There’s always the perfect excuse for an afternoon tea. Whether you’re hosting friends, celebrating a special occasion or simply catching up with relatives, it’s an opportunity to spend quality time with the people you love. A key part of afternoon tea is the cake, which should be light and flavourful without being too sweet - after all, it’s the last element of the tea and should leave you satisfied without feeling overfull. Here’s a list of our favourite cakes for serving with afternoon tea. 

1. Victoria Sponge

With its light, fluffy sponge, delicate vanilla flavour and layers of jam and buttercream, Victoria sponge is a classic that’s sure to round off afternoon tea in style. If your cake is homemade, elevate it with fresh strawberries.  

2. Lemon Drizzle Cake 

The moist texture and zing of lemon makes this cake a wonderful option for afternoon tea. It’s a light cake with a refreshing twist - and that crunchy glaze of sugar finishes off each bite to perfection. 

3. Coffee and Walnut Cake 

Coffee and walnut cake is a great allrounder. The sweetness of the cake is tempered by the bitterness of the coffee, while the crunch of walnuts adds an extra layer of texture. And, of course, it pairs perfectly with a cup of coffee or black tea. 

4. Carrot Cake 

Carrot cake blends warm spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and cloves with grated carrots to create a wonderfully moist texture. With the addition of a velvety cream cheese topping, it’s the ideal way to round off your tea party.

5. Battenberg Cake 

Battenberg is instantly recognisable by its distinctive pink and yellow checkerboard pattern. Its sweet almond flavour is complemented by the fruity tartness of the apricot jam, while the rich, buttery cake is a great accompaniment to black tea or coffee. 

6. Chocolate Cake 

Chocolate cake is a classic crowd pleaser that brings a rich sense of indulgence to an afternoon tea. Chocolate fudge cake has a soft, moist crumb and plenty of sweetness to pair with teas such as Assam, Earl Grey or Rooibos. 

7. Passion fruit chiffon cake

Chiffon cakes are made with oil rather than butter to create a super-light, airy crumb that melts in the mouth. Passion fruit flavouring adds a delightful tang that offsets the sweetness of the cake, making it a fresh option for afternoon tea. 

8. Cherry Bakewell Cake

Offering a fun twist on the cherry Bakewell tart, this cake combines ground almonds, cherries and a hint of raspberry jam to create a moist sponge with a little tartness. Finished with icing and flaked almonds, this cake will provide a memorable finish to your occasion.

Afternoon tea is a British tradition that even our literature and theatre showcases. Family theatre shows like The Tiger Who Came To Tea show in London celebrate the act of sitting down to enjoy food with guests - even if they do end up eating all the sandwiches and cakes in one big gulp! Discover the family theatre tickets available at the Theatre Royal Haymarket and book today.