An elegant English tablescape inspired by Wimbledon

Strawberries & Cream Recipe with Simple Wimbledon Tablescape Ideas

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My strawberries & cream recipe is a fun twist on the classic strawberries and cream Wimbledon treat. Adding some simple homeschool Wimbledon crafts, and some elegant Wimbledon tablescape ideas, is an easy way to be a part of the tennis celebrations.

Allow me to rewind a little here. As many of you are aware, this past week in England marked the start of a very special tennis tournament in London. This historic event is called The Championships, Wimbledon! 

As a nod to this long-standing occasion, the children and I are making lavish strawberries & cream cakes. 

We will also be sharing our simple Wimbledon-inspired tablescape ideas -which include a fun homeschool activity of making paper bunting flags and stenciled place cards. 

Naturally, I could not write a post about Wimbledon without sharing some of our favorite thrifted items. Items that just so happen to share the same color scheme as the traditional Wimbledon colors–purple and green. Thus, making those thrifted finds- the perfect decoration- for our simple Wimbledon tablescape. This post will teach you how to create your own Wimbledon-themed recipe and tablescape.

So what are we waiting for? Let’s dive in, shall we?!

Handwritten recipe for strawberries and cream cake
*My handwritten Strawberries & Cream Cakes recipe.
A Wimbledon Inspired tablescape
*Handmade paper bunting flags in the Wimbledon color scheme.
Homeschool place card crafts featuring a strawberry for a Wimbledon tablescape.
*Wimbledon inspired homeschool activity.
Wimbledon strawberries & cream cake served in a vintage ice cream bowl- helping to decorate a Wimbledon themed tablescape.
*Freshly made Strawberries & Cream cake with whipped cream topping and a sweet handmade place card.

~What are Traditional Wimbledon Foods? ~

Food and fine sporting events often go hand in hand. 

England has delicious strawberries- making strawberries and cream a perfect traditional food to be served at the Wimbledon championships.

A few other English classics may also be served at the historic event. Treats such as scones, a slice of Victoria sponge cake, a glass of Pimm’s (which is a popular cocktail drink), and cucumber sandwiches are all popular menu items.

Often in the traditional Wimbledon strawberries & cream recipes, the cream (single or double) is simply poured over the fresh strawberries. (Pictured below)

Traditional Strawberries and Cream for Wimbledon served in a vintage ice cream bowl on top of a vintage tennis racket.
* Fresh strawberries smothered in fresh cream. A perfect summertime treat! *Sidenote: the tennis racket was found on the side of the road. One never knows, when one may be able to use a vintage tennis racket. Now seemed like the perfect opportunity.

~A Classic Wimbledon Recipe Receives a Slight Twist~

My version of the Wimbledon strawberries & cream cake- takes all the traditional elements of strawberries and cream- and uses those iconic flavors to create a delightful cream cake. 

This recipe actually dates back to my home economics teaching days, when the students and I would prepare strawberry muffins for certain school functions. I decided to add a whipped cream frosting, with a dusting of freeze-dried strawberries, to create my Wimbledon themed recipe.

While the freeze-dried strawberry dusting is certainly not necessary- I do enjoy the addition of color and slight tartness that this unique “dusting” provides.

~Strawberries & Cream Cakes Recipe: ~

Strawberries and Cream cakes on a Wimbledon tablescape.
Elizabeth

Strawberries and Cream Cakes

Strawberries and cream are a classic flavor combo that taste great when combined and made into little cakes. Sweet strawberries, fluffy vanilla sponge, and a delicate cream topping make these cakes extra special.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Servings: 24 Mini- Cakes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: English
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 3 cups AP Flour (360 grams)
  • 2½ tsp Baking Powder
  • 1 cup Salted Butter (Melted)
  • 1¼ cup Granulated Sugar
  • 2 large Eggs
  • 1 tsp Vanilla
  • 1 Cup Buttermilk *Buttermilk can be made with 1 cup of 2% milk and 1 ½ Tablespoons of fresh lemon juice. Stir ingredients and allow to sit for 5-10 minutes until the milk begins to thicken.
  • 2 Cups Fresh Strawberries *Washed, cored, and chopped into small pieces. Note: These cakes feature the fresh strawberries as a prominent flavor, but you can add 1 ½ or one cup strawberries if you prefer a lighter strawberry flavor.
  • 1 Tbsp Flour *This is optional but adding a sprinkle of flour to the fresh strawberries (before adding to the batter) helps the strawberries to not all sink to the bottom of the batter.
  • ¼ Cup Turbinado Sugar *Optional to add to the tops of the cakes before baking. This gives these cakes a sweet crunch.
Whipped Cream Topping
  • 2 cups Heavy Whipping Cream
  • 4 Tbsp Powdered Sugar *More powdered sugar can be added for a sweeter topping.
  • ½ tsp Vanilla

