Afternoon Tea Hamper, what would you put in it?

[McKayz]

I am putting together an Afternoon Tea hamper for my Mum for Mother's Day. So far I have a big basket, posh tea bags and some nice jam.

I am going to make some scones, cupcakes and biscuits.

I'm not too sure what cupcakes or biscuits to make. Maybe try and do victoria sponge cupcakes with jam and cream.

Any ideas? And is there anything else you'd put in?

Thanks

I'm going to make these Simnel muffins again this year as they were super yummy last year:
www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/3277/simnel-muffins

Simnel cake is traditional for Mother's Day, this will be the third year I've made a variation on it now so almost a family tradition now ;)

Shortbread biscuits would be nice and maybe a loaf style cake, lemon drizzle or something. If your mum drinks what about a little bottle of pink fizz, or if not maybe a nice new cup to go in. Lovely idea!

Your ideas sound great!

I actually like savoury things at afternoon tea too. Cheese buttons, smoked salmon and cucumber sandwiches, egg and cress, ham and mustard, mushroom pâté.

I just bought the Dan Lepard baking book and have so many cakes and biscuits bookmarked I won't get through them in a month of Sundays. Anything would be perfect really but I would go with lavender shortbread and Madeleines made in cupcake tins (bonus of no frosting to get mucked up in the hamper). Or I'd make carrot cake ones with cream cheese frosting.

I thought about lavender shortbread but can't find any lavender anywhere. Must be too early in the year.

My Mum is not a huge fan of sandwiches so that's why I'm not doing savoury stuff as I can't think of stuff to make that will go in there.

Posh oatcakes? The Rick Stein seasalt ones are gorgeous.

Bottle of Pimms?

What a lovely idea. If my dd is reading - I would like to suggest a date and walnut cake, and maybe a lovely china cup and saucer.

Will shortbread last in a tub if I make it this afternoon?

Macaroons, pretty pastel colours. Like all the suggestions above too.

I want a hamper now! :)

Preferably with a nice glass of G&T somewhere in it... :)

I can't make macaroons. They always end up a mess.

Shortbread will last. As for macaroons - I've just had the best one's from Paris (now that is a stealth boast !)

Great idea! I would love this and I'm sure your mum will too!

This is a fab idea! I'd put some cheese and tomato scones in, sandwiched with chorizo, for a savoury option, and some macaroons (which I'd buy, because they are a faff to make), normal scones,clotted cream, lemon drizzle cake, some kind of little tarts, shortbread, and some cheese and homemade crackers.

Agree that a beautiful cup is a good idea, maybe a teapot too. And a little bottle of fizz and champagne flutes would be good as well.

I really hope one of my children do something so thoughtful for me one day, and I am totally stealing this idea to do for my mum at some point

McKayz - I saw dried lavender in waitrose this week, in a little jar with the herbs and spices.

There isn't a waitrose anywhere near here but I'll check the posh deli shop just in case. I even went to the garden centre but they didn't have any plants in at the minute.

I've found a recipe for earl grey cupcakes so will make them. I might do cheese scones as well as plain ones.

Ooh - let us know how the Earl Grey cakes turn out.

If you still need some dried lavender I have some I grew in my garden last summer. PM me with your address and I'll be happy to send you some. However, I think the Earl Grey idea sounds much more interesting and I too would like to know how that turns out.

Didn't Nigella do a lovely recipe in her Forever Summer book for lavender cup cakes?

You could make some homemade sweets like fondant or peppermint creams or chocolate dipped ginger/cherries.

That is really thoughtful.
My mum eats only Madeira cake, so that would be a must if I were to do a hamper. How about some posh chocolates or tea/coffee stirrers. Have some some really nice crystallised sugar ones in the shops which look really pretty.