Best Tea Bar Recipes

TEA BAR

Steps:

• On a large serving tray, arrange the teapots alongside the bottle of liqueur, a small pitcher of simple syrup, the bowl of whipped cream, and a plate of the candied lemon peel.
• Invite guests to sample different teas and flavor them as they desire.
• Bring water to a boil. Turn off heat. Add bruised mint leaves and allow to steep.
• In a saucepan combine water and sugar over medium heat. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes, until the sugar has dissolved. Take pan off heat and cool the syrup. Any extra cooled syrup can be saved in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Cook's note: For the afternoon tea, make a double batch of simple syrup. Reserve half for the tea bar and use the other half to make the candied lemon peel.
• Using a vegetable peeler cut the yellow part of the lemon from the stem end down to the navel end, forming long 3/4 to 1-inch strips. Bring a heavy small saucepan of water to a boil. Add the peels and cook for 1 minute. Drain and then rinse the peels under cold water. Repeat cooking the peels, 2 more times, in the saucepan with fresh boiling water and rinsing under cold water. In the same pan combine the peels with 1 cup of simple syrup. Simmer over medium-low heat until the peels are soft, about 15 minutes. Using tongs, transfer the peels to parchment paper to dry slightly, about 1 hour.
• Using an electric mixer, whip the cream in a large bowl until soft peaks form. Add the sugar and the vanilla and beat to combine. Transfer the whipped cream to a serving bowl. (The whipped cream can be made up to 2 hours ahead. Cover and refrigerate.)

ICED TEA BARS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Use 1 teaspoon of butter to coat a 9-by-11-inch baking pan. In a bowl, combine 1/2 cup of the butter with 1 cup of flour until mixture comes together to form a ball. Press the dough evenly into pan. Bake for 15 minutes. Remove from oven. Lower temperature to 300 degrees.
• Combine the remaining 2 tablespoons flour, the eggs, salt, vanilla, brown sugar, coconut and pecans. Spread over the crust. Bake until lightly browned, about 20 minutes. Remove from oven and cool.
• Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter. Whisk in the powdered sugar, the orange and the lemon juices. Spread the glaze over the cookies. Cut into 1-inch squares and serve. Do not freeze. Store in a cool place for up to 3 days.

RUSSIAN TEACAKE BARS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Line 8-inch square pan with foil, leaving foil overhanging at 2 opposite sides of pan; spray foil with cooking spray. In small bowl, mix flour, pecans, baking powder and salt; set aside.
• In large bowl, beat softened butter, granulated sugar and 1/2 cup powdered sugar with electric mixer on medium speed about 1 minute or until fluffy; scrape side of bowl. Beat in egg and vanilla. On low speed, gradually beat flour mixture into butter mixture until well blended. Spread in pan.
• Bake 32 to 37 minutes or until light brown on top and edges. Immediately sprinkle 2 tablespoons of the powdered sugar over top. Cool completely, about 1 1/2 hours.
• Remove bars from pan by lifting foil; peel foil away. Cut into 8 rows by 8 rows. Sprinkle remaining 2 tablespoons powdered sugar over top of bars before serving. Store in airtight container at room temperature.