As elegant and charming as the Kentucky Derby itself, these Benedictine Tea Sandwiches are a delightful blend of cream cheese and cucumber on soft white bread. Perfect for lunches, brunches, a wedding or baby shower, and more, these mini sandwiches are a refreshing addition to any party spread. Make them in just 10 minutes from start to finish.
Light and Refreshing Cucumber Sandwiches
What makes this spread different is that the cucumber and onion are grated. Other recipes just have sliced cucumbers in the sandwich, but for me, that’s too watery and makes it difficult to eat. For a tea sandwich, you want a sandwich that you can eat with your fingers that won’t make a mess. This is it!
This classic cucumber sandwich is the shining star of my annual Kentucky Derby party. A blend of softened cream cheese and fresh cucumbers is hard to resist. Kids and adults adore these mini tea sandwiches as part of an appetizer spread, along side some classic deviled eggs and some fancy looking baked boursin.
My husband was born and raised in Kentucky, so there’s no way we would ever skip this annual event, even though we have never actually attended! The Derby is so much more than a horse race, it’s the most anticipated party of the year. And it’s just not a Southern party without these sandwiches.
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Around here you can find Benedictine spread sold in grocery stores, but it’s simple to make and much better than what you might find in the deli section.
Somehow the combination of these simple ingredients when spread on soft bread, is simply the best. Mix things up and make some of the sandwiches with pimento cheese and some with a classic pineapple cream cheese spread.
When I’m making a batch of cucumber sandwiches for game day or to take to a picnic, I’ll cut them in triangles. But when I want to be a little fancier, I’ll use a small biscuit cutter and make circles with thin slices of cucumbers on top.
All good Kentucky Derby Parties need a few things: a Mint Julep Bar, finger sandwiches, and of course you have to have mini pecan tarts and homemade biscuits with country ham.
Ingredients for Delicious Cucumber Tea Sandwiches
- English cucumber – Fresh cucumber is key and I prefer the thinner-skinned and more mild flavor of the English cucumber. If using a garden cucumber, try peeling strips of the peeling off so that you don’t have too much peel in the spread. You may also want to remove the seeds to give it a smoother texture.
- White sandwich bread – For these to be authentic, you need basic white sandwich bread.
How to Make Cucumber Sandwich Spread
Step One: Grate the veggies.
Grate the cucumber and onion with the small holes of a box grater. Place cucumber and onion in a colander and press all the liquid out with a rubber spatula.
Step Two: Mix.
Step Three: Assemble the sandwich.
Cut the crust off a slice of bread and cut the slice diagonally. Spread the spread on one side and cover with the other forming a triangle. Repeat with the remaining slices of bread.
You can also use a biscuit cutter and cut into circles. Try adding a very thin slice of cucumber to the top of the circles.
Step Four: Serve.
These are best served right away. If they sit assembled too long the bread will get mushy.
These cucumber sandwiches are a simple way to add something fresh and elegant to any gathering. With their creamy texture and light flavor, they’re easy to make and always a favorite, whether you’re serving them at a party or enjoying a quiet lunch at home.
Tools that make it easy
- Small biscuit cutter – these are sturdy enough to cut through soft bread.
- Pizza cutter – for removing the bread crusts.
- Mandolin – this will give you very thin slices of cucumber to place on top.
- Metal sieve – for reducing the liquid, this one is sturdy and I’ve had mine forever.
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Kentucky Benedictine Sandwiches With Cream Cheese and Cucumbers
Ingredients
- 1 cup English cucumber grated
- 2 tbsp small onion grated
- 8 oz cream cheese softened
- 1 tbsp mayonnaise
- ½ tsp salt
- 16 slices white sandwich bread
Instructions
- Grate the cucumber and onion with the small holes of a box grater. Place cucumber and onion in a colander and press all the liquid out with a rubber spatula. Add to a medium-sized bowl.
- Add cream cheese, mayonnaise, and salt to the veggies. Using a hand mixer or wooden spoon, mix all ingredients until the cream cheese is fully incorporated and a smooth consistency.
- Cut the crust off a slice of bread and cut the slice diagonally. Spread the Benedictine on one side and cover with the other forming a triangle. Repeat with the remaining slices of bread. You can also use a biscuit cutter and cut into circles.
- These are best served right away. Assemble on your favorite serving tray and let your guests go to town.
Barbara’s Tips + Notes
- The key to the perfect cucumber sandwich is to remove as much excess liquid as possible. You can do this by using a fine mesh strainer and pressing the excess liquid out as described above or you can lightly salt the grated cucumber and onion and let it sit for 30 minutes. This will season the veggies and also pull out any excess moisture. Just drain then add to the cream cheese.
- If topping with cucumber slices, make them as thin as possible so that you can easily bite into the sandwich.
Nutrition
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