Bread and Butter Pickles - Easy Sweet Pickles! - That Skinny Chick Can Bake (2024)

Home » Snacks » Easy Refrigerator Bread and Butter Pickles

posted by Liz Berg

on June 19, 2023

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These easy refrigerator Bread and Butter Pickles taste exactly like the ones my mom used to can. Except, these Refrigerator Pickles are no muss, no fuss!!!

If you’re new to canning or don’t have all the proper equipment for the full-fledged canning process, this simple recipe for homemade sweet pickles is the perfect place to start!

Bread and Butter Pickles - Easy Sweet Pickles! - That Skinny Chick Can Bake (1)

Table of Contents hide

1 Reader Endorsem*nt:

2 Why You Must Make

3 Expert Tips

4 Buying and Prepping Your Cucumbers

5 The Pickling Process

6 Storing Your Refrigerator Pickles

7 Frequently Asked Questions

8 You May Also Like:

9 Easy Bread and Butter Pickles

Reader Endorsem*nt:

From Vermaast via Pinterest: I made 24 pints of these bread and butter Pickles and they came out great. They are delicious.

Why You Must Make

If you’ve never made pickles before, this is an easy recipe that doesn’t require processing.
They’re sweet and delicious!
Perfect for snacking or adding to a sandwich!

Bread and Butter Pickles - Easy Sweet Pickles! - That Skinny Chick Can Bake (2)

Expert Tips

If you’re lazy like me and don’t want to go through the full routine of actually canning pickles, these refrigerator pickles bread and butter pickles are perfect for you! The process will still take a few hours, but it’s a very simple procedure. Happy preserving!

Buying and Prepping Your Cucumbers

Use the freshest, unblemished cucumbers you can find. Pickling cucumbers are smaller than the variety you may use in your salads, so look for those.

The Pickling Process

Before brining, wash your cucumbers without soap to remove any dirt or contaminants.
To make these pickles, slices of cucumber and onions were heavily salted and covered with ice. Over three hours, the ice began to melt and the vegetables were brined.
A double rinse is needed to remove excess salt and then, the cukes and onions were added to a hot pickling mixture of vinegar, sugar, and spices.
The ratio of vinegar and sugar can vary among recipes as well as the spices used. This recipe hits the mark of perfection for me! Feel free to tweak it to your taste buds. For example, these sweet pickles are pretty sweet, you may want to decrease the sugar, but I find these perfect!

Storing Your Refrigerator Pickles

These bread and butter pickles were packed in jars and cooled before screwing on the lids and refrigerating. Now isn’t that simple?
Since this method did not involve sterilization, they should be eaten within a couple of weeks (some sources say they’re good for 6-8 weeks).
If you grow pickle-sized cucumbers in your garden, make an extra batch and share these with your friends and neighbors!

Bread and Butter Pickles - Easy Sweet Pickles! - That Skinny Chick Can Bake (3)

Frequently Asked Questions

What are Refrigerator Pickles?

Unlike true canned pickles that need to be processed in a water bath to make them shelf-safe, refrigerator pickles are actually heated at a higher temperature for a shorter amount of time. This does not hermetically seal them, so they must be stored in the refrigerator for a limited amount of time.

What Are Bread and Butter Pickles?

These refrigerator pickles are nothing more than a subclass of sweet pickles. The origin of their name may come from the Great Depression when they were possibly used as a sandwich filling when combined with bread and butter.

How Long Can You Store Refrigerator Pickles?

Refrigerator pickles will keep well for 3-4 weeks as long as they’re stored in the refrigerator. Watch the brine and if it starts looking murky or if the pickles’ texture starts to deteriorate, it’s time to discard them.

Easy Bread and Butter Pickles

Prep Time15 minutes

Cook Time15 minutes

Total Time30 minutes

Yield1 1/2 quarts

Easy, refrigerator bread and butter pickles like my mom used to make!

Ingredients

2 pounds pickling cucumbers, sliced
8 pearl onions, sliced
¼ cup canning salt
2 cups sugar
2 cups white vinegar
1 tablespoon mustard seed
1 teaspoon celery seed
½ teaspoon ground turmeric
A pinch of ground cloves

Instructions

In a large container, combine the cucumbers, onions, and salt. Cover with crushed ice and mix well. Let stand for 3 hours. Drain; rinse and drain again.
In a large pot, combine the sugar, vinegar, mustard seed, celery seed, turmeric, and cloves and bring to a boil.
Add cucumber mixture, then return to a boil. Remove from the heat.
Carefully ladle the hot mixture into jars.
Let cool, then screw on lids and refrigerate for up to 2 weeks.
If you'd like to store them longer, refer to a canning manual or website for directions.

Notes

Since these aren't processed, they must be refrigerated and eaten within a few weeks.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 73Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 1180mgCarbohydrates: 18gFiber: 0gSugar: 17gProtein: 0g

HOW MUCH DID YOU LOVE THIS RECIPE?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Pinterest

Each summer, we’d pile into our unairconditioned station wagon and take the eight-hour trek up to visit our North Dakota relatives. There were no seat belts nor radio in that car, either. My dad was a frugal man! We’d kill time by picking out our favorite farmhouses and playing license plate games as we headed north on I-35. Once our trip corresponded with a total eclipse of the sun, so we drove across the Canada border for an awesome show by Mother Nature.

More typically, we’d create our own adventures with our cousins. We climbedinto the barn lofts, visited the dogs and horses, atehomemade caramels and tacos, and helped make bread and butter pickles. My dad was more of a dill and garlic sort of guy, but, like my mom and her clan, I loved those sweet pickles flavored with mustard and celery seeds.

I’m certain my aunt, Angela, actually canned hers, but I took the easy route with these easy bread and butter pickles. At that age, I was much more interested in eating refrigerator pickles than paying attention to the process, but I’m delighted it was so easy to replicate the taste.

Note: This post may contain affiliate links; view my Disclosure Policy for details. I earn a small percentage from any purchase you make by clicking on these links at no extra cost to you.

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posted by Liz Berg on June 19, 2023
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71 Comments on “Easy Refrigerator Bread and Butter Pickles”

Karen (Back Road Journal) — June 20, 2023 @ 1:35 pm Reply

I’m more ofa dill and garlic pickle lover like your Dad but I do like crisp, homemade bread and butter pickles. The don’t compare to the grocery store variety.
Darlene — August 16, 2022 @ 2:18 pm Reply

This recipe looks delicious, exactly what I was looking for. My favorite pickles. I see it is also a recipe that I can make and safely can bottles in a hot water bath. Can’t wait to make these. Thanks for sharing your recipe.
casey — July 15, 2022 @ 10:13 am Reply

So easy to make and turned out delicious! Thanks.
Toni — July 12, 2022 @ 8:22 am Reply

I loved it! Everyone at my house loved it too! Thanks for the recipe!
Terry Long — June 15, 2022 @ 7:31 pm Reply

Just made these pickles! Omg! They are delicious! Didn’t have a kitchen scale to weigh them so weighed them on my bathroom scale! Lol! Had to improvise. Didn’t have ground cloves so I used 3 whole cloves. Then I added some dill. The taste is so good. Next time I will slice thicker. Sliced on mandolin and looked thick enough but it wasn’t. Can’t wait until they sit in the refrigerator so I can eat them! Thanks for sharing this recipe!!
- Liz Berg — June 15, 2022 @ 10:00 pm Reply
  
  Oh, I’m so glad, Terry! You did a great job tweaking the recipe! Thanks for reporting back 🙂
Chef Mimi — August 7, 2021 @ 7:07 pm Reply

I’ve never made pickles!!!! Why not?!!!! What a great recipe. And I love bread and butter variety, although I typically stick a halved jalapeño in the jar. Thanks!
mimi rippee — August 11, 2020 @ 11:29 am Reply

I never knew what refrigerator pickles meant, or what exactly were bread and butter pickles. so thanks for all of this great info! printing the recipe. It sounds fun.
Brittany — August 10, 2020 @ 4:53 pm Reply

This recipe looks fantastic! Bread and butter pickles are my favorite, I can’t wait to give it a try. Would it work for pickling other vegetables as well? Thank you for sharing!
- Liz Berg — August 11, 2020 @ 5:27 am Reply
  
  Sure, you can certainly try this method with other veggies. I think carrots would be delicious, though they probably should be cooked a bit first to soften. Good luck!
Karen (Back Road Journal) — August 9, 2020 @ 11:33 am Reply

