Ham Tea Sandwiches

Name: Ham Tea Sandwiches
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 15 min
Ingredients: 8 slices white bread; 1/4 cup butter (softened); 4-12 slices ham (honey ham, black forest ham, or thick sliced ham); 4 slices cheese (Swiss cheese, cheddar cheese, or sharp cheddar cheese); 4 teaspoons condiment (honey mustard, Dijon mustard, grainy Dijon mustard, apple butter, or chutney)

Jump to Recipe

These ham tea sandwiches are one of the easiest things you can put on a tea party table and one of the most satisfying. Two slices of good bread, a generous layer of ham and cheese, and the right condiment. Ready in 15 minutes with no cooking required.

Ham and cheddar tea sandwich fingers on a white scalloped plate beside a rose teapot and pink rose teacup on a white eyelet tablecloth.

A Quick Look at This Recipe

📋 Recipe: Ham Tea Sandwiches
⏲️ Ready In: 15 minutes
👪 Servings: 12 finger sandwiches per version
🔪 Difficulty: Easy
💭 Top Tip: Butter the bread before adding your condiment and fillings. It keeps the bread from getting soggy and adds a richness that makes even a simple ham sandwich taste more special.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

Ready in 15 minutes with no cooking required.
Mix and match ham, cheese and condiment options to suit every guest.
Perfect for making ahead - assemble the morning of your party and refrigerate until serving.
Beautiful on a tiered tray alongside scones and other finger sandwiches.

We make them two ways -the classic ham, Swiss and honey mustard that disappears fastest at every party, and a ham, cheddar and apple butter version inspired by our Little Women vintage tea party. Apple butter is a deeply traditional preserve with roots in 19th century New England and paired with thick cut ham and sharp cheddar it is sweet, savoury and a little unexpected. We use our own slow cooker apple butter which is easy to make and keeps beautifully. Prefer a version that isn't sweet, replace the condiment in either version for regular mustard, Dijon mustard, or grainy Dijon for a more savory version.

If you love simple elegant tea party food you might also enjoy our Egg Salad Tea Sandwiches and our Chicken Salad Finger Sandwiches, Food Processor Scones, and Vanilla Shortbread.

Ingredients

Bread and Butter:

Soft white sandwich bread - classic thin sliced white bread is the right choice. The delicacy of the bread is part of what makes a tea sandwich a tea sandwich.
Butter, softened - spread on every slice before adding the filling to keep the bread from getting soggy.

Ham:

Honey ham deli slices - sweet, tender and universally appealing. Two to three slices per sandwich.
Black forest ham deli slices - a smokier more savoury option. Two to three slices per sandwich.
Thick cut ham - trimmed to fit the bread at about ⅛ inch thick. More substantial and impressive on the plate.

Cheese:

Swiss cheese - mild, the classic pairing with honey ham and honey mustard.
Cheddar cheese - sharp and flavourful, the right match for apple butter or chutney.

Condiment:

Honey mustard - sweet and tangy, the classic choice.
Dijon or grainy Dijon - for guests who prefer a more savoury less sweet sandwich.
Apple butter - sweet, spiced and deeply flavourful. Try our slow cooker apple butter.
Chutney - a lovely alternative to apple butter. Mango or apple chutney both work beautifully.
No condiment - great option for children.

How To Make Ham Tea Sandwiches

Classic - Ham, Swiss and Honey Mustard

Four buttered slices of white sandwich bread on a round wooden board with sliced honey ham and Swiss cheese set to the side.

Step 1: Butter and spread. Spread a thin layer of softened butter on each slice of bread.

Open-face honey ham and Swiss sandwiches with honey mustard spread on a round wooden board ready to be assembled.

Step 2: Layer the filling. Layer 2 to 3 slices of honey ham and top with a slice of Swiss cheese. Spread honey mustard on half the buttered slices. Place the remaining buttered slices on top and press gently.

Honey ham and Swiss finger sandwiches cut into rectangular fingers on a round wooden board with the crusts set to the side.

Step 3: Remove crusts and cut. Remove the crusts with a sharp serrated knife. Cut each sandwich into 3 equal rectangular fingers. Arrange cut side out on a platter so the layers are visible.

Apple Butter - Ham, Cheddar and Apple Butter

Two slices of buttered white bread and two slices topped with cheddar cheese on a wooden cutting board.

Step 1: Butter and spread. Spread a thin layer of softened butter on each slice of bread. Add slices of sharp cheddar cheese to two of the buttered bread slices.

Open-face thick cut ham and cheddar sandwiches with apple butter spread on a wooden cutting board.

Step 2: Layer the filling. Trim the thick cut ham, and add on top of the cheese. Spread the other buttered bread slices with apple butter. Place those slices on top and press gently.

Ham and cheddar tea sandwich fingers cut and arranged on a wooden cutting board with the crusts removed.

Step 3: Remove crusts and cut. Remove the crusts with a sharp serrated knife. Cut each sandwich into 3 equal rectangular fingers. Arrange cut side out on a platter

Make Ahead and Storage

Assemble the morning of your party, cover the platter tightly in plastic wrap, and refrigerate until ready to serve. They will stay fresh for several hours. Butter every slice of bread before adding the filling - this is the best defense against soggy sandwiches.

How Many Ham Tea Sandwiches Per Person

Cucumber, egg salad, chicken salad and ham and cheddar tea sandwich fingers on a white scalloped plate with a rose teapot, pink rose teacup, tulips and spring flowers on a green gingham tablecloth.

Plan for 3 to 5 finger sandwiches per person total across all the varieties you are serving. This recipe makes 12 finger sandwiches per version which is enough for 4 to 6 guests as part of a larger tea party spread.

A Fun Idea for Kids

Ham and cheese with no mustard is a natural kid friendly version of this sandwich. For an extra special touch use a flower or heart shaped cookie cutter to cut the sandwiches into fun shapes instead of fingers. Children love it and it makes a beautiful addition to a party table alongside the classic finger sandwiches.

More Tea Party Sandwiches

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best ham for tea sandwiches?

Honey ham deli slices are the most universally appealing option - sweet, tender, and crowd pleasing. Black forest ham is a smokier more savoury alternative. For a more substantial sandwich use thick cut ham trimmed to fit the bread.

What cheese goes best with ham tea sandwiches?

Swiss cheese is the classic pairing with honey ham and honey mustard. Sharp cheddar works beautifully with apple butter or chutney for a more complex flavour combination.

Can I make ham tea sandwiches ahead of time?

Yes. Assemble the morning of your party, cover the platter tightly in plastic wrap, and refrigerate until serving. They will stay fresh for several hours.

How do I keep ham sandwiches from getting soggy?

Butter every slice of bread before adding the condiment and filling. The butter creates a barrier that keeps moisture from soaking into the bread. Wrap assembled sandwiches tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate until serving.

How many ham tea sandwiches per person?

Plan for 3 to 5 finger sandwiches per person total from all the varieties you are serving. This recipe makes 12 finger sandwiches per version which is enough for 4 to 6 guests as part of a larger tea party spread.

Can I use a cookie cutter instead of cutting into fingers?

Yes and it is especially fun for children. A flower or heart shaped cookie cutter makes a beautiful and festive alternative to the classic rectangular finger.

If you try these Ham Tea Sandwiches or any other recipe on my blog please leave a star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below. Thanks for visiting today!

A tiered tea party sandwich spread on a green gingham tablecloth with ham and cheddar fingers, egg salad fingers, cucumber fingers and chicken salad rolls on a gold stand with vintage teacups and spring flowers in the background.

Recipe