Sugar free bread and butter pickles using sugar substitute. A delicious combination of cucumbers and onions in a tangy-sweet pickling solution.
One of the joys of summer for me is preserving some of the abundance of fresh produce for use throughout the year. The ritual of getting out the canner, the tools, the jars, lids, and rings makes me feel so productive.
I usually do several types of fruit preserves and a couple of kinds of pickles. The only thing I don't like about homemade preserves and sweet pickles is the amount of sugar that most recipes require.
Most fruit preserves call for as much, and sometimes even more, sugar as fruit. Typically an exact pound for pound measure. And the same with sweet pickles.
I just feel so guilty pouring all that refined white sugar over that gorgeous fresh produce! That's why I started looking around for a bread and butter pickle recipe without all the usual sugar.
I really love bread and butter pickles with their mix of cucumbers and onions in that sweet, tangy solution. They're one of my favorites! But my old standard recipe called for 2 ¼ cups of white sugar. Eeek!
I could just never feel good knowing I was eating all that sugar. So when I saw this recipe from Splenda that uses their substitute I thought I'd give it a try.
Now, it doesn't have the exact taste of a "B&B" made with sugar, but it's really darned close. If you enjoy bread and butter pickles but want an alternative, then these sugar free bread and butter pickles might be just what you're looking for, too.
u003cemu003eSugar free bread and butter pickles using sugar substitute. A delicious combination of cucumbers and onions in a tangy-sweet pickling solution.u003c/emu003e Click To TweetHow to Make Sugar Free Bread and Butter Pickles
Prepare the Cucumbers and Onions
First, you want to make sure that you use only pickling type cucumbers for your pickles, not the standard grocery store cucumbers. The cucumbers you typically find in your grocery store's produce department have had a waxy coating applied and that will interfere with the pickling process.
Prepare the cucumbers by washing them thoroughly to remove any dirt from the skin. Cut off a tiny 1/16 inch slice from the blossom end of each cucumber. Why? Well, actually there's an enzyme in the blossom end that can cause the pickles to be soft. Removing that tiny slice will help eliminate that problem.
Slice the cucumbers into rounds approximately ¼ inch thick. Peel the onion and slice it into ¼ inch thick slices as well. Separate all the onion rings.
Place the cucumbers and onions in a large bowl and sprinkle with the salt. Toss so that the salt is distributed throughout the vegetables. Allow to stand at room temperature for two hours.
At the end of the standing time, drain the cucumbers and onions in a colander. Rinse thoroughly with cold water and drain again. Spread the vegetables on a double thickness of paper towels and pat dry with additional paper towels.
Prepare the Jars
Wash 3 pint (or 6 half-pint) standard canning jars in hot soapy water. Rinse the jars thoroughly with hot water. Prepare the lids and rings according to the manufacturer’s directions. Set the jars, lids, and rings aside on a clean kitchen towel.
Fill a canning pot ¾ full of water. Set the canner on the stove, add the jar rack, along with the clean jars and bring the water to a low boil.
Keep the lids warm in a separate small pan of water set over the lowest heat possible.
Make the Pickling Liquid
Meanwhile, combine the vinegar, sugar substitute, mustard seed, celery seed, turmeric, and cloves in a large non-reactive saucepan. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat.
Add the cucumbers and onions to the pickling liquid and allow the it to return to a boil. Remove the pan from the heat.
Fill and Process Jars
For this part of the process, you will work with one jar at a time. Use a canning jar lifter to remove a jar from the boiling water in the canner, allowing the hot water to drain back into the pot.
Use a slotted spoon to remove vegetables from the pickling liquid and lightly pack them into the hot jar. Fill the jar so that about ¼-inch of space remains at the top. Ladle in pickling liquid to cover the vegetables. Use a canning funnel to make the filling process easier.
Wipe the rim of the jar with a moistened paper towel and apply a canning lid and ring. Rings should tightened just until resistance is felt. Do not overtighten the rings. Set the filled jar on the rack in the canner. Continue until all jars are packed.
