Bread and Butter Pickles
These bread and butter pickles start with firm pickling cucumbers, sliced thin and soaked in a sweet-tangy brine packed with warm spices. Every jar delivers that satisfying snap you expect from a great pickle — soft enough to layer on a sandwich, crunchy enough to eat straight from the jar. This is a refrigerator pickle recipe, but if you want to stock the pantry for months, simply process the sealed jars in a boiling-water bath canner.
Instructions
Group: Prep the Cucumbers
- Toss the sliced cucumbers, onion, and jalapeños together in a large bowl. Sprinkle the kosher salt over everything and stir until every piece is fully coated.
- Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 to 4 hours, stirring once or twice during that time.
- Transfer the mixture to a colander and rinse under cold running water for 3 to 4 minutes until all the salt is washed away. Let it drain completely.
Group: Make the Brine
- In a medium saucepan, combine the vinegar, sugar, water, garlic, mustard seed, celery seeds, peppercorns, turmeric, and cloves.
- Bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat, stirring until the sugar fully dissolves. Let it cook for about 2 minutes so the spices bloom and the flavors come together.
Group: Finish and Store
- Add the drained cucumber mixture to the brine and heat just until the liquid is about to boil — then immediately remove from heat.
- Let everything cool completely at room temperature before transferring to clean mason jars. Seal and store in the refrigerator.
Notes
- Crunch tip: Don't skip the salt soak — it draws out excess moisture and is the key to that firm, crisp texture.
- Rinse well: Leftover salt will throw off the brine's sweet-tangy balance, so rinse thoroughly.
- Storage: Keeps in the refrigerator for up to 6 weeks. Flavor improves after the first 24 hours.
- For canning: Process sealed jars in a boiling water bath canner for shelf-stable storage of up to 1 year.
- Customize it: Reduce the sugar for a tangier pickle, or swap in apple cider vinegar for a slightly fruity depth.
Nutrition Facts
- Calories: 38
- Total Carbohydrates: 10g
- Dietary Fiber: 0g
- Total Sugars: 9g
- Protein: 0g
- Total Fat: 0g
- Vitamin C: 3mg
- Sodium: 361mg
- Calcium: 6mg
- Iron: 0mg
- Potassium: 40mg