Derby Day Benedictine Cucumber Canapés (Printable)

Cream cheese and dill Benedictine spread on toasted rounds, topped with cucumber and dill sprigs.

# 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

# How-To:

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 -
  • If you sneak a taste of the Benedictine before spreading, you might not want to share the bowl.
  • They look so elegant that people assume they took hours (but you’ll know the secret speediness).
02 -
  • I once skipped squeezing out the cucumber and ended up with a pool of green at the bottom of my bowl.
  • Chilling the Benedictine just ten minutes really does make the flavors come together—don’t rush that step.
03 -
  • If making these ahead, store the Benedictine and bread separately to avoid soggy bites.
  • Adding the tiniest whisper of hot sauce gives the spread just enough zing to surprise you in the best way.
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