Derby Day Benedictine Cucumber Canapés (Printable)

Creamy Benedictine spread on toasted rounds with cucumber and dill—quick, elegant bites 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

# Step-by-Step Guide:

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 Suggestions:

01 -
  • No one expects canapés to be this refreshingly simple and addictive.
  • The creaminess paired with the crunch always disappears first wherever I serve them.
02 -
  • If you forget to drain the cucumber, the spread turns runny and won’t hold up on bread — lesson learned from a sad, soggy batch.
  • Letting the Benedictine rest in the fridge lets the flavors deepen and come together so much better than rushing it straight to the table.
03 -
  • Do all the prep for the spread ahead but wait to garnish — cucumbers dry out if left exposed too long.
  • A serrated knife makes cutting bread effortless, especially for picture-perfect shapes.
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