Old Fashioned Sweet Nine Day Pickles
"Love these Sweet Pickles, one of the best sweet pickle recipes in my collection and one of the best I have ever tasted. This is one of those old old recipes shared by a lady that made really great pickles. Very easily made and not as time consuming as it sounds. While modern safety method requirements may call for processing I don't process my pickles as I find it changes the taste and texture, you may do so if you wish. As with many of the old recipes some things just do not enter well ... with this one it's you have to be making up enough of each of the brine solutions to completely cover! NOTE be sure to use non - reactive containers ( stainless steel - unchipped enamel/porcelain, assure all your plastic bowls and containers are food grade)"
photo by bmcnamee
- Ready In:
- 216hrs 45mins
- Ingredients:
- 12
- Yields:
-
4 quarts
- Serves:
- 20
ingredients
- 4 quarts cucumbers, cut in 1/2 inch pieces
-
Soaking Brine
- 2 cups pickling salt
- 16 cups water
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Plain Water Soak
- 4 quarts water
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Pickle Solution
- 1 cup vinegar
- 2 cups water
- 1 teaspoon alum
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Sweet Pickle Brine
- 2 cups vinegar
- 2 cups water
- 8 cups sugar
- 1 teaspoon turmeric
- 1 tablespoon pickling spices, tied in a bag
directions
- STEP ONE: Cut cucumbers in 1/2 inch pieces or a little larger and place in a crock or large glass container. Bring the soaking brine to a boil, pour over cut cucumbers, cover with a clean cloth and weigh down with a plate. Cover crock with a clean tea towel.
- Let stand three days.
- STEP TWO: Drain, put back in crock and cover with fresh water. There is no salt added to this.
- Let stand two days.
- STEP THREE: Drain and place back in crock.
- Bring the pickle solution with the alum to a boil and simmer two minutes pour over.
- Stand overnight.
- STEP FOUR: Drain and place back in crock. Make Sweet Pickle brine, bring to a boil and pour over. For three days drain this syrup into a large pot and bring to a boil. Pour back over the cucumber slices. The third day once again bring the syrup to a boil. Put pickles into sterilized jars, pour hot brine over and seal.
- I often replace some of the cucumber pieces with cauliflower chunks, making for a mixed sweet pickle.
- Makes about eight pints.
Questions & Replies
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Why are my pickles shriveled?? Followed the recipe. -
Do I let stand in the refrigerator?
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This recipe sounds like the 1 I'm looking for except the one I want had horseradish added before water bath. Can anyone help please? -
So here is the revelation about sweet brine proportion. 2 cups of water + 2 cups of vinegar and 8 cups of sugar will not give 4 cups of brine. It makes about 7 cups. This is because the all that 8 cups of sugar melts and adds to the volume. This amount is probably enough to cover 4 quarts of cucumbers. However in next two days i will see how much it reduces and what is the final quantity of brine and how much each jar will hold. As of now I have doubled the recipe and waiting to see how it turns out after two more days of boiling. I will post my final measurements for reference.
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We are making 4 quarts of pickles using this recipe. In the last step, do we boil the sweet brine everyday for 3 days?? Its not clear to us. Or Do we boil once in the beginning and then end of 3rd day before sealing? Or you drain it every day and boil it and pour it back? Also 4 cups of liquid will not cover 4 quarts...it will likely reduce some as it boils. Does that mean we make more brine than what is suggested here? Or keep it as is given here, pour it to spread and not entirely soak the cucumbers...please answer soon. We are already close to last step and realized that this part is not entirely clear.
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Reviews
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Absolutely wonderful, I even started another batch since they turned out so good. Thank you for the recipe. -
I'd like to add green food colouring. At what stage should I do this?
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LOVE this recipe!! Have made this 3 times now and each time has been a success!!! Shared some with my co- workers---- Huge mistake!!! Now everyone is begging for more!!! Crispy , sweet and delicious!! Thank you for sharing!! -
Love these pickles! I have another Old Fashioned Sweet Pickle recipe but, I will now be using this one instead! Beautiful crisp pickles with a lovely sweet taste. -
I just spent 6 days in this process ....everything looked great ....Last night I added the Pickling solution and tonight when I went to drain the pickles I had "shrunken leathery pickle rinds and most of the meat of the cucumber dissolved away .......they smell wonderful but who would want to eat pickle skin ........ I have been putting up pickles for years the traditional processed way, but had wanted to make some like my great-grandmother used to make using the crock-brine process ,,,,,,, this is not one I will try again .....
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Tweaks
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I halved the brine and fresh water amounts, with a gallon jar full of cukes didn't need a gallon of liquid. I doubled the liquid of the pickle solution, keeping the alum at 1 tsp. Then I only used 6 cups of sugar, 8 is just too sweet, and next time I will use 2 Tbsp of pickling spices.
RECIPE SUBMITTED BY
<p>I live in Saskatchewan where hospitality and food go hand in hand. Community suppers, Beef Pit Barbecues, Church suppers, potlucks, tea and bake sales, booths at the curling and hockey rinks in winter, the ball games in summer. What is truly the spirit of Saskatchewan is that these events are for most part the efforts of community volunteers sharing their time as well as their best make and takes. Small communities along with the larger centres across the province are well known for their turkey suppers, cabbage rolls, perogies and overflowing dessert tables. Homemade of course! <br /> <br />I love preparing meals for my family and friends and in the sharing of good recipes be they mine or that of another. My posted recipes are recipes that are family favorites. My reviews here on Zaar allow that I have been most fortunate in the choosing of the recipes I have made. Without doubt we all love those over the top desserts and dishes to serve on special occasions and for those fives are a given. For me equally important are the recipes used in the daily meal preparation. Recipes enjoyed by my family be it a simple soup, salad or casserole are right up there with the 'over the tops' and share equal billing. Yes five star ratings ... if my family enjoyed, I would serve to invited guests, take to a pot luck, coffee hour or bake sale. <br /></p>
<p>Aside from cooking and baking I admit that my interest in gardening exceeds that of the norm. I collect cookbooks, my favorites being the community and church cookbooks that have everyone sharing their favorite recipes. Enjoy yard sales on occasion but tend to keep my hands in my pockets, cannot completely resist when it comes to the glassware, baskets and of course cookbooks. I take great pleasure in reading with non fiction being my first choice when it comes to the choosing.</p>
