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This image shows multiple glass jars filled with homemade sweet pickles, sealed and placed on a towel after the water bath canning process, ready for storage and long-term enjoyment.

Sweet Pickle Recipe

Want to make crisp and delicious sweet pickles that you can enjoy all year long? Follow this easy sweet pickle recipe for water bath canning. In the South, sweet pickles are as traditional as sweet tea. The best sweet pickles are homemade using cucumbers from your garden. They make a great snack or a tasty addition to salads.
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Prep Time 1 hour
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 45 minutes
Course Condiments
Cuisine American
Servings 7
Calories 30 kcal

Equipment

  • Ladle
  • Water Bath Canner
  • Pickling Crock

Ingredients
  

  • 7 pounds medium-size Pickling cucumbers
  • 1 cup Pickling lime
  • 2 Gallons water
  • 8 cups White vinegar 5% acidity
  • 8 cups Granulated white sugar
  • 1 tbspnPickling and canning salt
  • 1 tbsp mixed Pickling spice

Instructions
 

  • Wash 7 pounds of medium-size pickling cucumbers.
    This image shows medium-size pickling cucumbers being washed and sliced, ready to be used for the sweet pickle recipe, ensuring they are clean and properly cut for pickling.
  • Slice cucumbers as desired.
    This image shows sliced cucumbers being soaked in a lime water solution inside a large container, an essential step to achieve crispness in the sweet pickles.
  • Dissolve 1 cup of pickling lime in 2 gallons of water.
  • Soak the sliced cucumbers in the lime water for 24 hours.
  • Rinse cucumbers well to remove all lime.
    This image shows cucumbers being thoroughly rinsed in fresh water to remove any lime residue, preparing them for the next steps of the pickling process.
  • Soak cucumbers in fresh water for 3 hours, changing the water every hour.
  • Combine 8 cups white vinegar, 8 cups granulated white sugar, 1 tablespoon pickling and canning salt, and 1 tablespoon mixed pickling spice in a large pot.
    This image shows a pot filled with white vinegar, granulated sugar, pickling spice, and canning salt being heated to create the flavorful brine for sweet pickles.
  • Bring the mixture to a boil.
  • Add cucumbers to the boiling mixture and simmer for 30 minutes.
    This image shows the cucumbers being simmered in the hot pickling brine mixture, allowing the flavors to infuse into the cucumbers for delicious sweet pickles.
  • Sterilize 10 pint-sized glass jars, lids, and bands.
  • Pack the hot cucumbers into the hot, sterilized jars.
  • Pour the hot vinegar mixture over the cucumbers, leaving 1/2 inch of headspace.
  • Remove air bubbles and adjust headspace if needed.
  • Wipe rims of jars with a clean, damp cloth.
  • Place lids on jars and screw on bands until fingertip tight.
  • Process jars in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes.
  • Remove jars and let them cool on a towel.
    This image shows hot cucumbers being packed into sterilized jars, with the hot pickling brine being poured over them, followed by the sealing of jars to preserve the pickles for long-term storage.
  • Check seals after 24 hours. If the lid doesn't flex, the jar is sealed.

Notes

  • Use fresh, firm cucumbers for the best results.
  • Make sure to rinse the cucumbers well after soaking in lime to avoid a bitter taste.
  • Always check that your jars are properly sealed before storing. If the lid pops up and down, it’s not sealed and needs to be refrigerated and used soon.
Keyword Classic sweet pickle preparation, Easy sweet pickle method, easy sweet pickle recipe homemae, Homemade sweet pickle recipe, Sweet pickle canning guide