Every Harry Potter fan who enjoys afternoon tea needs to plan a Harry Potter-inspired afternoon tea party! A variety of dainty finger sandwiches inspired by each Hogwarts house are the heart of the menu. Simply add scones and sweets for a full afternoon tea experience.
As a big fan of both Harry Potter and afternoon tea, it's not surprising that I've taken inspiration from the wizarding world to create a fun and delicious tea party experience. Here you'll find recipes for four delightful tea sandwiches, each representing one of the four Hogwarts Houses.
The Harry Potter afternoon tea sandwiches each feature the color and occasionally other characteristics of their associated Hogwarts House. For example, the sandwiches representing Hufflepuff feature a filling of bright yellow egg salad.
Meanwhile, Slytherin's sandwiches are filled with thinly sliced skin-on English cucumbers and herbed cream cheese. The cucumber itself is not unlike a snake before magically transforming into a sandwich filling!
These are both classic British tea sandwich fillings that lend themselves perfectly to a Harry Potter afternoon tea menu.
Getting a bit more creative, Ravenclaw's sandwiches are filled with chicken salad with blueberries and pecans. Not only do the blueberries provide some blue color, but chicken is a bird like the eagle representing this Hogwarts House. The combination is a bit reminiscent of chicken Waldorf salad, but swapping the traditional grapes for blueberries and losing the apples.
And last but not least, the tea sandwiches for Gryffindor feature salty prosciutto, tangy goat cheese, and sweet fig jam. The red and gold hued filling is both savory and sweet, albeit a bit messy from the jam but 100% worth it.
The Gryffindor-inspired sandwiches were a particular favorite among those who sampled the array of tea sandwiches. Even my friend who typically hates prosciutto said it was her favorite because the goat cheese and fig jam perfectly complemented the prosciutto and balanced its normally overpowering flavor.
Ingredient notes
- Bread: Use simple white sliced sandwich bread for your Harry Potter afternoon tea sandwiches. Normally I'd switch up the types of bread in my finger sandwiches to have a variety, but with these I like that they all appear quite uniform except for the fillings!
- Cucumber: The best cucumbers to use in cucumber sandwiches are English cucumbers. These are also called hothouse cucumbers or seedless cucumbers. They are long and thin-skinned.
- Goat Cheese & Cream Cheese: Make sure both the goat cheese and cream cheese are soft and easily spreadable. You can leave them out at room temperature for a bit, or microwave them briefly for about 5 second intervals just until they are soft enough to spread. I use Neufchatel cheese (lighter than regular cream cheese) and it works great!
- Prosciutto: Use thinly sliced prosciutto (whatever kind you like best). You'll need about 1 ½ to 2 slices of prosciutto per sandwich depending on their thickness and your preference.
- Fig Jam: Fig jam or fig preserves provide a delicious sweet touch to the Gryffindor tea sandwiches! The jam may ooze out a bit especially once you trim and cut the sandwiches, but trust me, it's worth it.
- Chicken: You can either use homemade cooked chicken breast or use store-bought rotisserie chicken. Either finely shred or finely chop the chicken for a more delicate tea sandwich filling.
- Blueberries: Pick through and select the smaller blueberries to use in the chicken and blueberry salad. You'll have more of them and they will be more evenly distributed in your sandwiches.
- Mayonnaise: You can use full fat or light mayonnaise for the Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw tea sandwiches, and either will produce delicious results! I always use light mayo in my kitchen.
In addition to these delectable tea sandwiches, I recommend also serving scones and sweets as your second and third courses (along with tea of course). I've shared links at the bottom of the post for suggestions to round out your Harry Potter themed tea menu!
How to make Hufflepuff tea sandwiches
Mix/mash together hard-boiled eggs, mayonnaise, mustard (if using), and salt and pepper.
Divide the mixture over 2 slices of buttered bread.
Top with the 2 remaining slices of bread, buttered side down. Then, use a serrated knife to cut off the crusts and then cut the sandwiches diagonally into 2 triangles/halves
How to make Slytherin tea sandwiches
Thinly slice the cucumber using a mandoline or sharp knife (leave the skin on for added green color). You’ll need about 18 thin slices. Place cucumber slices on a paper towel, lightly salt the cucumber, and top with another paper towel. Let stand for about 20 minutes to allow excess moisture from the cucumbers to be absorbed.
