What to Serve at an Afternoon Coffee Party? 10 Best Sides

Are you planning an event with coffee in the afternoon? It sounds lovely, but what will you do besides some games and conversation?

Food brings people together, so it will be nice to have some delicious items like banana nut bread, lemon shortbread cookies, carrot cake, and French toast, among others.

Coffee tastes good with almost everything, so you have numerous choices.

But here, we'll list only the ten, including the ones mentioned above.

10 Savory and Sweet Sides for Afternoon Coffee Parties

There are many items to serve, but since we can't list all here, consider savory scones side ideas for pairing, and then we'll stick with the ten best.

1 - Lemon Meringue Pie

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A sweet treat is an excellent way to start the list of dishes to serve at an afternoon coffee party - try lemon pound cake side ideas for contrast for a citrusy pairing.

How about lemon meringue pie? It's delicious and makes a lovely companion with coffee.

The pie has lemon curd and topped with meringue.

It's a dessert pie with shortbread pastry and one of the tastiest varieties.

It's a popular item, so you'll have an excellent combination.

The pie has sugar and lemon juice but not in high quantity.

So, you'll have sweet and sour pie, which is also light at the same time.

Hence, you'll enjoy the pie and coffee but not feel overwhelmed.

2 - Egg Sandwich

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Savory items can also work at an afternoon coffee event - pair with egg bites side pairings for heartier plates when guests need something filling.

Some of your guests may feel hungry, so a yummy egg sandwich can be perfect for coffee.

It's also a simple dish to make.

You can make many sandwiches or fewer depending on how many guests you invite.

You can also keep the sandwich simple with fried eggs, salt, and pepper.

However, you can add some butter, cheese, mayo, and ketchup too.

Fresh eggs are best for making the sandwich.

So, choose refrigerated eggs and avoid those with cracks or breakage.

Aged eggs can have runny yolks, which won't be suitable for frying.

3 - French Toast

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It's also a bread dish and one of the most widely eaten items with coffee.

Hence, serving French toast at the party with coffee seems a good idea - add French toast side suggestions for balance to round out the plate.

It's also a simple dish of bread coated in egg mixture, milk or cream and fried with a pinch of salt.

However, you can also make sweet French toast by adding a sweet ingredient before pan-frying.

Besides these, you can improve the toast's flavors with spices and herbs.

You may serve the toast with mayo, ketchup, and even other dips, sauces, or spreads.

4 - Banana Nut Bread

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It's also bread but a sweet variety and filled with nuts.

Banana nut bread also makes a lovely side dish to serve with coffee - consider banana bread side pairings for texture to enhance the spread.

It's amazingly pleasant but not over-sweet or heavy.

So even if you eat a big portion, the bread will not overwhelm you.

The dish's name sounds rather fancy but making the bread is simple.

The recipe requires only a few ingredients that are readily available.

While you can use any nuts, almonds are most commonly used for making bread.

It's also necessary to use overripe bananas for excellent results.

So, buy in advance and let the fruits age more.

5 - Lemon Shortbread Cookies

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Coffee and cookies make a perfect combination - pair with lemon garlic shrimp side ideas for a savory contrast if the menu needs a seafood option.

Hence, it won't be a problem even if you add a variety of cookies to the list.

Lemony shortbread cookies can also be a terrific accompaniment.

Shortbread is a "melt in your mouth" biscuit with a buttery and nutty taste.

It's crumbly but not crunchy, and its sweetness level is lower than other cookies.

Hence, it's perfect for those who don't like too much sweetness in their food.

When you add a lemon glaze, the cookies have a lemony aroma and flavor, making them refreshing and fruity.

6 - Peanut Butter-Banana Pancakes

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Pancakes are everyone's favorite breakfast food - if serving pancakes at a coffee party, check potato pancake side options for savory variety to diversify the menu.

But there is no strict rule that says you can eat pancakes only at breakfast.

They'll make a good side dish at your coffee party too.

But rather than making simple pancakes, you can create a better version.

Make peanut butter banana pancakes and enjoy them with the coffee.

Peanut butter is one of the world's most popular spreads.

Only some people don't eat, and that's because they're allergic to the ingredient.

But most people love it, so your pancakes will be a hit.

7 - Salmon and Cucumber Sandwiches

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Even reading the name aloud makes our mouth water.

So you know how delicious salmon and cucumber sandwiches are.

Hence, adding them to your menu will be an excellent idea.

The sandwiches are cool and refreshing but also filling and go with coffee.

So, you'll have a nice snack to enjoy at your afternoon coffee party.

Including yogurt, mayo, and lemon juice will improve the flavors and take the sandwiches to the next level - or pair with salmon en croûte side ideas for an elegant spread for similar flavor profiles.

Always go for fresh salmon but if you live in a place where it's impossible to get a fresh variety, frozen is a smarter option.

Why? Because "fresh" labeled salmon may have been frozen earlier and then thawed.

8 - Berries

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This choice may sound odd, but you can serve fresh fruits with coffee.

Berries make a good side dish as they add tang, sweet and fresh elements to the meal.

Since you'll have sweet and savory items, the crunchy, sour, and sweet berries will balance the meal.

Besides, you'll have a pop of flavors playing in your mouth.

You can add any variety of berries depending on the season and availability.

Strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, cranberries, and even grapes are suitable to include in an afternoon coffee party.

However, check carefully when buying and choose fresh ones.

The freshest berries are the most fragrant, so you can't make a mistake.

They must also be firm when pressed slightly and look bright and glossy.

9 - Hard Cheese

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If you're a cheese lover, you'll love the pairing with coffee.

Why? Because hard cheese and even a few semi-hard cheese varieties work pretty well with the beverage.

You and your guests can enjoy different types and find out which pairs best with the lot.

Since cheese is one of the most widely eaten foods, it's easy to get them.

You'll find products from numerous brands around the world.

However, not all are top-grade. So, be wise when buying cheese.

When placing cheese on a plate, arrange them from mildest to sharpest, so your guests can choose according to their preference.

You can also tell your guests which side is mild or sharp because some may not know.

If your cheese has been in the fridge, take them out an hour or to an hour and a half before serving/eating.

Cheddar, Gjetost, Piave Vecchio, Barely Buzzed, and Aged Gouda are some varieties to have with coffee.

10 - Carrot Cake

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Let's end the list with a yummy treat that's popular and perfect to go with coffee.

We promise that you and your guests will all love carrot cake.

The carrot cake requires more ingredients than other items, but they're easily accessible.

So, you won't have a problem. All-purpose flour is a good option for the batter.

Yes, you'll also need a lot of carrots and chopped pecans.

Butter and cream cheese will make your cake even more flavorful.

You'll need both baking soda and baking powder in the same quantity for the cake.

Salt, sugar, eggs, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract are the remaining ingredients needed for the tasty carrot cake.

These choices work well with light tea settings. afternoon tea side pairings for teatime menus lists more suitable options. coffee and tea side ideas for mixed beverages covers pairings that work with both drinks.