A friend recently gifted me a bag of homegrown cucumbers. It was more fresh veggies than my husband and I would be able to eat in a week, so I started brainstorming ways to preserve them. I needed a quick, simple way to put the cucumbers away without the lengthy process of canning. Enter refrigerator pickles.
I love sweet pickles, and this recipe results in a flavor that is much more intense and unique than any you might find premade in a store. The spice combination might seem a little eclectic, but trust me—it all comes together in the end. I don’t normally like to add red pepper to my food, but with only 1/8 a teaspoon of the flakes, there’s just the right amount of spicy to balance out the sweet.
And the best part was, the process was so simple: it took just under 20 minutes of prep work. If you have more than two cucumbers, you can multiply the recipe and stock up for a later date. The jars will last up to two weeks in the refrigerator, and I think the flavor gets better the longer they sit. These pickles are a refreshing and crisp treat, perfect for end-of-summer barbeques and early fall picnics.
Sweet Pickles
Time: 1 day, 20 minutes (20 minutes active) Makes one 16 oz jar
Ingredients
Pickling Spice
- 1/4 teaspoon celery seed
- 1/4 teaspoon mustard seed
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon ground allspice
- 1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1/8 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/8 teaspoon ground turmeric
- 3 bay leaves
- 3 whole cloves
Pickles
- 3/4 cup distilled white vinegar
- 3/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 3/4 cup water
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 cucumbers, sliced
- 1/4 white onion, thinly sliced
Instructions
- Combine the celery seed, mustard seed, cinnamon, allspice, ginger, turmeric, bay leaves, and cloves in a small bowl.
- Bring the white vinegar, apple cider vinegar, water, granulated sugar, brown sugar, and salt to a simmer. Gently stir to make sure all of the sugar is dissolved.
- Add the sliced cucumbers and onion to the jar.
- Add in 2 teaspoons of the pickling spice and carefully pour in the hot brine.
- Cover and let sit in the fridge for 24 hours.