close up shot of stacked cucumber sandwiches with the visible layers of cucumber and bread placed on a white plate

This simple Cucumber sandwich recipe is perfect to prepare as a light snack or lunch. It’s easy to make and great for customizing with your favorite ingredients, like tomatoes, cheese, and/or herbs. Follow my step-by-step instructions with photos and ideas to create a lovely plate of cucumber sandwiches in only a few minutes!

close up shot of stacked cucumber sandwiches with the visible layers of cucumber and bread placed on a white plateclose up shot of stacked cucumber sandwiches with the visible layers of cucumber and bread placed on a white plate

About This Recipe

Fresh and tasty cucumber sandwiches are wonderful finger foods to enjoy at lunch, tea parties and picnics, or whenever you need a quick and healthy snack.

A classic cucumber sandwich typically includes slices of crisp cucumber layered on pieces of buttered bread and sprinkled with a bit of salt and pepper. They taste light and refreshing, perfect to pair with hot or iced tea!

Below I share steps for preparing simple, traditional cucumber sandwiches that we most frequently enjoy at our home.

However, you can jazz up this simple recipe by adding nearly any other toppings you like, such as mayo, cream cheese, tomatoes, fresh or dried herbs, and/or other thinly-sliced produce.

My favorite sandwiches are made using homemade Whole Wheat Bread, but feel free to use any bread you prefer!

Step-by-Step Guide

How to make Cucumber Sandwich

1. First, rinse and peel 1 medium cucumber. Slice the cucumber into thin discs, and set aside.

TIP: I serve these sandwiches as soon as they are made. If you plan to serve them later after an hour or as a cold sandwich then to avoid the sogginess I suggest the following.

Arrange the thinly sliced cucumbers in a tray and sprinkle some salt on them all over. Set aside for 10 to 15 minutes. Later pat dry with a clean kitchen towel to remove the excess moisture.

heaped thinly sliced cucumber in a steel bowl to make cucumber sandwichheaped thinly sliced cucumber in a steel bowl to make cucumber sandwich

2. Next, use a sharp knife to cut the crusts off the pieces of bread. But don’t toss those crusts! The cut off bread edges can be pulsed or ground and used as bread crumbs. If you like sandwiches with crust, feel free to skip this step.

TIP: Feel free to use any soft textured bread – whole wheat, brown, multi-grain, sandwich or white bread.

whole wheat bread edges trimmed on white chopping boardwhole wheat bread edges trimmed on white chopping board

3. Now spread a generous amount of salted, slightly softened butter evenly on the pieces of bread. First adding a layer of spread, like butter, helps to keep the bread soft and prevent sogginess from the cucumbers.

TIP: If you like cream cheese or a mayonnaise, you can spread either on top of the butter.

butter layer spread on bread slicesbutter layer spread on bread slices

4. On one piece of the pairs of buttered bread place 6 to 8 cucumber slices.

buttered bread topped with cucumber slicesbuttered bread topped with cucumber slices

5. Sprinkle a bit or more if you like of freshly cracked black pepper and a pinch of salt on the cucumber slices.

freshly cracked black pepper and salt sprinkled on cucumber slices on top of the breadfreshly cracked black pepper and salt sprinkled on cucumber slices on top of the bread

6. Cover with the remaining buttered slices of bread. Use a sharp knife to cut the cucumber sandwiches into your choice of rectangles or triangles.

cucumber sandwich cut in thin rectangular slicescucumber sandwich cut in thin rectangular slices

7. Serve cucumber sandwiches immediately. They are wonderful to enjoy by themselves, with your favorite dips or other side dishes.

close up shot of cucumber sandwiches on a white plateclose up shot of cucumber sandwiches on a white plate

Tips

FAQs

What other toppings can I include on my cucumber sandwiches?

The possibilities are nearly endless for customizing your cucumber sandwich! Try adding slices of tomato, fresh sprouts, pieces of red onion, slices of avocado, or leafy greens like watercress or arugula. Swap the softened butter for cream cheese, mayonnaise, herbed goat cheese spread, or any spreads you like.

