Wimbledon Picnic Recipes: Strawberries, Scones & Homemade Pimm's

Strawberries and cream, scones with jam and clotted cream and a jug of Pimm's that takes about two minutes to put together. The Wimbledon picnic menu essentially writes itself. The only question is whether yours is made properly or assembled from a supermarket meal deal. This guide is for the former.

The best picnic recipes are the ones that travel well, come together quickly and still feel worth the effort when you are sitting on a blanket in the sun.

Planning a Wimbledon picnic is not just about the food; it is about making preparation simple, keeping everything fresh and creating a comfortable outdoor setup. From quick kitchen prep to picnic essentials, the right tools can make hosting much easier.

Classic Wimbledon Picnic Food Ideas

A traditional Wimbledon picnic has three non-negotiables. Strawberries and cream - simple, but only as good as the cream you make. Scones - better from an air fryer than you would expect. And Pimm's - one of the few drinks that genuinely takes less time to prepare than it takes to describe. All three can be prepped ahead, transported easily and served with no equipment beyond what fits in a cool bag.

How to Make Strawberries & Cream

You already know about the strawberries. But the cream is what makes this classic Wimbledon picnic treat special. Freshly whipped double cream takes about a minute to make and tastes completely different. The trick is keeping everything cold and not over-whipping it.

A handheld milk frother can make this process quicker and easier, especially when preparing smaller batches outdoors. Unlike manual whisking, it helps create a consistent texture with less effort and is easy to carry for picnics or garden gatherings.

Makes: enough for 2–3 generous servings
Time: about 1 minute
Ingredients

• 100ml cold double cream
• 1 tsp icing sugar (optional)
• A few drops of vanilla extract (optional)

Method 
Tip: Work in small batches if you’re making cream for a crowd. The frother handles 100–150ml beautifully. Do two or three quick rounds rather than one large one.

1. Make sure your double cream is cold straight from the fridge.
   
2. Pour into a deep bowl or tall jar - you need some depth for the frother to work. Too shallow and it splashes.
   
3. Add the icing sugar and vanilla extract if using.
4. Place the frother head just below the surface. Turn it on and use a slow up-and-down motion, working around the edges to aerate the cream evenlyly.
5. Keep going for 45 to 60 seconds. Stop when the cream holds soft peaks. It should dollop, not pour.
6. Spoon over fresh strawberries and serve straight away.

Easy Air Fryer Scones: Ready in 30 Minutes

No need to heat the whole oven for a picnic bake. The air fryer takes care of it in under 15 minutes. A good scone takes about 30 minutes from start to finish and the air fryer version stays consistently golden without any guesswork.

Why Use an Air Fryer for Picnic Baking?

An air fryer circulates hot air around food, helping achieve evenly baked results with less waiting time compared to traditional ovens. It is also useful when preparing smaller batches without heating a full-size oven.

Air Fryer Scones

Makes: : 6 - 8 scones
Time: 30 minutes
Ingredients

•  250g self-raising flour, plus extra for dusting
•  1 tsp baking powder
•  Pinch of sea salt
• 1 tbsp caster sugar
• 50g cold butter, cubed
• 130ml whole milk, plus a little extra for brushing
  

To serve

• Clotted cream
• Strawberry jam
  

Method

1. Sift the flour into a bowl with the baking powder, salt and sugar. Add the cold butter and rub it in with your fingertips until the mixture looks like rough breadcrumbs. 
2. Make a well in the middle and pour in the milk. Bring the dough together using your hands or a knife until soft but not sticky. Add a tiny splash more milk if it’s too dry.
3. On a lightly floured surface, gently flatten the dough to around 3cm thick. Don’t over-handle it.
4. Cut rounds using a 6cm cutter, pressing straight down. Don’t twist the cutter or the scones won’t rise properly. Brush the tops lightly with milk.
5. Preheat your air fryer to 180°C for 2 minutes. Lightly oil the shelf or line the basket with baking paper, leaving gaps at the edges for airflow.
6. Place the scones with a little space between them. Cook for 10 to 12 minutes until risen and golden.
7.  Cool on a rack for 5 minutes. Serve with clotted cream and strawberry jam. Cream first or jam first? That’s between you and your conscience.

