Who gets to the age of bleep without eating cucumber tea sandwiches? Alas me, but fortunately I remedied this last weekend at a (bloggers’) Downton Abbey Tea Exchange, hosted by Karis of Karis’ Kitchen. All the food was wonderful (I brought my shortbread) and Lisa’s cucumber, dill & cream cheese tea sandwiches stood out as perfect for my upcoming book club meeting.
Cucumber Tea Sandwiches
In the cold days of January it felt great to buy fresh dill from the local grocery store and I even found an organic English cucumber at Trader Joe’s (cucumbers are frequently on the EWG’s “Dirty Dozen” list of contaminated produce, so I try to go organic if I can). The recipe (originally here but which of course I altered) calls for thinly-sliced bread and I found a loaf in the bakery section of the grocery store that looked like it would work.
Bakery White Loaf–Slightly Thinner Slices
Cucumber Tea Sandwich Ingredients
As I prepared for the book club members to arrive, my middle daughter hovered around. I offered her a sandwich and as she tasted her eyes grew wide, “How could these be so good?” As she moved in and out of the kitchen looking longingly at the prep area, I decided I had better make some additional sandwiches. If you decide to try these, this is your warning 
A great PBS series, good book, and fresh cucumber and dill sandwiches twice in one week! Life is good!
Cucumber, Dill & Cream Cheese Tea Sandwiches–Served
Cucumber, Dill & Cream Cheese Tea Sandwiches
Ingredients
- 1/2 English cucumber, unpeeled
- 8 ounce whipped cream cheese, room temperature
- 1/8 t garlic powder
- 1 T chopped fresh dill
- 1 loaf thinly sliced white bread
Directions
1. Cut cucumber into thin slices (a mandolin works well for this).
Slice Cucumbers Thinly
2. Stir cream cheese, garlic and dill together until smooth.
3. Spread bread with cream cheese, layer with cucumber slices, then top with second piece of bread also spread with cream cheese. Remove crusts and cut into quarters. (Alternatively, if you want to use the crusts for bread crumbs, cut bread before making sandwiches.)
My (admittedly harder) prep method
Finished Tea Sandwich
4. Serve garnished with a sprig of fresh dill.’
Makes about 3 dozen (small) sandwiches.
Fresh Dill Sprig – Heaven in January
So great that you made these for your book club! I thought Lisa did a fabulous job for our party
My mom used to always take thin slices of rye bread and top them with cream cheese, cucumber slices, and then sprinkle on a coarse seasoned salt like Jane’s Krazy Mixed Up Salt and we’d live on these in the summer time! http://www.amazon.com/Janes-Krazy-Mixed-Salt-4-Ounce/dp/B000GZU8VU
They had a package of rye that would have been perfect–thin, small and even square–and I was soooo tempted to use that. Perhaps next time! Thanks for your variation–I know I am always buried in CSA cucumbers in the summer.
Love the idea of using rye bread. It’s one of my favorite types of bread and seems like it would pair really well with these flavors.
I’m so glad they turned out well for you. I don’t think I told you this, but I hunted for what I thought would be the perfect recipe for weeks! I’m picky like that though, especially when I have the time to look. I was actually surprised at how good the leftovers were a day later because from what I read, I expected them to get soggy. I definitely want to make the recipe on a Sunday night so I can have some sandwiches for the work week.
What book did you read for your club?
Oh and your shortbread was superb! I love shortbread and actually hadn’t made it myself until last year. The lavender flavored one was perfect.
I am happy to hear that the leftovers were good because there were a few quarters left that the kids took off to school for lunch and I was also afraid they’d get soggy (though they looked fine). This was the perfect recipe for Sunday–and equally good for book club (where they also got some leftover shortbread–my husband couldn’t believe I bought yet another shortbread mold;-) )!
We read Caleb’s Crossing for this month. I love being in a book club. I can procrastinate (especially with discretionary activities) so it keeps me on task–and of course the meetings are fun!
I am looking forward to the Oscar party!
These are so classy my friend, they fit your book perfectly
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Thanks so much–I was most happy to discover these!
If you slice them thinly enough, this also works with radishes.
I’ll have to try that this spring when our radishes come back!
Cool as a cucumber! Tempting!
Oooooh, good pun
i can’t say i’ve ever eaten a sandwich like this either! i have, however, seen downton abbey, and i love it.
I hadn’t been watching Downton Abbey before but got through all of the prior episodes by Sunday. I am so glad this got me into it!
Now I know what to take for my book club meeting next Friday.
Cucumber sandwiches were a staple at tea parties back home. I haven’t had one in years and years… thanks for reminding me how much I love them.
I hope your book club likes them!
They had better!
We actually never use cream cheese in our cucumber sandwiches. Just butter. But I’d like to try your version.
On a winter day, these sandwiches would be so refreshing and summery. And sophisticated!
I need to use up the rest of the cucumber and was thinking of the Packer game on Saturday–so I hope they aren’t too sophisticated
Actually DH has a party so it will just be us girls and I may get away with it. Perhaps I can color the cream cheese yellow for this!
That’s a terrific idea for our book club meeting. We try to serve ethnic food depending on the book when the meeting is at our houses. My book will be “Prague Winter” by Madaline Albright. It’s about her life in Czechoslovakia. Do you know any typically Czech recipes?
Mmmm, Czech food should be delicious! My mom used to make great cabbage rolls, but that might be a big hard for book club… You should post whatever you do!
These sandwiches (plus the scones) are my favorites at afternoon tea!
I guess afternoon tea is popular for good reason!
What a fun idea! Makes me want to throw a tea sandwich party of my own!
You should–it was great fun!
We love cucumber sandwiches and these are my favorite food to take it to any small gathering. I make slight changes every time I take.
I understand–I tweak recipes all the time!
This will be perfect for my tea party date with my daughters tomorrow, thank you so much!
That sounds like fun!
Love these sandwiches…so elegant and I know delicious!! I bet the rye would have made wonderful sandwiches!
I think I’ll have to try the rye next time.
There’s something just special about tea sandwiches. Your version sounds delicious and I love Tammy’s idea of the radish. Sorry, I’ve been a way awhile.
Well congrats on moving–how exciting!