- 2.5 pounds Kirby or pickling cucumbers
- 1 tablespoon Kosher or pickling salt
- 2.5 teaspoons Alum, a naturally occurring mineral that crisps the pickle
- 4 cups apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon pickling spice tied in a cheesecloth bundle or tucked into a stainless steel tea ball
- 1 cup white sugar
- Day One Soak the cucumbers in ice cold water for 30 minutes. Drain the water and scrub the cucumbers well to dislodge any remaining dirt. Slice a small amount off each end of the cucumber, then slice into ½” slices. A mandolin is useful, but not necessary. Pack the slices into a half gallon jar or two quart jars. Cover with boiling water. Cover the jar and let it sit overnight on the counter. Soak the cucumbers in ice cold water for 30 minutes. Drain the water and scrub the cucumbers well to dislodge any remaining dirt. Slice a small amount off each end of the cucumber, then slice into ½” slices. A mandolin is useful, but not necessary. Pack the slices into a half gallon jar or two quart jars. Cover the jar and let it sit overnight on the counter.
- Day Two Drain the water away. Do not rinse. Dissolve the salt in one quart of boiling water. Pour the salted water over the cucumber slices while still warm. Cover and let it sit out overnight.
- Day Three. Drain the water away. Do not rinse. Add the alum to one quart of boiling water. Pour the alum water over the cucumber slices while still warm.
- Day Four. Drain the water away. Bring the cider vinegar to a boil. Tuck the pickling spice sachet into the jar with the pickles and pour the warm vinegar over the pickles. Cover and let the pickles brine for three days.
- Day Five and Six Gaze longingly at your pickles to be.
- Day Seven. Drain the pickles, reserving ½ cup of the vinegar. Dispose of the spices. Place the pickles in a large bowl and sprinkle the sugar over the pickles and add back the vinegar. Cover and set aside for one hour. Pack the pickles into pint jars and scrape all the sugar and syrup over them. Cap the jars and set aside. Turn the jars over every day for a few days, as the sugar draws liquid out of the pickles to make a syrup, then store in the cupboard. There is no need to process them in a boiling water bath.
- Chill the pickles well before serving.
