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.

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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!

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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 gut health? ›

Fermented foods like pickles are basically probiotic superfoods, packed full of good bacteria that can support the health of your gastrointestinal microbiome and are good for your gut bacteria.

How many carbs are in bread and butter pickles? ›

Pickles, cucumber, fresh, (bread and butter pickles), 1 slice
Protein (g)0.07
Carbohydrate, by difference (g)1.5
Energy (kcal)6.48
Sugars, total (g)0.72
Fiber, total dietary (g)0.12
34 more rows

Are bread and butter pickles a healthy snack? ›

Pickles are fat-free and low in calories, but they are also low in most other nutrients, except for sodium. A 100-gram serving of bread and butter pickles contains 457 milligrams of sodium, or nearly 20% of the recommended daily limit. Most pickles are high in sodium, so it is important to limit consumption.

What's the difference between refrigerator pickles and bread and butter pickles? ›

Dill pickles are the most commonly known pickles. The main difference between dill pickles and bread and butter pickles is the addition of sugar and turmeric in bread and butter pickles. They both call for vinegar and similar seasonings with dill pickles using dill weed while bread and butter pickles use sugar.

Do pickles help your stomach? ›

“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. “While vinegar pickling is a common method, true fermentation in brine enriches them with beneficial probiotics for your gut.

Can you eat too many bread and butter pickles? ›

Eat bread-and-butter pickles in moderation to limit added sugars, and keep an eye out for sodium too—if you already eat out or eat foods high in sodium, a pickle spear or two per day could push you over the limit. Buy fermented pickles for added gut health benefits.

Can I eat pickles on a no carb diet? ›

Luckily, pickles are keto friendly, especially those that are of the dill pickle variety, as sugar is low. “Simply put, sweet pickles are made with sugar which will automatically push the carb count up,” says Hultin. “Dill or salt pickles don't have the added sugar and carbs, naturally,” she says.

Can diabetics eat bread and butter pickles? ›

Since a person living with diabetes is already at higher risk of developing heart disease and high blood pressure, they should only eat dill pickles in moderation to avoid too much sodium in their diet. Sweet pickles are not as suitable for those living with diabetes.

Can I eat bread and butter pickles on keto? ›

Pickles can be keto-friendly as long as they don't contain added sugar. In general, you should select dill or sour pickles but avoid sweet, candied, and bread and butter ones.

Is it OK to eat a pickle every day? ›

If you're on a low-sodium diet, pickles should not be consumed on a regular basis, says Zumpano. People with high blood pressure, heart failure, or kidney or liver disease should only enjoy pickles as a once-in-a-while treat, says Largeman-Roth. Always talk to your doctor if you have concerns.

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.

What is the best way to eat bread and butter pickles? ›

Try adding them to a Juicy Grilled Bison Burger or Crispy Chicken Sandwich for a sweet & sour burst of flavor and crunch. Or add them to a charcuterie board with salted meats, crackers, and cheese for a fantastic flavor and texture contrast.

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 kind of pickles does McDonald's use? ›

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

What is the shelf life of homemade bread and butter pickles? ›

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.

Do bread and butter pickles have probiotics? ›

Bubbies' Spicy Kosher Dill Pickles and all variations of the bread & butter pickles are made with vinegar! While they're tasty, they don't count as probiotic pickles.

Which pickles are good for gut health? ›

Fermented dill pickles are made with salt and not vinegar, so by comparison they are milder than vinegar pickles which contain acetic acid. These are the gut healthy, microbiome-boosting superfood pickles that you should be consuming everyday, three times a day.

How often should you eat pickles for gut health? ›

For those that are used to fermented or probiotic foods and consume a good amount of fiber, the right amount is three times a day. The amount you consume doesn't have to be a lot. Serving sizes are quite reasonable, for example, a half a pickle, or a quarter cup of sauerkraut.

Are pickles anti inflammatory? ›

Promotes weight loss: As a low-calorie snack, pickles can be a satisfying and healthy option for those trying to lose weight. Fights inflammation: The antioxidants in pickles can help reduce inflammation in the body, which is linked to various chronic diseases.

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