Bread and butter pickles. Their name has intrigued me forever so I went to she who knows all. I went to Wikipedia.
Their name and broad popularity in the United States are attributed to Omar and Cora Fanning, Illinois cucumber farmers who started selling sweet and sour pickles in the 1920s. They filed for the trademark “Fanning’s Bread and Butter Pickles” in 1923. The story behind the name is that the Fannings survived rough years by making pickles with their surplus of undersized cucumbers and bartering them with their grocer for staples such as bread and butter.
Don Day’s Wife makes the very best bread and butter pickles. I’m not sure exactly why. Perhaps it’s the exact balance of sweet and sour. Perhaps it’s the hint of turmeric. Perhaps it’s the influence of her friend, Lorain, who was the original source of the recipe. I know that my love for them keeps growing and I’ve even added them to one of my most consumed dishes recently.
Remember when we almost all put relish on hot dogs? Remember when many of us quit? Well I’m back. Not with hot dog relish but with Don Day’s Wife’s bread and butter pickles. With mustard, of course. With Bimbo buns and Costco tubes, of course.
So, I suggest you try them. Not with Don Day’s Wife’s bread and butter pickles but with your own. For I’m not sharing this because I’m generous. I’m sharing it because I’m selfish. You see, the more people who make their own, the less jars Don Day’s Wife will give away. And maybe there’ll still be some left for me this Spring.
Don Day’s Wife’s Bread and Butter Pickles
Ingredients
2 pounds pickling cucumbers, sliced (I ordered a kilo from local supplier, Chinaberry Farm)
½ yellow onion, sliced
2 jalapeno peppers, thinly sliced into rings
3 tablespoons kosher salt
1-1/4 cups white vinegar (5%)
3/4 cup apple cider vinegar (in San Miguel de Allende, inexpensive manzana vinegar is available at local supermarket, La Comer)
2 cups white sugar
¼ cup water
2 cloves garlic, sliced
1 tablespoon mustard seed
1 teaspoon celery seeds
1 teaspoon whole black peppercorns
½ teaspoon ground turmeric
⅛ teaspoon ground cloves
Directions
1. Combine cucumbers, onion, and peppers in a bowl; pour kosher salt over the top and stir to coat completely. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for four hours, stirring occasionally. Rinse cucumber mixture in a colander under cold water until all salt is washed away. Drain.
2. Stir vinegar, sugar, water, garlic, mustard seed, celery seed, peppercorns, turmeric, and ground cloves together in a saucepan; bring to a simmer and cook until the brine flavors combine, about two minutes. Add the cucumber mixture to the brine; heat until almost boiling, remove from heat, and cool completely. Transfer to jars and (this is important) always keep them stored in the refrigerator.
3. Enjoy!
In San Miguel de Allende, to order your gherkins (in season, of course) you will find Chinaberry Farm’s website at https://www.chinaberryfarm.com.mx
Thanks for this recipe! I love bread and butter pickles! Yay, I’ll make some!
Please send the recipe so we can all enjoy!
bev
The recipe is there in the post, Bev.
My friends back in Collingwood and I would work for days making 40-50 jars of these. They are in high demand with our circle of friends and make a great hostess gift. My husband, Richard puts them on everything….especially good old hotdogs. Good work Sharon!
Yum! One thing about moving to Mexico, pickles can be hard to find! Thanks for this!
Since I can’t find the spicy okra spears that come from Texas I make my own. Similar recipe to Don Day’s wife’s pickle but with less sugar and more chiles. Sweet pickles are hard to find in México but Bonanza finally carries some.
Thanks so much for the recipe! My mom made great Bread and Butter pickles too. I could eat an entire jar at one sitting but she’d stop me before I did and tell me to leave some for my sister.
What kind of kosher salt, please? It matters when measuring. Thanks again, and Happy Holidays!
“I use Diamond Crystal”, says Don Day’s Wife. “It doesn’t make a big difference which brand as you’re rinsing off all of the salt.”
Thank you for the recipe. I love Bread and Butter Pickles, too.
Gracias
First of all; Chinaberry rules! Weekly pickup at Magnolia Plaza is a must do.
Great idea for DIY B&B pickles. They can be hard to find in San Miguel.
Approximately how many pint jars did the kilo of cucumbers yield?
A little more than two pints.
Can’t wait to make these! What a great little Christmas or hostess gift!
What’s the difference between normal cucumbers and pickling cucumbers?
Quoting Don Day’s Wife: “A pickling cucumber is grown specifically for brining. They have a thicker skin that maintains its crunch when brined. Regular cucumbers become too soft and soggy.”
Which kosher salt? Thanks. Will order cukes!
Diamond Crystal, available on Amazon.