Method
 

  1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Prepare 2 muffin pans by buttering sides and adding cupcake liners.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, add flour, baking powder, and granulated sugar. Stir to combine.
  3. In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs. Add buttermilk, melted butter, and vanilla. Stir to combine.
  4. Add the dry ingredients to the wet batter and stir.
  5. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of flour over the tops of the diced strawberries. Gently fold the diced strawberries into the batter with a rubber spatula.
  6. Scoop the mixture into the muffin tins and sprinkle the tops with Turbinado sugar. Bake the cakes for 20-25 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean. The tops of the cakes with be golden brown.
  7. Allow the cakes to cool completely.
The Heavy Whipping Cream Topping
  1. Using an electric mixer and a large bowl, cream the heavy whipping cream on high speed. Add 4 tablespoons of powdered sugar and the vanilla. Whip for a few minutes until the cream becomes thick and pipeable
  2. Add cream to a pipping bag and pipe swirls onto the tops of the cooled strawberries and cream cakes.

Notes

*Strawberries and Cream cakes are so good they can be eaten on their own (without the cream topping). If served without the cream, these cakes will be more like muffins.
*Store leftovers in an airtight container. If adding the cream topping- store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
*Make sure the cakes are completely cool before adding the cream topping to the top of the cakes.
*A light dusting of pulverized dried strawberries adds a lovely color and slight tart flavor to the tops of the cakes. This is an optional step.

~How to Make Homemade Buttermilk for the Cake Batter~

My strawberries & Cream cakes recipe uses buttermilk. As it would be, I did not have any on hand. 

If you are a mom with littles- you can truly appreciate trying to avoid loading everyone up in the car, to get one lone ingredient. Because of this, we decided to have another science lesson in the kitchen, on how to make buttermilk. 

We used one cup of milk- and added one and a half tablespoons of lemon juice- and gave it a little stir. 

That’s it! 

We let the milk sit for about ten minutes- and sure enough- you could see that the milk had begun to curdle and transform into a lovely, thick, homemade buttermilk. 

This is one of the many reasons why I enjoy homeschooling. The world is so full of opportunities in which to learn.

Putting pressure on the lemon as you roll it on a hard surface helps to release some of the juices before juicing the fruit.
*My teaching tip is to put pressure on the lemon, and roll it about a bit, to help release some of the juices-before using the glass juicer.
Ingredients to make homemade buttermilk-lemon juice and milk.
*I highly recommend glass juices over plastic. Plastic juicers are more likely to crack with the weight or the hand over time.

~How I Make the Wimbledon-Themed Strawberries & Cream Cakes in My American Kitchen: ~

Strawberries and cream cake ingredients
*I like to chop my strawberries and then place them on a paper towel to absorb any extra juices. Note: chopping the strawberries in uniform pieces helps the batter to bake evenly.
A lovely strawberry heart for our strawberries & cream cakes.
*A strawberry heart- a little sweet, and a tiny bit tart!
A sprinkle of sugar over the fresh strawberries helps to sweeten the fruit before adding to the strawberries & cream cake batter.
*I like to sprinkle my chopped strawberries with a little sugar for added sweetness. (Totally not necessary, but just what I do.) After this sprinkle of sugar, I also like to add one tablespoon of flour to my strawberries. This flour coating helps the strawberries to stay suspended in the batter as opposed to sinking to the bottom.
Strawberries and Cream cake batter with strawberries being gently folded into mixture.
*Gently fold the fresh strawberries into the batter- so as not to turn the batter pink. (Although, there could be worse problems than pink batter.)
Strawberries and cream cake batter in muffin pan.
*I double lined my muffin tin to help hold the cake's dainty shape.
Strawberries and Cream cake batter in medium sized baking pan.
*This recipe makes approximately two dozen cakes- so I used the extra batter to make mini cream cakes.

