly
Notes
- Smoked Turkey and Apple on Baguette – Slice a baguette in half lengthwise and spread with softened butter. Layer in smoked turkey, sharp cheddar, and thin slices of apple. Slice into bite-sized pieces.
- Strawberry Cream Cheese on Fruit Bread – Spread softened cream cheese on date-nut or another fruit bread. Top with fresh sliced strawberries, then cut into small squares or triangles.
- Chicken Salad in Puff Pastry Rounds – Use a 1.5 to 2-inch round cutter to shape pre-baked puff pastry into little sandwich shells. Fill with your favorite chicken salad for an elegant bite.
- Pimiento Cheese on Marbled Rye – Use my traditional pimiento cheese recipe and serve it on marbled rye. Trim and slice into serving sizes, and for a little Southern flair, top each with a sliver of pickled okra.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information is calculated by software based on the ingredients in each recipe. It is an estimate only and is provided for informational purposes. You should consult your healthcare provider or a registered dietitian if precise nutrition calculations are needed for health reasons.
I’m Lana Stuart, an award-winning cookbook author, food blogger, and lifelong cook raised deep in Southwest Georgia. I started Lana’s Cooking in 2009 to share the tried-and-true recipes I grew up with. Around here, the food is full of flavor, the traditions run deep, and there’s always room at the table.
How do you keep the bread from drying out before serving?
Hi Jean. There are a few ways to slow down the bread drying out. As you make the sandwiches, put them in a tightly sealed storage container and don’t cut them until ready to serve. Arrange the sandwiches on a tray and cover tightly with plastic wrap. The best option is often a tray with a cover or a cake stand with a cover. If you want to be extra careful, you can cover them with a very slightly damp tea towel or paper towel. Be sure that the towel is only the slightest bit damp, not wet!
After these are all cut, about how many sandwiches does this make? I want to make these for my nieces baby shower- there about 50 people coming
Hi Bridget. You would make up as many as you need for your event. The sandwich recipes make enough spread for two whole sandwiches each (those are then cut into four pieces as shown making 8 little tea sandwiches.) The spread for the muffin recipe makes enough for about 12 mini muffins.
Hope this helps.
Love the idea of using mini corn muffins!
These are so cute!!! Just love them.
Thanks, Katherine! They’re also lots of fun to make!
Love tea sandwiches – so civilized! The ham and cornbread ones are delicious and pure Lana :)
Thanks, Priscilla. I think they’re quite civilized, too :-)
These are so cute! I love afternoon tea and finger sandwiches. I think I’ll have to try the ham cornbread variety.
Hope you enjoy those, Shirley. We did.
Those look great. Did you have a little party? Are there any leftovers?
Miss P
No, no party. I just got into the kitchen and made up a bunch of little sandwiches :-)
Perfect little sandwiches. Would love some at the bridal shower I’m about to go to. ;)
Perfect for a wedding reception! And I have just the place for them. Thanks!
Those ham cornbread ones are calling MY name! Yum!
Those are my favorites, too, Marnely. That little dollop of hot pepper jelly really makes them great. Or you could use a slice of pickled jalapeno as well.