Cucumber Cream Cheese Tea Sandwiches Recipe (2024)

By

Lindsey Goodwin

Lindsey Goodwin is a food writer and tea consultant with more than 12 years of experience exploring tea production and culture.

Learn about The Spruce Eats'Editorial Process

Updated on 02/6/24

Tested by

Diana Andrews

Cucumber Cream Cheese Tea Sandwiches Recipe (1)

Tested byDiana Andrews

Diana earned her B.A. in Fine Art at Queens College and her culinary certification from the Institute of Culinary Education. Diana has served as head recipe developer and editor for Emmy-nominated PBS series Moveable Feast, food editor and test kitchen manager at Fine Cooking Magazine, and recipe developer, and product tester at Food Network.

Learn about The Spruce Eats'Editorial Process

(258)

Write a Review

Trending Videos

Cucumber Cream Cheese Tea Sandwiches Recipe (2)

Prep: 20 mins

Cook: 0 mins

Total: 20 mins

Servings: 10 servings

Yield: 40 finger sandwiches

258 ratings

Write a Review

Add a comment

This easy cucumber and cream cheese finger sandwich recipe is ideal for kids' tea parties, but it can also be prepared with spices for a more "adult" flavor.

You can enlist your children to help in assembling the sandwiches for a kids' party. Kids can help cut off the bread crusts, spread the cream cheese, and place the cucumber slices. If your child is just learning about triangles, or even an older child digging into geometry, you can discuss the best ways to display these fun triangular sandwiches.

For adults, cucumber tea sandwiches are a very traditional choice for an afternoon tea party. You might also serve egg salad tea sandwiches or salmon and cream cheese tea sandwiches. Be sure to include scones with lemon curd, marmalade, and butter.

Tips for Making Cucumber Cream Cheese Tea Sandwiches

  • It's best to serve these sandwiches soon after you prepare them, so the bread doesn't dry out or become soggy from the cucumbers.
  • To peel or not to peel? If you bought waxed cucumbers, it is best to peel them before using. But if they are unwaxed, you won't need to peel them. Another variation is to peel them only partially, leaving vertical stripes. This makes them a little more attractive. It is preferable to use organic cucumbers if you are not peeling them, as there can be pesticide residue in the peels.
  • Don't toss the trimmed bread crusts. You can use them to make croutons or breadcrumbs.

What You'll Need To Make This Tea Sandwich Recipe

"These cucumber cream cheese tea sandwiches were such fun to make, and they were really tasty, too! I used whipped cream cheese so that it spread very easily without tearing the bread." —Diana Andrews

Cucumber Cream Cheese Tea Sandwiches Recipe (6)

A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

  • 20 slices store-bought soft white bread, such as buttermilk bread

  • 1 1/4 cups cream cheese, about 10 ounces

  • 1 English cucumber, very thinly sliced

  • Lemon juice, to taste

  • Salt, to taste

  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

  • Chopped fresh chives, to taste, optional

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Cucumber Cream Cheese Tea Sandwiches Recipe (7)

  2. Lay 2 slices of bread on a work surface and spread each slice evenly with 1 tablespoon cream cheese.

    Cucumber Cream Cheese Tea Sandwiches Recipe (8)

  3. Cover 1 side of the sandwich with sliced cucumber.

    Cucumber Cream Cheese Tea Sandwiches Recipe (9)

  4. Season with a squeeze of lemon juice, salt and pepper, and chives, if using.

    Cucumber Cream Cheese Tea Sandwiches Recipe (10)

  5. Cover the cucumbers with the other slice of bread, cream cheese side down.

    Cucumber Cream Cheese Tea Sandwiches Recipe (11)

  6. Cut off the crusts and slice the sandwich diagonally 2 times to create 4 triangular finger sandwiches. Repeat with the remaining ingredients. Serve.

    Cucumber Cream Cheese Tea Sandwiches Recipe (12)

How to Store

Although it's best to serve these sandwiches immediately, if you want to refrigerate them to serve later, drain the cucumber slices for 15 minutes in a colander and pat them dry before using. This will remove the excess liquid. Cover them with plastic wrap to keep the bread soft while refrigerated.

Recipe Variations

  • While this recipe uses white bread, you can consider using wheat bread or gluten-free bread.
  • You can add any herbs you like instead of the chives. Dill and watercress or arugula are especially nice.
  • Instead of using cream cheese, try slathering on a generous layer of salted butter. Use European-style butter for the best flavor.
  • Try making half of the sandwiches with white bread and half with wheat bread, then alternate them on the serving tray.
  • Instead of triangles, you can cut these sandwiches into "fingers," or long, thin rectangles.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
270Calories
12g Fat
33g Carbs
7g Protein

×

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 10
Amount per serving
Calories270
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 12g15%
Saturated Fat 6g32%
Cholesterol 29mg10%
Sodium 455mg20%
Total Carbohydrate 33g12%
Dietary Fiber 2g6%
Total Sugars 5g
Protein 7g
Vitamin C 1mg5%
Calcium 121mg9%
Iron 2mg13%
Potassium 150mg3%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Rate This Recipe

I don't like this at all.It's not the worst.Sure, this will do.I'm a fan—would recommend.Amazing! I love it!Thanks for your rating!

