Mom's Perfect Sweet Gherkin Pickles (2023)

My mom finally shared her recipe for the ultimate homemade sweet gherkin pickles! These crisp and sweet little pickles are perfect for snacking on any time. Use the cucumbers from your garden or mini cucumbers you can grab at the store.

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We love sweet pickles around here. They are mostly used for our homemade chicken salad recipe, but more than a few end up getting popped straight into my mouth when a fresh jar is opened.

I picked up that habit from my grandfather, who could often be found with a jar of sweet gherkins in one hand and a fork in the other, just chomping away!

Now that he's gone, my mom and I still love to make these sweet gherkin pickles every year with cucumbers fresh from the garden to enjoy and remember him.

The Secrets to the Best Sweet Gherkins

We have enjoyed this recipe for many years, and as a result, we have developed a few tricks for getting the best sweet gherkins. Follow these secrets and you will have the whole town talking about your pickles!

• Quality Ingredients - Start with fresh, high-quality pickling cucumbers. Look for small, firm cucumbers for the best texture and flavor in your pickles. The smaller the better!
• Remove the Blossom End - Cutting off the blossom end of the pickle before pickling is recommended because it contains enzymes that can soften the pickle and lead to a less crisp texture. By removing the blossom end, you help maintain the desired crunchiness and texture in your pickles. See the photo below for an example of the blossom end versus the vine end!
• Patience is Key - Allow your sweet gherkin pickles enough time to develop their flavors. The longer they sit and mature, the more pronounced and complex their taste will become. Be patient and resist the temptation to consume them right away, as their flavors will continue to evolve and improve with time!

Ingredients

Let's take a quick look at all the ingredients that go into this recipe for sweet gherkin pickles. While this list may seem like a lot, it's really just cucumbers, vinegar, sugar, and some spices. The exact measurements are in the printable recipe card at the end of the post.

• Pickling cucumbers - Use small cucumbers for the best texture, thin and short! Pick them very small if you are growing cucumbers. If you have to use store-bought, look for smaller diameter pickles even if they are longer than 4 inches.
• Pickling salt - Helps draw out moisture from the cucumbers for crispness.
• Granulated sugar - Provides sweetness to balance the tanginess of the pickles.
• Distilled white vinegar - Adds acidity and acts as a preserving agent.
• Turmeric - Adds a vibrant yellow color to the pickles.
• Celery seeds - Contributes a subtle, aromatic flavor to the pickles.
• Pickling spices - A blend of spices that enhances the overall flavor. You can make your own blend as listed below, or purchase these ready-made.
• Cinnamon sticks - Adds warmth and a hint of sweetness to the pickles.
• Fennel seed - Offers a pleasant licorice-like flavor, but isn't overpowering at all.
• Vanilla extract - Provides a touch of sweetness and depth to the pickles. This is optional, but recommended.

How to Make Pickling Spices

To make pickling spices, you can create your own blend using a combination of various aromatic spices. This is perfect to have on hand during canning season! Here's a simple recipe to make pickling spices at home:

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons mustard seeds
• 1 tablespoon coriander seeds
• 1 tablespoon whole black peppercorns
• 1 tablespoon dill seeds
• 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1 tablespoon allspice berries
• 2 teaspoons whole cloves
• 2 teaspoons ground ginger
• 5 bay leaves, crushed
• 2 cinnamon sticks, broken into 4-6 pieces each

Instructions:

1. In a small bowl, combine all the ingredients and mix well.
2. Store the homemade pickling spice blend in an airtight container in a cool, dark place until ready to use.

If you'd like to make a more aromatic pickling spice blend, you can follow these instructions for homemade pickling spices instead!

How to Make Sweet Gherkin Pickles

Never made gherkin pickles before? No problem! This is a very straightforward process and once you give it a try, you'll be a pro in no time. Here is a quick overview of the process with the full printable directions at the end of the post.

1. Prep:
   • Wash: Clean the cucumbers and remove the blossom ends.
2. Cucumber Soaking:
   • Boiling Water: Cover cucumbers with boiling water and let stand.
   • Drain: Drain and repeat the process with fresh boiling water.
3. Syrup Preparation:
   • Drain & Prick: Drain cucumbers and prick them with a fork.
   • Syrup: Combine sugar, vinegar, herbs, and spices. Pour over cucumbers.
4. Syrup Building:
   • Drain & Add: Drain the syrup mixture and add more sugar and vinegar.
   • Repeat: Heat, pour over pickles, and let stand.
5. Canning:
   • Drain & Add: Drain the syrup mixture, and add the remaining sugar and vinegar.
   • Prepare Jars: Prepare jars and heat the remaining syrup mixture.
   • Pack & Seal: Pack pickles into jars, cover them with syrup, and seal them.
   • Process: Process jars in a boiling water bath.

If you've never done any canning before, be sure to read our full guide on water bath canning before you start!

Common Questions

Even More Canning Ideas

Fill your pantry shelves with even more homemade goodness with these canning recipes, from our homestead to yours!

• Canning Strawberry Jam
• Canning Potatoes
• Canning Dried Beans

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