What should I serve with cucumber sandwiches?

Enjoy fresh sandwiches with a side of a yogurt dip, mayonnaise dip or your favorite chutney or sauce to dip. As side dishes you might consider serving a simple green salad, Avocado Salad, or Cherry Tomato Salad.

Can these sandwiches be made ahead?

Finger sandwiches taste best when prepared and enjoyed fresh, within an hour or so of preparing. If not serving right away you might want to put them in the fridge for a bit. But not too long, otherwise they will get soggy.

How do I prepare a large batch of cucumber sandwiches?

The recipe below is for making approximately 6 to 7 cucumber sandwiches. You can double and triple the recipe as necessary to whip up a large batch that’s perfect to share at parties and picnics!

More Sandwiches To Try!

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This simple Cucumber sandwich recipe is perfect to prepare as a light snack or lunch. It’s easy to make and great for customizing with your favorite ingredients, like tomatoes, cheese, and/or herbs.

Prep Time 10 mins

Cook Time 0 mins

Total Time 10 mins



Servings 4

Prevent your screen from going dark while making the recipe

  • Rinse and peel cucumber. Slice the cucumber thinly and set aside.

  • Slice of the crusts from the bread. These crusty bread slices can be pulsed or ground to bread crumbs. You can skip this step of cutting the crusts from the bread.

  • Spread salted butter evenly on the sandwiches. Spread butter generously, so that the sandwiches do not get soggy.

  • Place 6 to 8 cucumber slices on piece of the pairs of buttered bread.

  • Sprinkle freshly crushed black pepper as needed. Also sprinkle a pinch of salt.

  • Cover with the remaining buttered slices. Then cut the prepared cucumber sandwiches in rectangles or triangles.

  • Serve cucumber sandwiches immediately. If you want you can accompany a mayo dip or a cheesy dip or tomato ketchup with these sandwiches.

  • Enjoy fresh sandwiches with your favorite chutney or sauce to dip.

  • More toppings and ideas:  Include slices of tomato, fresh sprouts, pieces of red onion, slices of avocado, or leafy greens like watercress or arugula. Swap the softened butter for cream cheese, mayonnaise, herbed goat cheese spread, or any spreads you like.
  • Make ahead: These sandwiches taste best when prepared and enjoyed fresh, within an hour or so of preparing. If not serving right away you might want to put them in the fridge for a bit. But not too long, otherwise they will get soggy. If serving later, arrange the sliced cucumbers in a tray and sprinkle some salt on them. Set aside for 10 to 15 minutes. Later pat dry with a clean kitchen towel to remove the excess moisture.
  • Scaling: The recipe makes for about 6 to 7 sandwiches. You can double and triple the recipe as necessary to whip up a large batch that’s perfect to share at parties and picnics!

Nutrition Facts

Cucumber Sandwich

Amount Per Serving

Calories 354 Calories from Fat 135

% Daily Value*

Fat 15g23%

Saturated Fat 8g50%

Trans Fat 1g

Cholesterol 31mg10%

Sodium 786mg34%

Potassium 355mg10%

Carbohydrates 42g14%

Fiber 7g29%

Sugar 7g8%

Protein 13g26%

Vitamin A 414IU8%

Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) 1mg67%

Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) 1mg59%

Vitamin B3 (Niacin) 5mg25%

Vitamin B6 1mg50%

Vitamin B12 1µg17%

Vitamin C 2mg2%

Vitamin D 1µg7%

Vitamin E 1mg7%

Vitamin K 15µg14%

Calcium 121mg12%

Vitamin B9 (Folate) 60µg15%

Iron 3mg17%

Magnesium 91mg23%

Phosphorus 218mg22%

Zinc 2mg13%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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This cucumber sandwich recipe post from the blog archives (Feb 2017) has been republished and updated on 17 April 2021.