Amish Sweet Pickle Recipe – Homemade Sweet Dill Pickles

This Amish sweet pickle recipe is a great way to cure your craving for sweet dill pickles. Inspired by traditional methods for making the best pickles and a little bit of personal modification, these crisp pickles promise a burst of flavor in every bite.

This easy recipe is sure to be a family favorite to complement classic chicken salad or tuna salad. Add a sweet crunch to a hearty potato salad or as a side on your dinner plate. They are delicious when made into a sweet pickle relish served on top of hot dogs paired with jalapeno jelly.

This original recipe is perfect for serving at BBQs and is sure to be a hit at your next Fourth of July or Independence Day party. 

Amish Sweet Pickle Recipe Ingredients

This section shares the ingredients needed to make this recipe, be sure to head to the recipe card at the bottom of this post for a better way to see all of the measurements and steps in one easy-to-read place. 

White sugar: Sugar is a key ingredient in sweet pickles, providing the sweetness to balance the acidity of the vinegar. It also contributes to the preservation process, helping to create a stable environment for the pickles for a long time.

Salt: Salt enhances the flavor of the pickles and acts as a preservative. It helps draw out excess water from the cucumber slices, contributing to their crispness. Additionally, salt inhibits the growth of undesirable microorganisms, aiding in the pickling process.

Apple Cider Vinegar: Apple cider vinegar adds a fruity and mellow acidity to the brine which is why it is preferred over white vinegar. It not only contributes to the tangy flavor of the pickling spices but also acts as a preservative. The acidity of vinegar helps prevent the growth of harmful bacteria and ensures the pickles have a longer shelf life.

Water: Water serves as a neutral base for the brine. It helps dilute the vinegar and sugar, ensuring the pickling solution is not overly intense. The balance of cold water in the brine is crucial for achieving the desired flavor profile for canning pickles.

Cucumbers: The main ingredient, cucumbers, provides the base for the pickles. Choose fresh sliced cucumbers preferably from your own cucumber plants, for the best sweet pickles recipe. Slicing them into even pieces allows for consistent flavor absorption and ensures uniform pickling.

Garlic cloves: Garlic adds a savory and aromatic element to the pickles. It infuses the brine with a subtle garlic flavor, complementing the sweetness and acidity. The whole clove of garlic also imparts a mild, pickled garlic taste to the finished product.

Dill sprigs (or dill weed): Fresh dill is the star of the cucumber mixture. Whether using dill sprigs or dill weed, dill heads impart a classic dill pickle taste. Adjust the quantity based on personal preference, as dill can vary in intensity.

Amish Sweet Pickle Recipe Instructions 

This section shares how to make the recipe but you can scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post to get exact measurements and instructions in one easy-to-read and printable place.

Step 1: Prepare the Brine

In a non-reactive pot, bring to a boil 3 cups of sugar, 2 tablespoons of salt, 2 cups of pure apple cider vinegar, and 2 cups of room temperature or cold water. This forms the sweet and tangy pickling brine solution.

Step 2: Prepare the Jars

Slice cucumbers and place them, along with 1 whole garlic clove and 1 dill sprig (or 1 teaspoon of dill weed), in each pint jar. These jars should be sterilized to ensure proper preservation. 

Step 3: Pour the Brine

Carefully pour the hot liquid brine into each jar, covering the cucumbers, garlic, and dill. Wipe the top of the jars clean.

Step 4: Seal the Jars 

Seal the jars tightly to create an airtight environment for pickling. You should hear a satisfying pop as the hot jars seal.

Step 5: Process in Steam Canner 

Process the sealed jars in a steam canner for approximately 15 minutes. This step ensures the pickles are properly preserved for long-term storage. You should hear a satisfying pop as the hot jars seal.

Step 6: Allow Curing

After processing, allow the pickles to cure for about a month before consuming. This time allows the flavors to develop and ensures a delicious recipe from the first time you eat them until the very last day. 

This recipe makes about 4 pint jars of Amish sweet pickles. A general guideline for making pickles is to estimate about 1 to 1.5 pounds of cucumbers per pint jar.

Adjust for Canning Jars of Different Sizes

If you have a recipe designed for pint jars and want to adapt it for quart jars, follow the guidelines. 

Increase the quantities and use a large pot to ensure there’s enough liquid for the larger jars. Preserve the balance of flavors, sweetness, acidity, and spices when doubling the recipe. Refer to canning guidelines for recommended processing times, as they may differ for quart jars. Adjust the head space to accommodate the larger jar size. 

Always follow proper canning procedures for personal consumption, including sterilizing jars and using fresh ingredients, to ensure food safety.

Variations on this Recipe

To add a new flavor typically found in butter pickles mix in mustard seed. For a bold flavor try this recipe with celery seed, dill seed, red peppers, green peppers, or red pepper flakes. These additions are perfect for making new recipes like your own relish. 

For those following a medically restrictive diet, you can use a sugar substitute but keep in mind that sugar plays a role in both flavor and preservation in pickling. If you are using a sugar substitute for canning, choose one that is recommended for this purpose and follow the substitution guidelines provided. 

If you have a hot water bath canner and prefer to use a water bath canning pot you can make this recipe using your preferred way. Just be sure to follow the boiling water canner instructions for best results.

More Posts You’ll Love

These Soft Batch No Eggs Chocolate Chip Cookies are sure to be one of your favorite recipes. The best part is that even when stored for a few days in airtight containers, these cookies stay soft and fresh for a long time! 

If you want to make your own freezer pickles or dill refrigerator pickle recipe, you may want to consider growing cucumbers. This post sharing the 10 Best Companion Plants for Cucumbers is a great way to get started. If you run into trouble with your plants, the first thing you will want to read is this post sharing How to Fix Cucumber Leaves Turning Yellow.

Another great post for those making Amish refrigerator pickles and 7-day pickles is this one sharing How to Harvest Dill Without Killing the Plant.

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