Classic Pimm's Cup Recipe: The Wimbledon Standard

There’s a reason Pimm’s and Wimbledon are essentially the same sentence. It’s cold, it’s fruity, it takes about two minutes to put together and it makes a garden afternoon feel like an occasion. The ratio is simple: one part Pimm’s to three parts lemonade.

Note: If serving Pimm’s at your picnic, ensure it is enjoyed responsibly and only by adults of legal drinking age.

For a family-friendly alternative, you can replace Pimm’s with a fruit-based mocktail using lemonade, fresh fruit and mint.

A vegetable chopper speeds up the fruit prep considerably if you are making a large batch for a crowd and it keeps the slices consistent, which matters more than it sounds when everything is going into a glass.

Classic Pimm’s Cup

Serves: 4
Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients

• 250ml Pimm’s No. 1
• 750ml chilled sparkling lemonade
• Juice of half a lemon
  

To garnish

• Sliced strawberries
• Cucumber rounds or spears
• Orange or lemon slices
• Fresh mint
• Apple slices (optional)
  

Method
Tip: Mix the Pimm’s and fruit ahead of time and keep it in the cooler bag. Add the lemonade just before serving to keep it fizzy.

1. Fill a large pitcher generously with ice.
2. Add the Pimm’s and lemon juice, then pour over the lemonade. Stir gently. You want to combine everything without losing the fizz.
3. Add the strawberries, cucumber, citrus slices and mint to the pitcher and leave to infuse for 5 to 10 minutes. No longer, or the lemonade starts to go flat.t.
4. Pour into tall glasses over more ice, making sure everyone gets some of the fruit. Garnish with a sprig of mint.

Wimbledon Picnic Essentials Checklist

The food is sorted. Here are the other things that makes the day comfortable rather than a logistical headache.

• Keep cool: A handheld cooling fan can be useful during warmer outdoor events, especially when space is limited. The compact design fits easily in a picnic bag. Small enough to fit in a bag, useful enough to keep you happy.
• Set it up: A good picnic starts with somewhere comfortable to sit. A waterproof picnic blanket makes it easier to relax outdoors without worrying about damp grass or unexpected spills. The Keplin picnic blanket comes with a waterproof backing, making it a practical choice for garden picnics, parks or a day out watching the match.
• Get comfortable: Sitting on the grass sounds great until you’re an hour into the afternoon. A pair of foldable camping chairs gives everyone a more comfortable spot to enjoy the day. The Keplin Voyager padded chairs are lightweight, easy to carry and simple to pack away when the picnic is over.
• Keep everything chilled: Fresh strawberries, cream and drinks are much better when they stay cool. A roomy cooler bag helps keep picnic essentials organised while you travel. The Keplin 27L cooler bag gives you enough space for drinks, ingredients and snacks, so you can spend less time worrying about storage and more time enjoying the day.
  

How to Prepare Wimbledon Picnic Food Ahead of Time

To make your picnic stress-free, prepare the ingredients in advance:

• Whipped cream: prepare shortly before leaving and keep chilled
• Scones: bake in the morning and cool before packing
• Pimm’s: prepare the fruit mixture early and add lemonade before serving
• Pack chilled items in an insulated cooler bag

Putting It All Together: Your Wimbledon Afternoon in One Place

A Wimbledon picnic doesn’t need to be complicated. Get the strawberries, whip the cream, bake the scones and mix the Pimm’s when everyone arrives. The blanket goes down, the chairs go up, someone argues about the cream-first rule and suddenly you’ve got a proper British summer afternoon on your hands and the tennis is optional, to be honest.

FAQs About Wimbledon Picnic Recipes