These traditional cucumber sandwiches with an herby cream cheese spread are perfect for an afternoon tea, bridal shower, baby shower, or refreshing summer lunch!
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For more easy sandwich recipes, try this Southern tomato sandwich, a club sandwich, a classic Reuben sandwich, and this tuna salad recipe, too!
A Crowd-Pleasing Traditional Cucumber Sandwich Recipe
These simple yet elegant cucumber tea sandwiches are a timeless classic that never goes out of style. There’s just something so delicious about the combination of flavors and textures from the soft white bread, cool, crisp cucumber, and rich, creamy spread.
A traditional cucumber sandwich recipe has always been a popular choice for bridal showers, baby showers, tea parties, and other lady-like gatherings because they’re easy to assemble, you can prepare them in advance, they’re easy to pick up and eat without mess, and they won’t weigh you down! There will be plenty of room left in your stomach for a lemon Bundt cake with cake mix, fruit dressed in this honey lemon fruit salad dressing, and crackers spread with this pimento cheese recipe.
Ingredient Notes and Tips for Success
- Use an English cucumber, which is typically 12-14 inches long. The skin is thin and smooth, so you don’t need to peel it before slicing. English cucumbers also have little to no seeds, so they’re less watery. If you can’t find an English cucumber, then a few smaller Persian cucumbers will also work well.
- I prefer to slice the cucumber into uniform, very thin slices using a mandoline.
- Look for a soft, white sandwich bread for the best flavor and texture. I like Pepperidge Farm Farmhouse Hearty White Bread, which has large slices. This makes it easier to remove the crusts and still have plenty of finger sandwiches for serving.
- Fresh herbs such as chives or dill add bright flavor to the sandwiches. Feel free to include other herbs that you like as well, such as basil or thyme.
- To jazz up the sandwiches, try adding thinly sliced smoked salmon, thinly sliced radishes, thinly sliced ham, or mashed avocado.
How to Make Cucumber Sandwiches
This is truly the best cucumber sandwich recipe! It’s perfect for elegant luncheons, but also simple enough for a light weekday meal. You’ll find detailed directions in the recipe card below, but here’s the overview:
- Arrange the thin slices of cucumber on a paper towel-lined tray. Sprinkle with salt and let them sit for about 10 minutes. This will draw out some of the excess moisture so that the cucumbers don’t make the bread soggy. Pat the excess liquid with paper towels.
- Stir together the cream cheese spread.
- Assemble the sandwiches by spreading both pieces of bread with the cream cheese mixture. This creates a barrier between the cucumbers and the bread, which prevents the sandwiches from getting soggy.
- Cut off the crusts with a sharp knife and slice the sandwiches into smaller rectangular fingers or triangles. Arrange on platters and serve immediately.
Serving Suggestions
Serve the cucumber finger sandwiches with this sweet tea recipe or with glasses of homemade lemonade. For a simple lunch, add some crunchy potato chips on the side. If you’re hosting a ladies’ luncheon or a shower, you might like to set up a buffet that includes other easy finger foods like old-fashioned lemon squares, crackers with shrimp dip or this crab dip recipe, country ham biscuits, and this 7UP pound cake.
Preparation and Storage Tips
- Make Ahead: Prepare the cream cheese spread up to 2 days in advance. Let it sit on the counter and come to room temperature for at least 30-60 minutes before using. Within 4-6 hours of serving, assemble the sandwiches. Cover the sandwiches with a slightly damp paper towel and then wrap tightly with plastic wrap or place in an airtight container. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
- How to Store: Leftover cucumber sandwiches will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for 1-2 days, but they can get soggy and/or stale the longer they sit.
- I do not recommend freezing leftover cucumber tea sandwiches, as the cucumbers will become soft and the bread will get soggy.
Cucumber Tea Sandwiches
Ingredients
- 1 English cucumber, thinly sliced
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise (I prefer Duke’s brand)
- 1 tablespoon fresh dill and/or chives, finely chopped
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 8 slices of white sandwich bread
Instructions
- Line a large baking sheet with paper towels. Arrange the cucumber slices on the paper towels. Sprinkle the cucumbers with salt. Let sit for about 10 minutes. Use a paper towel to gently pat the cucumbers dry.
- Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, stir together the cream cheese and mayonnaise until smooth. Add the fresh herbs, black pepper, and lemon juice. Stir to combine.
- Spread a thin layer of the cream cheese mixture on each slice of bread. Evenly layer the cucumber slices over half of the bread slices.
- Place the remaining slices of bread on top and gently press down. Trim off the crusts. Cut each sandwich into triangles, squares, or rectangular fingers. Serve immediately.
Notes
- This recipe yields 4 full-size sandwiches or about 16 finger sandwiches. You can scale the recipe to make more or less sandwiches depending on the size of your group.
- Make Ahead: Prepare the cream cheese spread up to 2 days in advance. Let it sit on the counter and come to room temperature for at least 30-60 minutes before using. Within 4-6 hours of serving, assemble the sandwiches. Cover the sandwiches with a slightly damp paper towel and then wrap tightly with plastic wrap or place in an airtight container. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
Nutrition
Cucumber Sandwich Recipe Variations
- For a Southern twist, swap out the cream cheese spread for a pimento cheese spread. To do so, stir together 4 ounces (½ cup) pimento cheese (store-bought or homemade) and 2 tablespoons of Duke’s mayo. Add a bit of cayenne for some kick!
- If you like a stronger lemon flavor in the spread, add a little bit of lemon zest.
- Instead of white bread, try rye bread, pumpernickel bread, or whole wheat bread.
- Swap out the mayonnaise and instead replace it with 2 tablespoons of softened unsalted butter for a slightly different flavor. You might also like to try goat cheese in lieu of the cream cheese.
- For a shortcut, use garden vegetable cream cheese or chive and onion cream cheese for the sandwich spread.
More Cucumber Recipes to Try
Cucumber Dill Salad
30 minutes mins
Marinated Cucumbers
1 hour hr 10 minutes mins
Cucumber Tomato Onion Salad
40 minutes mins
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