Delicious tea time cake recipes

Along with the Victorian penchant for all things proper came the ritual of afternoon tea, with its exacting rules for how the beverage was to be served, who should partake, when, where and why. And while at Canadian Home & Country we would never recommend a return to such stringent and unyielding standards of social interaction, we do happily endorse the custom of offering hospitality to one's friends and neighbours.

In fact, on a sunny spring day there's something undeniably appealing about eschewing your bustling gourmet coffee shop in favour of entertaining in the refined comfort of your own home. So with that in mind, we've gathered together recipes for satisfying cakes that are perfect for lingering over with a cup of tea and some cherished friends.

Setting the scene

• Formal social visit
• Goal was to improve social standing; intro­duce visitors; offer congratulations or condolences
• Sent handwritten or printed invitations by mail
• Held at home on a specific weekday afternoon
• Wearing of hats and gloves a must
• Used the polished silver tea service
• 4 p.m. sharp arrival

• Informal gathering
• Goal is catching-up with friends; introducing visitors; fostering relationships with neighbours
• Send invitations by mail, offer verbally or by e-mail
• Held at home on an auspicious weekend afternoon
• Casual wear, but with a sense of style
• Set out Grandma's wedding china
• 2 p.m. drop in

Enjoying the event

• Tea tray wheeled into drawing room by servant
• Loose tea from a caddy, placed in strainer only by hostess
• Exclusively black or green tea
• Tea poured out by hostess and handed to guests
• Sugar, milk or lemon slices added by hostess
• Small sandwiches, scones and sweets prepared by the cook
• Civilized conversation à la the French salon, of literature, politics and salacious rumours
• Thank you note to hostess afterward

• Buffet-style arrange­ment set out on dining room table
• Teabags or loose tea set out beside teapot or urn for self-service
• Black, green or herbal tea, sparkling water
• Tea is self-served and cups are refilled by guests themselves
• Sugar, milk, lemon, honey added by guests
• Homemade cakes and bars prepared by hostess or guests
• Civilized conversation of children, literature, politics and salacious rumours
• Thank you note to hostess afterward