December 28, 2023
Review RecipeCucumber Cream Cheese Sandwich
These elegant cucumber sandwiches are delicious and ideal to serve for lunch or a fancy English-style tea party.
Jump to Recipe
Table of Contents
- What Is A Cucumber Sandwich?
- Ingredients For Cucumber Sandwiches
- Cucumber Sandwich Recipe Substitutions
- How To Make A Cucumber Sandwich
- What To Serve With Cucumber Cream Cheese Sandwiches
- Storing This Cucumber Sandwiches Recipe
- You’ll Love A Cucumber And Cream Cheese Sandwich
- Cucumber Cream Cheese Sandwich FAQ
- More Recipes You’ll Love
- JUMP TO RECIPE
Perfect in their simplicity, these lovely cucumber sandwiches are a delightful addition to any lunch or tea party. Crisp cucumber and creamy dill-flavored cream cheese sandwiched between fresh pieces of bread make you think you are dining in high society.
What Is A Cucumber Sandwich?
A cucumber sandwich is made up of bread that has cream cheese, mayo, and seasoning added with a layer of cucumbers in the center.
Ingredients For Cucumber Sandwiches
Cucumber cream cheese sandwiches are an absolute delight! The creamy flavor of the cream cheese contrasts perfectly with the refreshing and slightly crunchy cucumber slices, creating a wonderful balance of taste and texture in each bite.
The subtle tang of the cream cheese elevates the fresh, mild flavor of the cucumber, making for a deliciously complex sandwich that is light, satisfying, and oh-so-tasty.
You’ll need:
- 8 ounces of plain cream cheese, softened
- ¼ cup of mayonnaise
- ¼ cup of sour cream
- ⅛ teaspoon of onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon of black pepper
- 1 teaspoon of lemon zest
- 2 tablespoons of lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons of chopped fresh dill
- 1 English cucumber
- 1 loaf of whole wheat or light rye bread
PRO TIP:
Use English cucumbers rather than regular cucumbers – they are very large – you only need one to make sandwiches with a whole loaf of bread. They have thinner skin and don’t have to be peeled, and there are not many seeds.
Cucumber Sandwich Recipe Substitutions
HERBS: If you don’t have fresh dill, you can substitute dried dill, or if you don’t have dill on hand at all, you could use fresh chives or other fresh herbs that you prefer.
BREAD: You could use another type of bread, such as white bread or even pumpernickel, if you’d like.
CREAM CHEESE: If you are in a rush, you could also make these using flavored or herbed cream cheese instead of mixing it from scratch.
INSTEAD OF BREAD: For lower-carb alternatives, use our cloud bread or this chaffle recipe instead of bread!
How To Make A Cucumber Sandwich
To make these refreshing sandwiches, you will make the cream cheese spread before adding it to the bread along with the cucumbers. That’s all there is to it!
STEP ONE: In a small bowl, mix together the cream cheese, mayonnaise, sour cream, onion powder, black pepper, lemon zest, lemon juice, and fresh dill.
OUR RECIPE DEVELOPER SAYS
The lemon and sour cream add a little zing to the cream cheese mixture. They also add flavor and break up the thick creaminess of the cream cheese.
You can use a hand mixer to quickly beat together the cream cheese mixture. Be sure the cream cheese is softened well before trying to mix.
STEP TWO: Use a mandoline to slice the cucumber into extra-thin slices.
PRO TIP:
A mandoline slicer is the best thing to slice very thin, even cucumber slices. You can get a huge number of slices from one English cucumber – close to 100 slices! Be careful when using a mandoline, as the blade is extremely sharp.
STEP THREE: Spread a generous layer of the cream cheese mixture onto one side of each slice of bread.
PRO TIP:
In the traditional English afternoon tea version, they butter the slices of bread before adding the filling, as the butter acts as a barrier to the filling and prevents soggy bread.
STEP FOUR: Place a layer of cucumber slices onto a piece of bread over the cream cheese layer. Overlap the cucumbers slightly.
STEP FIVE: Assemble the sandwich by placing the second slice of prepared bread onto the cucumber layer (the cucumbers will be sandwiched between two cream cheese layers and the bread slices).
STEP SIX: Using a serrated knife, cut the bread crusts from the sandwich to form a square. Cut the sandwich on the diagonal to form two triangular sandwiches.
STEP SEVEN: Continue assembling sandwiches until you have used the whole loaf of bread.
PRO TIP:
The dill can also be used as a bit of fresh garnish on top of the sandwiches, particularly for a little extra fancy display.
What To Serve With Cucumber Cream Cheese Sandwiches
Serve these charming English cucumber sandwiches for an afternoon tea party, picnic, baby shower, or lunch with an assortment of other little sandwiches.
Serve with a traditional hot cup of tea or with a cold drink such as our iced tea, raspberry iced tea, or our southern strawberry sweet tea on the side.
If you are making a platter of assorted finger sandwiches, add our tomato sandwich, tuna sandwich, chicken salad sandwich, and the best egg salad sandwich to the mix.
Storing This Cucumber Sandwiches Recipe
Here’s how to keep your cucumber sandwiches fresh for a couple of days:
IN THE FRIDGE: Wrap the cucumber sandwiches with plastic wrap and store them in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
IN THE FREEZER: We do not recommend freezing these cucumber sandwiches with dill, as the cucumbers will lose their crisp texture.
