Traditional Cucumber Sandwiches Recipe with Dill and Cream Cheese

Discover the charm of our traditional cucumber sandwiches recipe with dill and cream cheese, where simple ingredients transform into a chic appetizer, an elegant and irresistible picnic sandwich, or afternoon tea treat.

Get ready to delight in the timeless charm of traditional cucumber sandwiches with dill and cream cheese, now with a fun twist of zesty dill and creamy, dreamy cream cheese. These light and refreshing bites are a cinch to whip up and perfect for picnics, lunches, or as a chic appetizer at your next soiree.  If you are planning a picnic and need tips along with picnic date food ideas read my ultimate guide to planning a picnic date.

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It's the details that make these herbed beauties so special: slicing the cucumbers paper-thin, giving them a good salt and pat dry, and making sure that dill is dancing through every bit of the cream cheese. Soft, fluffy bread is a must, and don’t skimp on the whipped cream cheese – it’s what gives these sandwiches their delightful, cloud-like texture.

Whether you're hosting an elegant afternoon tea, or sharing drinks with a friend, our traditional cucumber sandwiches are sure to impress and satisfy. Come along as I spill the secrets to this elegant yet playful treat that’s sure to charm your taste buds and wow your guest!

What you'll need

It’s hard to believe a few simple ingredients can transform into an elegant and delightful sandwich.   Here is what you will need to make this traditional cucumber sandwiches recipe with dill and cream cheese.

• English cucumber - also known as greenhouse, seedless, burpless, or European cucumbers, are a variety of cucumber with a long, straight shape and thin, dark green skin. When shopping, look for the cucumber wrapped in plastic, that is about  10–15 inches long and 1–2 inches in diameter.   I like using an English cucumber as they have fewer seeds.  So why is an English cucumber wrapped in plastic?   To protect them during transportation and storage. The cucumbers' thin skin is more susceptible to bruising, scratches, and bumps than it’s thicker skinned American cousin.  Wrapping in plastic keeps the cucumber in good condition and prevents moisture loss.
• Salt
• Whipped cream cheese -  I opt for this because it’s whipped with air, which incorporates more milk and gives it a lighter, fluffier texture.  Plus, it has fewer calories and less fat than regular cream cheese! 
• Fresh dill
• Soft white sandwich bread – soft bread, as in plain white sandwich bread, is key here as this gives these delightful sandwiches their light and delicate texture.  In other words, avoid crusty, textured or bread that has holes in it.
• Freshly ground black pepper

See recipe card for quantities.

How to make traditional cucumber sandwiches

Step 1:  Peel and thinly slice cucumbers. 

When peeling a cucumber I use an artfully striped peeling technique.  Simply peel the skin at regular intervals, leaving an eye-catching pattern that adds a touch of sophistication. 

Now grab a sharp chef’s knife or this super handy mandolin by Oxo to create paper thin slices.

Step 2:  Lay out some paper towels or a clean kitchen towel.  Place the cucumber slices in a single layer on top of the towels and sprinkle them with salt.  Let them sit until you begin to see water droplets form on the slices, this will take about 15 to 20 minutes.  Gently pat them dry with another towel.  

Step 3: Mix the cream cheese and dill together in a small bowl. Season with a salt to taste. Now, Stack slices of white bread and cut off the crusts.

Assemble

Slather each slice of bread with a generous amount of cream cheese. Layer the cucumber rounds on half the slices of bread, overlapping the rounds slightly. Give each sandwich a grind of black pepper.   Top the sandwich with the remaining slices of bread and cut in half to make rectangles.

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Related

Looking for other picnic date recipes like this? Try these:

Pairing

These are my favorite small batch aperitif cocktails and simple mocktails to serve with this traditional cucumber sandwiches recipe with dill and cream cheese: