Bread and Butter Pickles and Onions

Name: Bread and Butter Pickles and Onions
Total time: 5 h
Yield: 8 pints, at least 100 servings
Ingredients: 6 pounds unwaxed Kirby cucumbers; 8 white pearl onions (not cocktail onions), peeled; 1/2 cup pickling salt (6 ounces, by weight; kosher salt may be substituted, but do not use ordinary table salt); 4 cups ice cubes; 4 cups granulated sugar; 1 1/2 teaspoons ground turmeric; 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves; 2 tablespoons whole mustard seeds; 1 teaspoon celery seed; 3 cups white vinegar

Recipe from Bill Hanvey

Adapted by Florence Fabricant

Updated May 6, 2025

Total Time: 5 hours
Rating: 4(26)
Comments: Read comments

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Ingredients

Yield:8 pints, at least 100 servings

6pounds unwaxed Kirby cucumbers
8white pearl onions (not cocktail onions), peeled
½cup pickling salt (6 ounces, by weight; kosher salt may be substituted, but do not use ordinary table salt)
4cups ice cubes
4cups granulated sugar
1½teaspoons ground turmeric
½teaspoon ground cloves
2tablespoons whole mustard seeds
1teaspoon celery seed
3cups white vinegar

Ingredient Substitution Guide

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Preparation

Step 1
Wash the cucumbers. Slice paper thin. Slice the onions paper thin, and mix with the cucumbers and salt in a very large container, at least 10 quarts. Add enough water to the 4 cups of ice to make 2 gallons of ice water. Mix the ice water with the cucmbers, onions and salt. Set aside for at least 3 hours. Then, drain thoroughly.
Step 2
Sterilize 8 one-pint canning jars with new lids by boiling jars and lids for 10 minutes. Remove from heat, but leave jars in the hot water.
Step 3
In a 6-to-8-quart saucepan, mix the rest of the ingredients and bring to a boil. Add cucumbers and onions, and cook until the mixture reaches 190 degrees on a candy thermometer.
Step 4
Pack the mixture into hot sterilized canning jars. Wipe rims, and seal. Place the jars in boiling water to cover, and cook 15 minutes after the water returns to a boil. Cool and store.