It’s not always easy finding ways to surprise Mom considering she knows all the tricks in the book, right? And I’m sure you want to do something different to make her feel special. Breakfast in bed is old and treating her to dinner at her favorite restaurant, well, that has been done way too many times. But what about inviting the queen of your home to an unforgettable high tea?
This post was first published on April 29, 2016.
Over the years, I’ve been adding a tip or two to this popular post, and for good reason…
This needs to be the perfect high tea!
Recipes and Tips to Host an unforgettable High Tea experience
A propah British high tea couldn’t be a more perfect way to celebrate Mom, and yes, I promise, the essentials for a High Tea are simple.
A floral tablecloth
If you don’t own a vintage-looking floral tablecloth
, a pretty pastel-colored linen tablecloth 
will work.
(If disposable tablecloths are all you have, use those.)
Get a vase, or two, fill each with colorful, fresh flowers to add that burst of happiness to the table.
Steaming hot tea in a teapot, which will be served in teacups with saucers, are a must.
What’s a tea party without tea, right?
And no, not iced tea, but a good ol’ pot of steaming tea.
If you’re lost on what tea to buy, an Earl Gray 
is a popular choice but if you prefer stronger tea, as I do, I would recommend black Ceylon tea.
But if you ask me what my favorite of all teas is, I would have to go with a traditional Indian cardamom chai, made from scratch, or even fresh ginger chai.
Mmmm.
A 3 tiered platter.
Most often than not, all, or at least most, of the goodies for a High Tea are arranged on a 3 tiered tray with scones on top, sandwiches in the middle, tea cakes, muffins, and pastries on the lowest tier.
While I used a glass tiered tray, you can choose a more rustic look with this gorgeous iron 3 tiered treat stand.
Scones.
You really can’t do a traditional High Tea without scones, and I would recommend you bake these an hour before your tea party commences as they’re best straight out of the oven.
The recipe I use is adapted from the original, saved from USA Weekend’s columnist, Pam Anderson.
This is so good and incredibly easy.
Enjoy these single-serving cake or quick bread treats that originate from the United Kingdom
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 3 tbsp sugar
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup butter room temperature
- 1/2 cup Greek yogurt plain
-
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit
-
In a bowl, mix the dry ingredients together (use only 2 tbsps of sugar) and set aside.
-
In another bowl, whisk together the egg, butter and yogurt.
-
Now add the wet mixture to the dry, gradually, ensuring you knead the mixture well to eventually form a large ball of dough that has come together.
-
On a lightly floured surface, roll out some of the dough, approximately 3/4 inch thick and cut triangles out of the same
-
Sprinkle the top with a little sugar from tbsp left over.
-
Place the triangles on a cookie pan lined with parchment paper and bake for 15 minutes or so, till it becomes golden brown.
-
Serve hot.
Serve these with lemon curd
, marmalade
, or any other fruit preserve of your choice.
These taste delicious minus an accompaniment too.
Mini sandwiches
Now here’s where you can get really creative. You can really make whatever sandwich Mom prefers but if you would like to do something along the traditional high tea menu route, make cucumber sandwiches (fresh cucumber slices held together with butter)
and egg salad sandwiches.
- 2 boiled eggs
- 1/2 cup fresh spinach chopped
- 1/2 cup fresh lettuce chopped
- 1-1 1/2 tablespoon mayonnaise
- 1-2 teaspoons fresh ground pepper
- Pinch of salt
- 4-6 slices of bread
-
Boil the eggs till they're cooked all the way through.
-
Remove the shells when cool and place in a bowl.
-
Take a potato masher and mash up the eggs well.
-
Season with pepper and salt.
-
Throw in the spinach and lettuce.
-
Add the mayonnaise and mix all the contents in the bowl well.
-
Spread this between two slices of bread to make your egg salad sandwich
Both sandwiches can be made independently by older kids.
My 10 year old made the egg salad sandwiches from start to finish while my 5 year old helped layer the cucumbers on each slice and make individual sandwiches with the same.
Muffins and Fresh Fruit Tarts
When I think of England, I think of Paddington Bear and his love for Britain’s popular orange preserve, marmalade
.
These marmalade nut muffins are a great addition to the tiered platter.
If Mom likes kiwis, she may take a fancy to fresh kiwi tea cakes too.
