Refrigerator Bread and Butter Pickles Recipe - Belly Full (2024)

These homemade refrigerator bread and butter pickles are sweet, zesty, and crunchy. A perfect condiment for a burger or sandwich, or enjoy them as a snack on their own. This recipe is so easy and doesn’t require any canning skills!

Refrigerator Bread and Butter Pickles Recipe - Belly Full (1)

We are a pickle loving family over here. 1000% if that was a thing. My pantry is never ever without dill pickle potato chips and my refrigerator is always stocked with pickled beets and pickled eggs. Not to mention that I have countless varieties of vinegar in my cupboard. Pucker up!

While dill pickles are #1 for us, bread and butter pickles are right on their heals. We’ve been known to polish off an entire jar of these in an afternoon.

Refrigerator Bread and Butter Pickles Recipe - Belly Full (2)

Why are they called bread and butter pickles?

Some say they gained popularity during the Great Depression. Since they were a cheap kitchen staple, people would use them on buttered sandwich bread for an easy, inexpensive lunch.

Another story is that Omar and Cora Fanning, who were Illinois cucumber farmers back in the 1920’s, pickled and sold their small cucumbers and would also trade the pickles with their local grocer for essentials, like bread and butter. They ended up filing for a “Fanning’s Bread and Butter Pickles” trademark.

Are Bread and Butter Pickles Sweet?

Unlike dill pickles, they’re definitely on the sweeter side, but they’re also tart, with a slight kick. They’re infused with a sugar-vinegar brine and other spices that make them pretty irresistible and perfect on sandwiches!

Refrigerator Bread and Butter Pickles Recipe - Belly Full (3)

Making homemade bread and butter pickles is so easy! There are only a few simple steps, some resting time (for the pickles and hopefully for you, too! HA), and then chilling in the fridge overnight to get the truest flavor. If you’re really impatient, though, they taste great after only a few hours!

Bread and Butter Pickle Recipe Ingredients

  • Pickling cucumbers – these pickles are made from a smaller cucumber than you use on a salad. They’re marketed as pickling cucumbers and can be found at most regular grocery stores. Use the freshest, unblemished ones you can find.
  • Onion – sweet onions pair perfectly with the tangy brine.
  • Vinegar – white vinegar and apple cider vinegar are both used.
  • Sugar – a combination of granulated and brown sugar.
  • Seasonings – mustard seeds, celery seeds, ground Turmeric, and Kosher salt

Recipe Tips

  • The cucumber slices should be about 1/4-inch thick. You want some crunch! Too thin and they can disintegrate when soaked with the hot brine. Too thick and they won’t soak up the brine enough.
  • I highly recommend using a mandolin, which ensures the slices are all the same size. It also makes the process so much easier and faster!
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Take these to a summer barbecue and make all the friends!

Looking for more cucumber recipes? Try my Cucumber Tomato Salad, Creamy Cucumber Salad, Beet and Cucumber Salad.

Watch the video for this Bread and Butter Pickles Recipe

I hope you love this delicious and simple recipe – be sure to give it a review below! Also don’t forget to follow Belly Full onFacebook,Instagram,Pinterest, andYouTube!

Refrigerator Bread and Butter Pickles Recipe - Belly Full (5)

Bread and Butter Pickles

5 from 49 Ratings

These easy homemade bread and butter pickles are sweet, zesty, and crunchy. Perfect for a burger or sandwich, or enjoy them as a snack on their own!

Print Recipe Rate Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 5 minutes minutes

Resting and Chill 1 day day 1 hour hour

Total Time 1 day day 1 hour hour 20 minutes minutes

Servings: 16 (1/4 cup per serving) 4cups of pickles

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 pounds pickling cucumbers , sliced 1/4-inch thick (about 5 1/2cups)
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons kosher salt
  • 1 cup thinly sliced sweet onion
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup white vinegar
  • 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 1/4 cup light brown sugar
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons mustard seeds
  • 1/2 teaspoon celery seeds
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground turmeric

Instructions

  • Combine cucumbers and salt in a large, shallow bowl; cover and chill 1 1/2 hours.

  • Move cucumbers into a colander and rinse thoroughly under cold water. Drain well, and return cucumbers to bowl. Add onion to the bowl and toss with the cucumbers.

  • Combine the granulated sugar, white vinegar, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, mustard seeds, celery seeds and ground turmeric in a medium saucepan; bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves.

  • Pour the hot vinegar mixture over cucumber mixture; let stand at room temperature 1 hour.

  • Cover and refrigerate 24 hours. (If you’re really impatient, though, they taste great after only a few hours!)

  • Store in an airtight container in refrigerator up to 1 month.

Video

Notes

I have not tried this recipe with any sugar substitutes, so without further recipe testing, I can’t vouch for the results.

Nutrition

Calories: 76kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 658mg | Potassium: 80mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin A: 31IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 14mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional information given is an automatic calculation and can vary based on the exact products you use and any changes you make to the recipe. If these numbers are very important to you, I would recommend calculating them yourself.

