Looking for lighter appetizer recipes or something to pair with high tea? These Cucumber Sandwiches are it!
Cucumber Sandwiches, or cucumber canapes, were traditional served as tea sandwiches at British tea parties. However, there’s no need to let tradition stop these Cucumber Sandwiches from being an easy appetizer recipe for all parties.
The cucumber is light and refreshing, which is nice compared to many other typical holiday appetizers. Many cucumber canapes skip the bread and use the cucumber as the base but I prefer the small piece of bread for a more filling snack.
What Are Finger Sandwiches?
Finger sandwiches have long been a food of social gatherings, whether that’s baby showers or wedding rehearsal or a holiday party. These cucumber tea sandwiches work perfectly for all of those occasions.
While I can definitely see these on the table at any gathering, I think they’re particularly perfect for the holidays, with the green and red garnish to add a pop of festive color to the appetizer table. They’re a great pre-dinner snack to keep guests satisfied until the main meal is served or on a table of appetizer.
I like finger sandwiches as an appetizer or snack because they’re quick and easy to make and are, well, easy finger foods. Guests can just grab and go. You can even make them ahead of time.
Other common finger sandwiches include cream cheese, egg salad, smoked salmon and cream cheese, and chicken salad.
Why You’ll Love These Easy Cucumber Sandwiches
Delicate cucumbers on top of a spread of seasoned cream cheese layered on top of a slice of bread- what’s not to love!
- Perfect appetizer – Because they are small and bite sized, these cucumber sandwiches are perfect for parties! Great for serving alongside other appetizers.
- Easy to customize – This is a very basic recipe with plenty of room to change it up to your liking. From the toppings to the creamy spread.
- Quick and easy – You can have these sandwiches party ready in less than 30 minutes from start to finish.
Ingredients
This simple ingredients used in these dainty sandwiches makes them even easier to throw together. All easily found at your local grocery store.
- Bread – You’ll need lots of slices of bread to make this cucumber sandwich recipe. I like to use a soft white bread, but you could use rye bread or another other kind of bread you prefer.
- Cream cheese – Thee cream cheese spread is what holds the crunchy cucumbers on the bread slices. It’s easy to dress up with flavor and fresh herbs too.
- Sour cream – We mix this into the creamy spread to not only give it a little tang and coolness, but also to help make it easier to spread. Plain Greek yogurt is another option!
- Apple cider vinegar – I like adding a little acidity to cream cheese filling, and vinegar will do just that. You could also use lemon juice.
- Worcestershire sauce – No matter which way you pronounce it, I love the flavor just a dash of this sauce adds to just about anything.
- Seasonings – I just use a simple blend of fine sea salt, garlic powder and onion powder. The perfect simple blend to complement the fresh cucumbers.
- Cucumber slices – English cucumbers are the type of cucumber I prefer, but you can use any kind of crisp cucumber you prefer.
- Garnishes – For my cucumber finger sandwiches, I like to use roasted red pepper, fresh dill and chives for garnishes.
How to Make Cucumber Sandwiches
You are going to love how simple it is to make this easy recipe.
- Cut bread. Using a cookie cutter, make small circles from the bread. Set your bread pieces aside.
- Make spread. Combine softened cream cheese, sour cream, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, fine sea salt, garlic powder and onion powder.
- Spread onto bread. Lightly coat each bread piece with the cream cheese mixture.
- Add cucumber. Place one thin cucumber slice on each bread piece.
- Add toppings. Top each with fresh dill sprigs, minced roasted red pepper and/or chives. You can do all three or a blend of them or none at all!
Variations
There are plenty of ways you can make these classic cucumber sandwiches your own!
- Greek yogurt – Instead of using sour cream, try using Greek yogurt instead. Make sure it is plain and not flavored in any way.
- Fun shapes – No need to stick with circles! Cut your bread slices into fun shapes using any type of cookie cutter you have.
- Seasoning – If you’re a ranch fanatic like me, skip the seasonings listed and use homemade ranch dressing mix instead.
- Leftover bread – You can use the leftover pieces for stuffing or allow them to dry and food process them into bread crumbs. You can also make croutons!
How to Serve Cucumber Sandwiches
There is no right or wrong way to serve these sandwiches. They make a great appetizer or light lunch, so we like to serve them at a baby shower, bridal shower, afternoon tea party or even Mother’s Day brunch.
They’re great paired with any other little sandwiches or appetizers. Think finger food type things and you’ll be on the right track. You could also serve alongside another whole sandwich like chicken salad or tuna salad.
Storage and Freezing
Storage: Because of the excess moisture, I do not recommend storing these already made. Store each part separately in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Freezing: Cucumbers do not freeze well, but you could freeze the cream cheese spread in an airtight container.
Frequently Asked Questions
Each recipe probably has it’s own secret ingredient, but I would say Worcestershire sauce is what makes these the best cucumber sandwiches.
Because of the cream cheese and sour cream, they cannot be out at room temperature for too long. I wouldn’t make them more than one hour in advance to prevent soggy bread.
This specific recipe is special because they are open face. You can cut them into shape you want to make them more festive for your occasion.
More Easy Appetizers for a Crowd
Easy Cucumber Sandwiches
Equipment
Ingredients
- 20 slices bread
- 1/2 cup cream cheese
- 3 tablespoons sour cream
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 20 slices cucumber
- 1 tablespoon roasted red pepper , minced
- Fresh dill , for garnish
- Chives , for garnish
Instructions
- Using a 1 1/2 inch cookie cutter, make 20 small circles from the bread. You can use the leftover pieces for stuffing or allow them to dry and food process them into bread crumbs. You can also make croutons! Set your bread pieces aside.
- In the bowl of a large stand mixer or a medium mixing bowl, combine softened cream cheese, sour cream, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, fine sea salt, garlic powder and onion powder.
- Lightly coat each bread piece with the cream cheese mixture.
- Place one thin cucumber slice on each bread piece.
- Top each with fresh dill sprigs, minced roasted red pepper and/or chives. You can do all three or a blend of them or none at all!
- If you've tried this recipe, come back and let us know how it was in the comments or star ratings.
Made these cucumber sandwiches for our DAR tea and they were a hit. I would definitely make them again.
Made this today for my dear friends birthday tea party lunch, super yummy! Definitely a keeper! Thank you.
Thank you!
Made the easy cucumber sandwiches and it was easy and looks great.
I made and used a vegan spread. They tasted as good as they looked and went down a treat
Thanks for stopping by to let us know, Edwin!