After the cakes are added to the tins, they are ready to go into the oven to bake. Once baked, it is important to allow the cakes to cool completely before adding the whipped topping. Even warm cakes will heat the whipped cream topping enough to create a “cream slide”. And that is a mess that is worth avoiding.

~Frequently Asked Questions on Strawberries & Cream Cakes: ~

  1. Can I turn this recipe into a cake recipe as opposed to a mini cake recipe? Yes, you can easily use this batter to make a lovely strawberries and cream cake. The batter will be enough to make two layers of cake. Once the cake layer has cooled, simply add the whipped cream topping to the center of the first cake and then top with the second cake. 
  2. Can I swap the strawberries out for another fruit? Yes. A lovely option would be to use fresh blueberries in place of the strawberries.
  3. How do I store leftovers? Store leftover cakes in an airtight container. Because these cakes have fresh strawberries and the cream topping, I like to store my leftovers in the refrigerator.  Leftover cakes are generally good for two days after baking (if stored correctly). However, like most baked goods, they are best eaten fresh on the first day.

~Wimbledon Tablescape Ideas Using a Wimbledon Color Scheme~

Right, now that our cakes are baked and cooling, let us turn our attentions to the tablescape. 

First things first: the traditional colors of Wimbledon. I wanted my table to use the iconic Wimbledon colors-green and purple. For I knew creating a recognizable color pallet would make my strawberries and cream cakes feel right at home on the table.

A little color breakdown for you: it is my understanding, that the color green is symbolic of the immaculate green grass tennis courts.

The color purple symbolizes royalty, wealth, and prestige. 

As time has passed, white is often added to the color scheme- as white is the color of the tennis garments worn. 

While I am certainly not a tennis player or a tennis connoisseur- I do like to plan for parties, I also like to keep English traditions alive in our home-namely, for the sake of my husband and our four children.

Kindly allow me to present to you (my rendition) of a Wimbledon-themed tablescape.

I shall call it my sweet strawberry, elegant emerald, royal plum, lovely lemon, and crisp white- tennis delight.

Vintage candles and a lace runner-creating a Wimbledon inspired tablescape

~Wimbledon Homeschool Activities for the Tablescape~

~Wimbledon Colors: Paper Bunting Flags to Decorate Our Simple Wimbledon Tablescape~

When creating a themed tablescape, I often like to start with the color scheme. I wanted my children to participate in the Wimbledon tablescape. Therefore, I chose to allow them to help me make paper bunting flags- in the Wimbledon color scheme. This was a simple idea that we incorporated into our homeschool lessons.

~Photo Instructions for Making Wimbledon Paper Bunting~

To begin our project, the children and I went to Hobby Lobby to buy scrapbook paper. Specifically, we were looking for paper that featured the Wimbledon colors: purple, green, yellow (for the tennis balls), and white. This paper served as the material we made our bunting flags with. (Normally, I would make my bunting flags out of fabric, but I wanted this to be an easy project that the children could help me with.) *To see some of my fabric bunting flag ideas, see my posts here and here.

From here, we cut out uniform triangular shapes in the scrapbook paper. After this, we simply glued each flag to a ribbon- in the design we wanted. 

This idea, while simple, could be used for a variety of table decorations.

~Step by Step Paper Bunting Instructions: ~

~Step One: Cutting the Triangle Flags~

Paper to make bunting flag decorations out of in the Wimbledon color scheme.
*Step one: Using decorative paper, cut out as many triangular flags as you like. Keep the flags as uniform as possible.
Scrapbook paper, vintage lace, and dried flowers for the paper bunting table decor.
Fabric bunting flags act as the template for our paper bunting table decor.
*Note: I used a proper fabric bunting flag to trace the pattern for our paper bunting. You can create your own triangle template- or, for ease- trace something you have that is triangular in shape.
Cutting out triangles for the paper bunting.
*As I cut out the pattern twice, a third triangle remained in the center. This gave me three bunting flags from the same piece of scrapbook paper. "Waste not, want not."