(You can pour the batter into muffin trays to make these mini kiwi tea muffins.)
You can also buy frozen tart shells, bake and fill the shells with lemon curd (top this with fresh strawberries or blueberries),
or blend fresh strawberries into a homemade custard and top this with blueberries.
Savory rolls
I remember my mother would serve sausage rolls at every birthday party I had, as a child.
These are easy to make, either with a Pillsbury biscuit dough as covering or you can make this from scratch using my Sausage and Cheese Breakfast Muffins recipe as a base.
The only difference is you would omit the cheese and wrap a 1″ long sausage piece (of your choice) with the dough.
You can do the same with mozzarella sticks to make mozzarella rolls.
Biscuits (aka Cookies)
And finally, you just have to have ‘biscuits’ to complete your traditional High Tea.
You can bake cookies, like my 3 ingredient shortbread cookies, from scratch. or pick up some popular English biscuit favorites, like McVities
and Scottish Walkers Shortbread.
End the celebration with beautiful, free printable All About Mom keepsakes.
Now that you have your high tea table all set, don’t forget to dress to the nines and wear those fascinators
or fascinator hats
.
How will you celebrate your mother?
Linda says
We are taking Mom out to dinner!
Colleen Gal says
I will go out to dinner, glass of wine and a nice gift always works!
APRIL MORRISON says
Mom passed on within a couple days of Mother’s Day many years ago. I think of her often when I see spring flowers blooming.
Marina says
I’m so sorry April. I’m sure you have many beautiful memories with her to fill your heart.
KAMCHIE LATIMORE says
Breakfast in bed and dinner with my husband and daughter at my favorite restaurant.
Elizabeth McGlasson says
Planning to have a wonderful Mothers day grill out. And then a slide show of old photos!
greentopiaries says
I plan on getting my Mom a huge box of her most favorite candy and flowers and then taking her out to lunch at a nice restaurant. Thank you for the chance! Love HEB! 🙂
Heather G says
I am going to spend Mother’s day with my Mom and Grandma!
Sherril Theis says
We will be taking Mom to play BINGO for Mother’s Day! It’s her favorite!
Diane L says
I would like to try the Red Velvet Cheesecake for Mother’s Day.
Kristi Price says
Well, now that I have read your post, I think I will make the scones (wonder if they would be good with walnuts in them) and the sausage rolls and so on. I was going to cook a Mother’s Day dinner but it is so hot in North Florida where I live that something light, like a tea party or just the lighter foods sounds fantastic, so…thanks for the giveaway AND the recommendations! 🙂 and ps> I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me too 😉 One of my scriptures that I raised my son to remember. (noticed that in your “about Marina.” Have a great weekend! xoxo
Amanda Gardner says
I’m letting my kids bake and make some fun treats this Mother’s Day.
Rosanne says
My mother died a year and a half ago. My newest daughter in law’s mom died suddenly 3 weeks ago. I am going to do something for her even though she isn’t a mom.
Annmarie W. says
My own mom lives quite far from me, but I always send her flowers for Mothers Day & she loves them…and loves the tradition of knowing that she’ll have flowers delivered!
gloria parkin says
having a wonderful dinner and spend time with my family
CARMIN ZAMBRANO says
cook
CARMIN ZAMBRANO says
flowers
Laurie Belcher says
I will have High Tea for her and invite another friend over. We will have a super celebration for Mother’s Day.
Sharon Rooney says
We usually take Mom somewhere local that she likes or has wanted to visit and then we go out to dinner.
In the past we have taken her into the city to visit an area she wanted to see and SHOP and to the shore to see the beach and walk the boardwalk
Debby Dunnigan says
Family and good food while sitting out on the deck all together would make my Mother happier than anything else.
Samantha Hubbard says
I sent mom a gift card for dinner. She lives so far away I won’t be able to see her, and she told me she does not want flowers this year. lol
Debbie B says
We will probably go out to dinner!
paula brown says
I can make mothers day momentous by making a wonderful dinner for my mother and buying her flowers.
Elle says
We will spend time together as a family and have a big BBQ.
latoya says
I’m giving my mom and grandma cards and gifts and cooking them dinner
Breanna Pollard says
Spending time with everyone and giving gifts.
hannah says
I don’t live near my mom, so all I’ll be able to do is call and talk with her.