Butterfly Shaped Tea Sandwiches

by Alli

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.

Butterfly Shaped 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. 

Butterfly Shaped Tea Sandwiches

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. 

Overhead table view! Memorial Day Party featuring Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Cookies

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. 

How to make sandwiches with cookie cutters

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.

Fish Shaped Sandwiches

Yield: 24

Butterfly-Shaped Tea Sandwiches

Pineapple-Shaped Tea Sandwiches - Butterfly Tea Sandwiches

The sliced cucumber adds a nice crunch to these Butterfly-Shaped Tea Sandwiches. These are perfect to serve at a tea party.

Prep Time 45 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes

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

  1. Cut cucumbers into thin slices. Place in a bowl and cover with water and vinegar. Let stand for 30 minutes. Drain.
  2. In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese, mayo, garlic powder, onion powder, and Worcestershire sauce.
  3. Cut bread into butterfly shapes using a butterfly-shaped cookie cutter.
  4. Spread each butterfly-shaped bread slice with the cream cheese mixture.
  5. Cut one cucumber slice in half to form wings.
  6. 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

24

Serving Size

1

Amount Per Serving Calories 113Total Fat 4gSaturated Fat 1gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 2gCholesterol 5mgSodium 180mgCarbohydrates 16gFiber 1gSugar 2gProtein 3g

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Facebook

Butterfly Shaped Tea Sandwiches

I used Pepperidge Farm very thin 100% whole wheat bread (40 calories a slice), but any thin bread will work.

Butterfly Tea Sandwiches

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

Easy Ice Cream Sandwiches

Reuben Sandwich

Grilled Cheese and Strawberry Chia Fruit Sandwich

 

 

Originally Published in March 2015 and updated in March 2021. 

 

45 comments

Kristen @ A Mind Full Mom March 11, 2015 - 8:00 am

I love cucumber tea sandwiches and the fact that you made them as butterflies is a double bonus! So adorable!

Reply
Madaline March 11, 2015 - 8:54 am

I love love tea sandwiches – although I always pig out and eat basically the entire tray! Going to have to make these for Florence then maybe she’ll actually eat her lunch!

Reply
Alli March 11, 2015 - 1:43 pm

I have to watch myself or I’ll eat the entire batch.

Reply
Paris (My Big Fat Happy Life) March 11, 2015 - 9:30 am

These are so adorable! I am going to try making them for S and see if I can get her to eat the cucumber. She always loves tea parties.

Reply
Alli March 11, 2015 - 1:42 pm

The quick pickling gives the cucumbers a little tang, so if she likes tangy, she’ll like these. 🙂

Reply
Logan Can March 11, 2015 - 9:43 am

Okay, these are adorable. I can’t wait to play tea party with our little girl. I’m definitely pinning this for later! 🙂

Reply
Alli March 11, 2015 - 1:42 pm

Thanks, Logan! They are really easy to make AND eat. 🙂

Reply
MJ March 11, 2015 - 10:03 am

Alli, these look so beautiful and yummy. I’ve never tried cucumbers with cream cheese. Very interesting combination.

Reply
Alli March 11, 2015 - 1:41 pm

You’ve got to try them! They are so delicious.

Reply
Tammy March 11, 2015 - 11:03 am

Our garden club has a grandkids day every summer and this would be perfect for their snack. Pinning!!

Reply
Alli March 11, 2015 - 1:41 pm

It would be perfect for a garden club and grandkids, Tammy.

Reply
Stephanie of The TipToe Fairy March 11, 2015 - 11:13 am

My four year old would just love these. She has a thing for butterflies and she loves fancy little sandwiches. Thanks for sharing!!

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Michelle F. March 11, 2015 - 11:17 am

That is such a cute idea. I am always cutting out shapes for my toddler to eat. I would love to make these for myself.

Reply
Shirley Wood March 11, 2015 - 11:19 am

Oh, now you’re getting all Southern Belle on us! This brings back sweet memories of wedding showers and baby showers! We like our cucumbers sliced really thin for these tasty little sandwiches too. I love your butterfly shapes! Pinning to my Sandwich board.

Reply
Alli March 11, 2015 - 1:39 pm

Thanks, Shirley! We southerners can’t live without our little dainty sandwiches, can we?

