This is truly a wonderful, no-canning skills needed recipe for Bread and Butter Pickles.
Watch the video showing you how to make these Bread and Butter Pickles, then scroll to the bottom of this post so you can print out the recipe and make them at home.
This Bread and Butter Pickles recipe is one that I love with all of my heart.
When I was little (old enough to stay by myself), I’d sometimes hang out at my Dad’s house in the summers while he he went off to work. Lunchtime would roll around and I’d open his refrigerator to see what sorts of things a Dad keeps in there. Sweet pickles and American cheese were always to be found. Yes, I like all varieties of pickles, and (gasp!) I like American cheese too. I discovered the joy of eating them together.
But before I gross you out too much, I must share with you my first experience with pickling: Bread and Butter Pickles
Although sweet pickles are my favorite, bread and butter pickles run a close second. Their sweet and tangy crunch are pretty irresistible.
How to Make Bread and Butter Pickles:
Start with buying some pickling cucumbers. They’re smaller than a salad cucumber. Your market should carry them, and in the summer months you’ll find them at farmer’s markets too.
Slice them up. Good, thick slices that will still allow the pickle to yield a crunch when you bite into it.
If you have one of these fancy doo-dads, you can make fancy pickles with ridges.
The pickles get a good dose of Kosher salt, then they can sit in the fridge for an hour. Then those pickles get rinsed off in the sink. Just rinse all of that salt off really well so that salty flavor won’t follow the pickles into the pickling liquid.
Make the pickling liquid. Combine the sugar…
…with white vinegar,
cider vinegar,
brown sugar,
mustard seeds,
celery seeds,
and turmeric. Bring that all to a boil.
Meanwhile, add some sliced sweet onion to your sliced cucumbers.
Pour the hot pickling liquid over the cucumbers and onion.
Let it sit there at room temperature for an hour or so.
Move those cucumbers and onions to the cutest jar you have, and refrigerate them for 24 hours. This is when the magic process of pickling is going to happen.
If you’re impatient like me, you won’t wait 24 hours. I tried my Bread and Butter Pickles after just a few hours and they tasted perfectly pickled to me. So sweet and crunchy and incredibly tangy.
If you’re a pickle fan (and you should be), you probably will enjoy these. They are so simple to make, and how cool would it be to be able to share homemade Bread and Butter Pickles at a summer barbecue?! And I promise that you don’t have to eat them with American cheese (but you’re tempted to try it now, aren’t you?)
If you are looking for more recipes using cucumbers, you might also enjoy my Tomato, Cucumber and Basil Salad or this Cucumber- Gin Fizz Cocktail. Cucumber Sorbet, Cucumber Salad, and Cucumber Tea Sandwiches are also great recipes starring cucumbers!
Bread and Butter Pickles
Recipe Details
Ingredients
- 5½ cups (1½ pounds) thinly sliced pickling cucumbers
- 1½ tablespoons Kosher salt
- 1 cup thinly sliced sweet onion
- 1 cup granulated white sugar
- 1 cup white vinegar
- ½ cup apple cider vinegar
- ¼ cup packed light brown sugar
- 1½ teaspoons mustard seeds
- ½ teaspoon celery seeds
- ⅛ teaspoon ground turmeric
Instructions
- Combine the cucumbers and salt in a large, shallow bowl; cover and chill 1½ hours. Move the cucumbers into a colander and rinse thoroughly under cold water. Drain well, and return the cucumbers to bowl. Add the onion to the bowl.
- Combine the sugar and the remaining ingredients in a medium saucepan; bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Pour the hot vinegar mixture over the cucumber mixture; let stand at room temperature 1 hour. Cover and refrigerate 24 hours. Store in an airtight container in refrigerator up to 2 weeks.
Video
Notes
- Don't cut the cucumbers too terribly thin. You want them to have a little bit of crunch to them!
- You may find that your cucumbers are already ready to sample within just a few hours of marinating in the pickling liquid (rather than waiting an entire 24 hours!)
I double the sugar and other pickling ingredients and pour it over jalapeños. Sweet spicy and hot whats not to love?
Thank you so much for this recipe! I love that there is a visual guide with the video you included as well – makes it so much easier to follow! Can’t wait to try this one at home!
