Afternoon Tea recipe ideas

Provided I stay cold and flu free, I'm going to an Afternoon Tea on Sunday. It's pot luck and the host needs people to bring various things from her menu. She's providing the scones but needs other dessert-like items.

I'd like to make something really traditional but easy. Perhaps some sort of tea bread (quick bread?) or something like that.

Any suggestions?

I always like a really rich brownie at tea.  Otherwise, Lemon Squares always went down well with my husband's family when I hosted tea.  The standard Betty Crocker recipe is really easy.

Lemon squares are a wonderful idea!

Or what about cupcakes? Or butterfly fairy cakes? Whatever you make, it should be small, dainty and ladylike for a tea! Also easy to eat without making too much of a mess.

Or shortbread? Dead easy and you could cut them out in little shapes like hearts or something. And dip half of each one in melted chocolate if you'd like?

All the suggestions have been great, and I don't know that it is traditional, but all my British friends love it when I bring along a Zucchini Bread.

Last week, I made these Jammy Dodgers and I got rave reviews.  They looked really pretty, and the lemon in the biscuit went really well with the raspberry jam.

I've totally gone bonkers for madeleines! I use David Lebovitz's recipe except I don't bother with the glaze, and I bought a silicon madeleine pan which was WELL worth the £9 just to not have to grease and freeze the d*mn thing between batches. They just pop right out.

(Also, the dough is increeeeeeedible. As well it should be for the amount of butter involved.)

I'm making another batch this weekend because people are coming over for tea. The Husband wants chopped up bits of glacé cherry in these so we'll see how that goes.

It's too bad it has to be puddings... because my favourite part of tea is those wee sandwiches - cucumber and watercress, or smoked salmon, etc 

I've totally gone bonkers for madeleines! I use David Lebovitz's recipe except I don't bother with the glaze, and I bought a silicon madeleine pan which was WELL worth the £9 just to not have to grease and freeze the d*mn thing between batches. They just pop right out.

Excellent idea! I love madeleines! I have a very old madeleine tin that I bought at a brocante in Paris years ago and it still works perfectly!

It's too bad it has to be puddings... because my favourite part of tea is those wee sandwiches - cucumber and watercress, or smoked salmon, etc 

I was thinking that too! Are you sure she doesn't need sandwiches? Cut into sweet little triangles with the crusts sliced off?

She does need sandwiches but others are making them and I'd rather not... I like to eat them, but not make them!

Lemon squares or shortbread sound good - actually it all sounds good! I was also thinking ginger cake or Nigella's Dense Chocolate Loaf.

I want it all!

Brandy snaps? I blooming love them and they look so impressive. You can melt a little chocolate and dip them in, maybe with some crushed pistachios as well. yumzor