Cucumber Cream Cheese Bites
Crisp cucumber rounds topped with whipped dill and lemon cream cheese. A no-cook party snack you can assemble in about 15 minutes.
- Prep15 min
- Cook0 min
- Total15 min
- Servings6
- Net carbs*3.3 g
- LevelEasy
These bites are cool cucumber slices topped with a swirl of cream cheese whipped with fresh dill, green onion and lemon zest. They are crunchy, creamy and fresh tasting, like a tea sandwich without the bread. Set out a platter at a summer party or keep a container of the spread in the fridge for an afternoon snack.
Pat the cucumber slices dry before you pipe on the topping. Cucumber is mostly water, and a wet surface makes the cream cheese slide right off. Lay the rounds on a towel for five minutes, then press gently on top. The spread grips the dry surface and the bites hold their shape on the platter.
Ingredients
Makes About 30 bites (5 per serving). Tap an item to check it off.
Equipment
- Cutting board and sharp knife
- Mixing bowl
- Piping bag with star tip or a small spoon
- Clean kitchen towel
Instructions
- Slice the cucumber into 1/4-inch rounds. Spread them on a clean towel, cover with a second towel and press gently. Let sit 5 minutes.
- Beat the cream cheese in a bowl with a spoon or hand mixer until light and smooth, about 1 minute.
- Stir in the dill, green onion, lemon zest, garlic powder, salt and pepper.
- Spoon the mixture into a piping bag fitted with a star tip, or into a zip-top bag with a corner snipped off.
- Pipe a small swirl onto each cucumber round.
- Dust lightly with paprika and serve right away, or chill up to 2 hours.
Estimated nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 108
- Total carbs
- 3.6 g
- Fiber
- 0.3 g
- Net carbs
- 3.3 g
- Protein
- 2.1 g
- Fat
- 9.8 g
*These are estimates, calculated from the ingredient weights above and USDA FoodData Central data, divided by 6 servings. Net carbs = total carbs minus fiber. Values vary with brands, quantities, ingredient swaps and how you portion the dish. How we estimate nutrition.
Kitchen tips
- English cucumbers have thin skin and tiny seeds, so there is no need to peel them.
- Leave the cream cheese out for 30 minutes first. Cold cream cheese stays lumpy and is hard to pipe.
Substitutions
- Cream cheese → soft goat cheese Same amount. Tangier, and slightly lower in carbs.
- Fresh dill → dried dill Use 1 teaspoon. Let the spread rest 15 minutes so the herb softens.
- Cucumber → thick zucchini rounds Same amount. Milder and a little firmer.
Swaps change the nutrition estimate shown above.
Storage and reheating
- Fridge
- Assembled bites keep 4 hours. The spread alone keeps in an airtight container up to 5 days.
- Freezer
- Does not freeze. Cucumber turns limp and watery after thawing.
- Reheat
- Serve cold. Take the spread out 15 minutes early so it pipes easily.
Questions cooks ask
How far ahead can I make these for a party?
Slice the cucumber and make the spread a day ahead. Assemble within 2 hours of serving.