When I was young, we used to travel to visit my aunt and uncle. He used to make these pickles but added red chilies to them. Yourrefrigerator pickle process is definitely the way to go, especially if making pickles for just a family of two. Thanks for sharing your recipe.
Sandra Garth — August 8, 2020 @ 4:05 pm Reply

These are my absolute favorite pickle and I would love to have a few jars stashed in my fridge. I can already taste them, thanks Liz!
Healthy World Cuisine — August 8, 2020 @ 10:56 am Reply

We go through pickles at our house like water! Your bread and butter pickle recipe sounds like a must try!
angiesrecipes — August 8, 2020 @ 6:09 am Reply

I like refrigerator pickles….quick and easy to make. This looks so appetizing!
2pots2cook — August 7, 2020 @ 4:08 am Reply

It’s very hot here and so many things to do and take care of ( everybody has it’s share, of course ) and this quick version is so much appreciated dear Liz ! Since the week end is almost here, I’ll do my batch definitely !
Suzy — July 11, 2019 @ 10:49 am Reply

This is one of those recipes I come back to again and again. Never disappoints!
Lindsay Cotter — July 11, 2019 @ 10:04 am Reply

These were so easy to make! And they were devoured by all!!
Toni — July 9, 2019 @ 8:29 am Reply

I loved how easy this is to make! Thank you!
Tanya Schroeder — July 8, 2019 @ 3:56 pm Reply

These pickles have the BEST flavor! The seasoning is so good, I couldn’t stop eating them!
Cathy Pollak — July 8, 2019 @ 10:05 am Reply

These are my fave…we won’t have a sandwich without them. Thanks for the great recipe.
Katie — February 27, 2019 @ 12:18 am Reply

I love pickles- I could eat them every single day, and now with your delicious recipe, I can 😉
Kate — August 2, 2018 @ 8:59 am Reply

Oooh I didn’t know pickles were so easy to make. I’d have these as the star of the show in a sandwich with just a little mayo and mustard. Yum!
Rebecca Hubbell — August 2, 2018 @ 8:40 am Reply

I love refrigerator pickles because they’re so easy to make and I am not the best canner. These bread and butter pickles are so yummy!

See Also
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Rob Oliver — May 23, 2018 @ 9:41 am Reply

Just curious–it looks like there are coriander seeds in your pickles, but they are not listed in the recipe. Did they get left off?
- Liz Berg — May 23, 2018 @ 10:42 am Reply
  
  Hi, Rob,
  Those are the mustard seeds—they DO look similar, but no coriander in the recipe. Hope you enjoy!
Courtney @ Neighborfood — August 16, 2014 @ 2:04 pm Reply

My husband loves bread and butter pickles. I had no idea how easy it was to make!
Maureen | org*smic Chef — August 16, 2014 @ 3:03 am Reply

I love bread and butter pickles 🙂
Bobbi's Kozy Kitchen — August 15, 2014 @ 5:06 pm Reply

I am a pickle nut!! My bf, not so much. So I rarely get to indulge. I would love some of your pickles right now!!
Alice — August 15, 2014 @ 1:43 pm Reply

well… this has been PINNED!! : )
those are the best memories aren’t they??? … bet you miss those summers, but not the lack of A/C! Have a great Friday Liz!
Sarah | Curious Cuisiniere — August 14, 2014 @ 9:52 am Reply

This year, we are on the search for the perfect bread and butter pickle recipe. I’m excited to give yours a try!
Sandra — August 13, 2014 @ 7:53 pm Reply

These look yummy Liz! I made some a couple of weeks ago they were fantastic. Made dill also but the bread and butter are my favorites. Your’s is the first bread and butter recipe I’ve seen that uses tumeric. Wish I had seen it, I have a ton of tumeric on hand. Guess I’ll have to make more!
Kimberly — August 13, 2014 @ 4:11 pm Reply

I love pickles. Any kind of pickles.
And these pickles? I want them!
Looks like a fabulous pickle recipe, which I will be making soon … thanks for sharing!
Cindys Recipes and Writings — August 12, 2014 @ 8:24 pm Reply

These are one of my favorite kinds of pickles! Thanks for the recipe Liz!
Claudia lamascolo — August 11, 2014 @ 6:56 pm Reply

After seeing these homemade who would ever want a store bought not me ….a must make
Sarah — August 11, 2014 @ 5:38 pm Reply

