Recreate Queen Elizabeth’s simple and beloved jam penny tea sandwiches with this no-cook, three-ingredient recipe. These crustless, round sandwiches are delicately sweet, easy to assemble, and perfect for afternoon tea, showers, or a quick snack for children.
Easy Jam Pennies Tea Sandwiches
Jam pennies — so named because they’re traditionally cut to the size of an old English penny — are tiny, two-bite sandwiches that pair a thin layer of butter with strawberry jam between two rounds of soft white bread. They’re crustless, delicate, and designed to be light and easy to eat at tea time.
These sandwiches require no cooking and only take a few minutes to prepare. A round cookie cutter gives each sandwich a neat, uniform shape, making them ideal for formal or casual gatherings.
Note from Jee
Black teas are a classic match for these sweet sandwiches; try Earl Grey or English Breakfast if you prefer traditional pairings. For children or anyone avoiding caffeine, a fruity or herbal infusion works well. Green tea and even a lightly sweet matcha latte also complement the sweet-salty balance of the butter and jam.
Recipe Summary
- Only 3 ingredients: white bread, salted butter, and strawberry jam.
- No cooking required; total prep time is about 6 minutes.
- Yield is four bite-sized sandwiches; easily scalable for more guests.
Ingredient Notes
- White bread: Use a soft, thin-sliced sandwich bread for the best texture.
- Salted butter: A good-quality salted butter adds a pleasant contrast to the jam’s sweetness. Make sure the butter is softened for easy spreading.
- Strawberry jam: Choose a smooth jam rather than chunkier preserves to keep the sandwiches neat and easy to bite.
See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts and step-by-step instructions.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Use a round cookie cutter to cut circles from slices of bread. Avoid cutting into the crust to keep the edges smooth and crustless.
Step 2: Spoon the strawberry jam into a small zip-top bag and snip a tiny corner to pipe a controlled amount of jam onto the bread circles.
Step 3: Spread a thin layer of softened butter on each bread circle. Pipe or spoon a small dollop of jam onto half of the circles so the buttered side remains exposed on the top.
Step 4: Place a plain buttered circle on top of each jam-topped circle, butter side down, to create the sandwich. Repeat until all sandwiches are assembled.
Recipe Notes & Tips
Soften the butter
Let butter sit at room temperature until easy to spread. To speed this up, warm a cup with hot water, discard the water, and place the butter near the warm cup briefly—this softens without melting.
Freeze the bread for cleaner cuts
Cold or slightly frozen bread cuts more neatly with fewer crumbs. If you want perfectly shaped rounds, trim and freeze the slices for a few minutes before cutting.
Make ahead and store
Assemble the sandwiches and layer them between sheets of wax paper in an airtight container. Cover the top of the sandwiches with a damp (not wet) paper towel placed over the wax paper to prevent the bread from drying out. Do not let the damp towel touch the sandwiches directly.
Serve at room temperature
Tea sandwiches taste best at room temperature. If refrigerated for storage, remove them about 10–15 minutes before serving so the butter softens and the bread is not chilled.
Expert Tips
- If you don’t have a round cutter, cut the bread into small squares or triangles with a knife.
- Simple shaped cutters, like hearts, work well for themed parties.
- Make sandwiches small enough to be eaten in two bites for a classic tea experience.
- Though traditional jam pennies use strawberry jam, substitute any smooth jam or jelly you prefer.
Recipe Card
Jam Pennies Tea Sandwiches
By: Jee Choe, Certified Tea Sommelier
Recreate Queen Elizabeth’s favorite jam penny tea sandwiches with this easy 3-ingredient recipe. The dainty, crustless sandwiches are sweet and slightly salty from the butter.
Prep Time: 6 minutes
Total Time: 6 minutes
Yield: 4 sandwiches
Equipment
- Round cookie cutter (small)
Ingredients
- 4 slices very thin white bread
- 2 teaspoons salted butter, softened
- 2 teaspoons smooth strawberry jam
Instructions
- Cut 8 circles from the bread slices using a round cutter. Avoid the crust.
- Place jam in a zip-top bag and snip a small corner for piping.
- Spread a thin layer of softened butter on each bread circle. Pipe a small amount of jam onto four of the circles.
- Top each jam circle with a buttered circle, butter side down, creating four sandwiches.
- Repeat until all sandwiches are assembled and serve at room temperature.
Notes
- Use soft white bread for the best texture.
- A high-quality salted butter balances the jam’s sweetness.
- Avoid chunky preserves for neater sandwiches.
- Freeze bread briefly for cleaner cutting.
- Store assembled sandwiches in an airtight container layered with wax paper; top with a damp paper towel (not touching the sandwiches) to retain moisture.
Nutrition (approx.)
Calories: 95 | Carbohydrates: 15 g | Protein: 2 g | Fat: 3 g
Nutrition information is an approximation.
If you tried this Jam Pennies Tea Sandwiches recipe, I’d love to hear how they turned out—leave a rating or a comment below to share your experience.
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