Handwritten recipe for Sweet Pickles
by: salvagedrecipes

Crunchy Sugar Brined Sweet Pickles

Sweet Pickles
This recipe is for traditional 7-day brined sweet pickles, a method that has been popular in American kitchens for generations, particularly in rural and Southern households. The process is meticulous, involving daily draining, boiling water treatments, and careful layering of sugar syrups. The result is crisp, tangy, and delightfully sweet pickles that are both refreshing and nostalgic. These pickles are often shared at potlucks, given as gifts, or served alongside hearty meals. The slow brining process ensures maximum flavor, crunch, and a balance between tart vinegar and warming sweetness.
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Prep Time 14 days
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 7 days 4 hours 30 minutes
Course Snack
Cuisine American
Servings 21 pint jars
Calories 40 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 60-70 cucumbers
  • water (for soaking and boiling)
  • 1 cup alum
  • 1 cup butter (for syrup)
  • 8 cups sugar (added gradually over days)

Instructions
 

Step 1: Initial Brine (Day 1–7)

  • Place cucumbers in brine for 7 days.

Step 2: Drain & Boil (Day 8, Morning)

  • Drain brine. Cover cucumbers with boiling water. Let stand 24 hours.

Step 3: Alum Soak (Day 9)

  • Drain. Cover with boiling water and add alum. Let stand 24 hours.

Step 4: Drain & Boil Again (Day 10)

  • Drain cucumbers. Cover with boiling water. Let stand 24 hours.

Step 5: Syrup Base (Day 11)

  • Drain. Combine butter and 2 cups sugar into a syrup. Pour over cucumbers. Let stand 24 hours.

Step 6: Add More Sugar (Day 12)

  • Drain syrup. Add 2 more cups sugar. Heat to boiling. Pour over cucumbers.

Step 7: Continue Adding Sugar (Day 13)

  • Drain. Add 2 more cups sugar. Heat to boiling. Pour over cucumbers.

Step 8: Final Sugar Addition (Day 14)

  • Drain. Add final 2 cups sugar. Heat to boiling. Pour over cucumbers.

Step 9: Canning (Day 14, Evening)

  • Pack cucumbers and syrup into sterilized pint jars. Seal tightly while hot.

Tips

  • Use firm, small pickling cucumbers for best texture.
  • Keep cucumbers fully submerged during brining for even flavor.
  • Add pickling spices (cloves, mustard seed, cinnamon stick) for spiced sweet pickles.
  • For crisper pickles, ensure cooling intervals are followed just as written on the card.
  • Sterilize jars properly if canning for shelf storage.
  • Slice into chips, spears, or whole gherkins depending on intended use.
  • Use non-reactive containers (glass, enamel) for brining.
  • Label jars with date; flavor improves after several weeks.
  • Reduce sugar slightly for a less-sweet “bread-and-butter” style pickle.
  • Keep refrigerated once opened.

Nutrition

Calories: 40kcalCarbohydrates: 10gSodium: 60mgPotassium: 20mgSugar: 9gVitamin A: 5IUVitamin C: 0.5mgCalcium: 5mgIron: 0.1mg
Keyword brined pickles, cucumbers, heirloom, home canning, preservation, sugar syrup pickles, sweet pickles, vintage recipe
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