Kentucky Derby Tea Sandwich Trio (Printable)

An assortment of Southern tea sandwiches with cucumber, egg salad, and ham on soft bread.

# What You'll Need:

→ Cucumber Sandwiches

01 - 6 slices white sandwich bread, crusts removed
02 - 1/2 English cucumber, thinly sliced
03 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
04 - 2 tablespoons cream cheese, softened
05 - 1 tablespoon fresh dill, chopped
06 - Pinch of salt and black pepper

→ Egg Salad Sandwiches

07 - 3 large eggs
08 - 3 tablespoons mayonnaise
09 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
10 - 1 teaspoon chives, minced
11 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
12 - 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
13 - 6 slices whole wheat bread, crusts removed

→ Ham Sandwiches

14 - 6 slices rye sandwich bread, crusts removed
15 - 3 ounces thinly sliced deli ham
16 - 2 tablespoons Dijon or honey mustard
17 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
18 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

# Directions:

01 - Place eggs in a saucepan, cover with water, and bring to a boil. Once boiling, cover, remove from heat, and let stand for 10 minutes. Cool eggs under cold water, peel, and chop finely. In a bowl, combine eggs, mayonnaise, mustard, chives, salt, and pepper. Mix well and set aside.
02 - Stir together cream cheese, butter, dill, salt, and pepper. Spread mixture thinly on each slice of white bread. Arrange cucumber slices evenly on three bread slices. Top with remaining bread slices. Press gently and cut each sandwich into two or three finger sandwiches.
03 - Spread butter on one side of each rye bread slice. Spread mustard over the butter on three slices. Top with ham and a sprinkle of parsley. Top with remaining bread slices and press gently. Cut each sandwich into two or three finger sandwiches.
04 - Spread egg salad evenly over three whole wheat bread slices. Top with remaining bread slices. Cut each sandwich into two or three finger sandwiches.
05 - Arrange all sandwiches on a platter. Cover with a damp paper towel and plastic wrap until serving to keep fresh.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • Three elegant varieties mean something for everyone, and they look stunning arranged together on a platter.
  • Everything comes together in about 40 minutes, so you're not stuck in the kitchen when guests arrive.
  • You can prep them hours ahead and just keep them cool, which takes the stress right out of entertaining.
02 -
  • Don't peel the cucumbers—that thin skin holds everything together and looks beautiful, plus it has all the delicate flavor.
  • If your bread is fresh from the bakery, it'll stick to everything; a day-old loaf spreads cleanly without tearing.
  • The secret to preventing sogginess is always the butter or cream cheese layer, which acts as a moisture barrier between bread and filling.
03 -
  • If you're assembling hours ahead, keep the fillings separate from the bread until the last possible moment, then assemble just before guests arrive for the crispest result.
  • A lemon zest light dusting over the cucumber sandwiches adds sophistication that tastes like a carefully kept secret, not like work.
  • Always taste the egg salad before spreading—mayo and mustard strengths vary by brand, so you might need to adjust the seasoning slightly.
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