Elegant Chicken Mousse High Tea Sandwiches: A Sophisticated & Easy Recipe for Any Occasion

Indulge in a culinary delight with these exquisite poached chicken mousse sandwiches. Delicately flavored with the earthy crunch of walnuts and fragrant fresh herbs like thyme, this creamy chicken mousse is elevated by a luscious cream cheese topping. Perfectly complemented by the subtle sweetness and crisp texture of toasted raisin bread, these sandwiches offer an ideal balance of sweet and savory, making them a standout addition to any high tea, brunch, or special gathering.

High tea is a cherished tradition, synonymous with delicate flavors, exquisite presentation, and a delightful array of sweet and savory treats. Among the many components that make up a memorable high tea spread, savory sandwiches hold a special place. This recipe for chicken mousse sandwiches transcends the ordinary, offering a sophisticated yet surprisingly simple dish that is sure to impress your guests. We take tender chicken breast, gently poach it in an aromatic broth, and then transform it into a wonderfully creamy mousse. The richness of cream cheese binds it all together, while finely chopped walnuts add a delightful texture and a nutty depth. Fresh thyme and bright orange zest infuse the mousse with an irresistible aroma, creating a truly gourmet experience.

What sets these elegant high tea sandwiches apart is the harmonious blend of textures and tastes. The smooth, velvety chicken mousse contrasts beautifully with the crispy, slightly sweet rounds of toasted raisin bread. Each bite delivers a perfect symphony of sweet, savory, creamy, and crunchy elements. It’s a classic pairing that elevates the humble sandwich to gourmet status, making it not just a meal, but an experience. Whether you’re planning a lavish high tea, a sophisticated brunch, an intimate gathering, or simply looking for an elegant appetizer to elevate your next event, this chicken mousse recipe is a must-try. Its make-ahead convenience also makes it a fantastic option for entertaining, allowing you to focus on your guests rather than last-minute preparations in the kitchen.

Why You’ll Love This Elegant Chicken Mousse Sandwich Recipe

This recipe isn’t just about making a sandwich; it’s about crafting a memorable culinary experience. Here’s why these creamy chicken mousse high tea sandwiches will become a new favorite in your repertoire:

• Sophisticated Flavor Profile: The delicate combination of tender poached chicken, smooth cream cheese, earthy walnuts, and fragrant herbs creates a complex yet approachable taste. The subtle hint of orange zest adds a surprising and refreshing lift that brightens the entire dish.
• Perfect Sweet and Savory Balance: Serving the rich, savory mousse on lightly toasted raisin bread provides an exquisite contrast that is simply addictive. The natural sweetness of the raisins beautifully complements the savory depth of the chicken, creating a truly unique and delightful bite.
• Elegant and Impressive Presentation: These beautifully piped, bite-sized rounds are a feast for the eyes as well as the palate. Their delicate and refined appearance makes them ideal for any special occasion, instantly elevating your table spread.
• Make-Ahead Convenience for Stress-Free Entertaining: One of the greatest advantages of this recipe is that the chicken mousse can be prepared a day in advance. This allows you to tackle most of the prep work ahead of time, ensuring a stress-free experience on the day of your event, as you only need to assemble them just before serving.
• Versatile for Many Occasions: While absolutely perfect for a traditional high tea, these elegant sandwiches also shine brightly at brunches, bridal showers, garden parties, baby showers, or as a refined appetizer for more formal dinner gatherings. They are a versatile addition to any menu.
• Texture Contrast: The smooth, creamy texture of the mousse is perfectly balanced by the delightful crunch of finely chopped walnuts and the crispiness of the toasted raisin bread. This interplay of textures keeps each bite interesting and enjoyable.

Preparation Timeline & Smart Planning Tips

Achieving culinary elegance doesn’t have to be complicated, especially when you plan ahead. This recipe is designed with convenience in mind, allowing for key components to be prepared in advance. Follow this suggested timeline to ensure optimal freshness, texture, and a relaxed entertaining experience.

