Cucumber Finger Sandwiches with Feta and Cream Cheese Spread
These aren’t your mama’s cucumber finger sandwiches. They’re a twist on the classic shower staple. Instead of using a traditional mayonnaise spread, this recipe features a whipped feta and cream cheese situation that’s studded with dill, thinly sliced bread, crisp cucumber rounds and fresh dill. It sounds simple, but the combination of ingredients is absolute magic.
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Y’all know I am obsessed with cucumber recipes, and I do love a cucumber appetizer.
Today, I am bringing you a twist on a Southern classic. And a virtual baby shower for my friend, Jenna, just happens to be the perfect excuse to share them.
Why I love this recipe:
I tried a Cucumber Sandwich for the first time at my cousin’s bridal shower nearly 15 years ago and promptly required seconds… and thirds. For Jenna’s virtual baby shower, I wanted to elevate the classic that we all know and love.
We swap a feta cream cheese spread for the traditional mayonnaise. (You’re welcome, mayo haters.) And with this quick swap, the sandwich feels fresh and elevated.
The sandwiches are all about the crunch of the cucumber, the freshness of the dill, and the tanginess of the spread. And the best part? The spread whips up in less than five minutes, and the assembly of these sandwiches is quick. It makes the perfect appetizer to throw together right before guests arrive.
Plus, the flavor combination is absolute gold, y’all.
More easy appetizer recipes to share: Galia Melon Jamón Skewers | Cucumber Bruschetta | Hot Honey Dip | Baked Brie Bites
We included a few of Jenna’s own recipes (without her knowing!), so be sure to give her posts some love, too!
What you need to make this recipe:
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- Food processor
- Biscuit cutter (to trim the bread)
- Offset spatula or butter knife
- Platter for serving
Let’s talk ingredients!
In addition to the tools above, you’re going to need some ingredients to make this recipe, too! Chances are, you might already have some of them in your fridge or pantry. Scroll down to the recipe card for the full measurements and instructions.
Here is what you need to get from the grocery store:
- Feta cheese — you can use from the block or crumbles. I used crumbles for this recipe, but honestly, whatever you’ve got is great. If you have a flavored feta, that could also work, though. Make sure those seasonings play well with the dill.
- Cream cheese — from the block, please and thank you. Whipped cream cheese from a tub has a lot more stabilizers in it and will not mix as well with this situation.
- Dill — I used dried dill, but fresh dill would be absolutely gorgeous here, too.
- Extra virgin olive oil — or another neutral oil. This is to make the spread a little bit thinner and easier to spread.
- Sandwich bread — I purchased a thinly sliced sandwich bread from the grocery store, but you can use whatever type of bread you like, so long as it is very thin. The thinness of the bread really makes this recipe stand out, in my opinion.
- English cucumber — or a few smaller Persian cucumbers. While you can use a regular garden cucumber, those have thicker skin and a lot more seeds. They are also more watery, so you will need to slice them and set them on paper towels to soak up excess moisture before you add them to the sandwiches. If you don’t, they could make the bread soggy.
How to make Cucumber Sandwich Bites
Make the spread. Measure the feta cheese, softened cream cheese, dill, and olive oil into the base of a food processor. Blend until combined. If the mixture is thick, drizzle in more olive oil until it is creamy and smooth.
Give this bread a taste and give it a pinch of kosher salt or freshly cracked black pepper if it needs more. My recipe does not call for salt because feta cheese is pretty salty on its own. However, if you think it needs it, add a pinch.
Prepare the bread. Cut the sandwich bread as thinly as possible into whatever shape you would like. I use a biscuit cutter to do this and cut rounds out of thinly sliced sandwich bread that I purchased from the store.
Toast the bread. This is extremely important because otherwise the bread will become soggy.
Build the sandwich bites. Slather on the whipped feta cream cheese mixture. Add a cucumber slice on top of each sandwich. Sprinkle dill on top of the cucumber.
Repeat until all sandwiches have been made.
Serve immediately and enjoy!
how to store:
These sandwiches need to be served and enjoyed immediately, or otherwise the bread could become soggy.
If you have leftovers, you can store them on a platter wrapped tightly in plastic wrap OR in an airtight container in the refrigerator. However, the texture will not be as nice as they are when first made.
You can make the whipped feta cream cheese spread early and store it in an airtight container in the fridge for several days before using it, if desired.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can make the feta cream cheese spread ahead and keep it in the fridge for a few days. Do not assemble the sandwiches until you are ready to serve, because the bread could become soggy from the spread and the cucumbers.
Super thin sliced white bread, whole wheat bread or even brioche bread works well. We want the bread to be soft enough to have a wonderful bite, but strong enough to withhold the filling and the cucumber topping.
Slice them 1/8″ to 1/4″ thick. They should be thin enough to be delicate but thick enough to hold up to the spread.
Sure. You could use other fresh herbs, parsley, chives, tarragon or even scallions, if those are more your speed.
