For more than a decade, my friends and I have gathered every December at the Wine Country Inn in Palisade, Colorado for their annual Christmas Tea. It became one of our favorite traditions — three tiers of treats, steaming cups of tea, and that festive holiday feeling.
But this year, something felt different. We were getting a little tired of the same menu, and we always seemed to be rushing out so the next group could be seated. Instead of squeezing in another hurried tea, I decided to do something we’ve never done before:
✨ Host our own Christmas Tea Party. At home.
And it turned out to be my favorite one yet!
A Sunday Afternoon Tradition
Afternoon tea is meant to be slow and social. So we planned ours for Sunday at 2:00 PM, with a classic three-course format:
- Sweet
- Savory
- Dessert
I set the table with Spode Christmas china that my mom and grandma have collected for years, which made everything feel elegant and nostalgic. But truly — you don’t need china to host a tea. Disposable plates and tiered trays work beautifully. (These tea party food stands are great and affordable: disposable tiered stands).
There were 10 guests, which was the perfect number, enough for lively conversation around the table, but not so many that I felt overwhelmed.
Christmas music played gently in the background, and the house felt cozy and magical.
The Menu
🍰 SWEET COURSE
- Traditional English scones – Recipe from PlatedCravings
- Orange cranberry scones – Prebought mix
- Homemade clotted cream – Recipe from HouseFullofMonkeys
- Lemon curd – Bought on Amazon
- Strawberry jam – Bought on Amazon
We served this first, on platters. The clotted cream was the star — you can’t buy the real stuff in the U.S., since it’s made with raw unpasteurized cream, so I made my own the day before. I used a $6 store mix for one batch of scones and homemade for the other. Both were delicious.
🥪 SAVORY COURSE
All of my savory items were store-bought, assembled, and plated to save time.
- Smoked salmon bites on crackers – Recipe from JamJarKitchen and bagel crackers bought online
- Cucumber & dill sandwiches – Recipe from SpendwithPennies
- Chicken salad on croissants – store-bought chicken salad and croissants, cut in half for a dainty, tea-friendly size.
- A tray of fresh fruit (grapes & cara cara oranges) – You can also add them to the tiered tray, like a charcuterie board.
Not only did this keep things simple, it also let me focus on the fun parts: styling trays, brewing tea, and actually enjoying my guests.
🍬 DESSERT COURSE
This final course was a hit:
- Fudge with crushed peppermint – Recipe from FamilyFavoriteRecipes
- Cream cheese filled strawberries – Recipe from AllRecipes
- Sugared cranberries with sugared rosemary – Recipe from SallysBakingAddiction
- Gingerbread cookies – Recipe from SallysBakingAddiction
- Sugar cookies – Recipe from SallysBakingAddicition
Everything on this list was made the day before, which made the actual party day feel easy and calm.
One of my favorite touches?
Sugared cranberries and rosemary sprigs. They look like they belong on a magazine cover!
Tea Service (With Electric Kettles)
I had planned to use teapots, until I realized I didn’t own any that matched. So instead, we used:
🔥 Two electric kettles. I used this Chefman brand kettle which was awesome because it has an automatic steep timer and then a keep warm timer. One kettle of each tea type was the perfect amount, I didn’t need to make extra in the middle of the party which was nice.
- One for Earl Grey
- One for a caffeinated herbal tea called Winter Spice
It worked perfectly, keeping everything hot. Simple heat up the hot water, add in 5-7 tea bags and let steep for 3-5 minutes. Remove the tea bags and serve.
Tea accessories:
I also offered cream (milk) and a half lemon tied in cheesecloth. The lemon trick was so handy — no seeds, no mess.
How I Prepared Without Stress
The secret was doing as much as possible ahead of time.
The day before:
- Made all desserts
- Made the clotted cream (requires overnight in fridge)
- Set the table
- Washed fruit
- Ironed table linens
- Printed the menu
On the day of, all I needed to do was:
- Assemble the savory trays
- Bake the scones
- Turn on kettles
- Enjoy my guests ✨
It was calm, beautiful, and surprisingly easy.
These are the products I used (affiliate links):
Hosting Your Own: Tips & Takeaways
If you want to try a home Christmas Tea, here’s what I learned:
✔ Make desserts the day before
✔ Buy the savory items
✔ Use whatever dishes you have
✔ Play Christmas music
✔ Electric kettles > teapots
✔ 10 guests felt perfect
✔ Keep it simple and joyful
The best part?
We weren’t rushed.
We stayed and talked.
It felt slow, warm, and festive.
Just how Christmas tea should be.
What I’d Do Differently Next Time
As perfect as the afternoon felt, there are always a few things I’d tweak for next year — little touches that would make the tea even smoother and more special.
Have to-go boxes ready
We had plenty of extra treats, and it would’ve been fun to send everyone home with a small box of goodies. Next year I’ll set out cute bakery-style boxes so guests can create their own little “tea party sampler” to enjoy later.
Suggest an outfit theme
Everyone looked great, but it might be fun to give guests a simple outfit idea ahead of time — something like “festive cozy,” “holiday sweaters,” or “velvet + tartan.” Not required, just a playful way to add to the atmosphere (and makes for adorable photos!).
Print menus for each place setting
Next time I’ll create individual printed menus at each place setting. It’s such a small detail, but it adds charm and makes the whole experience feel more polished and intentional.
Try a few new food items
While the menu was perfect for this year, I’d love to switch things up annually — maybe rotating in a new scone flavor, a fun seasonal dessert, or a different savory bite. It keeps the tradition fresh and gives everyone something to look forward to.
Take more intentional photos
I snapped a few pictures throughout the afternoon, but next year I want to be more intentional about capturing the table, the food, and all the little details. Some of the photos in this post aren’t my favorite, and having a simple shot list in mind would make the memories even better.
Would I Host Again?
Absolutely.
This may become our new tradition.
I’ll always love the Wine Country Inn, but there was something extra magical about being home, surrounded by friends, using heirloom china, watching the afternoon sunlight glow across the table.
Next year, I’m already imagining new recipes, and maybe matching teapots.
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