Kentucky Derby Benedictine Tea (Printable)

Refreshing cucumber and cream cheese sandwiches perfect for elegant brunches and afternoon occasions.

# What You Need:

→ Spread

01 - 1 large English cucumber, peeled and seeded
02 - 8 oz cream cheese, softened
03 - 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
04 - 2 tablespoons fresh dill, finely chopped
05 - 1 tablespoon chives, finely chopped
06 - 1 tablespoon onion, grated
07 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
08 - 1/8 teaspoon ground white pepper
09 - 2-3 drops green food coloring, optional

→ Assembly

10 - 12 slices white sandwich bread, crusts removed
11 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened, optional

# How-To Steps:

01 - Grate the cucumber using a fine grater. Place the grated cucumber in a clean kitchen towel and squeeze out as much liquid as possible.
02 - In a medium bowl, combine the cream cheese, mayonnaise, dill, chives, grated onion, salt, and white pepper. Mix until smooth.
03 - Stir in the drained cucumber and mix until well blended. Add green food coloring if desired and mix until the color is uniform.
04 - If using, lightly butter one side of each slice of bread to prevent sogginess.
05 - Spread a generous layer of the Benedictine mixture on half of the bread slices. Top with the remaining bread slices to form sandwiches.
06 - Gently press and trim crusts if needed. Cut each sandwich into quarters as rectangles or triangles.
07 - Arrange on a platter and serve immediately, or cover with a damp paper towel and plastic wrap and refrigerate until serving.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • They're elegant enough for a formal brunch yet so simple you can make them while catching up with friends in the kitchen.
  • The refreshing cucumber-and-herb flavor tastes like spring in every bite, and somehow they taste even better than they look.
  • You'll have them ready in 15 minutes, which means more time enjoying the moment and less time sweating in the kitchen.
02 -
  • The cucumber water is your enemy—I learned this the hard way when I skipped the squeezing step and watched my beautiful spread weep liquid onto the bread within minutes, turning everything soggy and sad.
  • Don't skip seeding the cucumber; those watery seeds are exactly what makes the texture mushy if you're not careful, and the difference between a perfect sandwich and a disappointing one.
  • Fresh herbs are absolutely essential; dried dill tastes like hay in comparison, and this recipe deserves ingredients that actually taste like something.
03 -
  • If your cream cheese is cold and won't blend smoothly, let it sit on the counter for 30 minutes—patience here saves you frustration and gives you a silky spread instead of a lumpy one.
  • A bench scraper or old butter knife makes trimming crusts exponentially easier and cleaner than fumbling with a regular knife.
  • Toast your bread very lightly if you want extra crunch and structural integrity, especially if you're making these more than an hour ahead.
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