Gluten Free Snacks for Tea Time

Gluten free snacks (especially for tea time) are a delightful thing to indulge in at any time of year, but in the first crisp days of autumn--especially after an unusually warm and difficult Seattle summer--they are simply heaven.

Putting together a gluten free tea can be as simple or complex as you'd like it to be. You can put a Zoom tea party together with your friends, host a tea for fall birthdays, or simply enjoy a cup by yourself on a rainy Saturday.

Of course the most important part of any tea party is the main attraction itself.

A standard black tea is an excellent choice, as it will compliment any of the gluten free snacks you are eating with your tea and can be sweetened to the individual's taste. 

Tetley, PG Tips, or Yorkshire Gold are all excellent black tea blends and can be found in most supermarkets. 

Oh, where to begin!

The sky is the limit with your gluten free snacks. 

You can order some of our perfectly tea-sized chocolate vanilla sandwich cookies to begin your snack tray.

Or perhaps your tea time palate would prefer a heartier snack with our apple or raspberry jam bars.

If you want to go with classic tea time snacks, snag a loaf of our gluten free flax sandwich bread and make yourself some simple and refreshing cucumber and cream cheese sandwiches. 

Cookies and sandwiches are the tried and true traditional tea time snack, but you certainly don't have to stop there.

Pick up some of your favorite fresh berries, wash and arrange in any small and pretty serving dish you have and presto! You have a beautiful, delicious, and healthy tea time snack!

(Berries are particularly tasty with some freshly made whipped cream dolloped on the top. See our simple whipped cream recipe below).

Lastly, you can use the incredible versatility of graham crackers to make practically any dessert you can think of.

From the simplicity of graham cracker and peanut butter or frosting sandwiches to elaborately layered desserts, pick up a pack of our gluten free grahams and let your imagination go wild.

If you prefer to do a little more hands-on baking for your gluten free tea time, we have a delightful recipe for gluten free shortbread for you!

Preheat oven to 350.

Cream butter and sugar to mix, approximately 30 seconds.

Scrape down bowl, and mix another 30 seconds, until just combined.

Add flour in two additions, scraping bowl in between.

Mix until dough clumps together.

Pour onto plastic wrap. Press together (will be loose and crumbly!) into a square tub 1" high, 2" wid, and 6" long. Wrap tightly.

Freeze 20 minutes, or refrigerate 1 hour.

Slice into 1/4" thick slices, and immediately bake.

Bake at 350 for 15 minutes. for a slightly drier cookie, bake for 17 minutes.

Variation:
Slice 3/8" thick, and bake for 17 minutes, for a slightly moister cookie.

1 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon confectioners sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla

Pour the cream into a mixing bowl, and mix on medium speed until stiff peaks form.

When you turn off the mixer, if you run a spoon through the cream, the cream will hold an edge; if it starts to fall down, it is not at "stiff peak" yet.

Mix another 30 - 60 seconds. Make sure not to over-mix; if you do, the cream will form lumps and become like butter.

Once your cream is at stiff peak stage, turn mixer to low and add the sugar and vanilla. Mix 5 to 10 seconds, until just barely combined.

Immediately serve over cake or berries.

If not using immediately, cover the bowl with a lid and put in the fridge. Use within 4 hours.