1 Day in Advance: Crafting the Perfect Mousse

Preparing the chicken mousse a day ahead is a game-changer. It not only saves you precious time on the day of your event but also allows the intricate flavors to meld beautifully, deepening their richness and complexity. This crucial step ensures a more harmonious and delicious end product.

• Make the creamy chicken mousse following the detailed instructions provided in the recipe card below, ensuring it reaches the desired smooth consistency.
• Carefully transfer the freshly made mousse into a sturdy piping bag. For best results, ensure the bag is securely sealed to prevent any air exposure, which could dry out the mousse or affect its texture.
• Store the sealed piping bag containing the chicken mousse in the refrigerator. This allows it to chill thoroughly and firm up slightly, making it easier to pipe later, while also enhancing flavor development.

2 Hours in Advance: The Grand Assembly

To ensure your raisin bread rounds remain perfectly crispy and the chicken mousse is served at its freshest and most appealing, plan to assemble the sandwiches approximately two hours before you intend to serve them. This short timeframe is ideal for maintaining the delicate balance of textures and flavors.

• Begin by toasting the prepared raisin bread rounds until they achieve a beautiful golden hue and a satisfyingly crispy texture. This can be done efficiently in a preheated oven or a toaster.
• Once toasted, immediately transfer the bread rounds to a wire rack. It is absolutely crucial to allow them to cool completely to room temperature before applying the mousse. This prevents condensation and ensures the bread retains its delightful crispness.
• Just prior to serving, retrieve your chilled piping bag. Pipe generous, artfully shaped dollops or swirls of the prepared chicken mousse onto each cooled bread round.
• Immediately after piping, garnish each sandwich. Adorn them with delicate sprigs of fresh thyme and a light sprinkle of aromatic orange zest for a final touch of vibrant color and invigorating aroma. Serve promptly to enjoy the optimal blend of crispness and creaminess.

📖 Recipe: Creamy Chicken Mousse High Tea Sandwiches

RECIPE CARD

Sandwiches with Creamy Chicken Mousse

Andréa

These delightful high tea sandwiches feature a luscious poached chicken mousse, infused with the earthy crunch of walnuts and the aromatic freshness of herbs. The mousse is perfectly smoothed with creamy cream cheese, then piped onto crisp, sweet raisin bread rounds. This elegant combination creates a harmonious balance of sweet and savory flavors and textures, making it an ideal appetizer or light lunch for any sophisticated occasion.

5 of 3 votes

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Prep Time

15 minutes
mins

Cook Time

10 minutes
mins

Total Time

25 minutes
mins

Course
Breakfast, Lunch, High Tea, Appetizer

Cuisine
European, Fusion

Servings

12
sandwiches

Calories

202
kcal

Essential Equipment

• Oven (Conventional or Convection): A standard conventional oven is ideal for toasting the bread to perfection. If you opt for a convection oven (which uses a fan to circulate hot air), remember to decrease the temperature by approximately 30°F (20°C) to prevent the bread from browning too quickly or drying out.
• Baking Tray: A sturdy baking tray is essential for arranging the bread rounds evenly, ensuring they toast uniformly for that ideal crisp texture.
• Parchment Paper: Lining your baking tray with parchment paper is a simple yet effective way to prevent the bread from sticking and makes for effortless cleanup after baking.
• Round Cutter (7 cm diameter): This specific size helps create perfectly uniform and elegant bread rounds, which are characteristic of high tea sandwiches. A cookie cutter of a similar diameter will also work perfectly.
• Piping Bag with a Large Nozzle: For beautifully piping the chicken mousse onto the bread. A large star-shaped nozzle (e.g., Wilton 1M or 2D) is highly recommended for an elegant, professional finish. If you don’t have a piping bag, a sturdy resealable plastic bag with a corner snipped off can serve as a suitable alternative.
• Blender or Food Processor: Crucial for achieving the smooth, mousse-like consistency of the chicken and walnut mixture. It finely chops the ingredients, ensuring no large chunks disrupt the texture.
• Grater (Fine Zester): Used specifically for zesting the orange, providing delicate, aromatic citrus notes that enhance the overall flavor without adding bitterness.
• Medium Saucepan: Necessary for gently poaching the chicken breast, a method that ensures the chicken remains incredibly tender and moist, which is vital for the mousse.
• Mixing Bowl and Spatula: A medium-sized mixing bowl and a flexible spatula are ideal for smoothly combining the cream cheese mixture and then gently folding in the chicken and walnut blend, ensuring all ingredients are well incorporated without overworking.