When all the jars are filled, lower the jars on their rack into the boiling water canner. The water in the canner should cover the tops of the jars by 1 to 2 inches. Cover the canner and bring the water up to a gentle boil.
Once the boiling point is reached, process the jars for 15 minutes. Carefully remove processed jars from the canner and place on a clean, folded towel to cool completely. After the jars are cool, check to make sure the seals are complete.
Store in a cool, dark place for up to one year. Refrigerate jars after opening. Enjoy!
More Condiments and Extras on Lana’s Cooking:
- Quick Pickled Jalapeños
- Refrigerator Kosher Dill Pickles
- Pickled Okra
- Home Canned Tomatoes
- Strawberry Jam
- Tomato Jam
More resources for Low or No Sugar Canning:
- Canning Without Sugar from Pick Your Own
- Low Sugar Alternatives for Jams and Jellies from UGA's National Center for Home Food Preservation
- Sugar Free Jams and Marmalades from Healthy Canning
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Sugar-Free Bread and Butter Pickles
Ingredients
- 2 lb. pickling cucumbers
- 1 medium onion
- 3 tblsp. kosher salt
- 2 ½ cups white vinegar
- 1 ¼ cups sugar substitute cup-for-cup measure such as Splenda
- 1 tblsp. mustard seed
- 1 tblsp. celery seed
- 1 tsp. turmeric
- ½ tsp. whole cloves
Instructions
- Prepare the cucumbers - wash thoroughly removing any dirt from the skin of the cucumbers. Remove a thin (1/16 inch) slice from the blossom end of each cucumber and discard. Slice cucumbers into rounds approximately ¼ inch thick.
- Prepare the onion - peel the onion and slice into ¼ inch thick slices. Separate the onion rings.
- Place the cucumbers and onions in a large bowl and sprinkle with the salt. Toss so that the salt is distributed throughout the vegetables. Allow to stand at room temperature for two hours. Drain the cucumbers and onions in a colander. Rinse thoroughly and drain again. Spread the vegetables on a double thickness of paper towels and pat dry with additional paper towels.
- Prepare 3 pint (or 6 half-pint) jars by washing in hot soapy water and rinsing well. Prepare lids and rings according to manufacturer’s directions.
- Fill a boiling water canner ¾ full with water. Add the clean jars to the canner and bring to the boil. Keep lids warm in a pan of barely simmering water.
- Meanwhile, combine the vinegar, sugar substitute, mustard seed, celery seed, turmeric, and cloves in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Add the cucumbers and onions and allow the mixture to return to a boil.
- Working with one jar at a time, use a slotted spoon to pack vegetables into hot jars filling to ¼ inch of tops. Ladle in pickling liquid to cover the vegetables. Wipe the jar rim with a moistened paper towel and apply a canning lid and ring. Rings should be just fingertip tight. Return the filled jar to the canner and continue until all jars are packed.
- When all jars are filled, lower the jars into the boiling water canner. Water should cover the tops of the jars by 1 to 2 inches. Cover the canner and bring the water to a gentle boil. Process for 15 minutes.
- Remove jars from the canner and place on a towel to cool completely. After the jars are cool, check to make sure the seals are complete.
- Store in a cool, dark place for up to one year. Refrigerate jars after opening.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information is calculated by software based on the ingredients in each recipe. It is an estimate only and is provided for informational purposes. You should consult your health care provider or a registered dietitian if precise nutrition calculations are needed for health reasons.
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Jen M says
Hey there. My brother follows a keto diet and had to give up his beloved bread and butter pickles. I was thinking of making these for him as a nice Christmas gift. He prefers to use Swerve sugar substitute when he makes things from scratch. Do you think that Swerve would work in this recipe instead of splenda? Also, are the cloves necessary to the flavor profile? I never would have thought that cloves are needed but then again I don't really eat B&B pickles so maybe they are?
