Cucumber Tea Sandwiches are a classic afternoon tea snack, especially associated with United Kingdom traditions. They’re light, refreshing, and easy to make.
🥒 Classic Cucumber Tea Sandwiches
Ingredients
- 1 cucumber, thinly sliced
- 8 slices soft white bread
- 4 oz (115 g) cream cheese, softened
- 1–2 tablespoons fresh dill or chives, finely chopped (optional)
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Butter (optional, for extra richness)
Instructions
- Prepare the cucumber
- Slice the cucumber very thinly.
- Pat the slices dry with paper towels to prevent soggy sandwiches.
- Make the spread
- Mix the cream cheese with dill or chives, if using.
- Season lightly with salt and pepper.
- Assemble
- Spread the cream cheese mixture on the bread.
- Arrange a single layer of cucumber slices on half the bread slices.
- Top with the remaining bread slices.
- Trim and cut
- Remove the crusts (traditional for tea sandwiches).
- Cut into triangles, rectangles, or fingers.
- Serve
- Best served fresh with tea.
Variations
🥒 Cucumber & Herb
Add:
- Fresh dill
- Chives
- Parsley
🍋 Cucumber & Lemon
Add:
- A little lemon zest to the cream cheese
🥗 Cucumber & Mint
Add:
- Finely chopped fresh mint for a brighter flavor
Tips
- Keep cucumbers dry to avoid soggy bread.
- Assemble shortly before serving.
