We’re Obsessed With This Vintage Cream Cheese and Olive Sandwich That’s Gone Viral

A couple of the most viral recipes this spring have been simple, vintage sandwiches that call for white bread and cream cheese. The first old-fashioned lunch to catch fire was the cucumber sandwich, watched and liked by millions on TikTok. “Do you really need a recipe for a cucumber sandwich?” asked TikTok creator Amy Flanigan in her video (with 1.3 million views). “Yes. Yes, you do.” Now, closely following the popularity of the cucumber sandwich, allow us to introduce its close cousin: the cream cheese and olive sandwich.

The cream cheese and olive sandwich, surprisingly, does not owe its fame to TikTok. The one who kicked off this trend is food writer Elazar Sontag, who wrote about it in Bon Appetit, based on a sandwich he ate at S&P, the revival of the classic New York lunch counter. “What I didn’t expect was for so much nostalgia,” wrote Sontag. When he posted his version on Instagram, he says that “Friends and strangers streamed into my comments and DMs to share stories of their parents and grandparents making some approximation of this dish when they were little.”

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A post shared by Elazar Sontag (@e_zar)

What Is a Cream Cheese and Olive Sandwich and How Do You Make It?

Two Sandwiches Cream Cheese Olive Sandwich Jason Wilson Toh

It’s just as the name says. There are three ingredients: white bread, cream cheese and pitted olives. This is not an olive sandwich spread, which is quite different.

To make it, take two slices of white bread and slather them generously with cream cheese. Then, take a handful of olives and chop them into pebble-sized pieces. Top the cream cheesed bread with the chopped olives and close the sandwich. Cut in half to serve.

“Sometimes it pays to just be simple,” said TikTok creator Jim Behymer (@sandwichidiot) in his video (with more than 325,000 views!) that sings the praises of this three-ingredient sandwich. Behymer noted the old-fashioned nature of the sandwich, as well: “Nostalgia, for many people, may be a secret and critical fourth ingredient to this sandwich.”

We Tried It—and You Should, Too

Personally, I have no nostalgic connection to this sandwich—my parents or grandparents never ate this. But it still feels old-school in the coolest way possible. I do happen to love olives, in all forms, which I think is important. They can be a divisive food item, even though olives have health benefits. Half of our office expressed disgust at the idea of olives. But if you like olives, you will love this sandwich.

Though it’s simple, there are definitely ways to experiment with and personalize the cream cheese and olive sandwich. For instance, the original recipe calls for green olives (Castelvetro works well), but you can also try them with others. Kalamata olives, for instance, brought a little more intense brininess. There is also the question of whether to cut the crusts off or not. I found that both crust on and crust off had their merits.

Old-School Recipes That Deserve a Comeback

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Grandma’s Chicken ‘n’ Dumpling Soup

I've enjoyed making this rich homemade dumpling recipe for over 40 years. Every time I serve it, I remember my southern grandma, who was very special to me and was known as an outstanding cook. —Paulette Balda, Prophetstown, Illinois Get Recipe If you're looking for something sweet, check out how to make these lemon-frosted fruit bars from the 1940s.

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On cool nights, nothing hits the spot like a steaming homemade potpie—especially one you can get on the table fast. The pinwheel crust on top has become my signature. —Kristin Shaw, Castleton, New York

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We’re Obsessed With This Vintage Cream Cheese and Olive Sandwich That’s Gone Viral

What Is a Cream Cheese and Olive Sandwich and How Do You Make It?

We Tried It—and You Should, Too

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