Butterfly-Shaped Tea Sandwiches are perfect to make for spring and summer. I make these open-faced sandwiches for tea parties and luncheons.
I’m crazy about butterflies. I purposely plant flowers in my garden to attract them. And to celebrate spring and/or summer, I prepared a tray of tea sandwiches.
A tea sandwich is a dainty sandwich originally meant to be eaten at afternoon teatime to stave off hunger until the main meal. They are perfect for garden parties, bridal, and baby showers. I actually had a couple (or more) for lunch today.
I decided to make these sandwiches when I was going through my cookie cutter collection looking for a flower-shaped cutter. I’m so glad I found the butterfly first.
I’ve been collecting cookie cutters for years. I rarely use them to make cookies but they are wonderful when it comes to making tea sandwiches.
Ingredients For Butterfly Shaped Tea Sandwiches
- cucumber
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 cup cider vinegar (the water and vinegar are used to make a quick pickling juice for the cucumber)
- 1 package (8 oz.) cream cheese (feel free to use low-fat)
- mayonnaise (I always use Duke)
- garlic powder
- onion powder
- Worcestershire sauce
- thin bread slices
- Pimento stuffed green olives
How to Make Butterfly-Shaped Tea Sandwiches
The first step is soaking the cucumber slices in the vinegar/water mixture for 30 minutes. You’re basically quick pickling the veggies. The pickled cucumber adds a crispy zip to the cream cheese mixture.
Cut butterfly shapes with a cookie cutter. Spread with cream cheese mixture and add pickled cucumbers and olives. These open-faced sandwiches are so good and easy to make.
More Ideas for Pretty Cookie Cutter Sandwich
On patriotic holidays I like to make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for the kids just in case they are in the mood to eat what the grownups are having. I make the sandwiches like I normally do. Then I use a star cookie cutter to cut out a star in the top slice of bread.
The whole sandwiches are pretty and I don’t let the stars go to waste. I make tiny peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with the stars.
You can use an animal cookie cutter to take a grilled cheese sandwich to the next level. Kids love animal-shaped sandwiches!
How about a teddy bear-shaped sandwich? You only need a round cookie cutter, a drinking glass or clean tuna can to cut the bread out.
Make a peanut butter sandwich. Add sliced bananas for the ears. Cut out a bowtie-shaped apple slice, and add raisins for the eyes. Add Nutella, another banana slice, and another raisin to complete the look.
Fish-shaped sandwiches are cute too. You’ll need blueberries, strawberries, and a slightly sweetened cream cheese mixture. Mix one 8 oz. package cream cheese with 1/2 cup sugar and teaspoon vanilla. Mix until well combined.
Butterfly-Shaped Tea Sandwiches
The sliced cucumber adds a nice crunch to these Butterfly-Shaped Tea Sandwiches. These are perfect to serve at a tea party.
Ingredients
- 1 medium cucumber
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1 package (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise (I always use Duke)
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/8 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- 24 thin slices of bread
- 12 pimento-stuffed olives
Instructions
- Cut cucumbers into thin slices. Place in a bowl and cover with water and vinegar. Let stand for 30 minutes. Drain.
- In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese, mayo, garlic powder, onion powder, and Worcestershire sauce.
- Cut bread into butterfly shapes using a butterfly-shaped cookie cutter.
- Spread each butterfly-shaped bread slice with the cream cheese mixture.
- Cut one cucumber slice in half to form wings.
- Slice an olive in half and use the pimento for the antennae and place 1/2 olive for the body in between the wings.
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Nutrition Information
Yield
24Serving Size
1Amount Per Serving Calories 113Total Fat 4gSaturated Fat 1gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 2gCholesterol 5mgSodium 180mgCarbohydrates 16gFiber 1gSugar 2gProtein 3g
I used Pepperidge Farm very thin 100% whole wheat bread (40 calories a slice), but any thin bread will work.
These sandwiches may look dainty, but they pack a powerful punch of flavors. What’s your favorite party sandwich?
You May Also Like These Delicious Sandwiches
Pineapple-Shaped Tea Sandwiches with Pineapple Filling
Strawberry Shortcake Sandwiches
Grilled Cheese and Strawberry Chia Fruit Sandwich
Originally Published in March 2015 and updated in March 2021.