~Steps 2 & 3: Arranging and Securing the Paper Bunting Flags~

Paper bunting DIY activity for a Wimbledon themed tablescape idea.
*Step 2: Place the paper bunting flags on a long piece of ribbon/lace. The ribbon/lace should be long enough to fit all flags with adequate spacing in between (depending on your chosen design). Step 3: Once you have your placement right, use hot glue to secure each flag to the ribbon. Note: I let the children help me decide which way we should place our bunting flags on the lace. (This is the option they went with.)
Paper bunting DIY idea. Experimenting with the flag design and placement.
*This option of bunting flag placement was equally as cute, but not the chosen winner with my crew.

~Step 4: Decorating the Tablescape with the Handmade Paper Bunting~

Personally, I like to use paper bunting flags to decorate the center of the table. By adding candlesticks and pretty plates of food and desserts, a warm and welcoming table is created with little fuss. The paper bunting flags almost envelop the other decorations- making a cohesive themed tablescape decoration.

Vintage candlesticks on a lace table runner for a Wimbledon theme.
*The finished Wimbledon color scheme bunting flags- made simply with lots of love.

~How to Make Homeschool Table Place Cards with a Wimbledon Theme: ~

Homemade place cards are a fun addition to any themed tablescape. With just a few simple supplies, these adorable Wimbledon strawberry place cards can be made.

~Place Card Materials: ~

  • Decorative Wooden Plaques (We bought these from Hobby Lobby.)
  • Strawberry Stencils
  • Acrylic Paint
  • Paintbrushes
  • Gold Paint Pen
  • Glitter (optional)
Homeschool place card crafts featuring a strawberry for a Wimbledon tablescape.
*Using the strawberry stencil, we simply painted a red strawberry onto the center of our wooden plaques
DIY Wooden name holders made for a Wimbledon tablescape -the perfect homeschool activity.
*We then added names with a golden paint pen. In this way, each member of the family had a special place of honor. In my opinion, it is the little things that make the ordinary- special.

~Pulling it All Together: Simple Wimbledon Tablescape Ideas~

With our Wimbledon themed decorations now complete, we were ready to decorate the table. We just needed to add the strawberries & cream cakes and some fun thrifted table decorations.

Creating a themed tablescape is a real joy. Using handmade, homemade, and thrifted items to create a special tablescape is an easy way to create a warm and welcoming table without spending much money.

Strawberries and Cream cakes on a Wimbledon tablescape.
*A thrifted glass tiered plate-a handy, beautiful piece for the kitchen and dining room.
Wimbledon strawberries & cream cake served in a vintage ice cream bowl- helping to decorate a Wimbledon themed tablescape.
*My grandmother's ice cream bowl was the perfect way to serve our strawberries and cream cake. *Plus, the place cards that the children made.
A tiered plate of strawberries & cream cakes to celebrate Wimbledon.
*Vintage thrifted candlesticks, a lovely tablecloth, and a lace runner to make our dining room sing!
Wimbledon tablescape beautifully decorated with homeade strawberries & cream cakes and handmade decor.
*Thrifted candlesticks help to give a warm glow to the Wimbledon tablescape.
Strawberries and cream cake displayed on a dining table.

~Final Thoughts Until Next Time~

Well, this brings us to the end of another fun post. I hope these Wimbledon themed ideas inspire some creative juices to flow in your mind. Or perhaps even push you to try a new strawberries & cream recipe. Maybe, further inspiring you to create your own simple Wimbledon tablescape. The opportunities are limitless.

Thank you for tunning in! If you found this post helpful, do subscribe to my blog so you can see more fun blog post like this one in the future. For further ideas and inspirations, check out my Facebook and Pinterest pages. Or check out other English recipe ideas on my ultimate guide to traditional English recipes page here. 

Need more crafting inspirations? Check out my ultimate crafting page here.

I hope to see you all again very soon.

~Elizabeth~

Vintage finds for a cottage core aesthetic that is a nod to Wimbledon championships.
*A few more thrifted finds in the iconic Wimbledon color scheme.
Early morning flower-laden with dew.

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