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Ingredients

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  500 ml chicken broth (use a good quality broth for best flavor, preferably low sodium)
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  1 chicken breast (approximately 180-200g / 6-7 oz, skinless and boneless for optimal mousse texture)
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  12 slices raisin bread (or other subtly sweet bread like brioche or challah for a different delightful twist)
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  50 grams unsalted butter (softened to room temperature for easy spreading on the bread)
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  100 grams cream cheese, at room temperature (full fat is recommended for the best creamy texture and flavor)
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  2 tablespoons good quality mayonnaise (adds moisture, a delicate tang, and helps achieve the perfect mousse consistency)
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  ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt (or adjust to your personal taste preference)
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  ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, mixed (for the best aroma and a subtle spicy kick)
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  50 grams walnuts, very finely chopped (provides a crucial textural contrast and a rich, earthy flavor to the mousse)
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  5 sprigs fresh thyme (for elegant garnish and flavor infusion. You can also incorporate some finely chopped leaves directly into the mousse mixture for extra herbal notes.)
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  1 large orange, zest only (adds a delightful, bright, and aromatic citrus flavor that cuts through the richness of the mousse)

All my recipes are typically written with both Metric (grams / ml) and US Customary (cups / pounds) measurements. Please choose the measurement system that you prefer to use for your cooking.

Step-by-Step Instructions

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  1. Poach the Chicken: In a medium saucepan, bring the 500 ml of chicken broth to a gentle boil over medium-high heat. Ensure that there is enough broth to completely submerge the chicken breast.
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  Carefully place the chicken breast into the gently boiling broth. Reduce the heat immediately to a low simmer, cover the saucepan, and poach the chicken breast for approximately 10-12 minutes. The exact time may vary based on the thickness of your chicken breast, so ensure it’s thoroughly cooked through with no pink remaining in the center. Poaching is key here as it yields incredibly tender and moist chicken, perfect for a smooth mousse. Once cooked, remove the chicken from the broth and set it aside on a plate to cool completely to room temperature. This cooling step is vital for achieving the correct mousse consistency.
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  2. Prepare the Raisin Bread: While the chicken cools, preheat your oven to 180°C (approximately 350°F) for a conventional oven. If you are using a convection oven (with a fan), reduce the temperature slightly to 160°C (325°F) to prevent over-browning.
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  Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. This will prevent the bread rounds from sticking and ensures easy transfer after toasting.
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  Take each slice of raisin bread and lightly spread a thin, even layer of softened unsalted butter on one side. This butter will aid in achieving a beautiful golden crispness and add a subtle richness to the bread.
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  Using your 7 cm diameter round cutter (or a similar-sized cookie cutter), firmly press out a round shape from each buttered slice of raisin bread. Carefully arrange these neat bread rounds, butter-side up, onto the prepared baking sheet. Repeat this process for all 12 slices of bread, maximizing the use of each slice.
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  Bake the bread rounds in the preheated oven for approximately 5-7 minutes. Keep a close watch, as baking times can vary, until they turn a beautiful golden brown and are perfectly crispy. Once baked, promptly remove them from the oven and transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely to room temperature. This cooling step is essential for preserving their delightful crispness and preventing sogginess when the mousse is added.
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  3. Prepare the Mousse Base: In a medium mixing bowl, combine the room temperature cream cheese, mayonnaise, salt, and freshly ground black pepper. Use a flexible spatula to mix these ingredients until the mixture is completely smooth, creamy, and free of any lumps of cream cheese. Set aside.
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  Once the poached chicken has cooled completely, cut it into small, manageable cubes. Place these cubed chicken pieces into a blender or a food processor, along with the 50 grams of finely chopped walnuts. Pulse the mixture a few times until the chicken and walnuts are very finely chopped and resemble a coarse, uniform paste. Be careful not to over-process, as you want a delicate, mousse-like texture, not a completely smooth puree. A little texture is desirable.
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  Gently fold the chicken and walnut mixture into the prepared cream cheese mixture using your spatula. Mix just until all ingredients are well combined and uniform. Now, stir in the vibrant zest of one orange and the finely chopped leaves from a few sprigs of fresh thyme. Taste the mousse and adjust the seasoning (salt and pepper) if necessary to achieve your perfect flavor balance. Carefully transfer the finished chicken mousse into a piping bag fitted with your chosen decorative nozzle.
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  4. Assemble and Garnish: Take your cooled, perfectly crispy raisin bread rounds. Using the piping bag, pipe a generous dollop or an elegant swirl of the chicken cream cheese mousse onto the center of each bread round. Aim for consistency and attractive presentation.
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  For a final touch of elegance and fresh aroma, artfully garnish each individual sandwich with a tiny sprig of fresh thyme and a delicate sprinkle of fresh orange zest. Serve these exquisite high tea sandwiches immediately, or within 2 hours, to ensure the best possible texture and taste experience. Enjoy!