You’ll Love A Cucumber And Cream Cheese Sandwich
Enjoy these cucumber sandwiches for a luncheon or tea, or take them along for a picnic. Paper-thin cucumbers and a light dill cream cheese filling layered between slices of crustless bread make these little triangle sandwiches a delightful treat.
Cucumber Cream Cheese Sandwich FAQ
How do you keep cucumber sandwiches from getting soggy?
Spreading butter or even just the cream cheese will act as a barrier between the sliced cucumbers and the bread to avoid the risk of the bread getting soggy.
What kind of bread do you use for these easy cucumber sandwiches?
White bread is the traditional choice, but you can also use whole grain, rye, or pumpernickel bread.
Can I make this cucumber sandwich recipe ahead of time?
You can make these sandwiches up to 3 days in advance and store them wrapped in the fridge until you are ready to serve them.
What are the cucumber sandwiches called?
Cucumber sandwiches can also be called “tea sandwiches”.
Why are cucumber sandwiches a thing?
Cucumber sandwiches were originally created by British settlers in India as a way to cope with the heat. They found that cucumbers would help to cool them down.
What is a cucumber sandwich in England?
In England, cucumber sandwiches are made with crustless triangles of bread that have been spread with butter. Thin slices of cucumber are added to the sandwich, along with a sprinkle of salt and a dash of lemon juice.
What country are cucumber sandwiches from?
Cucumber sandwiches originated in the United Kingdom.
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Cucumber Sandwich Recipe
These elegant cucumber sandwiches are delicious and ideal to serve for lunch or a fancy English-style tea party.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 20 sandwiches
Ingredients
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup sour cream
- ⅛ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons fresh dill, chopped
- 1 English cucumber
- 1 loaf whole wheat bread, or light rye bread
Instructions
- Mix together cream cheese, mayonnaise, sour cream, onion powder, black pepper, lemon zest, lemon juice, and fresh dill.
- Use a mandoline to slice the cucumber into extra-thin slices.
- Spread a generous layer of the cream cheese mixture onto one side of each piece of bread.
- Place a layer of cucumber slices onto a piece of bread over the cream cheese layer. Overlap the cucumbers slightly.
- Assemble the sandwich by placing the second slice of prepared bread onto the cucumber layer (the cucumbers will be sandwiched between two cream cheese layers and the bread slices).
- Cut the crusts from the sandwich to form a square. Cut the sandwich on the diagonal to form two triangular sandwiches.
- Continue assembling sandwiches until you have used the whole loaf of bread.
Notes
- Use English cucumbers rather than regular cucumbers – they are very large – you only need one to make sandwiches with a whole loaf of bread. They have thinner skin and don’t have to be peeled, and there are not many seeds.
- The lemon and sour cream add a little zing to the cream cheese mixture. They also add flavor and break up the thick creaminess of the cream cheese.
- You can use a hand mixer to quickly beat together the cream cheese mixture. Be sure the cream cheese is softened well before trying to mix.
- A mandoline slicer is the best thing to slice very thin, even cucumber slices. You can get a huge number of slices from one English cucumber – close to 100 slices! Be careful when using a mandoline, as the blade is extremely sharp.
- In the traditional English afternoon tea version, they butter the slices of bread before adding the filling as the butter acts as a barrier to the filling and prevents soggy bread.
- The dill can also be used as a bit of fresh garnish on top of the sandwiches, particularly for a little extra fancy display.
Nutrition
Calories: 150kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 15mg | Sodium: 193mg | Potassium: 129mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 192IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 54mg | Iron: 1mg
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Comments
Gloria says
These are delicious, simple, and pretty. Such a treat!
Mischelle Fickessen says
I have a question how long can I store just the spread in the refrigerator?
Thanks!
Layne Kangas says
Hey, there – it should keep fine for a few days in an airtight container! Enjoy!
Diana says
Yum! Refreshing sandwich with flavor.
Kim. Billhimer says
Made these before.And loved them so did my son
Vicki says
Great recipe! Super simple and tasty, especially with the fresh garden cucumbers coming in! Thank you for sharing this! 🙂
Jill Furia says
Great recipe. I added garlic powder instead of onion powder. I also chopped up some chives and added that in. I used a cucumber from my garden. My kids love them.( 39 and 38)
Joanne says
Quick and easy. Just what I was looking for. Thanks
Donna s Baumgartner says
This is my favorite summertime sandwich. So refreshing. I add alphalfa sprouts to it and absolutely love it.
Judy says
I make an easier version of cucumber sandwiches. I spread the softened plain cream cheese thickly on sliced seeded sourdough (or any other healthy) bread, sprinkle with the “everything but the bagel sesame seasoning blend”, and top it with several layers (about 1/2 inch thick) of the thinly sliced cucumbers. This makes for a hefty and satisfyingly healthy veggie sandwich.
Judy says
Going to try your version. Sounds great
Laurie Siegmund says
These were absolutely delicious! I made them to accompany my smoked salmon board for a ladies event. I used a whole loaf of butter bread and cut each sandwich into 6 square sandwiches after the crusts were removed. Every single sandwich was eaten. They were great as I made them ahead and kept them in a sealed container to put together at the party. I stacked them and put sprigs of dill around the layers. I do have to say that I have enough cream cheese mixture for a whole other loaf. Lots of great compliments. This is a keeper!
Jessica T says
What brand of mayo do you use?
Layne Kangas says
Hi, Jessica – you can use any brand you prefer! We used Hellman’s… enjoy!