Other Notes

Course: Condiment

Cuisine: American

Keyword: bread and butter pickles, Refrigerator Bread and Butter Pickles

Did you make this recipe?Snap a picture and mention @bellyfullblog!

Refrigerator Bread and Butter Pickles Recipe - Belly Full (6)
Refrigerator Bread and Butter Pickles Recipe - Belly Full (2024)

FAQs

Are bread and butter pickles good for your gut? ›

Fermented pickles are considered a probiotic food, which means they contain beneficial strains of bacteria that, if consumed often, can contribute to the population and diversity of our gut microbiome.

Are bread and butter pickles good for constipation? ›

Pickles are also high in particular types of fibre that feed beneficial gut bacteria, acting as prebiotics – food for the probiotic gut bacteria. Studies have shown that adding fermented vegetables to your diet may help with digestion and manage symptoms of constipation and diarrhoea3.

How long do bread and butter pickles last in fridge after opening? ›

Properly canned bread and butter pickles can be stored in a cool, dark place (like a pantry) for up to 1 year. Store opened jars in the fridge and use within 3 months. If you skipped the water bath canning, transfer the cooled jars directly to the fridge and eat within 3 months.

What gives bread and butter pickles their flavor? ›

Dill pickles have one main spice/herb that's used: dill. They're often on the sour side with a strong briny bite. In contrast, bread and butter pickles use a blend of turmeric, clove, celery seed, and red pepper flakes for a rounded-out flavor. None of the spices stand out, but all blend together for a richer taste.

What is the best pickle for gut health? ›

However, if you're looking for a pickle to support gut health, you'll have to select from the pickles in the refrigerated aisle. “The pickles that are beneficial for your gut health are the fermented ones, made by brining them in salt rather than vinegar,” says Dr. Oppezzo.

Can you eat too many bread and butter pickles? ›

Pickles should be enjoyed in moderation for this reason

If overeaten, the high sodium content in pickles can also lead to digestive issues. In some individuals, consuming too much sodium can cause upset stomach, bloating, diarrhea, and abdominal pain and discomfort, according to LiveStrong.

Why do pickles settle my stomach? ›

Pickles, particularly their acidic component, can help neutralize stomach acids, making them a soothing option for upset stomachs. This acidity may be particularly beneficial for individuals experiencing nausea due to indigestion or acid reflux.

What foods help immediately with constipation? ›

The BRAT diet ― bananas, rice, applesauce and toast ― is one dietitians recommend for a range of digestive issues, and it can help with both constipation and diarrhea.

Do pickles have a laxative effect? ›

Only pickles brined in salt water are constipation cures. Vinegar pickles are not a cure. This is because salt-brined pickles have been fermented, meaning that they contain probiotics that help gut health.

Why are my bread and butter pickles mushy? ›

Using too weak a salt brine or vinegar solution may cause soft or slippery pickles, as can using moldy garlic or storing the pickles at too warm a temperature.

What type of pickles does McDonald's use? ›

McDonald's uses dill pickles in their burgers including in the Big Mac®.

What to eat bread and butter pickles with? ›

Bread and butter pickles are a treat, something you add to sandwiches to give them a flavor boost and make them more interesting. They're great on burgers, and on turkey sandwiches.

What is another name for bread and butter pickles? ›

Today, the term is well known as a sweet pickle, like my Bread & Butter Chips. These pickles are sweeter than my dills, but they still have that pungent garlic flavor.

Do bread and butter pickles have health benefits? ›

If you prefer a smaller serving of pickles, 1/2 cup of sliced sweet bread and butter pickles has: More than 3% of your daily value of vitamin A. About 1/3 of your daily requirement of vitamin K. About 4% of the calcium for the day.

Why am I craving bread and butter pickles? ›

Cravings for salty foods like pickles can sometimes indicate an electrolyte imbalance in the body. Electrolytes are essential for maintaining hydration and overall bodily functions.

Are bread and butter pickles good? ›

Bread and butter pickles are best described as being a lot like sour dill pickles, but with sweet onion and sugar added to the pickling mix to give them their one-of-a-kind flavor. They are right at home on deli sandwiches, burgers, and charcuterie boards. And they're fantastic just straight out of the jar!

Why do I crave bread and butter pickles? ›

You might crave pickles if you're low in sodium, dehydrated, or just feeling a little snacky! Pickles are a great way to satisfy the midnight munchies. Eating pickles all the time could be a symptom of extreme stress. Pickles may be your comfort food.

Is bread good for gut bacteria? ›

However, both sourdough bread and rye bread are high in prebiotics, especially β-glucan. Prebiotics such as β-glucan nourishes our gut microbes (or healthy gut bacteria), helping to balance our gut microbiomes and improving digestion and metabolism.

Are bread and butter pickles acidic? ›

Bread and butter pickles have a sweeter taste, as they are made with sugar, vinegar, and spices. They may offer a different flavor profile but still contain the acidic properties of vinegar, potentially benefiting acid reflux symptoms.

References

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