While I’m not a fan of B&B pickles, I wouldn’t pass them up on a burger either!
Sandra - The Foodie Affair — August 11, 2014 @ 12:44 pm Reply

I sure would love to try this recipe! Your labels are simple adorable. The whole presentation is lovely 🙂
Angie@Angie's Recipes — August 11, 2014 @ 6:21 am Reply

So crunchy and appetizing!
cathleen |my culinary mission — August 10, 2014 @ 8:59 pm Reply

Love bread and butter pickles! And yours look fabulously delicious! Love the label!
Chris @ The Café Sucré Farine — August 10, 2014 @ 8:55 pm Reply

I so remember those kind of car trips. Sometimes I’d put my little sister on the floor in the back seat and make her up with my makeup. Then she’d raise her head and look at my mom in the rear view mirror. My mom would almost drive off the road 🙂 I could eat my weight in these pickles! Love them!
Roz — August 10, 2014 @ 6:54 pm Reply

I’ve never canned pickles before Liz, so I’m saving your recipe for future summers. Bread and Butter pickles are my mother’s absolute favorite flavor too! Been canning tomatoes every other day and we’ve still got them coming on the vines . . . guess it makes up for not having even one tomato last year due to the torrential rains we had. Ah, Mother Nature!
xo
Roz
Emma @ Bake Then Eat — August 10, 2014 @ 5:40 pm Reply

I love how quick and easy these are to put together they look and sound simply delicious. Nothing beats a treat that can take you back to your childhood!
Auntiepatch — August 10, 2014 @ 5:14 pm Reply

Every year my family drove from So. Calif. to our family farm in Rogersville Mo. My dad was a non-stop driver so if you had to go to the bathroom you had to make a dash for the restroom at the gas station! When Dad was ready you had better be in the car. No stopping to see the sights (I was grown before I got a chance to see the Grand Canyon!) Half way there we would stop at a motel so that he could get a few hours of sleep. We would hang out at the pool (if there was one) and then start out again with Dad at the wheel. Whee! Look out! My parents are gone now but I remember what fun we had laughing and talking and singing on those LONG trips! We put a lot of miles on that station wagon!
Shaina — August 10, 2014 @ 4:54 pm Reply

I’m really not a fan of pickles, but awesome job! These look like the real deal ones you see in stores. But I’m sure taste much much better 🙂
The Squishy Monster — August 10, 2014 @ 3:19 pm Reply

Love your idea of a fridge-version!
Laura Dembowski — August 10, 2014 @ 3:12 pm Reply

I always shop the perimeter of the store. Luckily yesterday I found Oreos on the perimeter 😉 Pickles have always been one of my favorite snacks. This is such an interesting method for making them.
Katy — August 10, 2014 @ 3:10 pm Reply

Gorgeous pickles, full of idyllic childhood memories – just perfect for a nostalgic summer snack!
Deanna Samaan — August 10, 2014 @ 3:08 pm Reply

You made my favorite! BTW I love that sticker you have on the jars! That is sooo cute!!
Karen @BakingInATornado — August 10, 2014 @ 2:55 pm Reply

I’ve never made pickles before. So glad you went first and explained the process in such easy to follow terms.
susan @ the wimpy vegetarian — August 10, 2014 @ 2:44 pm Reply

Bread and Butter Pickles is one of my favorites! I’m making a big batch next week when we get back home for an event! Your road trips brought up memories for me. Every couple of years, when I was a kid, we drove from our Pennsylvania home to visit my parents families in Alabama. It was a long 2 – day trip and we filled the time playing license plate games too, and playing an alphabet game where we had to find things outside the car that started with a, then b, c, etc. We couldn’t use each other’s words, and couldn’t move onto the next letter until we found something noone else had used for the previous letter. I can still remember how pissed I was when my dad spied a quilt hanging in someone’s backyard in Tennessee right when he was looking for something starting with a ‘Q’. Mom and I tried to bribe him with cookies to allow us to all share quilt for our ‘Q’s.
Mallory @ Because I Like Chocolate — August 10, 2014 @ 1:50 pm Reply

These pickles just scream summer to me! They look delicious!
Ramona — August 10, 2014 @ 12:35 pm Reply

I adore pickles… these look spectacular! I also have memories of piling into an old station wagon (in the back trunk area) and going on trips. My parents were very frugal too. My goodness we lived crazy simple lives then. Now I can’t imagine going any where without my kids in car seats. 🙂 It was nice reading about your childhood memories. 🙂
Tara — August 10, 2014 @ 12:26 pm Reply