Reply
Krayl @ An Appealing Plan March 11, 2015 - 11:30 am

Ali! I LOVE these super cute. Im a huge fan of tea sandwiches and these couldn’t be cuter!

Reply
Alli March 11, 2015 - 1:37 pm

Thanks, Krayl! They are so good. I’m off to check out your zesty pimento cheese. I’m CRAZY about pimento cheese.

Reply
Anna @ NorthernHomestead March 11, 2015 - 1:00 pm

Alli, these look yummy and beautiful. Cucumbers and olives with cream cheese, great combination.

Reply
Alli March 11, 2015 - 1:36 pm

They are so good and light, Anna, perfect for spring. We’re expecting a high of 81º here today. 🙂

Reply
Chubskulit Rose March 11, 2015 - 1:05 pm

I am sure the kids will not think twice to grab one of those, how cute! Making the food looks great is always a factor to entice picky eaters.

Reply
Alli March 11, 2015 - 1:35 pm

We do eat with our eyes, first, right? Thanks!

Reply
Katrina March 11, 2015 - 2:51 pm

These look wonderful and I am sure that there are many different ways to make these. I can’t wait to give these a try. Thank you Alli

Reply
Nadeen March 11, 2015 - 3:33 pm

these are so cute! I love High Tea so these would be perfect for it!

Reply
Carra D March 11, 2015 - 4:59 pm

I love these, how cute. Perfect for a brunch or even for kids and can make their own. I don’t like cream cheese so maybe I would do hummus on these instead. Thanks for the idea! 🙂

Reply
Cynthia L March 11, 2015 - 7:29 pm

What a cute idea. I think these would be so fun in little ones lunches. I would enjoy them for tea!

Reply
Lorelai @ Life With Lorelai March 11, 2015 - 8:13 pm

We love teas at our house! These sandwiches are adorable…and yummy looking too. 🙂

~Lorelai
Life With Lorelai

Reply
Mary March 11, 2015 - 9:20 pm

The pickling tip is a great one. I have not thought of that. So sweet and yet elegant too.

Reply
Franc Ramon March 11, 2015 - 9:59 pm

The butterfly sandwich looks so cool and would make great pick up meals for gatherings. It also looks really delicious.

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vidya sudarsan March 12, 2015 - 12:32 am

Wow – you are so creative! My daughter does not like the bread corners and she will love it if I make these lovely butterflies for her 🙂

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Tammilee Tips March 12, 2015 - 1:29 am

These are so creative for tea parties!! I never thought to use cookie cutters on sandwiches like this!

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Lauren March 12, 2015 - 2:32 am

oh my goodness, what a cute idea!! I love going to tea parties, and throwing them, and I am totally going to make these at the next one!

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Bonnie @ wemake7 March 12, 2015 - 6:59 am

Those are so cute! I love butterflies to begin with and would love to have a butterfly shaped cutter. I am so making these today.

Reply
Ron Leyba March 12, 2015 - 7:48 am

Very creative presentation. This is one of those food that you won’t eat until you get the perfect picture. 🙂

Reply
Rebecca Swenor March 12, 2015 - 1:43 pm

These are really cute and it is very creative to make the sandwiches this way. It would be great for a small get together. Thanks for sharing.

Reply
Kiwi March 13, 2015 - 12:47 am

That looks super amazing! I love cucumbers on a salad and this is an adorable shape to eat this!

Reply
Bailey K. March 13, 2015 - 5:39 am

This is probably the cutest sandwich ever! 🙂 And tasty. The ingredients remind me of a traditional tea sandwich.

Reply
Rosey March 13, 2015 - 6:00 am

It’s a really cute way to serve a sandwich. Bet even my teen would like this one, though she’d never admit it aloud. 😉

Reply
Maureen March 13, 2015 - 7:24 am

What an awesome idea! Why didn’t think of this? 😀 I have some metal cookie cutter that could go perfect for this. Thank you for sharing!

Reply
Julia March 13, 2015 - 4:05 pm

I want to throw a spring party now! How lovely these are!

Reply
Erlene March 21, 2015 - 5:42 am

That’s such a cute sandwich and perfect for a spring luncheon.

Reply
Showhan April 18, 2015 - 10:05 am

Wow !! It looks beautiful. I like the recipe so much. I can’t wait to try making this awesome recipe on later today. Especially looks gorgeous for the butterfly shape. Thanks for sharing the great recipe.

Reply
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