There’s something about these little cucumber sandwiches that makes me so happy. The combination of ingredients is refreshing and light yet totally satisfying and filling. They’re just perfect served as a cold appetizer for parties, potlucks, picnics, and family gatherings, but can also be enjoy as a quick vegetarian lunch any day of the week!
Ingredients Needed
- 1 long English cucumber (or several small)
- 8 ounces cream cheese (softened)
- 2 tbsps mayonnaise
- ½ tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon fresh chopped dill
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- black pepper to taste
- 1 loaf soft white bread
Why English Cucumbers vs. Regular?
English cucumbers have a thinner skin that’s easier to chew and are a bit firmer with less seeds than a regular cucumber. Because of their texture and density, they work much better in these sandwiches combined with the soft bread and delicious cream cheese mixture.
How To Make Cucumber Party Sandwiches
- Prepare your cucumbers by slicing them into thin coins. One large and long cucumber should be enough for this recipe. I used a bag of mini English cucumbers I got from Sprouts.
- In a medium size bowl, use a hand mixer to combine the softened cream cheese with the mayonnaise and lemon juice. Stir in the chopped dill, ¼ tsp garlic powder, ¼ tsp salt, and some optional fresh cracked black pepper.
- Spread the cream cheese mixture onto the bread slices and then place sliced cucumbers on half of them.
- Sandwich the bread together and then cut as desired into squares or triangles.
I believe traditional cucumber sandwiches are made with the crust removed, but I LOVE the crust! It’s totally up to you. If you decide to remove the crust, do that before assembling your sandwiches so that you don’t have any waste. You can also opt to cut them into fun strips with the crust removed.
This yummy finger food is popular served as a simple appetizer for parties, bridal showers, baby showers, pool parties, and potlucks. However, I enjoy them often as a quick vegetarian lunch! Once the cream cheese mixture is made and the cucumbers are sliced, these sandwiches take less than 3 minutes to assemble for a last minute snack or meal.
Easy Cucumber Sandwiches Made With Cream Cheese
Ingredients
- 1 (8oz) block cream cheese (softened)
- 2 tbsp mayonnaise
- ½ tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tbsp fresh chopped dill
- ¼ tsp garlic powder
- ¼ tsp salt
- black pepper to taste
- 1 loaf soft white bread
Instructions
- In a medium size bowl, use a hand mixer to combine the softened cream cheese with the mayonnaise and lemon juice. Stir in the chopped dill, ¼ tsp garlic powder, ¼ tsp salt, and some optional fresh cracked black pepper.
- Spread the cream cheese mixture onto the bread slices and then place sliced cucumbers on half of them.
- Sandwich the bread together and then cut as desired into squares or triangles.
- Serve immediately or store and cover in the fridge for up to 24 hours before serving.
Notes
- English cucumbers work best for these sandwiches because of their skin and seed content. They're crisp and won't water down your bread like a regular cucumber.
- I believe a traditional tea party cucumber sandwich is made without the crust. You can optionally cut the crust off before preparing these sandwiches and then cut them to your preferred size and shape.
- If you can't find fresh dill or simply don't want to use it, you can also use your choice of dried herbs. Diced green onions are also popular in these sandwiches but my family doesn't like them. Another fun and popular twist is seasoning the cream cheese with a little dry ranch dressing mix for added flavor.
- Although I usually prefer wheat bread or seeded bread, a good quality soft white bread is the best match for these sandwiches. You don't want your bread to be the star of the show!