In a small bowl combine soft cream cheese, herbs, and lemon zest until smooth.
Spread a thin layer of lemon herb cream cheese on all 4 slices of bread. Top 2 slices of bread with 9 cucumber slices each in even rows.
Top with the remaining slices of bread, cream cheese side down. Then, use a serrated knife to cut off the crusts and then cut the sandwiches diagonally into 2 triangles/halves.
How to make Ravenclaw tea sandwiches
Combine shredded chicken, blueberries, mayonnaise, finely chopped celery, chopped pecans, salt, and pepper.
Divide the mixture onto 2 slices of bread, spreading it evenly over the bread.
Top with the remaining slices of bread. Then, use a serrated knife to cut off the crusts and then cut the sandwiches diagonally into 2 triangles/halves.
How to make Gryffindor tea sandwiches
Thinly spread the soft goat cheese on all 4 slices of bread. Spread fig jam on 2 of the bread slices, over the goat cheese. Top the fig jam with prosciutto slices.
Then top with the remaining slices of bread, goat cheese side down. Use a serrated knife to cut off the crusts and then cut the sandwiches diagonally into 2 triangles/halves.
Please scroll to the bottom of the post for the full recipe (in a printable recipe card) including ingredient amounts and detailed instructions.
Expert tips and FAQs
As you work, cover your assembled sandwiches with a clean tea towel or damp paper towel to keep them from drying out as you assemble the remaining sandwiches.
My British friend Sandra Gordon shared an amazing tried-and-true tip with me for storing afternoon tea sandwiches. Use this technique if you plan to prep your sandwiches hours in advance of your Harry Potter afternoon tea party, or for storing any leftover sandwiches to enjoy later. It really works beautifully.
- Take a piece of parchment paper or wax paper and crumple it up into a ball.
- Hold it under the faucet and soak it with water.
- Gently shake it out (water will splatter), and repeat under the faucet with more water.
- Shake it out again and then place your assembled sandwiches on the damp parchment. Fold the parchment over to enclose the sandwiches (you can stack them if needed) and then tuck the sides underneath.
- Transfer the parcel of wrapped sandwiches to the refrigerator. I suggest placing it in an airtight container first, especially if you plan to store it in the fridge for many hours or overnight.
- If you have a lot of sandwiches you may wrap a few smaller parcels instead of one big one to make them easier to wrap and store.
Always assemble your sandwiches before cutting off the crusts and cutting into shapes. This will give them nice clean edges. Use a serrated knife so you don't squish your bread, and cut with a gentle sawing motion being careful not to displace any of the filling as you cut (carefully hold it in place on the sides if necessary).
These four varieties of finger sandwiches are perfect for any Harry Potter fan. If you love tea parties, find more afternoon tea sandwich recipes here, including variations on both egg salad and cucumber sandwiches!
Other recipes to serve at Harry Potter afternoon tea!
- The Ritz of London's Afternoon Tea Scones
- Rock Cakes
- Sally Lunn Buns
- Harry Potter Pumpkin Pasties
- Fizzing Whizzbees Chocolate Candies from Harry Potter
- Cherry Bakewell Cake
- Pumpkin Juice
Tried this recipe? Please leave a star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page. You can also follow me on social media on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest!
Harry Potter Afternoon Tea Sandwiches
Ingredients
Hufflepuff Tea Sandwiches (Egg Salad):
- 2 hard-boiled eggs, peeled and finely chopped/mashed
- 1 ½ tablespoons mayonnaise
- ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard (optional)
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 4 slices white sandwich bread, lightly buttered on one side with soft salted or unsalted butter (about 2 tablespoons)
Slytherin Tea Sandwiches (Cucumber):
- ¼ an English (hothouse/seedless) cucumber
- Salt
- 75 grams (2.6 ounces / 5 tablespoons) cream cheese, at room temperature
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh herbs such as basil, chives, dill, or thyme (use your favorite combination or just pick one)
- ½ teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
- 4 slices white sandwich bread
Ravenclaw Tea Sandwiches (Chicken Salad with Blueberries):
- ¾ cup (90 grams) finely chopped or shredded cooked chicken breast
- 3 tablespoons (25 grams) fresh blueberries (preferably smaller blueberries)
- 5 tablespoons (70 grams) mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon (5 grams) finely chopped celery
- 1 tablespoon (8 grams) chopped pecans or pecan pieces
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 4 slices white sandwich bread optional - lightly buttered on one side with soft salted or unsalted butter (about 2 tablespoons)
Gryffindor Tea Sandwiches (Prosciutto, Goat Cheese, and Fig Jam):
- 4 ounces (113 grams) goat cheese at room temperature
- 2 tablespoons fig jam
- 3 to 4 thin slices prosciutto
- 4 slices white sandwich bread
Instructions
Hufflepuff Tea Sandwiches (Egg Salad):
- Mix/mash together the egg, mayonnaise, mustard (if using), and salt and pepper. Divide the mixture over 2 slices of buttered bread. Top with the 2 remaining slices of bread, buttered side down.
- Use a serrated knife to cut off the crusts and then cut the sandwiches diagonally into 2 triangles/halves.
Slytherin Tea Sandwiches (Cucumber):
- Peel and thinly slice the cucumber using a mandoline or sharp knife (or leave the skin on if you prefer). You’ll need about 18 thin slices. Place cucumber slices on a paper towel, lightly salt the cucumber, and top with another paper towel. Let stand for about 20 minutes to allow excess moisture from the cucumbers to be absorbed.
- In a small bowl combine soft cream cheese, herbs, and lemon zest until smooth.
- Spread a thin layer of lemon herb cream cheese on all 4 slices of bread. Top 2 slices of bread with 9 cucumber slices each in even rows. Top with the remaining slices of bread, cream cheese side down.
- Use a serrated knife to cut off the crusts and then cut the sandwiches diagonally into 2 triangles/halves.
Ravenclaw Tea Sandwiches (Chicken Salad with Blueberries):
- Combine all of the ingredients except for the bread, tasting and adjusting the seasoning as desired.
- Optionally, you can butter your bread slices before proceeding. Divide the chicken mixture onto 2 slices of bread, spreading it evenly over the bread. Top with the remaining slices of bread.
- Use a serrated knife to cut off the crusts and then cut the sandwiches diagonally into 2 triangles/halves.
Gryffindor Tea Sandwiches (Prosciutto, Goat Cheese, and Fig Jam):
- Thinly spread the soft goat cheese on all 4 slices of bread. Spread the fig jam on 2 of the bread slices, over the goat cheese. Top the fig jam with prosciutto slices, and then top with the remaining slices of bread, goat cheese side down.
- Use a serrated knife to cut off the crusts and then cut the sandwiches diagonally into 2 triangles/halves.
Notes
- The nutritional information is based on an average of making all the sandwiches, removing the crusts, and then dividing them into 4 servings.
- Make sure both the goat cheese and cream cheese are soft and easily spreadable. You can leave them out at room temperature for a bit, or microwave them briefly for about 5 second intervals just until they are soft enough to spread. I use Neufchatel cheese (lighter than regular cream cheese) and it works great!
- As you work, cover your assembled sandwiches with a clean tea towel or damp paper towel to keep them from drying out as you assemble the remaining sandwiches.
- To make tea sandwiches in advance: Use this trick for storage and they will taste freshly made even the next day!
- Take a piece of parchment paper or wax paper and crumple it up into a ball.
- Hold it under the faucet and soak it with water. Gently shake it out (water will splatter), and repeat under the faucet with more water.
- Shake it out again and then place your assembled afternoon tea sandwiches on the damp parchment. Fold the parchment over to enclose the sandwiches (you can stack them if needed) and then tuck the sides underneath.
- Transfer the parcel of wrapped sandwiches to the refrigerator. I suggest placing it in an airtight container first, especially if you plan to store it in the fridge for many hours or overnight.
- If you have a lot of sandwiches you may wrap a few smaller parcels instead of one big one to make them easier to wrap and store.
Nutrition
*All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary with brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes and more.*
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