Tips for Success & Creative Variations:

• Chicken Selection: While chicken breast is recommended for its lean, neutral flavor and fine texture, you can experiment with poached boneless, skinless chicken thighs for a richer and slightly more succulent mousse. Always ensure the chicken is cooled completely before processing.
• Herb Alternatives: If fresh thyme isn’t readily available or you prefer a different flavor profile, consider substituting with other finely chopped fresh herbs such as chives, fresh dill, or flat-leaf parsley. A harmonious blend of fine herbs can also be particularly delightful.
• Nutty Variations: For an alternative to walnuts, you could use finely chopped toasted pecans or even lightly toasted almonds. Each nut will impart a slightly different flavor and textural nuance to the mousse.
• Elevate with Spices: To introduce a subtle warmth or a very gentle kick, consider adding a tiny pinch of cayenne pepper, a dash of your favorite hot sauce, or a hint of smoked paprika to the mousse mixture. Taste as you go to avoid overpowering the delicate flavors.
• Vegetarian Adaptation: For guests who prefer a vegetarian option, the chicken can be substituted with finely chopped marinated artichoke hearts, roasted red peppers, or even well-seasoned, finely mashed chickpeas, creating a equally appealing spread.
• Mastering Presentation: The visual appeal of these sandwiches is part of their charm. Don’t shy away from using a decorative piping nozzle (like a star tip) for a more professional and impressive look. Arrange the finished sandwiches neatly on a beautiful serving platter or a tiered stand to create an inviting and elegant display.

Storage Instructions:

To ensure optimal freshness and safety, the prepared chicken mousse should be stored separately in an airtight container or kept sealed within its piping bag. When properly refrigerated, the mousse will remain fresh and delicious for up to 2-3 days. The toasted raisin bread rounds, if stored in an airtight container at room temperature, can maintain their crispness for up to 1 day. For the best culinary experience, combining the mousse with the bread should ideally be done no more than 2 hours before serving. This practice prevents the bread from absorbing too much moisture from the mousse and becoming soggy, ensuring every bite is as delightful as intended.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 202kcal
Carbohydrates: 16g
Protein: 8g
Fat: 12g
Saturated Fat: 5g
Cholesterol: 31mg
Sodium: 384mg
Fiber: 2g
Sugar: 3g
Vitamin A: 266IU
Vitamin C: 10mg
Iron: 1mg

Keyword
chicken mousse recipe, high tea sandwiches, elegant appetizers, creamy chicken spread, walnut chicken, thyme chicken, easy party food, brunch recipe, savory sweet sandwich, poached chicken mousse

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