Lana Stuart says
Hi Jen. That's an interesting question and one that I don't have a definite answer for. I've never worked with Swerve so I did some reading on it. It says that it's a cup-for-cup sugar substitute which is the same thing Splenda claims. However, I never recommend making changes to a proven canning recipe because of the risks involved in changing the pH and making the entire recipe unstable for shelf storage. What I *can* recommend is that you make the recipe with Swerve and just refrigerate the pickles rather than going through the canning process. That way you'd be assured that the pickles would be stored safely.
To answer your second question -- yes, cloves are absolutely necessary for the traditional flavor profile of B&B pickles. They wouldn't taste like B&Bs without them.
Good luck finding pickling cucumbers this time of year! But then, maybe you're in the southern hemisphere where it's warm :-)
Jen M says
Thank you! Yes, I would say that if the recipe works out and my brother enjoys them that they would not last very long in the refrigerator because he would demolish them. I think I will do a test batch and see how things go! Assuming I can find the cucumbers that would be needed. Thank you for your help and insight.
Lana Stuart says
You're very welcome, Jen. I really hope the recipe works out well for you!
Cathy says
These are amazing! I made them three days ago and didn't can them, I just let them cool and popped them in the fridge. Half of them were eaten in a day. I made another batch yesterday and didn't can them since I feel they will be eaten soon too!
Thanks for this amazing no sugar recipe! Yum!
Lana Stuart says
I'm so glad that you like them! Reminds me I need to make some more myself.
Donna Cooper says
Am I reading this right? No added sugar, but nutrition info reads 9gr sugar and 0gr fiber. Is there that many grs in just the cukes & onions?
Thanks. Donna
Lana Stuart says
This recipe is made using Splenda sugar substitute. The components of Splenda are maltodextrin and sucralose, both of which are carbohydrates. Carbs break down into sugars, thus the resulting sugar content in the nutrition information calculation. Far, far less than bread and butter pickle recipes that use granulated white sugar.
Jennifer says
I am new to canning! Are these pickles ready to eat immediately? Or do they need to set for so long? If so how long?
Lana Stuart says
They're best if you let them sit for at least a week before eating.
joe says
You should have used Bermuda/red onions. DOH!
suzy says
I just made up a bath of these today. I want to congratulate you on the PERFECT measurements. I prepared an extra 4th pint jar based on some of my last experiences, ,but this was right on! Thanks. I can't wait to give these a whirl.
Kitchen Kelli says
Hi there! I pinned this great recipe last summer and I have a question on my pin: is it eleven and one/fourth cups splenda or one and one/fourth cups? I was pretty sure it was eleven but I have never worked with Splenda so I wasn't sure. Here's the link to the pin! http://www.pinterest.com/pin/257338566180681037/
If you could answer it, I would appreciate it! Thanks, Kelli
Lana Stuart says
Kelli - it's 1 1/4 (one and one-fourth) cups Splenda.
Kitchen Kelli says
Thanks so much! I commented on the pin and I'm sure the young woman will be able to make them now!
Brenda @ a farmgirl's dabbles says
Between myself and our youngest daughter, we could wipe you clean of bread and butter pickles. Yum!!
Lana Stuart says
Wish you were close by, Brenda! I'd bring you a couple of jars :-)
Aly ~ Cooking In Stilettos says
Love the idea of a lower sugar alternative!
Lana Stuart says
Me too, Aly! These are totally guilt free!
Barbara | Creative Culinary says
Hmm, interesting and something I might never have considered doing for fear of messing with the canning Gods. I sure do love B&B pickles but I sure would love to not have them include so much sugar...thinking I might have to try this for a couple of jars...thanks Lana.
Lana Stuart says
I know just what you mean, Barb. I rarely will use a canning recipe that hasn't been tested and approved by the USDA. Unless you have a lab and know how to do the testing, you really can't state with authority that a recipe is safe. That being said, however, based on about 30 years of canning experience I feel 99.9% sure this would be completely safe. The solution is pure undiluted vinegar with spices and sugar substitute added. The vinegar should easily make the product shelf stable. However, if you're ever unsure you can always just refrigerate your jars from the very outset.