Love, love, love these so much. I could just sit with a fork and the jar and eat to my hearts content!!! Love your little stickers too, reminded me I have some that I have never used!!
Christy @ Confessions of a Culinary Diva — August 10, 2014 @ 12:03 pm Reply

Childhood memories….I’ve always been a pickle-a-holic, bread & butter, dill, you name it I eat it! I wish I had learned to can from my grandmothers, if I only knew then what I know now about how precious those memories would be later.
Amanda — August 10, 2014 @ 10:49 am Reply

I made bread and butter pickles for the first time last year at the request of a 88 year old neighbor. She would be delighted if I made them again for her. On a side note, I absolutely love your labels!
Jennifer @ Peanut Butter and Peppers — August 10, 2014 @ 9:40 am Reply

Yum Liz! This is such a great idea! I have been wanting to make bread and butter pickles. Saving your recipe.
Renee — August 10, 2014 @ 9:38 am Reply

I remember those cars long ago without seat belts. How did we ever survive? Thanks for sharing your easy pickles recipe. Nice to see another one that doesn’t require canning.
Renee - Kudos Kitchen — August 10, 2014 @ 8:43 am Reply

Bread and butter pickles are some of my favorite things. I love the sweet and salty bite they have. I’ve actually been adding all sorts of pickles to savory entrees lately and have been loving the flavor! Your pickles look amazing and I’m in LOVE with your Made By Elizabeth sticker on the jar!
Tammi @ Momma's Meals — August 10, 2014 @ 8:22 am Reply

Wow I had no idea it could be this easy! thanks for sharing this Liz we’d eat them all in a few weeks for sure! Nice gifts too!
Hezzi-D — August 10, 2014 @ 8:14 am Reply

Liz these look delicious! My husband would love it if I made homemade pickles for him.
Debra — August 10, 2014 @ 8:09 am Reply

My grandmother mad the best bread and butter pickles ever! They bring back memories too. Love the tip today.
- Paula aka mecookin — August 11, 2014 @ 1:46 am Reply
  
  Love bread & butter pickles. Have always made them by Aunt Joyce’s method, very similar in recipe & method. Just no cloves.
  - Liz Berg — August 11, 2014 @ 6:58 am Reply
    
    Thanks, Paula! Yeah, I only put in a pinch as I wasn’t sure if I really wanted a predominant clove flavor 🙂
Paula @ Vintage Kitchen Notes — August 10, 2014 @ 7:52 am Reply

I always wondered what on earth bread and butter pickles were! I’m definitely trying this recipe Liz.
Becca from It's Yummi! — August 10, 2014 @ 7:51 am Reply

Bread and butter pickles are my favorite sandwich “must have”. I bet I could eat this jar in 3 days if nobody stopped me 😉
The Ninja Baker — August 10, 2014 @ 5:24 am Reply

What sweet memories of family, games and pickles, Liz. Without the radio (and iPhones!) we all might talk to each other more =) At any rate, as a person partial to bread and butter pickles, I am happy to have the great mystery of pickling revealed =)
Lynn@Happier Than A Pig In Mud — August 10, 2014 @ 5:17 am Reply

Your pickles turned out beautiful Liz! Love the color the turmeric brings-enjoy:@)
Deepti — August 10, 2014 @ 5:02 am Reply

This looks fantastic.. I love home made pickles…
Choc Chip Uru — August 10, 2014 @ 4:18 am Reply

Your pickles look fantastic, I am not usually fan but I really want to eat these crunchy ones now! 😀
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Stacy — August 10, 2014 @ 4:15 am Reply

I have a vague recollection that my stepfather’s side of the family made bread and butter pickles when I was a child, Liz. But, like you, I never really paid attention to the process. I thought they started with pickles already and added spices and sugar. Guess I’ll have to ask my mother. Meanwhile, I’m going to make some of yours. They look crunchy and delightful! Thanks for sharing!
Medeja — August 10, 2014 @ 3:49 am Reply

Sometimes I am just craving for simply delicious pickles 😀
Gourmet Getaways — August 10, 2014 @ 2:33 am Reply

Thanks for the pickling tip! Your jars look ready for selling in batches!
Julie
Gourmet Getaways