Share a special time with grandchildren as you bake together, or surprise a friend who needs a precious moment with you. In this busy world, we all need a little nourishment for the soul, and what better way than to share a special teatime with someone?
Over the years, The St. James Tearoom has delighted guests with culinary gems to suit every menu and theme served each month. Now, you can delight your own guests with teatime delicacies “From the St. James Recipe Archives.” Sign up to receive our newsletter to learn each time a new teatime recipe is posted!
Just like the novel Around the World in 80 Days, our recipe for Mushroom Ragout on Polenta was inspired by the human spirit of adventure and exploration. Specifically focusing on exploring flavors from around Italy, these treats include polenta, crimini mushrooms, and Marsala wine, among other things. These savory delicacies make wonderful canapes or appetizers, […]
Inspired by the cold butterbeer mentioned throughout the Harry Potter stories, our Butterbeer Ice Cream Floats make the perfect sweet treat on a hot summer day. Caramelly, creamy, and cold, these Butterbeer Floats are well-balanced, not too sweet, and very refreshing. They are also extremely easy to make! We paired ours with some cream scones, […]
Our Summer Berry Bread Pudding recipe was inspired by the British Regency Era and celebrates one of the best parts of summer—berries. In Jane Austen’s day traditional British puddings were regularly part of large meals. In fact, Jane Austen’s mother, Cassandra, once contributed a traditional British pudding recipe written in witty verse to a book […]
These White Cheddar and Black Pepper Scones are sure to be a hit with your family and friends. Take the time to grind the pepper when you make them and it will really shine through. We also recommend a really nice sharp white cheddar to balance the spicy pepper and give a nice crunch on […]
Light and sweet with just a little pucker, these Lime Mousse Tarts are a refreshing dessert for summer! Featuring freshly squeezed lime juice, lime zest, whipped cream, and flaky tart shells, they’re just the sort of whimsical treat we would expect to find on a tea table in Wonderland! Enjoy these little tarts with a […]
Our fudgy, chocolate & orange blossom cookies are the perfect spring treat. Combining the fresh flavors of orange, blackberry, cream, and chocolate, these flower-shaped cookies are elegant, yet so easy to make. Though we specify using a fluted or flower-shaped cookie cutter for maximum cuteness, you can use a round cookie cutter or another shape […]
Just like Willy Wonka, the character who inspired these treats, our Scrumdiddlyumptious Chocolate Cookies are just a little on the whacky side! Our chocolate cookie base is filled with pieces of chocolate chip cookie, toffee bits, and semi-sweet chocolate chips, then finished with a sprinkle of coarse sugar and Kosher salt for a sweet and […]
These rich and fluffy Chocolate Guinness Cupcakes are sure to be a fun addition to any Irish-themed teatime or party. Guinness is the perfect complement to a chocolate cupcake as it lends a malty, acidic undertone that enhances the chocolate and balances the sweetness. We’ve paired these with a traditional buttercream with just a hint […]
Inspired by the French classic Croque Monsieur, our Savory Ham and Cheese Scones will be a delicious and hearty addition to your tea table. First appearing on French café menus around 1910, the Croque Monsieur is a baked or pan-fried ham and cheese sandwich with melted cheese on the outside. Our easy-to-make scone version pulls […]
Buttery, crumbly, and with just a hint of vanilla-infused Earl Grey tea, these shortbread biscuits are sure to be a favorite on your tea table at any time of the year. As an added bonus, they’re incredibly easy to make. We think these are just the sort of classic British biscuits that the Dowager Countess […]
Inspired by traditional English Christmas treats, these mini mincemeat pies, with flaky lattice tops, are the perfect addition to any holiday teatime or dessert table. With warm spices, sweet and tart fruits, and a hint of rum, they pair splendidly with strong black teas, such as Indian Assam, swirled with creamy milk. Make the filling […]
Our pumpkin pecan scones with maple glaze are a tasty, yet easy treat to make for any fall teatime. Packed with warm spices, real maple syrup, and toasted pecans, they pair perfectly with our Mulled Cider scented black tea. As temperatures cool and leaves flutter from the trees, fill your home with the aroma of […]
French butter cookies are believed to have originated in Normandy in 1670. Often just called Sables, which is the French word for sand, these shortbread-style cookies are buttery, delicate, and delicious. But take care to use a good European-style butter, because the higher fat percentage will help produce the right texture. Our version is made […]
This banoffee pie recipe (banana + toffee = banoffee) is our take on the classic British dessert that we imagine could have been one of the selection of pies that Professor Slughorn passed around on the Hogwarts Express at his first meeting of the “Slug Club” at the beginning of Harry Potter and the Half […]
Dainty, flaky plum turnovers are just the sort of thing one could imagine eating on a picnic blanket at Pemberley or Netherfield Park. For this easy version of the treat, a sweet and tart homemade plum jam is encased in puff pastry for the perfect handheld delight. Serve these plum turnovers with hot or iced […]
Our Peanut Butter and Jelly Bars recipe is a sweet, savory, and crunchy treat that was inspired by the youthful spirit of Neverland and the Lost Boys. The first ever reference to a peanut butter and jelly sandwich was in 1901, and its subsequent rise in popularity over the next two decades occurred at the […]
Looking for recipes for an Alice in Wonderland tea party? Our Eccentric Wonderland Scones will pull your guests into the whimsical spirit of Alice’s adventures. Inspired by Lewis Carroll’s description of “drink me potion” in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, these scones pull in the flavors of cherry, pineapple, toffee, and turkey bacon – a blend […]
