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Old fashioned bread and butter pickles – just like grandma used to make

My granny’s old-fashioned bread and butter pickle recipe is just what you’re looking for in a pickle. A crunchy pickle with the perfect balance between tangy and sweet!

open jar of home canned bread and butter pickles with fork removing some of the pickle slices

Last year our garden produced lots of cucumbers. At least a lot for our family since only 3 of us like them. We had enough that I wanted to make pickles – bread and butter pickles like my granny’s.

The problem was, I didn’t have her recipe. So I called one of my aunts and asked her if she had it. She didn’t. But she said she would look for it.

I began poking around the internet looking for how to make bread and butter pickles and I found several recipes. I printed one out and I guess I just used it as a base because when I pulled it out of the drawer I had written a different “recipe” based on what we liked.

Apparently, I kind of did my own thing (as usual). But those of us who like pickles enjoyed them all year. 

SchneiderPeeps - Bread and Butter Pickles have the perfect balance between sweet and tangy. My grandma's recipe will bring back memories of days gone by

A few months later my aunt sent me a package and inside were photocopies of my granny’s handwritten recipe cards. Her bread and butter pickle recipe is a little different and if we get any more cucumbers we will try it.

I know I loved them growing up – but this recipe was written in 1960 and well, my memories really don’t begin until about 1972. I don’t know if she made any changes to it and didn’t write them down. I do that sometimes. It’s a terrible habit.

Here’s what’s written…

1 gal med sized cucumbers, 8 small onions, 1 green pepper, 1 red sweet pepper, 1/2 cup canning salt. Slice cukes, onions and peppers, add salt, cover with ice and mix well. Let stand three hours. Drain. Make a solution of 5 cups sugar, 3 cups white vinegar, 1/2 tsp turmeric, 2 tbsp mustard seed, 2 tbsp celery seed, 1/2 tbs ground cloves. Cover cukes with liquid, bring to a boil and seal.

Clearly, my granny did a lot of canning and understood her directions to mean that you still have to put the mixture in jars and process safely. She kept these in her pantry not in the refrigerator so I know she canned them.

Pickles aren’t the only things to do with cucumbers, you can also freeze, dehydrate, and ferment them. I like to keep a list of all the things I’ve preserved so I’ll know how much of each thing we need to preserve each year. You can get a copy of the worksheets I use by filling out the form below.

Crisp Bread and Butter Pickles

The “secret” to crisp bread and butter pickles is the icing and salting. So, don’t skip this step!

Once you’ve sliced the cucumbers and onions, you’ll put them in a large bowl. Put a clean dish towel (flour sack towels work great for this) over the bowl. Add a bunch of ice on top and then sprinkle with canning salt. Fold the towel overhand up onto the ice and salt. This will keep the melting ice from dripping on the counter. Let it sit for three hours.

When you remove the towel, all or almost all the ice should be melted. Drain the water from the cucumber and onion mixture. And then give them a rinse in fresh water.

Now you’re ready to make bread and butter pickles!

bowl of cucumbers, onions and garlic with salt on them
Cucumbers and onion in large bowl, ready to be iced.
large bowl with a white towel over it and ice on top. Whole cucumbers are in the background
Flour sack towel, ice and salt over cucumber slices
metal bowl with white towel on it with whole cucumbers in the background
Towel overhang pulled up over the ice and salt.

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bread and butter pickles in jar
Yield: 4 pint jars

Granny's Bread and Butter Pickles

home canned bread and butter pickles with cute labels and a water bath canner in the background

Old fashioned bread and butter pickles are easy to make and a great way to preserve the summer cucumber harvest.

Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Additional Time 3 hours
Total Time 3 hours 40 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 1/2 pounds cucumbers
  • 1 pound onion
  • 1 head of garlic
  • 1/4 cup canning salt
  • 1 1/4 cup white vinegar (5% acidity)
  • 1 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 2 1/4 cups sugar
  • 1 Tbsp. mustard seed
  • 3/4 tsp. celery seed
  • 1/2 tsp. turmeric

Instructions

    1. Slice the cucumbers, onions and peel the garlic
    2. Put cucumbers, onions, and peeled garlic in a big bowl. 
    3. Sprinkle the canning salt over them and then covered them with a clean towel.
    4. Put ice on the towel.
    5. Let it sit for about 3 hours.
    6. After 3 hours make a brine out of the vinegar, cider vinegar, sugar, mustard seed, celery seed and turmeric. Bring to a boil in a large pot.
    7. Pour the now salted water off the cucumbers and rinse them.
    8. Put the cucumbers, onions and garlic in the pot with the brine and bring back to boil for 90 seconds.
    9. Ladle into hot jars and remove bubbles
    10. Put lids and bands on jars.
    11. Process for 10 minutes for pints and 20 minutes for quarts in a water bath canner.
    12. Remove jars from canner and let cool for 12-24 hours.
    13. Remove bands and check seals. If any didn't seal, put them in the refrigerator to use first.
    14. Label sealed jars and store in cool, dry place.

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    Did you make this recipe?

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    Where to Buy Herbs and Spices

    While you can find all of the herbs in this bread and butter pickle recipe at your neighborhood grocery store, they are often quite pricey in the little round bottles. If you’re going to be doing quite a bit of pickle making, I suggest buying in bulk from somewhere like Starwest Botanicals, which is my favorite place to buy quality herbs and spices.

    Labeling and Storing Pickles

    Unless you only make one type of pickles, it’s really important to label the jars. If you’re using metal lids, you can just use a marker and write on the lid. If you’re using reusable lids (I highly recommend) you can use a piece of masking tape on the jar or lid to write on.

    I like to print up these cute labels for the jars I give as gifts. If you’d like to use them, just fill out the form below and the printable copy will be emailed to you.

    Be sure to store sealed jars in a cooled area. If you need to get creative for finding places to store your home canned food, here are some food storage tips to help you out.

    More Pickle Recipes

    Refrigerator Dill Pickles
    Canned Dill Pickles
    Canned Sweet and Spicy Pickles
    Fermented Dill Pickles
    Pickled Peppers

    image of The Ultimate Guide to Preserving Vegetables and jars of home preserved vegetables

    The Ultimate Guide to Preserving Vegetables

    If you you’re looking for more preserving inspiration, I know you’ll love The Ultimate Guide to Preserving Vegetables. In this book I share how to can, dehydrate, freeze and ferment almost every vegetable. I also share 100 favorite recipes for preserving the vegetables in fun way that will save you time and money later. Get your copy here. Get your copy here.

     

    Thanks for sharing with your friends!

    Vincent eads

    Monday 13th of November 2023

    Tried this bread and butter recipe I won't be trying any others this one was perfect making my second batch now only 1 grt jar left now I need to make pickle relish

    Angi Schneider

    Tuesday 14th of November 2023

    Thank you so much for letting me know you like it! My Granny would be tickled.

    Shawna Kinsman

    Sunday 20th of August 2023

    I love your Grandmother's recipe. I put cloves in the vinegar liquid and it tastes just like my mother's used to. Thanks for the recipe.

    Angi Schneider

    Tuesday 22nd of August 2023

    Goodness, this makes me so happy! Thanks for sharing!

    Nicole

    Saturday 19th of August 2023

    Do the jars have to be warmed first or just put in the bath

    Angi Schneider

    Tuesday 22nd of August 2023

    The jars should be hot when you pack them with the cucumbers and hot brine to avoid thermal shock. Once they're filled, just put them in the hot water bath.

    Hanne L.

    Thursday 17th of August 2023

    This was my first year trying to pickle cucumberr. I absolutely love this recipe. They taste great and are easy to make.

    Angi Schneider

    Tuesday 22nd of August 2023

    So glad to hear you love them!!!

    Beth

    Sunday 13th of August 2023

    OMG. This recipe is great. I had so many cucumbers 🥒 this year, so I had to can them. This recipe reminds me of my Grandmother's bread and butter . I would eat the whole jar.

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