Sweet Bread and Butter Pickles
Classic sweet and tangy cucumber pickle slices with mustard seeds, celery seeds, and onions.
In a nutshell: This authentic american sweet bread and butter pickles comes together in just 30 mins using simple whole ingredients. Perfect for home cooks seeking a dependable, restaurant-quality finish with minimal effort.
The perfect balance of sweet, tangy, and crunchy! Ideal for topping burgers, sandwiches, or enjoying straight from the jar.
Key Equipment
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Chef's Pro-Tips
- Measure Flour by Spooning & Leveling: Avoid scooping measuring cups directly into flour bags, which packs the grains densely. Spoon flour into the cup and level with a butter knife.
- Cool in Pan Briefly, Then Rack: Let loaves rest 10 minutes in the loaf tin before turning onto a wire rack. Trapped steam inside pans can make bottom crusts soggy.
Ingredients
12
servings
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3 lbs pickling cucumbers, sliced into 1/4-inch ridges
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2 medium sweet onions, thinly sliced
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2 cups apple cider vinegar
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1 ½ cups granulated sugar
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2 tbsp mustard seeds
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1 tsp celery seeds
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½ tsp ground turmeric
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3 tbsp pickling salt
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Step-by-Step Instructions
Salt Cucumbers
Toss sliced cucumbers and onions with salt in a colander over a bowl. Let sit 2 hours to drain excess liquid, then rinse and pat dry.
Make Sweet Brine
Combine cider vinegar, sugar, mustard seeds, celery seeds, and turmeric in a pot. Bring to a boil until sugar dissolves.
Jar Pickles
Add cucumbers and onions to hot brine, simmer for 3 minutes, then pack into glass jars and chill.
Chef Clara's Kitchen Picks
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View on AmazonFrequently Asked Questions
Tossing the sliced cucumbers and onions with salt and draining draws out excess liquid, which keeps the finished pickles crisp instead of watery.
These are refrigerator pickles, not canned, so keep them chilled and enjoy within several weeks. They stay crunchiest early on.
You can cut it back somewhat, but sugar defines the sweet bread-and-butter style and balances the vinegar. Reduce gradually to taste.
They are classic on burgers and sandwiches, and great on a charcuterie board next to sharp cheese and cured meats.
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