Bread and butter pickles are a yummy treat, and my recipe is quick and easy to make. In this post, I’ll show you exactly how to make them with detailed step by step instructions.
If you’re looking for a great way to use up all of those cucumbers from your garden or the farmer’s market, then this recipe is for you.
This bread and butter pickles recipe comes together in minutes with a handful of ingredients. You could either keep them in the fridge, or try canning them so they last longer.
They’re perfect for the whole family to enjoy, and are so delicious on burgers and sandwiches, or simply for snacking.
Homemade Bread And Butter Pickles
Bread and butter pickles are a staple in many household refrigerators, and are a yummy way to add extra tang and crunch to a dish, hamburger, or sandwich.
This classic recipe comes together very quickly, and is a great way to enjoy the taste of summer all year round.
It uses common ingredients, so you can whip up a batch whenever you have a craving, and enjoy them in just a few days.
Related Post: How To Make Mustard Pickles (Recipe)
What Do Bread And Butter Pickles Taste Like?
These bread and butter pickles taste sweet, tangy, and slightly salty, and have a satisfying crunch.
I use apple cider vinegar, white vinegar, sugar, onions, and spices to create a flavorful brine that gets better with time as everything marinates.
The texture can vary slightly, depending on the type of cucumbers you use, but they will taste delicious nonetheless.
Best Types Of Cucumbers To Use For Bread And Butter Pickles
The best types of cucumbers to use for bread and butter pickles are small to medium in size, and should be as freshly picked as possible.
As for specific varieties, look for “pickling cucumbers”. These are typically firmer and have a thinner skin than other types.
Some popular ones include Sumter, Gherkin, and National Pickling. You can also use others, but thicker skinned varieties can create a slightly less crunchy pickle.
Related Post: How To Grow Cucumbers In Your Garden
How To Make Bread And Butter Pickles
You will only need a few simple ingredients to make this bread and butter pickles recipe, most of which you probably already have on hand in your kitchen.
But there’s a lot of room to experiment here, so don’t be afraid to swap out some of these, or add your own twist if you’d like.
Bread And Butter Pickles Ingredients
- Cucumbers: This is the star of the recipe. Ensure you slice them thick enough so they’ll have a nice crunch, about ¼ inch works well.
- Onion: I use this to balance out the tanginess of the vinegars in the brine, creating a well-rounded flavor profile. I recommend using sweet onions for this recipe.
- Vinegar: This helps to preserve the color, texture, and flavor of the vegetables, while adding a tangy taste profile. I prefer using a combination of apple cider vinegar and white vinegar, about half and half. But you could use 100% of either one or the other.
- Sugar: This adds sweetness that helps balance the tanginess of the vinegar. You could try using an artificial sweetener substitute, but it may affect the desired taste and texture.
- Water: Plain water adds bulk to the brine, and helps create an ideal solution for pickling.
- Spices: I used traditional spices: kosher salt, mustard seed, celery seed, and turmeric, with a touch of fresh dill. But you can adjust this to add or omit spices as you desire. Other common options include bay leaves and peppercorns, for example.
Related Post: When To Pick Cucumbers & How To Harvest Them
Tools & Equipment Needed
For this easy bread and butter pickle recipe you’ll need just a few common kitchen tools to get the job done. This recipe moves quickly, so have all of your ingredients and tools ready ahead of time.
- Wide mouth pint canning jars
- New wide mouth jar lids
- Cooking pot
- Whisk
- Wide mouth funnel
- Large ladle
- Crinkle cutter knife
- Cutting board
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Clean towel or paper towels
- Dissolvable labels
- OR Permanent marker
Canning Bread And Butter Pickles (Optional)
Since the brine is acidic, you could can your bread and butter pickles using a water bath canner if you’d like.
Once you’ve filled the jars, simply process them in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes to seal them, making sure to adjust for altitude if necessary.
If you want to do this, then you should definitely use small canning cucumber varieties so they maintain a firm crunch.
Other types work fine for refrigerator bread and butter pickles, but may become mushy after being boiled in high heat.
Using & Storing Bread And Butter Pickles
For the best flavor, allow your bread and butter pickles to marinade for at least 2 days in the refrigerator before eating them.
Once they’re ready, you can eat them right out of the jar, or use them on hamburgers, as a tangy accompaniment to any dish, an appetizer, on a charcuterie board, or in your favorite sandwich.
How Long Do Homemade Bread And Butter Pickles Last?
Unopened jars of homemade bread and butter pickles will last in the refrigerator for about 2-4 months. Once the jar is open, it’s best to eat them up within 2 weeks.
If you canned them, then they will last much longer – up to one year when stored in a cool, dark area. Note that they may lose some of their crispy texture as they age.