Cucumber Cream Cheese Tea Sandwiches Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How do you make cucumber and cream cheese sandwiches? ›

Stir cream cheese, yogurt, chives, dill and pepper together in a small bowl until well blended. Spread the mixture evenly on one side of each bread slice. Top 1 slice with cucumber slices, then top with the other bread slice, cream cheese-side down. Cut the crusts from the sandwich and cut it in half diagonally.

How many finger sandwiches for a party of 50? ›

Plan three to four finger sandwiches per person when serving with a salad as a main dish. If you are incorporating finger sandwiches into an appetizer party menu, you will need one to two of each sandwich per person, depending on the time of day and length of the event.

What is a cucumber sandwich made of? ›

Spread the cream cheese blend onto slices of French bread. Top with a cucumber slice, and sprinkle with dill. You can make as many or few as you like. the cream cheese mixture keeps for about a week in the refrigerator so you can make them over and over again!

What is the best bread for tea sandwiches? ›

When ready to serve, trim and cut the sandwiches, then garnish them. They will be easier to cut neatly when chilled. Pepperidge Farm Very Thin Sliced Bread in white or whole wheat works best for making tea sandwiches.

What is the secret ingredient in the Queen's cucumber sandwich? ›

"I will never make a cucumber sandwich without chopped mint in it again," she added. It was revealed that the sandwiches were made with buttered white bread, sliced cucumber, a “dash” of mint and a pinch of pepper.

Where did the cucumber and cream cheese sandwich come from? ›

The sandwich originated in the United Kingdom, and modern variants, largely of United States origin, introduce cream cheese, mayonnaise, chopped dill or spices, and salmon, and may substitute brown bread. One specific US variant includes benedictine, a green soft spread made from cucumbers and cream cheese.

How many tea sandwiches for 30 guests? ›

Allow 3-4 sandwiches per person. But don't prepare them too early as they will either go soggy or dry out.

How many tea sandwiches for 25 people? ›

roughly four little sandwiches per person (2 or 3 kinds); 1 average or 2 small scones: always one with cream and jams/honey; sometimes also one savoury variation. 1 or 2 pieces of cake/pastry (if 2, one rich, one simple) a few salad and fruit garnishes: lettuce, cherry tomatoes, celery, cucumber, strawberries, etc…

What is the origin of the cucumber tea sandwich? ›

British settlers in India were trying to find a way to cope with the heat and apparently cucumbers helped. Then, in the Victorian Era (1837-1901), cucumber sandwiches became a staple of afternoon tea. Now I will say, the British never put any spreads on their cucumber sandwiches, but it's definitely the way to go.

Why are cucumber sandwiches so good? ›

Its texture combines pillowy soft bread with the subtle crunch of cucumbers along with various herbs and creamy spreads, depending on what recipe variation you're snacking on.

What is a cucumber sandwich called? ›

What Is a Cucumber Tea Sandwich? These simple (as in, really, really simple) little sandwiches of crunchy, thinly sliced cucumbers inside slices of bread slathered in butter or cream cheese are as delicate as a spring breeze.

How far in advance should I make tea sandwiches? ›

Ideally, you should aim to make your sandwiches as close to the day of your party as possible for the best flavor and freshness. I recommend making your sandwiches no more than 48hrs in advance for the best flavor come party time.

How to make Kylie Jenner's sandwich? ›

Once the cheesy bread is toasted, layer on your choice of meat. We followed Kylie's combo of shredded turkey, thinly sliced salami, and pepperoni. 4. Add sliced onions and pickles for added crunch (optional, depending on your taste preference).

Why do people put cucumbers on sandwiches? ›

According to the Association for Dressings and Sauces, British colonists in India were looking for foods to help relieve them from the heat. Someone during that time put cucumbers between two slices of bread, and out of that grew a the cucumber sandwich.

Why are cucumber sandwiches a thing? ›

British settlers in India were trying to find a way to cope with the heat and apparently cucumbers helped. Then, in the Victorian Era (1837-1901), cucumber sandwiches became a staple of afternoon tea. Now I will say, the British never put any spreads on their cucumber sandwiches, but it's definitely the way to go.

Why soak cucumbers in salt water before making cucumber salad? ›

The extra step allows them to release some of their water — keeping them extra crisp even when they get tossed with the dressing. It also ensures the dressing doesn't become watered-down, which is especially useful in creamy mayo-based cucumber salads.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Msgr. Benton Quitzon

Last Updated:

Views: 5810

Rating: 4.2 / 5 (63 voted)

Reviews: 86% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Msgr. Benton Quitzon

Birthday: 2001-08-13

Address: 96487 Kris Cliff, Teresiafurt, WI 95201

Phone: +9418513585781

Job: Senior Designer

Hobby: Calligraphy, Rowing, Vacation, Geocaching, Web surfing, Electronics, Electronics

Introduction: My name is Msgr. Benton Quitzon, I am a comfortable, charming, thankful, happy, adventurous, handsome, precious person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.