Cucumber Sandwich Recipe with Herbed Cream Cheese
This Cucumber Sandwich recipe is so simple but absolutely delicious. Cream cheese and mayo are whipped together with fresh mint, chives, and lemon to make a perfectly creamy spread. Layered with thin slices of cucumber on soft Japanese milk bread, these are the perfect tea sandwiches.
A Note from Teri on Cucumber Sandwiches
Sometimes the best food is not the most complicated food. This cucumber sandwich recipe could not be easier, but it also could not be more delicious. The herbed cream cheese on the soft Japanese milk bread is fantastic, and the cucumbers offer the perfect crunch to complement it all.
To make our cream cheese spread even more airy and spreadable, we added just a little bit of mayo. It helps the spread easily cover the soft milk bread without ruining the slice, so you end up with the perfect sandwich.
I’ve been attending a Mother Daughter luncheon for over 50 years, and these sandwiches remind me so much of this tradition. It is the kind of recipe that has a lot of nostalgia, and it reminds me of so many good times with my kids and loved ones.
These sandwiches are a great snack or even a mini meal, but they are also the perfect thing to share with guests for an afternoon party. They are light, refreshing, and the perfect finger food.
To learn all about the magic of a mini meal, head to this Substack.
Ingredients
- Cream cheese, room temperature – Allow your cream cheese to come to room temperature before mixing it with the mayo and herbs. If it’s still cold, it will not incorporate properly.
- Mayonnaise – The mayo is the key to a light, perfectly spreadable cream cheese mixture. It loosens the cream cheese and prevents the spread from tearing the bread when you add it.
- Fresh mint, finely chopped – Mint is the star of the spread because it is cool and so refreshing. It pairs perfectly with the cucumbers.
- Fresh chives, finely chopped – Fresh chives add a huge depth of flavor to your herbed cream cheese. Make sure to chop it very finely to get a little in every bite.
- Fresh lemon juice – Use lemon in the spread to brighten the cream cheese mixture, and then again to add a little zest to the cucumber slices before the sandwich is closed.
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper – The cream cheese and mayo are rich and full of flavor, so the salt and pepper enhances the spread to round out the mixture.
- Japanese milk bread, sliced thin – Japanese milk bread is soft and slightly sweet, making it the most elegant choice for this spread and filling. If you cannot find it, a good soft white sandwich bread is the next best option.
- Cucumber, peeled and thinly sliced – To keep the sandwich delicate, slice the cucumber as thin as possible. Peeling removes any bitterness from the skin and keep the flavor soft and light.
Cucumber Sandwich Variations
- Cucumber and Radish Cream cheese spread, sliced cucumber, and thinly sliced radishes. The radishes add an extra layer of crunch and bite that is wonderful with the creamy spread. Plus, it adds a perfect pop of color.
- Cucumber with Everything Bagel Seasoning Cream cheese spread, sliced cucumber, and a generous sprinkle of everything bagel seasoning. The seasoning adds a really bold flavor to your delicate sandwich.
- Cucumber and Tuna Cream cheese spread, sliced cucumber, and good canned tuna. The cream cheese elevates the tuna for the most delicious sandwich. This is a great option for a slightly higher protein sandwich. You can use a canned tuna or even a smoked tuna.
- Cucumber and Smoked Salmon Cream cheese spread, sliced cucumber, and thinly sliced smoked salmon. If you are making sandwiches for a brunch, this variation is a perfect addition to the spread.
- Cucumber with Hatch Green Chiles Cream cheese spread, sliced cucumber, and roasted hatch green chiles. If you like a little heat, this sandwich is for you. The heat of the chiles with the cucumber and creamy spread is a perfect pairing.
- Cucumber with Your Favorite Seasoning Blend Cream cheese spread, sliced cucumber, and whatever seasoning blend you love. Za’atar, lemon pepper, a good herbes de Provence, or anything else you love all work beautifully. This is the easiest way to switch up the flavor with almost no extra effort.
How to Make A Cucumber Sandwich
Step One: Make the Spread
To a small bowl, add the cream cheese, mayonnaise, mint, chives, lemon juice, salt, and pepper and mix with a spatula until well-combined.
Spread a thin layer of the spread on one side of each bread slice.
Step Two: Assemble the Sandwich
Layer the cucumber slices on 6 of the bread slices and squeeze a little lemon juice over them. Close the sandwiches with the remaining slices.
Remove the crusts from each sandwich and cut them across horizontally, not diagonally.
The spread for these is super versatile so feel free to experiment with different toppings and fillings.
Recipe FAQs
Japanese milk bread is the ideal choice. It is soft, slightly sweet, and has a fine crumb that makes the most elegant cucumber sandwich. If you cannot find it, a very fresh, soft white sandwich bread is a good substitute. Avoid anything too dense, seedy, or crusty.
Assemble as close to eating as possible. You can make them up to an hour ahead of time, but after an hour, the moisture starts to break down the sandwich bread.
For a delicate sandwich, yes. Peeling removes any potential bitterness from the skin and gives the sandwich a cleaner appearance. If you are using a thin-skinned English cucumber and the skin is tender, you can leave it on.
A cucumber sandwich is technically a type of tea sandwich. Tea sandwich is the broader category of small, crustless sandwiches traditionally served at afternoon tea. Other classic tea sandwiches include egg salad, smoked salmon, and chicken salad.
Check Out These Other Sandwich Recipes
If you make this Cucumber Sandwich recipe, be sure to review it below and let me know what you think! If you’re looking for more inspiration, subscribe to my Substack, and follow along on Pinterest, Instagram, and TikTok to join in all the fun!
Cucumber Sandwich Recipe with Herbed Cream Cheese
Ingredients
- 8 oz cream cheese at room temperature
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons mint finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons chives finely chopped
- Juice of ½ lemon
- Pinch salt
- Pinch pepper
- 12 Japanese milk bread thin slices, about ½-inch thick
- 1 cucumber peeled and thinly sliced
Instructions
- To a small bowl, add the cream cheese, mayonnaise, mint, chives, lemon juice, salt, and pepper and mix with a spatula until well-combined.
- Spread a thin layer of the spread on one side of each bread slice.
- Layer the cucumber slices on 6 of the bread slices and squeeze a little lemon juice over them. Close the sandwiches with the remaining slices.
- Remove the crusts from each sandwich and cut them across horizontally, not diagonally.
- Variations: The spread for these is super versatile so feel free to experiment with different toppings and fillings.
Notes
- Cream cheese mixture + sliced cucumber + sliced radishes = extra crunchy with a peppery bite!
- Cream cheese mixture + sliced cucumber + everything but the bagel seasoning
- Cream cheese mixture + sliced cucumber + canned tuna = the richest tuna salad sandwich you’ll have
- Cream cheese mixture + sliced cucumber + smoked salmon = perfect for brunch
- Cream cheese mixture + sliced cucumber + hatch green chiles = smoky, creamy, and so flavorful
- Cream cheese mixture + sliced cucumber + favorite seasoning blend = the easiest way to switch up the flavors
