Cucumber bites with cream cheese are cool, crisp rounds of cucumber filled with a swirl of herby ranch cream cheese and topped with half a cherry tomato. They are a fresh, no-cook appetizer for baby showers, holiday trays, summer parties and any table that needs something light next to the heavier snacks.
How to make cucumber bites with cream cheese: Slice cucumbers into 1/2-inch rounds, pat them dry and scoop a shallow hollow in each. Stir softened cream cheese with mayonnaise, sour cream, powdered ranch mix, lemon juice, garlic powder and fresh dill. Pipe the filling into the rounds, top with halved cherry tomatoes and keep refrigerated until serving.
Why You’ll Love It
- No cooking. A knife, a bowl and a piping bag are all you need.
- Party size. Two cucumbers make about 30 bites.
- Fresh and light. Cool cucumber, creamy filling and a bright tomato on top.
- Pretty on a tray. The piped filling makes them look like more work than they are.
Ingredient Notes
Cucumbers. Two, washed and sliced into rounds 1/2 inch thick. That thickness leaves room to scoop a hollow.
Cream cheese. Four ounces, softened so it mixes and pipes smoothly.
Mayonnaise and sour cream. Two tablespoons of each.
Powdered ranch seasoning and dressing mix. Three teaspoons. Use the dry mix, not bottled dressing. The powder gives a thicker filling, while bottled ranch can make it wet.
Lemon juice, garlic powder and dill. One teaspoon of fresh lemon juice, 1/4 teaspoon of garlic powder and 1 tablespoon of minced fresh dill.
Cherry tomatoes. Halved. The recipe gives no number. One half goes on each bite, so buy half as many tomatoes as you have bites.
Ingredients
- 2 cucumbers, washed and sliced into 1/2-inch-thick rounds
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons sour cream
- 3 teaspoons powdered ranch seasoning and dressing mix
- 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon fresh dill, minced
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Cherry tomatoes, halved
How to Make Cucumber Bites with Cream Cheese
1. Prepare the cucumbers. Wash the cucumbers and cut them into 1/2-inch-thick rounds. Lay the rounds out and pat them dry with a paper towel.
2. Scoop the centers. Carefully scoop a shallow hollow from each round, leaving enough cucumber at the bottom to hold the filling.
3. Mix the filling. Stir together the softened cream cheese, mayonnaise, sour cream, powdered ranch mix, lemon juice, garlic powder and minced dill. Add salt and pepper to taste and stir well.
4. Fill the bites. Transfer the mixture to a piping bag fitted with a fluted tip. Pipe the filling into the cucumber rounds.
5. Top and serve. Top with halved cherry tomatoes. The bites are ready when the filling sits in the cucumber hollows and the tomato halves are in place. Keep refrigerated until ready to serve.
How to Keep Cucumber Bites From Getting Wet
Cucumbers are full of water, and a wet round makes the filling slide. Four small steps keep the bites neat on the tray.
| Step | What to do | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Dry | Lay the rounds out and pat them with a paper towel | The filling sits on a dry surface |
| Scoop | Make a shallow hollow, leaving the bottom intact | The round becomes a cup that holds the filling |
| Thicken | Use powdered ranch mix, not bottled dressing | The powder gives a thicker filling |
| Chill | Keep the finished bites in the refrigerator until serving | They stay cold and firm |
For the scooping, a melon baller or a small measuring spoon works well. Go gently and stop before you break through the bottom. A round with a hole in it will leak.
No piping bag? You can spoon the filling in. The fluted tip only makes it prettier.
Tips for Success
How do I prepare the cucumber rounds so they are dry and hold the filling?
Cut them 1/2 inch thick, pat them dry with paper towels, and scoop a shallow hollow in each one without cutting through the bottom.
How thick should the slices be?
A 1/2 inch. Thinner slices leave no room for a hollow.
Can I use bottled ranch dressing?
The recipe uses the powdered mix. Bottled dressing can make the filling wet.
Should the cream cheese be soft?
Yes. Softened cream cheese stirs smooth and goes through a piping tip without clogging.
How many tomatoes do I need?
The recipe does not say. Each bite takes one tomato half.
Can You Make Cucumber Bites Ahead?
You can, a little. Keep the assembled bites refrigerated until you serve them, and store any that are left in an airtight container in the refrigerator for a day. I will not promise they stay as crisp on day two as they were fresh. Freezing them is not recommended.
How Long Can They Sit Out at a Party?
These are cold, perishable bites, so they should stay at 40°F or below. For a party, set the tray over a bowl of ice, or put out a small plate at a time and replace it often. USDA FSIS says to discard perishable food left at room temperature for more than 2 hours, or more than 1 hour when it is above 90°F.
How Long Does It Take?
About 25 minutes, all of it prep. There is nothing to cook. The recipe makes about 30 bites.
Storage & Reheating
These are served cold and never reheated. Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator and eat them within a day. Do not freeze them.
What to Serve With It
For a party spread, pair these cold bites with something warm: spinach puffs with cream cheese, Rotel cream cheese sausage balls, sausage and cream cheese crescents or homemade fried cheese bites. For dessert on the same table, there are cream cheese squares and the strawberry cream cheese icebox cake.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I assemble the bites ahead, and how should I refrigerate them?
Yes. Keep them refrigerated until serving. Leftovers go in an airtight container in the refrigerator for a day.
How long can cream-cheese bites sit out at a party?
No more than 2 hours at room temperature, or 1 hour above 90°F. Keep them on ice if you can.
How many bites does this make?
About 30, from 2 cucumbers.
Can I freeze cucumber bites?
No. Freezing is not recommended.
Final Notes
I pat every round dry on both sides before I scoop, because a dry cucumber holds its filling. If you make them, leave a comment to tell me how they turned out or ask a question.
Cucumber Cream Cheese Bites
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Ingredients
- 2 cucumbers washed and sliced into 1/2-inch-thick rounds
- 4 ounces cream cheese softened
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons sour cream
- 3 teaspoons powdered ranch seasoning and dressing mix
- 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon fresh dill minced
- salt and pepper to taste
- cherry tomatoes halved; one half per bite
Instructions
- Wash the cucumbers and cut them into 1/2-inch-thick rounds. Lay the rounds out and pat them dry with a paper towel.
- Carefully scoop a shallow hollow from each round, leaving enough cucumber at the bottom to hold the filling.
- Stir together the softened cream cheese, mayonnaise, sour cream, powdered ranch mix, lemon juice, garlic powder and minced dill. Add salt and pepper to taste and stir well.
- Transfer the mixture to a piping bag fitted with a fluted tip. Pipe the filling into the cucumber rounds.
- Top with halved cherry tomatoes. The bites are ready when the filling sits in the cucumber hollows and the tomato halves are in place. Keep refrigerated until ready to serve.
