Bread and Butter Pickles

Prep	Cook	Chilling and Pickling	Total	Servings
20 Min	5 Min	2 Days	2 Days 25 Min	64

Ingredients

• 2 pounds pickling cucumbers
• 1 cup sweet onion slices
• ¼ cup kosher salt
• 1 tablespoon whole mustard seeds
• 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper
• 1 teaspoon celery seeds
• 4 whole cinnamon sticks or 8 whole cloves
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 1 ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
• 1 ¼ cup white vinegar
• Pinch turmeric for color

Instructions

1. Set out a large mixing bowl and a mandolin slicer if you have one. Slice the pickles into even 1/8 inch rounds. Then quarter and slice the onion into short segments.
2. Place the cucumber slices and onions in the bowl, and toss with kosher salt. Set in the fridge to rest for 1-3 hours.
3. Meanwhile, set out for clean pint jars. Divide the mustard seeds, crushed red pepper, celery seeds, and cinnamon sticks between the four jars.
4. Once the cucumber slices I’ve had plenty of time to rest, release their juices, and absorb the salt, rinse them in cold water to remove the excess salt. Divide the cucumber slices and onions between the four jars.
5. Set a small saucepot over high heat. Add the sugar, apple cider vinegar, white vinegar, and turmeric. Bring to a boil.
6. Once boiling, carefully ladle the hot pickling liquid into the jars, dividing it evenly. If some of the cucumbers are still sticking out of the top of the jar, uncovered, add a tablespoon or two of hot water to the jars. Screw the lids on tight and shake the pickle jars.
7. If planning to make as refrigerator pickles, let the pickles sit at room temperature for one hour, then moved to the refrigerator. If planning to can the pickles, follow proper canning procedure at this point.
8. Let the pickles rest at least 48 hours before eating. The texture and flavor will improve over the next week.

Notes

• Feel free to add more or less red pepper, cinnamon sticks and/or cloves to taste.
• I also like to add a pinch of turmeric powder for that lovely classic yellowish pickle color. But you can leave it out if you want.

Details for customization

• Pickling cucumbers – sliced with a mandolin (more on this below)
• Sweet onion – peeled and sliced
• Seasonings – kosher salt, whole mustard seeds, crushed red pepper, celery seeds, cinnamon sticks, or whole cloves
• Granulated sugar – to bring the sweetness to this homemade sweet pickles recipe
• Apple cider vinegar – adds a delightfully tangy taste
• White vinegar – essential for pickling and doesn’t overpower the other vibrant flavors

Link to recipe