I grew up spending weekends, holidays, and summers on my Grandmother’s working farm. Unfortunately for me, I was one of the workers. Each year they produced two massive gardens, covering almost two acres. We grew fruits and vegetables in abundance. I hated it, mainly because I didn’t care about tending vegetables in the hot sun. I couldn’t understand why we didn’t purchase our vegetables at the store like all of my friend’s parents. I swore when I became an adult I would never, ever plant a garden. Now, I enjoy gardening and so do my children. Probably because I don’t plant two-acre patches of produce and fruit, but I digress. When we had an abundance of pickling cucumbers recently, I knew exactly what to do with them- make this Bread and Butter pickles recipe.
Bread and Butter Pickles Recipe
I wondered where these pickles got their name since they contain neither bread nor butter, so I did a little digging to see what I could find. According to some sources, the name originated during the Great Depression when these were served with bread and butter because all the ingredients were low cost. That’s surprising because I’m not sure spices were ever cheap.
This is the same recipe that both my mom and my mother-in-law used. It’s a hit with all the family, but especially my son. The recipe makes a sweet pickle, not a sour one. Bread and Butter pickles are not like dill pickles.
Here’s what you need to make them:
24 Pickling Cucumbers
5 to 6 large yellow Onions
4 cups Vinegar
4 cups Sugar
2 cups Water
1/4 cup Salt
1 tablespoon Turmeric
1 tablespoon Celery Seed
1 tablespoon Mustard Seed
1 tablespoon Whole Allspice
Here’s how to make them:
1. Chop the ends off cucumbers but don’t peel them. Slice the cucumbers 1/2 inch thick.
2. Peel the onions and cut them into thin slices.
3. In a large bowl, layer the cucumbers and onions. Sprinkle each layer with salt. Note: This requires a large bowl. You might have to use two bowls.
4. Allow cucumber and onion mixture to sit for 3 hours.
5. Mix vinegar, sugar, water, turmeric, celery seed, mustard seed, and allspice until sugar is dissolved. In a large saucepan or Dutch oven, bring the mixture to a boil. Allow the mixture to boil two minutes. Remove from heat. Allow the mixture to cool.
6. Pack cucumbers and onions firmly into glass canning jars. You’ll need 9-pint jars or 4-quart jars plus one-pint jar.
7. Pour hot liquid over cucumber and onion mixture. Add lids.
8. To process the cucumbers to keep them shelf staple, boil them in a hot water bath for five minutes. This will make the cucumbers softer. If you prefer crisp pickles and can eat a lot of pickles quickly, store them in the fridge where they will last for several weeks.
Printable Recipe:
- 24 Pickling Cucumbers
- 5 to 6 large yellow Onions
- 4 cups Vinegar
- 4 cups Sugar
- 2 cups Water
- 1/4 cup Salt
- 1 tablespoon Turmeric
- 1 tablespoon Celery Seed
- 1 tablespoon Mustard Seed
- 1 tablespoon Whole Allspice
- Chop the ends off cucumbers but don’t peel them. Slice the cucumbers 1/2 inch thick.
- Peel the onions and cut them into thin slices.
- In a large bowl, layer the cucumbers and onions. Sprinkle each layer with salt. Note: This requires a large bowl. You might have to use two bowls.
- Allow cucumber and onion mixture to sit for 3 hours.
- Mix vinegar, sugar, water, turmeric, celery seed, mustard seed, and allspice until sugar is dissolved. In a large saucepan or Dutch oven, bring the mixture to a boil. Allow the mixture to boil two minutes. Remove from heat. Allow the mixture to cool.
- Pack cucumbers and onions firmly into glass canning jars. You’ll need 9-pint jars or 4-quart jars plus one-pint jar.
- Pour hot liquid over cucumber and onion mixture. Add lids.
- To process the cucumbers to keep them shelf staple, boil them in a hot water bath for five minutes. This will make the cucumbers softer. If you prefer crisp pickles and can eat a lot of pickles quickly, store them in the fridge where they will last for several weeks.
Cooking Tips:
*This recipe calls for “pickling cucumbers.” That means cucumbers that are approximately 4 inches long.
*You can cover the cucumber and onion mixture with ice or place them in the fridge to chill to make them crisper if you like.
*If you put the pickles in ice or place them in the fridge, let them sit for a couple of hours before adding the hot liquid. No one wants exploding jars.
Have you ever made bread and butter pickles? What is your favorite type of pickle?
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I have always wanted to make my own pickles. I just don’t really know what pickling cucumbers are.
I’ve never made homemade pickles before, but these look and sound delicious! Thanks for sharing this recipe.
Bread and butter pickles bring back warm and fuzzy memories for me. I think they were at every picnic and potluck I attended as a child.
These are actually my favorite kind of pickles too. They are so yummy! I’m glad to have seen this recipe because now I want to make them myself.
These are my husbands favorite pickles. I wonder how they got their name?
I’ve never tried making pickles before. These look so yummy. I’m sure they’re perfect to have on hand to snack on.
We love pickles! My sister cans vegetables every year and she is constantly looking for the perfect crispy pickle recipe. I can’t wait to share this one with her.
I am not a huge fan of bread and butter pickles but my nieces and nephews are so I may need to make these for them! They would love it!
Hands up when I saw bread and butter I automatically thought this was going to be bread and butter pudding! I would never have expected pickles, I hands up have never heard of them before but what an interesting idea!
One of the easiest pickles to make and everyone loves them. We always do a bunch of jars full of these yummy pickles every summer.
I need to make these for sure. My kids LOVE their pickles and go through them quickly. They’ll love these.
I’ll have to give this recipe a try. Bread and butter is my favorite type of pickle. These look good!
I have never heard of these, but they sound yummy. I am the daughter in law of a farmer so understand your feelings well.
Wow I always buy bread and butter pickles from the store. I love the sweetness. I never thought to make my own but now I’m intrigued!!
I never pickled anything before but we all love cucumbers and pickles. This seems to be a great idea to have that freshness all winter long.
I am OBSESSED with bread and butter pickles. I am so making this recipe but with a sugar sub!! YUM! 🙂
My mom and dad had a huge garden when I was growing up and every summer we worked in the garden and vacation came after the canning and freezing were done. I, too, swore I’d never have a garden when I grew up. Now, I wish I had one about 1/4 of the size of my parents garden. Your pickle recipe sounds amazing!