A cucumber sandwich is perfect for brunch, lunch or afternoon tea. It’s so easy, but more importantly, it’s incredibly delicious. Cream cheese puts it over the top!
Many years ago, I shared a recipe for cucumber and cream cheese sandwich rolls made with lavash bread.
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It was when I just stared blogging and didn’t have a clue what I was doing, so I shared something my kids loved. However, it wasn’t just my kids, it was all the children in my kids’ classrooms. There’s just something about a cucumber sandwich.
Of course, the cucumber sandwich is a quintessential part of a well appointed afternoon tea tray. I think I would be extremely disappointed, no, I know I’d be crestfallen if there was no cucumber sandwich on my tea tray. As with many the recipes I share, I often say that simplest is best, and this is the case again.
There are just three components to this famous sandwich, however, the quality of ingredients and how it is made and assembled makes a world of difference. Here are my suggestions for the best cucumber sandwich:
Cucumber: try to use organic, as they will just taste better. Farmer’s market cucumbers or homegrown will give the best flavor. They must be firm and fresh.
Cream Cheese: by far, the very best cream cheese I’ve ever had is made by Arla. It seems difficult to find here in LA, but if you have it at your grocery store, buy it–you will absolutely love the quality and flavor!
Bread: find any thinly sliced, white bread that has the least amount of ingredients. You can make your own bread, but it’s often difficult to make a soft, yet firm loaf which is what’s needed for these sandwiches.
Easiest Cucumber Sandwich
(How do you make a cucumber sandwich?)
By Christina Conte Makes 8 finger sandwiches
FULL PRINTABLE RECIPE BELOW
This is the easiest way to make a cucumber sandwich:
- Peel the cucumber, and slice it thinly. I used a simple OXO handheld mandoline slicer for quick, even slices.
2. Spread cream cheese on two slices of bread.
3. Arrange the cucumber slices, overlapping slightly, on one slice of bread and top with the other.
4. Slice off the edges with a sharp serrated knife, wiping with a damp paper towel after each cut. Next, cut into fingers (or triangles).
That’s it! So easy, right?
If you need to make cucumber sandwiches ahead of time, keep them in a sealed container for a few hours, and refrigerate them.
Take them out of the fridge about half an hour before you serve them as you don’t want them to be cold.
Don’t save this cucumber sandwich recipe to be used only for afternoon teas, though! It’s too good to only make it occasionally. You don’t even have to cut off the crusts if you pack them in lunches, or have them with a bowl of soup at home. However, there is something about cutting off those crusts that makes any occasion special!
Let me know what you think if you make these wonderful cucumber sandwiches; I think you’ll love them, too!
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Cucumber Sandwiches (Perfect for Afternoon Tea and More)
The easiest and best tasting cucumber sandwich you can make!
Ingredients
- 4 slices thin-sliced, white bread (or any other choice)
- 2 ounces, room temperature cream cheese
- ½ small cucumber, thinly sliced
Instructions
- Peel the cucumber, and slice it thinly. I used a simple OXO slicer for quick, even slices.
- Spread soft/room temperature cream cheese on two slices of bread.
- Arrange the cucumber slices, overlapping slightly, on one slice of bread and top with the other.
- Slice off the edges and cut into fingers (or triangles).
- If you need to make cucumber sandwiches ahead of time, keep them in a sealed container for a few hours, and refrigerate them.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 2 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving:Calories: 270Total Fat: 12gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 29mgSodium: 394mgCarbohydrates: 34gFiber: 2gSugar: 5gProtein: 8g
Nutrition information is only estimated.
Christina’s Cucina is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
[…] tea isn’t complete without cucumber sandwiches, but they’re so good you’ll want to make them on a regular basis for […]
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I have loved cucumbers sandwiches (no crusts, please) since I was a boy. Such a treat, especially when the cucumbers were fresh from our garden. Thanks for bringing this back.
Oh yes, no crusts and garden cukes are the best!
I am in Los Angeles and was just wondering if you knew which stores may carry Arla cream cheese. I just found your site and love all your recipes! Looking forward to trying them out.
Thanks, Mayra! I checked the website and it says Costco carries Arla. However, I haven’t been so I can’t confirm. I hope they do!
I love a good tea sandwich and cucumber and cream cheese is one of the best.
Totally agree!
Love cucumber tea sandwiches as being Brit born although grew up in Canada after travelling to Canada after the war ( Mum was a war bride.)
Grandparents in England and Canada were also Brits, so between Gran, Auntie and Mum, we had a lot of tea sandwiches, especially when visiting Grandma and Grandpa.
Only minor think my family did was to spread the cucumber slices out on a tea towel or as they do nowadays, paper toweling then add a very small sprinkling of salt to draw some of the excess moisture fresh cucumber slices are famous for. Don’t recall cream cheese being used, only a thin coat of butter, sometimes with a bit of fresh herbs added to the butter, then a very small salt and pepper sprinkle for flavour as fresh cucumbers depending on what kind is used, can tend to be bland in taste.
I do like your idea of using a coating of cream cheese on the bread though so will be giving that a go next time I make tea sandwiches for spouse and myself. Right now it’s snowing with temperatures in the minus so my spouse and my minds are on something hot and cozy to eat.
Thanks again Christina for the lovely recipes you’ve always been so kind to post for us.
That’s lovely, Joycelyn! Yes, I’ve done the salt thing, too, but have realized it sometimes has the opposite effect especially if the sandwiches are made some time ahead. Butter is very good with cucumber sandwiches, too! Stay warm!
you are so right. nothing nicer than a delightful sandwich and this sounds wonderful.
Thanks, Sherry!
I have been making cucumber sandwiches for a very long time and I’ve found a light dusting of dill, either fresh or dried, and just a small sprinkle of onion powder mixed into the cream cheese really pumps up the flavor of these iconic tea sandwiches.
Unfortunately, I don’t like dill, Judy. In addition, to me, any added ingredient totally changes the flavor of the sandwich. The cucumber flavor is so delicate and when paired with a delicious cream cheese (like Arla) it’s absolutely perfect. However, I know most people like to add flavors to many things which I don’t. I prefer to just use the best tasting product, so what it is, is what I’m tasting (cucumber in a cucumber sandwich, for example). Of course, this is just my humble opinion, add whatever you like :) Glad you enjoy them, as do I!
Can you share some more afternoon tea sandwich recipes? I would love to host a tea with my girlfriends when we can visit again post covid. A tea menu and recipes would be wonderful.
This is something I’ve had on the back burner, Kimberley! Afternoon teas as such wonderful experiences!
Wanted to share this with you as my friend Cynthia just published this. Along with my afternoon tea scone recipe and how to make a proper cup of tea, you’re almost there!
I love cucumber sandwiches!! Especially for brunches or teas! 🥰
They’re amazing, aren’t they!?
I make these all the time, have been for years, and I often grate some carrot and add it. Gives them a little splash of colour.
Oh that would be lovely, Ina!!
Just my kind of dish, elegant but easy! Delicious made with softened butter as well.
I agree! Delicious both ways!
You have so many yummy-looking recipes! I can’t wait to try some of them. The first thing I noticed about your site is the font you use for titles and section headers – it’s so nice! I’d love to use it for afternoon tea place cards. Does the font have a name or do you know where I could purchase it? Thank you!
Let me look for it, Olivia!