Cocktail Size Cucumber Sandwiches with Fresh Dill
These easy cocktail size cucumber sandwiches have a flavored cream cheese center and fresh dill in every bite. This budget-friendly appetizer is quick enough to make for a tea party, shower, or holiday gathering in minutes.
I have been obsessed with dainty finger sandwich recipes for years. As the mom of two girls, I’ve hosted my fair share of tea parties at home and I love to surprise them with trays of special treats.
My youngest developed a love of fresh cucumber, so of course I had to make these easy cucumber sandwiches with fresh dill. They are the most classic finger sandwich of them all!
Whether you just want to enjoy them on a special Saturday afternoon with a pot of tea or your planning a whole platter to bring to a party, these are the tastiest ones you’ll find and they come together so quickly.
Why This is the Best Recipe
- Quick, No-Cook Appetizer: When you need a platter to pass, these easy tea party sandwiches come together so quickly.
- Perfect for Entertaining: Right at home on the buffet table for wedding showers, baby showers, brunches, holidays, and tea. parties of all kinds.
- Lots of Flavor in Every Bite: One simple upgrade adds a big flavor boost!
Ingredients
- Cocktail Rye Bread: I purchased the “Party Entertainers” cocktail rye bread loaf from my local grocery store’s produce section. It also comes in pumpernickel which would be delicious. If you can’t find it, you could substitute your favorite caraway rye bread but you’ll have to trim the sandwiches by hand. See my notes below.
- Flavored Cream Cheese: I used prepared tubs of flavored cream cheese spread in veggie cream cheese and chive and onion flavors. They added a nice boost of flavor to every bite.
- English Cucumber: Also known as a seedless cucumber.
- Fresh Dill: I think this makes such an elegant presentation to the final platter, fresh sprigs of dill are so pretty. However, if you cannot find it, dried dill could be used in its place.
Sandwich Assembly Station
Be sure to let the cream cheese soften on the counter so that it is easy to spread once you begin working.
Then peel your cucumber and use a paring knife to slice it into neat thin slices.
Wash and dry the dill and roughly chop it into small sprigs.
Place these ingredients together with the cocktail bread in an easy work station for quick assembly.
How to Make the Sandwiches
Take two pieces of cocktail bread and spread cream cheese on one side of both pieces. It should be thick enough to coat the slice but not too thick or the sandwich will feel goopy.
Place 2 – 3 thin slices of cucumber on one side. Top with a few sprigs of dill.
Close the sandwich up and repeat with the remaining ingredients.
NOTE: If you are substituting regular slices of rye bread, it will be easiest to form one large sandwich first.
Then use a chef knife to trim the crusts from all 4 sides of the sandwich. Slice the sandwich into smaller bite-sized squares or even longer finger shapes as desired.
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Make Ahead Tips
The cucumber sandwiches are always best served fresh.
If you need to assemble them in advance of the party, I recommend lining them up on a baking sheet nestled close together. Then cover the pan with plastic wrap and store them in the fridge until you’re ready to serve, up to 4 hours.
Variations
If you prefer not to use flavored cream cheese, you could use 1 (8 oz) brick of softened cream cheese blended with one packet of Italian dressing seasoning.
The prepared cocktail rye bread can be a little dry sometimes. If you prefer a more delicious sandwich and don’t mind the extra knife work, you could use large pieces of your favorite rye sandwich bread.
I recommend trimming the crusts and cutting them into long finger sandwiches!
Serving Suggestions
Sometimes I treat my youngest daughter to a batch of cucumber sandwiches as a special lunchtime treat on the weekends. We love to eat them with chilled glasses of lemonade in the summer.
If you’re hosting a tea party, wedding shower, baby shower, or cocktail party, these make an excellent bite-sized appetizer to offer.
They would also make a fun option at a potluck party where people won’t want to eat anything too heavy.
More Tea Party Recipes
Looking for more tea party recipes to share with friends? Here are a few of my favorites:
Cocktail Size Cucumber Sandwiches with Fresh Dill
Ingredients
- 1 (7 oz) package of flavored cream cheese spread softened, see notes
- 1 English cucumber peeled and sliced thinly
- 1 (12 oz) package of cocktail rye bread or pumpernickel cocktail rye bread
- 1 bunch fresh dill roughly chopped into small sprigs
Instructions Start Cooking
- Set the tub of cream cheese out to soften while you prepare the cucumber.1 (7 oz) package of flavored cream cheese spread
- Peel the cucumber and use a paring knife to slice it into nice, even, thin slices.1 English cucumber
- Place two pieces of rye bread next to each other. Spread the tops of both slices with cream cheese so the sandwiches "stick" together. Top one side with 2 – 3 slices of cucumber and a sprig or two of dill. Close the sandwich. Repeat with remaining ingredients.1 (12 oz) package of cocktail rye bread, 1 bunch fresh dill
Recipe Notes
Flavored Cream Cheese:
I used Tillamook flavored cream cheese spreads in the Very Veggie and Chive & Onion flavors to make these sandwiches and they were delicious. There are several other brands of flavored cream cheese you could pick from. Just try to choose a savory or herby flavor instead of a sweet one. If you cannot find flavored cream cheese or prefer to flavor your own, you could substitute 1 (8oz) brick of softened plain cream cheese and 1 packet of Italian dressing seasoning. Simply blend the two together with a hand mixer and use in place of the flavored cream cheese tubs.Save This Recipe to Your Recipe Box
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