Queen Victoria’s favorite afternoon tea treat is now known as the Victoria Sponge Cake, a simple vanilla cake filled with strawberry preserves and cream. However, it was Anna Russell, the Duchess of Bedford and good friend of Queen Victoria’s, whom we have to thank for introducing the world to the ritual of afternoon tea, for […]
Willy Wonka said “Time is a precious thing. Never waste it.” Well, just imagine dipping your dessert spoon into a glass of fluffy chocolate cream and finding a decadent layer of salted caramel fudge at the bottom. And now imagine being able to create this delightful dessert for your friends and family in less than […]
Often associated with Irish-American cuisine, corned beef makes for a slightly different, yet quite delicious, variation of a traditional tea sandwich. We paired our recipe with a simple garnish of shredded cabbage for a little crunch and the creaminess of Muenster cheese for some added richness. We recommend pairing these sandwiches with a strong cup […]
Poires Belle Hélène was created in the mid-1860s by famed French chef and restaurateur Auguste Escoffier and named after the operetta La belle Hélène by Jacques Offenbach. The French have invented countless delectable desserts, and these pears, poached in a homemade syrup and enrobed in a decadent chocolate sauce flavored with pear liqueur, are a […]
In honor of the 107th anniversary of New Mexico’s statehood (January 6th, 1912), we decided to share a tender, flaky, green chile and cheese scone recipe—the perfect marriage of traditional teatime fare and New Mexico’s most beloved ingredient. Other treats at a “birthday” teatime for New Mexico could include: piñon cookies; turkey, avocado, and cucumber […]
Inspired by the German origin of Nutcracker dolls, we decided to bring you a Christmas Stollen Scones recipe – a scone version of the traditional, fruity bread eaten in Germany at Christmas time. Nutcracker dolls are an undeniable symbol of Christmas. Though carved nutcrackers have taken many shapes since their earliest days in the 13th […]
If you’re a fan of The Chronicles of Narnia, you’ve probably noticed that C.S. Lewis describes food quite often. Though the most well-known book in the series is The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, the other six books in the series also describe numerous meals in the land of Narnia. This baked apple recipe […]
Just in time for the crisp weather of autumn, we bring you a delightfully simple pumpkin spice tea latte recipe. Made with Incan Chocolate Puerh tea, warm frothed milk, and pumpkin spice syrup, this creamy concoction is sure to get any day started off on the right note! Pair with a warm scone for the […]
Throughout the Harry Potter book series, Hagrid serves his favorite students numerous homemade “treats,” including a traditional British drop scone commonly called a rock cake (for its rocky shape). For these Wizarding World-inspired scones, we imagine Hagrid making them with whatever he has on hand, so you can play with the additions to make them […]
In the 18th century, syllabubs were a common feature of the dessert course, often served alongside puddings and jellies. Syllabubs evolved throughout the century from a sweetened wine-based drink into a more solid whipped dessert, similar to mousse, and then were eventually replaced by ice cream as a cold refreshing treat to end a meal. […]
Celebrate the 4th with a little teatime flair! Fun and elegant, creamy and delicious, these festive little cups make for an easy Independence Day dessert sure to please the eye and the taste buds. No-Bake Blueberry Cheesecake Cups Makes about 10 servings. Ingredients: Graham Cracker Crumbs 1 1 ⁄2 cups graham cracker crumbs (about 1 […]
These delightful shortbread cookies were inspired by the directions to Neverland — two star cookies stacked with a clear, golden, candy center. We recommend enjoying these cookies with either our house-blended English Breakfast tea or the malty black tea Sir Philip Sidney. Neverland Star Cookies Makes about 20 cookies. Ingredients: 8 oz. butter at room […]
Just in time for strawberry season, we bring you this strawberry mousse recipe that couldn’t be easier. In just 10-15 minutes you can have this light, refreshing dessert ready for your next summer tea party. We think it pairs quite well with our popular Lemon Soufflé tea, especially if you ice the tea! This recipe […]
Combining real Champagne, fresh berries, and sweet white grape juice, our Berry Champagne Gelées are a refreshing accompaniment to any celebration, particularly in the warmer months of the year. They make for a sophisticated and light dessert following any meal, sure to add a splash of color to your menu. And if you want an […]
“…I don’t really know if I’m doing right–it may make you more addlepated than ever–but you can ask Diana to come over and spend the afternoon with you and have tea here.” “Oh, Marilla!” Anne clasped her hands. “How perfectly lovely! You are able to imagine things after all or else you’d never have understood how I’ve […]
Irish Tea Bread, also known as Tea Brack, is somewhere between a quick bread and a fruit cake. With brown sugar, whole wheat flour, and tea-soaked dried fruit, it is delightfully dense and sweet and is best spread with salted butter and served with a strong cup of tea. Enjoy our take on this Irish […]
Yields about 20 cookies For the Dacquoise (meringue cookie): 2/3 cup (3 ½ ounces) sliced almonds 1 cup powdered sugar 1/8 tsp. salt 3 egg whites ¼ cup granulated sugar For the Buttercream: 6 ounces of your favorite milk chocolate chips (we recommend Guittard brand if you don’t have a favorite) 2 sticks (8 ounces) […]
Yields about 4 dozen mini tea cakes For the Cake: 1 1/2 cups brown rice flour 1/2 cup potato starch 1/4 cup white rice flour 1/4 cup tapioca flour 2 Tbsp. matcha green tea powder** 1 tsp. baking soda 1 tsp. salt 1 1/3 cups sugar 1 cup vegetable oil 3 eggs, beaten 1 cup […]