Afternoon tea time is a bit deal at my place. It’s a time of winding down together after the busyness of the school run. Refueling, regrouping and deciding what we’re going to do for the rest of the day.
There’s a certain formality about our afternoon tea. It’s important to me that we don’t feel rushed and that I’ve gone to a little trouble to set our food and drinks out nicely. On days when we have something on straight after school, the afternoon tea is packed into Tupperware containers for each child to pick at whenever the urge strikes.
I try to bake something warming and delicious at least once a week – when I have an oven, that is. Lately our oven has been out of commission and we sit around looking at it, craving lemonade scones and waiting for parts… So lately I’ve simply been making a fruit platter and spreading a little Vegemite on cruskits or vitaweet biscuits. When I do get to bake, I definitely make double batches every single time. I’m a working mum with three kids – it’s a necessity that a recipe can be frozen! It’s also essential that afternoon tea can be in and out of the oven in around half an hour… because at least once a week I realise I’ve forgotten to organise myself and pick-up time is fast approaching!
So,most days after school you’ll find us on our front verandah, or the back deck or huddled around the kitchen counter talking about our day and munching on something scrumptious. I try to keep within the healthy-guidelines when I cook, but sometimes I indulge the side of us that loves butter and sugar and all the naughty things. Life is too short to always bake with wholemeal flour and cacoa powder. Well, I think it is anyway!
I urge you to make afternoon tea a ritual at your place too, even if it’s just once or twice a week. It’s a time for excited conversations and making plans, for gentle cuddles and reflecting on the day so far. Taking time for afternoon tea seems to connect us to past-generations and the simpler, richer times they enjoyed.
I absolutely adore this time of day with my children and have selected 10 of our favourite recipes that I hope will inspire you bring an afternoon tea party to your place soon. Who knew I was such a foodie blogger?!
Smiley face gingerbread biscuits
Spelt blueberry and banana bread
What’s afternoon tea time like at your place?
Erin says
Afternoon tea at my place always involves doubling/tripling recipes, no freezing around here though;) lol
Maxabella says
We kinda had a morning / lunch / afternoon tea together, didn’t we? It was delightful, whatever it was! I’d really love to get your recipe for banana bread. x
Mother Down Under says
We can’t do afternoon tea otherwise my little guy won’t eat dinner!
Sometimes we do have fruit and I enjoy slurping watermelon or mangoes on the front verandah with the family before the rush of dinner, bath, and bed begins!
I do often bake for morning tea thought!
Oat bran muffins (http://motherdownunder.com/best-oat-bran-berry-muffins/) are always a hit…I recently made a date and cinnamon sugar batch that were particularly good!
Maxabella says
As soon as I get my oven back, I’ll be baking your muffins, Caitlin! I WISH we could skip afternoon tea in order to be hungry for dinner, but we are just not built that way at my place. x
Ms Jelena says
Yum! Loving all the ideas! I usually bake a few different slices and cookies and then keep them in small batches in either freezer or airtight containers and then whisk them out for afternoon tea 🙂 xx
Maxabella says
It’s the only way to do it! I love having a little stash in the freezer so that some weeks I don’t have to bake at all. x
Kim @Landofzonkt says
Oh I love your little ritual Bron that’s lovely. I must admit the best we do is banana smoothies in the arvo but I don’t bake especially if I have to do it all again so close to dinner time.
It also doesn’t help that my daughter is rediculously fussy when it comes to snacks, seriously she doesn’t like cake, doesn’t eat biscuits unless they contain chocolate nor muesli anything. So she has fruit, fruit and fruit. Sons better.
The only time I do make things is when we have guests coming, I usually do picklets jam & cream as my kids love it & most people like them…
I however am eyeing off your honey jumbles and those chia muesli bars and oh who am I kidding, it all looks delicious!
Maxabella says
You’ve gotta make the honey jumbles, Kim. The kids can have a go at them by themselves too as they are super easy. Putting the icing on is the most fun.
Your daughter is very, very lucky really!! x
Reannon @shewhorambles says
Afternoon tea is a bit of mixed bag. Some day I’ll make something specifically for the kids after school, but many days it’s whatever they can get there hands on!
Maxabella says
I’m too organised to leave them to forage (although I really think that’s a great idea!). x
Bec @ The Plumbette says
Love all these baking ideas. I like to bake with the girls in the morning. I look forward to having afternoon tea after school when they go, but I’m like Caitlin, the girls won’t eat their dinner if they have afternoon tea.
Maxabella says
Ah, they are young yet, dear Bec. Mind you, I wish mine didn’t need afternoon tea. It’s surely a genetic thing (as is the resulting extra belly!?!?). x