Looking for an elegant, yet simple appetizer? These salmon tea sandwiches feature baguette slices smeared with herbed cream cheese and topped with smoked salmon.
Smoked salmon tea sandwiches aren’t just for afternoon tea! They are the perfect appetizer for everything from Christmas to New Years to Easter. If you’re a fan of lox bagels, consider them bite-sized versions of this classic New York staple. What’s better? They’re so easy to prepare, a kid can make them!
What are Canapés?
A canapé is a kind of hors d’oeuvre that features slices of baguette, puff pastry, crackers, or another carb topped with a variety of meats, cheese, veggies, and other goodies. The common thread between all canapés is they’re finger food that can be eaten in one big bite. Below, find a rundown of the flavor, texture, and time it takes to put together this recipe for smoked salmon canapés.
- Flavor: The flavor of these canapés is a contrast of smoky salmon, dill-infused cream cheese, and earthy baguette.
- Texture: The texture of these appetizer sandwiches features soft baguette slices topped with melt-in-your-mouth smoked salmon and whipped cream cheese.
- Time: From prep to table, these canapés only take 15 minutes to pull together.
Where can you find smoked salmon? Costco and Trader Joe’s both have affordable and great-tasting options!
How to Assemble Salmon Tea Sandwiches
These salmon tea sandwiches only require 4 ingredients to assemble (the cucumber is optional) and some mild prep. Below, find a brief rundown of the process before you dive in.
- Slice the Baguette: Using a serrated knife, slice the baguette into even-sized pieces.
- Make the Herbed Cream Cheese: In a medium bowl, combine the diced dill sprigs with the softened cream cheese.
- Assemble the Tea Sandwiches: Spread the herbed cream cheese onto a slice of bread, followed by an optional cucumber slice and a piece of smoked salmon. Repeat until you run out of ingredients. Enjoy!
Did you know? Making homemade baguette doesn’t require a ton of technical skill. Try our easy baguette recipe and prepare to be surprised!
3 Tips for the Best Salmon Tea Sandwiches
Here you’ll find some pro tips to help you make the best salmon tea sandwiches possible.
- Allow the cream cheese to soften at room temperature. Before you make your tea sandwiches, pull the cream cheese out of the refrigerator and let it soften at room temperature for about 15-30 minutes. This will make it so much easier to mix with the dill and spread on the baguette.
- Use fresh dill versus dried. Fresh dill adds lots of flavor to the cream cheese and makes for such a beautiful presentation.
- Slice the salmon properly. If you’re slicing the smoked salmon off a whole fillet, start from the head of the fish and slice down towards the tail in a slow, sawing motion. Make sure to use a super sharp knife so you don’t pull at the delicate flesh.
Different Toppings for Salmon Canapés
If you’re looking to add some different flavors to your smoked salmon tea sandwiches, here are some topping and garnish variations to inspire you. Half of the fun is playing around with different layers and flavor profiles!
- Veggies: Thin slices of tomato or pickled red onion, roasted garlic, capers
- Fresh Herbs: Chives, cilantro, basil, or arugula
- Citrus: A spritz of fresh lemon juice on top
Ways to Serve Salmon Tea Sandwiches
If you’re in charge of appetizers for your next party or afternoon tea, whip these salmon canapés up as part of your spread. Prepare a cheese plate to go along with your tea sandwiches. Or grab a nice platter and assemble them alongside a variety of different finger foods like bruschetta, shrimp tempura, and stuffed mushrooms. You can also throw in some other canapé varieties for more selection:
- Pickled Beets and Pate Smørrebrød Recipe
- Egg & Sprats Canapés
- Chicken & Bacon Canapés
- Hummus Eggplant Canapés
- Cucumber Sandwiches
Best Way to Store Your Canapés
Canapés are best eaten right after you assemble them. However, if you want to prep ahead they will keep fresh for up to an hour when store in an airtight container in the fridge. You can also make the herbed cream cheese a day or two in advance to cut down on day-of prep.
FAQ
Why are they called tea sandwiches?
Tea sandwiches got their name because they are commonly served during afternoon tea for a light snack. You can thank the Brits for these little morsels!
How many tea sandwiches should I allot for each person?
Anywhere between 3-4 tea sandwiches are standard per guest. This can vary depending on how filling the main course is going to be and the number of other appetizers you are serving alongside them.
What are some other popular tea sandwiches?
The list of different tea sandwiches is long and never-ending, but a couple of other popular combinations include ham and cheese, smoked trout salad, and roast beef and horseradish.
Can you toast the bread before assembling the sandwiches?
It’s not necessary to toast the bread before assembling the tea sandwiches. However, if you’d like a bit more crust and texture feel free to do so.
Can you use a different type of bread than a baguette?
If you don’t want to use a baguette or can’t get your hands on one, swap it out for whole wheat bread, sourdough, or even rye.
Other Salmon Recipes to Try
- Cold Smoked Salmon – Hickory smoked salmon
- Cured Salmon – Salty cured salmon
- Easy Salmon Chowder Recipe – Classic creamy chowder with smoked salmon
- Salmon Caviar Recipe (Only 15 Minutes) – Salmon egg caviar
Recipe
Ingredients
- 8 oz cream cheese softened at room temperature
- 3 tbsp fresh dill
- 1 baguette
- 8 oz smoked salmon
- 1 cucumber
Instructions
- Slice the baguette into 1/2-inch thick pieces.
- Dice the dill and combine it with the softened cream cheese.
- Spread the herbed cream cheese on the baguette slices.
- Assemble the tea sandwiches by placing one thin slice of cucumber on top, followed by a slice of smoked salmon. Enjoy!
Ahhh! I needed something that looked amazing and tasted amazing for a holiday get-together and I'm SO glad I picked these! There were exactly what I was hoping for. Thank you!
Hi Jessica, they are perfect for any celebration! I am so glad you loved the recipe, thank you for taking the time to comment!
Thank you so much for sharing this amazing salmon tea sandwiches recipe! Will surely have this again! It's really easy to make and it tasted so delicious! Highly recommended!
Hello Allyssa, they really are super easy to make and perfect for every day!
These taste so good! Love the cream cheese spread under the salmon! I feel so fancy eating these! These are so great! They would be perfect for a bridal shower luncheon!
Hi Betsy, they are such cute little bites, perfect for every occasion!
Bake the bread before assembly for fresh, crisp bite.
That's a great tip, thanks for sharing!
I make a very similar spread. I use 1:1 ratio of cream cheese and mayo. Crushed garlic, and finely chopped dill to taste. Mix it well. I make a lot, and it stores well in the fridge. I use it for any sandwiches, but my favorite is to top it off with smoked salmon sliced cucumber, tomato and red onion. It's perfection!
I like the idea of having it on hand in the fridge. How long does it stay fresh with dill and garlic? Also, red onion, yum!
How many cucumbers would i need? And in how many pieces do u cut ur bread,u didnt specify that,in half? N u cut out the ends on bread,is it necesary?
If you use English cucumber, one should be enough. I cut bread piece into half. Not necessary, I just proffered that look more.
These were awesome!!!! thanks for super delicious sandwich recipe! I loved them! I ate like 10 of them probably! I made it with a long french bread though! but next time I wana try to make it with dave's killer bread! what kind did you use?
I know know what's the name of it but its the green bag. Thank you for sweet compliment 🙂