Old fashioned bread and butter pickles - just like grandma used to make (2024)

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!

Last year our garden produced lots of cucumbers. At least a lotfor 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.

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!

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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

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.