My favorite pickle are either Bread and Butter or Sweet Pickles. The two pickles are very similar– the only difference is that Sweet Pickles have a bit more sugar. That’s it! I love adding them to sandwiches. They also taste great chopped up in Homemade Potato Salad.
Which pickle camp are you? Dill? Bread and Butter? I’m one of those folks who evicts dill pickles from my burgers. Sorry! I’m a fan of sweet pickles, and I’m not ashamed to admit it. I especially love them on a roast beef and Swiss cheese sandwich. Yummy!
I can’t resist buying Kirby pickling cucumbers, when I see them at my summer farm stand. Making pickles isn’t difficult at all. Trust me! Besides cucumbers, you need a pot to make the brine, sterilized jars, salt, pickling spices and you’re pretty much on your way.
You can use this really cool mandoline, a knife, or this cute crinkle cutter. Salt the sliced cucumbers (of course, you can also just cut spears) and set aside.
In the meantime, ice the cucumbers (to keep them crisp) and then rinse off the salt well.
I’m a big fan of McCormick Pickling Spice. It’s easy to find. (I also use it to make my Pressure Cooker Corned Beef).
The brine is made with vinegar, sugar and pickling spices.
Once the brine is nice and hot, simply fill sterilized jars with the cucumbers, pour in the brine and — voila! You made pickles. I take the extra step of water canning them, so they can preserve up until a year. Otherwise, refrigerate them and enjoy within a month.
Easy Homemade Sweet Pickles
Equipment
- Sterlized Canning Jars and Lids
Ingredients
To salt the pickles (to remove excess moisture)
- 2 pounds Pickling Cucumbers "Kirby" are ideal
- 1/4 cup picking/canning salt can use Kosher
- crushed or cubed ice
Pickling liquid:
- 2 ¼ cups sugar
- 1 ¾ cups white vinegar
- 1 ½ Tbsp Pickling Spices recommended "McCormick Schilling"
- 1 small pinch ground cloves optional; don't add too much, as it could overpower the flavor
Instructions
- Wash the cucumbers and slice off the blossom end and discard. You can slice the cucumbers into "chips" or spears– whatever your preference is. (We prefer chips, for sandwiches)
- Set the sliced cucumbers into a strainer and add the pickling salt, and toss to combine.Cover with aboaut 2" of ice cubes and set on top of a bowl. Refrigerate 3-4 hours. Add more ice if needed.
- Rinse the cucumbers and drain.
Pickling liquid:
- Bring the sugar, vinegar and pickling spices to a boil.
Raw Pack (my preferred method)
- Fill each sterilized jar to almost full. Ladle pickling liquid to about halfway. NOTE: I first filled my jars with liquid to about ½" headspace. After the water bath, the pickles shrank and were floating in liquid. Next time I won't fill with so much liquid!
Hot Pack (alternative)
- Add the cucumberss and heat slowly in the vinegar solution until it returns to a boil. Stir occasionally to make sure the mxiture heats evenly. Fill sterile jars leaving ½" headspace.
Waterbath:
- I have an automatic pressure canner (for small batch canning) and set the timer for 35 minutes. Otherwise, water bath time should be 15 minutes. Once removed, allow to cool completely. I chilled one jar, and the rest are in my pantry. They are delicious!
Notes
If you do not like the pickling spice floating in the jar you can use knee high stocking (hoes) put into hoes and tie off to contain the spices and cut off excess….or you can use cheese cloth and close with rubber band.
I have been searching everywhere for a simple sweet pickle recipe. Most add onions and garlic. My mom used make these to use in potato salad & coleslaw. I a, so glad to finally have a recipe! Thank you!
I hope this recipe is what you were seeking. I have a savory pickle recipe online, but this one is the sweeter version that I love!
I haven’t tried this sweet pickle recipe yet , but, I had some bread & butter pickles in the pantry & I can’t resist, they’ll be gone in a couple of days , I did cut up a Scallion & 5 garlic cloves in thin slices & added them to the pickles.. I love onions & garlic in all my pickles.. I started making pickless 2 yrs ago, one of them was Brussel sprouts.. man oh mam , added cellars & onions & garlic…GREAT STUFF , , I LOVE PICKLES..!! ALL THE VEGIES…great site ,, thanks..
My husband wanted to have a sweet pickles like his grandma made back in the 70’s ,this repice is the only one that might be close to it!!! Hope this sweet pickles recipe will keep tradition gone for ours grandkids to remember in the future Thanks
No salt in the brine?
Nope! That’s why they are sweet pickles!
Do I boil for 35 minutes to process? This seems like a long time.
The instructions are for using the Ball Canning automatic canner. It’s basically a pressure cooker. So, yes, 35 minutes is how long the cycle runs.
This is fabulous! I also used a recipe for home made pickling spice, glad to use up things in my spice drawer, which was a wonderful find. The suggestion from someone in this thread to tie off the spices is v useful, too. I highly recommend!
Fantastic! I’m so happy to reach a positive review. Thank you.
Can I use apple cider vinegar instead of white vinegar for canning the sweet pickles? It has 5% acidity
I can’t wait to try this sweet pickle recipe. i don’t like all those that use the onions, garlic, and peppers, so this one fits the bill I was looking for. I do have a question though……… Since I don’t have an automatic canner or pressure canner, do I still need to water bath the pickles for 35 minutes?
I need to edit my recipe card, more clearly. The 35 minutes is specifically for the pressure canner. Otherwise, water bath for 15 minutes. Thanks for asking, so I can clarify bettr.
Hands down the best sweet pickle recipe. My pickles came out nice and crispy with the perfect flavor and I’m a new canner!
Amazing
That’s fantastic! So glad you had success with this recipe.
Very good instructions 👌. I am going to make some of these this weekend. I never knew they were so easy to make. I’ll let you know Debby how they come out. 😏
Can I use apple cider vinegar with 5% acidity instead of white vinegar?
Can you use apple cider vinegar instead of white?
I’ve never tried that, but I would think that would work. I’d love to know how your results are.
I made my pickles two days ago. The water bath worked and all cans are sealed. How long do I need to wait to eat them. Like how long until they turn into pickles? This is my first time!! Thank you!!
Congratulations on pickle making. It’s quite simple, isn’t it? You can eat them now!