Derby Day Benedictine Cucumber Canapés (Printable)

Bite-sized Benedictine spread on bread with cucumber and dill—ready in 20 minutes for Derby Day.

# What You Need:

→ Benedictine Spread

01 - 1 English cucumber, peeled and seeded
02 - 225 g (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
03 - 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
04 - 1 tablespoon grated yellow onion
05 - 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill
06 - 1 teaspoon lemon juice
07 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
08 - Pinch of ground white pepper
09 - A few drops green food coloring (optional, for traditional look)

→ Canapés

10 - 1 baguette or 12 slices white sandwich bread
11 - 1 English cucumber, thinly sliced
12 - Fresh dill sprigs, for garnish

# Steps:

01 - Grate the peeled, seeded cucumber for the Benedictine spread. Place in a clean cloth or paper towel and squeeze out excess moisture.
02 - In a bowl, combine cream cheese, mayonnaise, grated onion, chopped dill, lemon juice, salt, and white pepper. Mix until smooth.
03 - Fold in the grated cucumber and a few drops of green food coloring if desired. Chill for 10 minutes for flavors to meld.
04 - Slice baguette into 24 thin rounds, or cut sandwich bread into desired shapes using a round or oval cutter. Optionally, toast lightly.
05 - Spread about 1 tablespoon of Benedictine onto each bread round.
06 - Top with a thin slice of cucumber and garnish with a dill sprig. Arrange on a platter and serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • You can make a whole tray in less than thirty minutes, leaving you plenty of time to grab a drink.
  • Each bite is bursting with freshness and looks so elegant—like you secretly hosted a fancy party.
02 -
  • If you rush the cucumber and skip drying it properly, the spread turns watery and soggy fast.
  • Letting the finished spread chill, even for just ten minutes, really takes the flavor from good to irresistible.
03 -
  • Pressing grated cucumber until it’s almost dry prevents soggy bites—that trick makes all the difference.
  • A pinch more fresh dill tossed over the platter right before serving wakes up every flavor instantly.
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