FAQs
Below I’ll answer some of the most commonly asked questions about homemade bread and butter pickles.
Are bread and butter pickles the same as sweet pickles?
Bread and butter pickles are a type of sweet pickle. But sweet pickles won’t all have the same flavor, depending on the recipe. The term “sweet pickle” refers to the sugar used in the brine.
What is the difference between bread and butter pickles and regular pickles?
The main difference between them is that bread and butter pickles tend to be sweet, where regular pickles are not.
What is bread and butter pickle juice made of?
Bread and butter pickle juice is a brine solution traditionally made of water, vinegar, sugar, and a mix of different spices.
Make your sandwiches come alive with this easy bread and butter pickle recipe. You’ll love the perfectly balanced sweetness and tang, plus the satisfying crunch. They’re so simple to make, and the perfect accompaniment to any meal as a bright and vibrant condiment.
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More Garden Fresh Recipes
- Quick & Easy Refrigerator Pickled Beets Recipe
- How To Make Pickled Asparagus (With Recipe)
- The Best Pickled White Onions Recipe
- How To Make Pickled Garlic (With Recipe)
- Quick & Easy Pickled Green Tomatoes Recipe
More About Cucumbers
- How To Freeze Cucumbers The Right Way
- Why Do Cucumbers Turn Yellow & How To Prevent It
- How To Grow Cucumbers Vertically On A Trellis
- 13 DIY Cucumber Trellis Ideas For Small Or Large Spaces
- How To Grow Cucumbers From Seeds & When To Plant
Share your favorite bread and butter pickle recipe in the comments section below.
Recipe & Instructions
Bread and Butter Pickle Recipe
This bread and butter pickle recipe comes together in just 30 minutes and will have you crunching on a perfectly sweet and tangy treat in just 2 days. They're delicious straight out of the jar, or on a juicy burger, relish tray, zesty side dish, or your favorite sandwich.
Ingredients
- 2 pounds cucumbers, sliced ¼ inch thick
- ½ medium sweet onion, thinly sliced
- 1 ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
- 1 ¼ cup white vinegar
- 1 ¾ cup sugar
- ½ cup + 2 Tablespoons water
- 2 ½ Tablespoons kosher salt
- 2 ½ teaspoons mustard seed
- 2 ½ teaspoons celery seed
- ¾ teaspoon turmeric
- 4 small sprigs fresh dill
Instructions
- Prepare vegetables - Wash the cucumbers and pat them dry, then peel your onion and cut it in half (you can save the other half for later). Cut them both up into thin slices, about ¼ inch thick. Use a crinkle cutter knife to slice the cucumbers for the fancy bread and butter pickle look.
- Pack the jars - Layer the cumbers and onions evenly into the 4 wide mouth pint size jars, tightly (but gently) packing them in. Set them aside for now.
- Assemble the brine - In a saucepan over medium heat, add the vinegar, sugar, water, salt, mustard seed, celery seed, and turmeric. Use your whisk to thoroughly combine them.
- Cook the brine - Bring the brine liquid to a boil and cook for 1 minute, or until the sugar has completely dissolved. Remove the brine from the heat and let it cool until lukewarm, which takes about 20 minutes.
- Add the brine to the jars - Using a wide mouth canning funnel, carefully ladle the brine liquid into the jars to completely cover the cucumbers and onions, leaving about ½ inch headspace on the top.
- Top with fresh dill - Add a pinch of fresh dill into each jar for a finishing touch. Then fasten a new lid and a band on top.
- Let them marinate - For the best flavor and the crunchiest texture, place the jars into the refrigerator for 2-3 days so that all of the flavors can marinate together before eating them.
Notes
It’s best to let the jars sit in the fridge for at least 2 days before eating your bread and butter pickles. That way the cucumbers have time to marinate and absorb all of the flavors.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
32Serving Size:
¼ cupAmount Per Serving: Calories: 57Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 297mgCarbohydrates: 13gFiber: 0gSugar: 12gProtein: 0g
Jennifer VanArsdale says
Hello..so I made my pickles…I put hot brine into jars over pickles..oh and the jars were hit…I put all the lids on them and refrigerated them. They all sealed!! Yayyy!! First time making these, by the way..I didn’t put in water bath..I chose not to forca crunching pickle.. so being that they sealed, do I have to keep them refrigerated??
Amy Andrychowicz says
If you didn’t process your bread and butter pickles in a hot water bath, then I would definitely recommend keeping them in the fridge.
Ted says
I have pickling spice which is a combination of the spice ingredients. How much should I use for the recipe?
Amy Andrychowicz says
I haven’t tested my bread and butter pickle recipe using a pickling spice blend, so I can say for sure. It depends on what spices are in the blend, and the ratio of salt it contains. I would check the label to see if it gives a recommendation of how much to add.