Can I make scones and cherry cake ahead for afternoon tea?

[OneBusyFinch]

I’m not a confident baker and would like to ask for advice please.

I’ve invited three neighbours for afternoon tea on Sunday. I’m planning to do

• small square cucumber sandwiches
• scones with clotted cream and jam
• some kind of savoury tartlets
• Mary Berry Cherry cake

I would really like to make the scones and cake in advance - would that work if stored in cake tins or are they really best if made fresh on the day?

The cherry cake will be absolutely fine, possibly better for a day or two uncut. The scones really are much better freshly baked.

Honestly, I’d buy the scones. Make the cake the day before.

You could make the scones and put them in the freezer and bake from frozen in the day, add 5-10 mins baking time.

I would make the scones the day before and freeze them as suggested already

It sounds absolutely lovely and the cakes sound delicious but I would wonder if you forget to add the ham/tuna/cheese if you served me just cucumber on a sandwich 😅

Agree with pp. Scones do tend to be better fresh so using the freezing method above is a great idea and serve them slightly warm.

Cherry cake imo is better if done the day before.

Tartlets also fine the day before as long as the filling isn't two wet and soaks into pastry.

Sandwiches done as late as possible before arrival then wrapped up to avoid going stale.

Cucumber sandwiches are a totally normal afternoon tea sandwich. I have sometimes done mine with some cream cheese that's been mixed up with chopped mint, but otherwise just butter is totally fine.

Cherry cake, agreed you can make a day or so before hand. Scones really need to be made on the day.

I use Delia's Devonshire scone recipe with an extra teaspoon of baking powder, and make sure my dough is rolled to a couple of cm thick, so they come out nice and tall. I usually bake a double batch because thick dough uses up the mixture quickly.

Thank you so much everyone!

I'm not a baker but I wish I was your neighbour! Sounds delicious. Have a lovely afternoon.

Don't stint on the cherries! My mum once bought a cherry cake and was most put out when she unwrapped it and found just one cherry, perched on the top of the icing.

I can thoroughly recommend Tesco Finest scones if you want to buy rather than having the faff.

I like the nigella scone recipe from domestic goddess with sour cherries actually. They don’t take long to make at all.

Mary Berry did a platter of sandwiches on her tv prog and day ahead and i did this too and this actually improved them. You can google the clip. But basically make sandwiches and then cover totally with dampened and wrung out kitchen towel and cling film. In the day I cut the crusts off and into triangles - sometimes I leave crusts on.

The next day they are so soft and delicious. I do cheese and chutney, ham and mustard, egg and cress, smoked salmon and cream cheese.

If you're not a confident baker, why bother, just buy the scones and cake.

Mary Berry’s cherry cake doesn’t stint on cherries! It’s a long time since I last made it but it is ever so delicious

I make Delia Smith's also delicious. Do you toss the cherries in flour to stop them sinking?

My neighbours have all hosted me for tea before and they all baked. I would like to make an effort for them. I like baking, just haven’t done it for quite a while

Yes!

cake will be fine. If I’m making scones I prepare air the dry ingredients up to rubbing in the butter, flour, baking powder etc, so you have the mix like breadcrumbs the day before. Then on the day you need them it’s pretty quick to add the wet ingredients and cook. Scones definitely taste better fresh.

It sounds lovely, but there is only 1 savoury option and 3 sweet things. Maybe a 2nd sandwich option? I personally love date scones and would make the scones on the day, but agree that the cake can be made a day or 2 beforehand.

I'd be more than happy to make something too and bring it along- if I could come please? 😋

Mary Berry has a method of preparing and freezing sandwiches ahead of the day. I cannot remember how she does it, but I'm sure it will be online.

Cucumber sandwiches are a totally normal afternoon tea sandwich

Of course, within a choice/platter of sandwiches. Serving only cucumber sandwiches seems stingy.

I always make double the scone recipe, bake them all then freeze all but a couple to have on the day of baking. Then just put the frozen scones into the oven for 5-8 minutes whenever you need fresh scones

I put about Mary’s pre ahead fridge sandwiches- are you sure it isn’t this? I’ve done it many times and it is delicious!

Everyone starts out not confident.

Scones are best made the day they’re eaten.
Sometimes I prepare all the dry ingredients and wet ingredients, leave separately in the fridge and just mix together next morning. I also freeze any uneaten and later warm gently in the oven to defrost (I often wrap in tinfoil to do this). I haven’t tried freezing uncooked scones but that would work too I’m sure.