They’re best enjoyed immediately. If you must store them, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to four hours, though the bread will start to become soggy. You can also store it in an airtight container.
Sure, swap the cream cheese for mayonnaise and you’ll get a hybrid spread if that’s your jam.
Erin’s Easy Entertaining Tips
Want to make this for a shower, a light lunch or just because? These bite-sized snack sandwiches feel so special and are so easy to assemble.
If I were serving this to share, here are a few things I might do…
- Make the spread ahead. Whip up the spread the night before and store in an airtight container in the fridge. That means there is one less thing to do on party day.
- Slice everything early. Slice the cucumbers and pat them dry. Cut the bread into whatever shapes you want it to be in. Chop the dill. Keep the ingredients separately in the refrigerator until it’s assembly time.
- Make an assembly line. If you’re making a lot, this will help you make things faster. Make sure everything is lined up and everything is prepared before you start to assemble. This is faster than doing each sandwich individually.
- No biscuit cutter? Use cookie cutters instead. Cut your bread into cute shapes, circles, triangles, and squares are all fantastic. I do caution you not to do something that is so intricate that you will have trouble cutting out each piece of bread.
Quick tips and tricks for the best cucumber finger sandwiches
- Pat the cucumbers dry. After slicing, set the cucumbers on paper towels to soak up any excess moisture. This will prevent a soggy sandwich.
- Slice the cucumbers uniformly. Consistency for the win!
- Don’t overspread. A thin, even layer is all you need. Too much spread and you lose the delicate balance of the sammy.
- Cut the crusts off. If desired, for classic tea sandwiches, trimming crusts gives a more refined look.
More baby shower foods to try:
My friends and I threw this baby shower for Jenna. Here are some more baby shower foods that would be great to share:
Start off with another finger food, like this colorful Antipasto Platter, Roasted Red Pepper and Goat Cheese Crostinis or Panko, Cream Cheese and Herb Stuffed Mushrooms.
Serve something heartier, like Honey Sriracha Meatballs.
Don’t forget a sipper! These Sparkling Balsamic Mocktails with Berry Ice Cubes feel special. As does this Honey Sweetened Limeaid with Blueberries.
Just want to make these bite-sized cucumber tea sandwiches?
Here’s how I made it:
Cucumber Finger Sandwiches with Feta and Cream Cheese Spread
EQUIPMENT
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Ingredients
Whipped Feta and Cream Cheese Spread
- ½ cup feta cheese
- 1 oz. cream cheese softened
- ¼ teaspoon dried dill or ½ teaspoon fresh dill fronds
- 1 ½ tablespoons extra virgin olive oil possibly a little more, depending on the consistency of your spread
Sandwiches
- 1 loaf thinly sliced sandwich bread (16 oz.)
- 1 English cucumber
- Whipped Feta and Cream Cheese Spread recipe above
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Instructions
Make the Whipped Feta and Cream Cheese Spread
- In the base of a food processor, measure ½ cup feta cheese, 1 oz. cream cheese, ¼ teaspoon dried dill and 1 ½ tablespoons extra virgin olive oil.
- Blend until combined, drizzling in more olive oil if the mixture is too thick. It should be creamy and smooth.
Make the Sandwiches
- Cut your 1 loaf thinly sliced sandwich bread into whatever desired shape you’d like these sandwiches to be. I used a biscuit cutter, but you could use a cookie cutter of your desired shape. Toast until golden brown.
- Slice 1 English cucumber into ⅛" to ¼" thick rounds. Try to make the cuts as even as possible so that the sandwiches will have a uniform look.
- When the bread has cooled slightly, slather it with the prepared Whipped Feta and Cream Cheese Spread.
- Top the spread with a round of cucumber.
- Sprinkle dill on top of the cucumber.
- Repeat until all the sandwiches have been made.
- Serve at room temperature, and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
About the Author:
Erin Parker is a Southern gal living in Texas with her husband and two daughters. She started The Speckled Palate to share what she was cooking as a newlywed… and over the years, it’s evolved to capture her love for hosting. Specifically, the EASIEST, lowest key entertaining because everyone deserves to see their people and connect over good food. Learn more about her…
Cucumbers, feta, and dill! I can’t wait to try this!
Perfect little bites for parties!
SO CUTE and tasty!! Obsessed!
You ladies are the BEST! What a sweet surprise today. I am loving all these delicious recipes. Too bad we can’t all get together to enjoy them!
I love the feta cream cheese spread instead of mayonnaise! We aren’t huge mayo fans in our house so this tangy cheesy version will be far more popular! Such a fresh twist!
What a fancy, fun party idea. This would be so fun for a tea party.
I love these dainty, refreshing bites! I’ve had Afternoon Tea at several high-end establishments and these were always included.
During college, I was obsessed with cucumber cheese cream sandwiches. Love the addition of feta! Gotta try this combo out!
Healthy easy and refreshing. My kind of appetizer!