A delightful assortment of classic tea sandwiches for your next tea party.
Regardless of the tea sandwich you are preparing, you need a butter barrier to prevent the bread from becoming soggy.
Butter must be room temperature and soft enough for you to easily cut through the butter with your finger.
Spread a very thin layer of unsalted butter on each slice. Set the slices aside.
For best results, assemble the sandwiches at least 3 hours before serving. Allow 30 minutes to prep and layer the sandwiches. Two hours to chill in the refrigerator so they are easier to slice and 30 minutes to cut and arrange them on pretty tiered plates.
Note: When refrigerating, line a cookie sheet with parchment paper, set the uncut sandwiches down, cover with another sheet of parchment paper followed by a kitchen towel and wrap the entire cookie sheet in plastic wrap to prevent from drying out. If necessary, you can prep the sandwiches the night before.
When making a cream cheese mixture or salad spread, mix those first and set aside until ready to assemble.
When layering with cheese slices, set a thin layer of cheese over the bread followed by the filling and top with another slice of cheese, so both bread slices touch cheese and not filling. This will help prevent the bread from getting soggy.
When adding vegetables or fruit, such as cucumbers, tomatoes or strawberries, set them on a paper towel to drain any excess moisture before assembling.
Remove the sandwiches from the fridge and with a sharp serrated bread knife, slice the crust off the bread, wiping the blade each time after slicing. This will ensure a clean cut and reduces smearing the filling. Traditional shapes are squares, triangles and rectangles.
Note: You could also use a round cookie cutter. Wipe the cookie cutter like you would the knife.
I like to cut like flavored sandwiches in like shapes. This is easier for guests to know which sandwiches are which.
Place the sandwiches on the tiered serving tray in a single layer so it is easy for your guests to serve themselves. These sandwiches are delicate so stacking is not recommended.