Save A playful and creative lunchbox treat featuring sandwiches cut into horse head shapes, perfect for kids and themed parties.
I enjoy making these horse head sandwiches for my kids on special days. They love showing them off at school and eating such a fun snack.
Ingredients
- Sandwich Base: 8 slices soft whole wheat or white sandwich bread
- Filling: 4 tbsp cream cheese, softened, 4 slices mild cheddar cheese, 4 slices deli turkey or ham (optional, or substitute with cucumber slices for vegetarian option)
- Decoration: 8 small black olives (for eyes and nostrils), 1 small carrot, julienned (for mane), 2 tbsp mayonnaise or butter (for spreading, optional)
Instructions
- Step 1:
- Lay out the bread slices and lightly spread with mayonnaise or butter, if desired.
- Step 2:
- Using a horse head-shaped cookie cutter, cut out 8 horse head shapes from the bread slices.
- Step 3:
- For each sandwich, layer one cutout with a slice of cheese and a slice of turkey/ham or cucumber. Spread a thin layer of cream cheese on the inside of the top cutout.
- Step 4:
- Place the top bread cutout over the filling to assemble the sandwich.
- Step 5:
- Decorate each horse head with small pieces of black olive for eyes and nostrils, using a dab of cream cheese to adhere if needed.
- Step 6:
- Arrange julienned carrot strips along the neck or top of the head to resemble a mane.
- Step 7:
- Pack the sandwiches carefully into lunchboxes to maintain their shape.
Save My children love assembling and decorating their own horse heads. It makes lunch time more engaging and fun for the whole family.
Tips for Decorating
Use small olives carefully to create eyes and nostrils, and julienned carrots can be arranged in many creative styles to mimic the horse's mane.
Serving Suggestions
Serve these sandwiches with fresh fruit and veggie sticks for a balanced meal perfect for school lunches or parties.
Storage
Prepare and assemble the sandwiches shortly before serving to keep bread fresh and decorations intact. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator if needed.
Save This easy and playful sandwich is sure to delight kids and add excitement to any lunchbox.
Recipe FAQ
- → What type of bread works best for the cutouts?
Soft whole wheat or white sandwich bread is ideal for cleanly cutting horse head shapes without crumbling.
- → How do you create the mane decoration?
Julienned carrot strips are placed along the neck or top of the horse head shape to resemble a mane.
- → Can this be made vegetarian or vegan?
Yes, use cucumber slices instead of deli meat for vegetarian and plant-based cheese plus omit meat for a vegan option.
- → How are the eyes and nostrils formed?
Small black olive pieces are used for eyes and nostrils, secured with a dab of cream cheese if needed.
- → What tools are needed for preparation?
A horse head-shaped cookie cutter, a small paring knife, and a spreader or butter knife are useful for assembling these sandwiches.
- → How can kids be involved in making these sandwiches?
Children can help cut shapes, layer ingredients, and decorate the horses, making the process fun and interactive.