Shaved Ham Snacks with Cucumber Cream Cheese
A Party Favorite
Shaved Ham Snacks with Cucumber Cream Cheese are made with grated cucumber, whipped cream cheese, and shaved ham then seasoned to perfection with celery salt and dried dill. These are the perfect appetizer for any party, except they’ll go faster than you can make them!
I am any small sandwiches biggest fan. Give me a mini sandwich and I will be your friend for life.
These Shaved Ham Snacks with Cucumber Cream Cheese are a huge hit every time I make them. They can be made with any ham, but of course I am always partial to Krakus Polish Ham which is a Chicago Deli Delicacy (get it?).
I made these yesterday to be able to FINALLY get the recipe on the website and brought them to my hair salon as a treat for the staff and other customers. Well, they were half gone by the time I even got my hair washed!
I may or may not have eaten a few myself. This is a testimony to how great these are.
The beauty of these is that they are easy to make and somewhat affordable as well. The cucumber adds a fresh flavor and the celery salt adds a unique, zesty seasoning.
Grating IS Great
You will use a whole, seedless cucumber for this recipe. Half the cucumber you will slice to garnish the ham snacks and the other half you will grate on a box grater.
You then season the cucumbers with celery salt which makes a nice flavor for the cream cheese and the top of the snacks.
The Bread
We all mourn the loss of the Pepperidge Farm Party Bread. I have NO IDEA why they discontinued this product.
I have found that a company called S. Rosens now makes this party bread and I have had no issue finding it in Chicago stores. I have had other followers report that they are able to find it in their neck of the woods as well.
If you cannot find this bread, you can easily cut up rye into small squares or triangles to make these ham snacks. Just cut them into bite sized pieces that would take 2 to 3 bites to eat.
Any rye bread will be great for these!
Ham On It
The ham I use is Krakus, which is a Polish Ham. It has no outer layer of “skin,” which sounds gross, but you know what I mean.
It is not a very salty ham. I also use this ham for my Open Faced Ham Sandwiches.
I use it this ham a lot, honestly. You can search Krakus Ham on my site and see all the recipes.
I am not sponsored by Krakus, I just love it. I would not say no to a lifetime supply from them, LOL!
Make It Easy
Spread the cream cheese on each bread square with a knife or spoon. You can also add the cream cheese mixture to a Ziploc bag and use it to squeeze a dollop on each one to save time.
You can also use a pastry bag. Whatever makes it easy!
Shaved Ham Snacks with Cucumber Cream Cheese Recipe
Shaved Ham Snacks with Cucumber Cream Cheese are the ideal snack for any snacking situation. A zesty cream cheese is made with grated cucumber and celery salt. Tiny slices of pumpernickel bread topped with the cream cheese, shaved ham, cucumber slices, and chives. The perfect snack.
Ingredients
- 1 lb. of shaved Ham, I prefer Krakus Polish Ham *pictured and linked in post
- 1 package of Party Rye Bread (24 mini squares of bread) *pictured, linked and alternatives in post)
- 1 tub of Whipped Cream Cheese (12 ounces)
- 1 seedless Cucumber
- 12 to 15 Chives
- 1/2 tablespoon of Dried Dill
- 1 to 2 teaspoons of Celery Salt
Instructions
- Wash but do not peel the cucumber. Cut the cucumber in half down the center. Slice the one half into thin slices and then into half moons.
- Grate the other half of the cucumber into a bowl using a box cheese grater on the thicker shredded side. Add one teaspoon of celery salt to the grated cucumber and toss to coat. Let this sit.
- In a bowl, or a bowl of a stand mixer, add the whipped cream cheese. Thinly slice half the chives and add to the cream cheese along with a few pinches of celery salt. Beat with a hand mixer or stand mixer on low for a minute.
- Add the grated cucumber to the cream cheese and mix on medium to high for 2 to 3 minutes.
- Sprinkle the sliced cucumbers with a little bit of the celery salt and set aside. I usually put these in a bowl.
- Run your knife through the shaved ham to make even smaller bits of ham.
- Spread your bread slices out on a platter or baking sheet.
- Spread the cream cheese mixture on each slice. I use a little less than a 1/2 tablespoon on each one. I make this easier on myself by adding my cream cheese mixture to a pastry bag or makeshift pastry bag made out of a Ziploc bag. *pictured in post. I squeeze a dollop on each bread square.
- Add ham to each bread slice, pressing it slightly into the cream cheese.
- Add a cucumber slice to each bread slice and secure it by pushing it into the cream cheese.
- Thinly slice the rest of the chives or cut with kitchen shears and sprinkle over the top of all the sandwiches. Then sprinkle them all with dried dill.
- Cover and refrigerate up to six hours before serving.