These pickles are delicious, Lori, and so easy to make! My grandsons devoured them—along with their grilled cheese sandwiches. I’ve just made two more batches to restock and to give away. Thanks for sharing this yummy recipe!
I made this recipe last night for the THIRD time and definitely not my last! My son is visiting so I wanted to give him some to bring home when he leaves. These pickles are absolutely delicious!! So easy and inexpensive compared to store bought! They are great tasting and make such a sweet gift for a neighbor or friend. I double the recipe when I make it because they go quickly in my house!
Thank you for the step by step photos and recipe. Made this last weekend and they turned out great! How long do they usually last in. last in the refrigerator?
one to two weeks…
I make these every year when our cucumbers ripen and they last until the next summer if kept refrigerated.. By the time I make them we have just finished last year’s batch. I put them in clean (dishwasher washed) canning jars and keep refrigerated. Use the crinkle cut blade of a mandolin to cut the cucumbers. We share some, but absolutely love the taste of summer with hot dogs and hamburgs during the winter.
These are great tasting bread and butter pickles. I love making these.
Do you add water to top off the jar?
Nope, just follow the instructions!
Can these be Canned in a jar?
If so, how long you processes them for?
Would you please let me know
I am not familiar at all with traditional canning methods, so I cannot help.
I made this recipe last year and it was the best! I hot water bathed them for 20 minutes and we have been eating them all year! They are so good. I canned some in pint jars & gave them out as gifts, but for myself, I definitely used bigger jars as these pickles are addictive!! Thx for sharing the recipe!
Second time making these with the same excellent result–deliciousness! Made exactly as recipe instructs. Easy recipe. Thanks!
I am so very happy to see a recipe for bread and butter pickles. Soooooooo, I am sending you a big hug and kiss and a BIG THANK YOU for making the easiest recipe I’ve been able to find.
I also them with American cheese. It’s a favorite midnight snack! Lol. I’m gonna try this recipe. Literally up to my ears in canning and vegetables right now!
Can the mixture be cooled off some before u put on slices?
Just wondering if that would have a crisper result in the pickles?
I make it as directed, so I’m not sure how that would affect the outcome. I think the warm mixture really helps get the flavors in the cucumber.
My aunt made the best. She cut up red peppers with the onions also. Sooooo good!!!
Are the onions a necessary part of the recipe for taste? I hate onions & would just throw them out anyhow. Can I just save that money?
All of the ingredients in the recipe add to the flavor. I don’t eat the onions. I supposed you can try leaving them out.
All of the ingredients in the recipe add to the flavor. I don’t eat the onions. I suppose you can try leaving them out.
I made this yesterday and they are PERFECT, thank you the recipe. Now I want other pickle dill ,garlic ect.
These were soooo good! I’ve made them twice already! I didn’t change the recipe a bit. I put one pint jar in the fridge and then hot water bathed the other ones and so I haven’t tried those yet to see how they taste but even if they don’t come out crunchy like the ones in the fridge, the taste is amazing! Thanks for sharing!
I grew up eating pickle and cheese sandwiches. Haven’t had one in a long time but you have made me hungry for one.
Can you make these without the onion? My hubs is allergic
I’m sure you can… it will just have a little bit of a different flavor than the original recipe.
My recipe is very similar, we use 100% REAL cider vinegar in ours.
My aunt used to add cauliflower to stretch the mixture…all tasted good.
great idea!
This recipe is FANTASTIC!!! The end product was great. I enjoyed the pickles with burgers, chopped up on tacos, and I even chopped them up and made tatar sauce to put on fish. Nice crunchy sweet texture with the onions. I will not buy bread and butter pickles again thanks to this recipe. I’ll pickle my own.
Excellent Presentation!!!! I am making pickles tomorrow and will make some using your receipe!!! MAY OUR PRECIOUS CREATOR OF LIFE bless you for sharing you receipe with Humanity!!! I love your short cut for drawing the extra water from the cucumbers. Putting them in the fridge for a short time is a fantastic idea!!!!
What a fabulous recipe! I made up my first batch today… They are SO delicious… I’ll be making more for sure!!