Sweet & Zesty Bread and Butter Pickles
These homemade bread and butter pickles are everything you love about classic deli pickles — sweet, tangy, and full of crunch! Made with fresh cucumbers, sweet onions, and a spiced vinegar brine, they come together in minutes and require zero canning. Perfect for burgers, sandwiches, or snacking straight from the jar. Just refrigerate and enjoy within 24 hours!
Equipment
- Large shallow bowl
- Colander
- Sharp knife or mandoline slicer
- Medium saucepan
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Airtight jars or containers
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pounds pickling cucumbers sliced ¼-inch thick (about 5 ½ cups)
- 1 ½ tablespoons coarse salt
- 1 cup thinly sliced sweet onion
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup white vinegar
- ½ cup apple cider vinegar
- ¼ cup light brown sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoons mustard seeds
- ½ teaspoon celery seeds
- ⅛ teaspoon ground turmeric
Instructions
- In a large shallow bowl, combine sliced cucumbers and salt. Cover and refrigerate for 1 ½ hours.
- Rinse cucumbers thoroughly under cold water in a colander. Drain well and return to the bowl.
- Add sliced onions to the cucumbers and toss gently to combine.
- In a medium saucepan, combine granulated sugar, white vinegar, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, mustard seeds, celery seeds, and turmeric.
- Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat, stirring until the sugar is completely dissolved.
- Carefully pour the hot vinegar mixture over the cucumber and onion mixture. Let it stand at room temperature for 1 hour.
- Transfer the mixture into airtight jars or containers.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 24 hours before serving. Enjoy!
Notes
These are refrigerator pickles only — they are not shelf-stable unless you follow a proper canning method.
For the best crunch, use pickling cucumbers, not regular salad cucumbers.
They’re delicious after just a few hours, but for full flavor, wait at least 24 hours.
Store in the fridge in airtight containers for up to 1 month.
I haven't tested this recipe with sugar substitutes, so I can't vouch for results with alternatives.
Use clean utensils each time you serve to extend freshness.