Cucumber Sandwiches

Cucumber Sandwiches might be best known as an accompaniment for afternoon tea, but they also make a delicious and quick lunch. This crunchy, creamy cucumber sandwich with dill cream cheese is a summer favorite!

If you love this sandwich, you’ll also want to check out the BEST veggie sandwiches with herbed cream cheese.

Garden Veggie Sandwiches

Last week my mom sent me home with a bag full of prickly cucumbers plucked straight from the garden. She mentioned they made a tasty sandwich with a smear of cream cheese.

The idea of such a sandwich would have horrified me as a child. I grew up in the country where we always had a sizable garden filled with tomatoes, radishes, cucumbers, lettuces, and the occasional sweet pea.

I remember my parents lived off vegetable sandwiches all summer long. One day it might be a couple slices of bread smeared with salted butter and topped with sliced radishes. The next, some Miracle Whip and fresh tomatoes or cucumbers and cream cheese.

Back then, I had no appreciation for these sandwiches. In fact, the whole idea repulsed me. If it wasn’t cheese and meat or peanut butter and jelly, I wasn’t interested.

A plain veggie sandwich?? I couldn’t imagine something less appealing.

Cream Cheese Cucumber Sandwiches

Oh, how the times have changed. I excitedly brought home my haul of cucumbers. It didn’t take long for me to try my mom’s recommendation and whip up a cucumber cream cheese sandwich.

As they say, mom knows best. The combination was wonderfully cool and creamy, with a pleasant crunch. This is solid country fare, and I’m so very grateful I finally have the good sense to enjoy it!

There are many ways to make a cucumber sandwich, but I’ll be sharing my favorite versions below. Whether you serve them at a dainty afternoon tea or bridal shower, or you just need a quick vegetarian lunch, these cucumber sandwiches hit the spot.

The BEST Cucumber Sandwiches: A Breakdown

This sandwich is delightfully simple, but there are a few things you can do to ensure you’re making the absolute BEST cucumber sandwiches around. Let’s start with the ingredients.

You’ll need:

• Bread– Classic Cucumber Tea Sandwiches are made with a high quality white bread–something fluffy but sturdy, like this Amish White Bread.
  • Feel free to experiment with different types of bread! I’ve made this with sourdough and wheat, but my favorite version is an open face cucumber sandwich made on a toasted crumpet!
• Cream Cheese Spread– I like to use a mix of softened cream cheese and mayo, plus a squeeze of lemon juice. You can also nix the mayo and use whipped cream cheese.
• Herbs– I like my cucumber sandwiches with dill and chives. You can use fresh or dried dill, and mix them straight into the cream cheese mixture or sprinkle them on top.
• Cucumbers– Any cucumber will do, but my favorite are the seedless mini cucumbers.
  • Pro tip: If you have a radish around, they are a great addition!
• Salt and pepper– Make sure to finish your sandwich with a good sprinkling of Kosher or sea salt and some fresh cracked pepper!

How to Serve Cucumber Sandwiches

If you’re serving cucumber sandwiches for tea, cut your crusts off the bread before assembling, then cut them into quarters, triangles, or fingers.

For lunch or a snack, I like to serve cucumber sandwiches open faced. I also love to serve it on toasted wheat bread, an English muffin, or the aforementioned crumpet (here’s a recipe for homemade crumpets!).

You can even convert these sandwiches into a quick appetizer. Just check out these easy Ritz Cracker Appetizers!

Pair the sandwiches with other traditional tea favorites like these Lemon Rosemary Butter Cookies, Raspberry Lemon Poppyseed Muffins, Classic Scones, and Raspberry Cordial.

More Delicious Ways to Eat Cucumbers

• Cucumber Tomato Salad
• Easy Garden Salad Recipe
• Veggie Pizza
• Smoked Salmon Cucumber Rolls
• Spicy Tuna Sushi Bowls