Cucumber and cream cheese sandwiches are a light, refreshing classic: soft bread spread with cream cheese seasoned with dill, chives, lemon and pepper, layered with thin slices of salted English cucumber.
Salt the Cucumbers
Slice the cucumbers thin, salt them and let them drain for at least 15 minutes, then pat them dry. This removes excess water so the sandwiches don’t turn soggy. Soften the cream cheese and mix in the herbs and lemon. Spread it edge to edge to keep moisture away from the bread.
Kosher Notes
These sandwiches are dairy (milchig). Use cream cheese and butter with a reliable hechsher. Greek yogurt can replace half the cream cheese for a lighter spread.
Make-Ahead
Serve within 2 hours of assembling. Store the filling and cucumbers separately if making ahead.

Ingredients
Method
- Wash and peel the cucumbers. Using a sharp knife or mandoline, slice them into 1/8-inch thick rounds. Place the slices in a colander and sprinkle with 3/4 teaspoon of kosher salt. Toss gently and let drain for 15 minutes.
- Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, combine the room temperature cream cheese, dill, chives, remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt, black pepper, and lemon juice. Mix until well combined and smooth.
- After 15 minutes, pat the cucumber slices completely dry with paper towels or a clean kitchen towel. This step is crucial for preventing soggy sandwiches.
- If using butter, lightly spread it on one side of each bread slice. This creates a moisture barrier.
- Spread the seasoned cream cheese mixture evenly on 4 slices of bread, about 2 tablespoons per slice.
- Arrange the cucumber slices in an even layer over the cream cheese, slightly overlapping if needed.
- Top with the remaining bread slices and press gently to adhere.
- Using a sharp serrated knife, trim the crusts if desired and cut each sandwich diagonally into triangles or into finger sandwich rectangles.
- Serve immediately, or cover with damp paper towels and plastic wrap. Refrigerate for up to 2 hours before serving.
Notes
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