Zesty Bread & Butter Pickles

Switch up your pickling routine with this spicy bread and butter pickles recipe.

There is just a bit of heat here thanks to some freshly grated ginger but they are not hot, rather spicy with plenty of flavor from the mustard and turmeric.

They’re sweet and sour like all homemade bread and butter pickles but also have this bit of zesty spice that go well with hamburgers and tuna salad and more.

Not Your Usual Bread & Butter Pickle

This recipe has all the basics you’d expect in a traditional bread and butter pickle recipe. It has onions, though less than most recipes, it’s a perfect mix of sweet and sour, but it also has a hint of spice that isn’t always common in the American version.

As you work your way through your pickling cucumber harvest be sure to put up a few of these sweet pickles for your winter pantry.

Uniform Slices

If at all possible use a mandoline slicer instead of a knife for this recipe. The slicing will go so much faster that way.

Plus it will keep the onion and cucumber slices uniform which makes for better better texture overall in these pickles.

Vinegar Choices

White vinegar is the most traditional choice for bread and butter pickles. Personally, we’re just bigger fans of apple cider vinegar here.

The apple cider vinegar does result in a slightly darker color and for us a better flavor. However, use white vinegar if preferred.

As with all pickling for canning purposes, make sure to use a vinegar that is diluted to 5% to keep it safe for canning.

Sweet

Admittedly, there is a good bit of sugar in these pickles. These homemade pickles should be sweet. You can adjust it lower if you feel like you must.

These should be occasional additions not a staple part of a diet in my opinion and so I leave it.

Brown sugar is used instead of white sugar here, I feel like this adds a different depth of flavor but I imagine the white would work just fine if you wanted to substitute.

Don’t Skip the Salt Water Soak

Yes, soak the pickles in salt water for 2 hours. No, don’t be tempted to short cut this step.

This salt water bath does a lot for the texture, especially when put through the hot water bath of the canning process.

For Refrigerator Pickles

While the following is intended to be a spicy bread and butter pickles canning recipe, however you can skip the canning if you really want too.

Follow all the steps but skip the canning step. You could put the pickles in bigger jars like half gallons and just refrigerate. Let sit in the refrigerator for at least a week for optimum flavor.

Granted the recipe makes a big batch for sitting in the fridge, but they will keep for at least 6 months, maybe longer without canning.

Amazing Gifts

Be sure to make up an extra batch or two of these delicious pickles as gifts. Tuck them into care packages, hostess gifts, and more for a special gift from the vegetable garden most anyone will enjoy.

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