With our attention recently turned to England and the memories of Her Majesty, the late Queen Elizabeth II, we’ve become inspired by all things British, especially afternoon tea time.
If you’re ready to host a tea party, start by serving a lovely spiced tea. Steep English Breakfast tea with a cinnamon stick and a slice of orange peel. Strain before serving and add sweetener if you would like.
Crème for Tea Time Happiness
Top your tea with a dollop of Sweet Spice Crème for a royally delicious cup. Use 1 cup heavy cream, whipped first to stiff peaks, then seasoned to taste with a mix of ground cinnamon, ground cardamom, 1-2 cubes of minced candied ginger, and the zest of an orange. Sweeten with light brown sugar or a teaspoon or two of maple syrup.
No tea party is complete without treats, and the spiced crème can also be a star ingredient in baking. Fold in a whole egg for each cup of the crème blend, line a mini muffin pan with paper cupcake liners, and layer the crème with your favorite muffin mix to make “stuffed” muffins. Or create mini cheesecakes by placing a small round of brioche topped with 3 tablespoons of the crème blend in each muffin cup and baking in a preheated 350-degree oven for 10-12 mins.
If you don’t have time to bake, you can use the Sweet Spice Crème to elevate any sweet you have on hand. Fold in an equal amount of softened Neufchatel to the spiced whipped crème, add more sugar to taste, then sandwich between bite-sized cookies or slather atop warm toast or scones.
Whether you host High Tea or simply wind down with a cup of milk tea solo, tea time is certainly a British tradition worth trying!
Heidi Billotto, a Charlotte-based culinary expert, writes about food, restaurants, and food-centric travel for regional magazines, newspapers, blogs & websites. In addition, Heidi conducts private in-home or office cooking classes for corporate team building & social gatherings. Follow her culinary adventures at HeidiBillottoFood.com.