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Red Hot Cinnamon Pickles

March 29, 2012 By Cooking Mamas 83 Comments

Print Recipe
5 from 2 votes

Red Hot Cinnamon Pickles

aka: “Christmas Pickles” Recipe by Shirley Olson & Terri Olson-Cleveland - These pickles take 3 days to make, but are well worth the wait! We used to eat them like candy when we were kids. They make wonderful Christmas gifts.
Course: Canning
Cuisine: American
Servings: 8 pints

Ingredients

  • 8 lbs. cucumbers peeled, seeded & sliced

LIME SOLUTION:

  • 1 c. pickling lime
  • 4 c. water plus more to cover the cucumbers

SIMMERING LIQUID:

  • 1 T. red food coloring
  • 1 c. white vinegar
  • 4 c. water plus more to cover the cucumbers

RED HOT CINNAMON SYRUP:

  • 2 c. white vinegar
  • 2 c. water
  • 10 c. granulated sugar
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 12 oz. Red Hots cinnamon candies
  • 8 whole cinnamon sticks

Instructions

  • DAY ONE: In the morning, peel the cucumbers and slice in half lengthwise. Using a spoon, gently scoop out the seeds and discard. Cut cucumbers into 1/4-inch half moon slices.
  • LIME SOLUTION: In a very large non-reactive bowl or container, (I like to use a 5-gallon food-grade plastic bucket with lid) mix the pickling lime with 4 cups of water. Add the cucumber slices; then add more water to cover them. Let stand for 24 hours. It's not necessary to refrigerate or stir the cucumbers during this process.
  • DAY TWO: Drain and rinse the cucumbers thoroughly to remove as much of the lime solution as possible. Return the cucumber slices to the clean bowl or bucket. Cover the cucumbers with ice water. Let stand for 3 hours.
  • Drain the cucumbers and rinse well again. All of the lime should be removed from the cucumbers.
  • SIMMERING LIQUID: In a large 8 quart non-reactive pot, mix 1 tablespoon red food coloring, 1 cup white vinegar, and 4 cups of water. Add the cucumber slices and add more water to cover them. Bring the water to a simmer (not a boil) and simmer for 2 hours. Watch carefully to make sure the water does not evaporate so much that you risk burning the cucumbers. Add more water as needed.
  • RED HOT CINNAMON SYRUP: Meanwhile, one hour before the cucumber finish simmering, make the Red Hot Cinnamon Syrup in a 5 quart non-reactive pot by mixing 2 cups white vinegar, 2 cups water, 10 cups sugar, 1 teaspoon salt and the Red Hot cinnamon candies. Heat to a simmer and stir occasionally until the candies are dissolved, about 1 hour.
  • Drain the cucumber simmering liquid and return the cucumbers to the pot. Pour the Red Hot Cinnamon syrup over them, and let them stand overnight.
  • DAY THREE: The following morning, bring the cucumbers and syrup to a simmer. The pickles will be a beautiful red color and have a translucent quality to them, characteristic of pickles made with pickling lime.
  • Pack the pickles into sterilized canning jars, cover with syrup leaving 1/4 inch of head space in each jar. Add a stick of cinnamon to each jar. Wipe the rims clean with a damp rag. Cover with sterilized lids and screw on bands finger-tip tight. Process the jars in a boiling water bath for 15 minutes.
  • Pickles are best served cold.

Notes

Note: This recipe has been updated and does not call for alum.

Filed Under: CANNING, Pickles, Vegetables

Comments

  1. Nancy Hutchison says

    August 19, 2016 at 3:09 pm

    These are in demand every time I make them. Our cucumbers were destroyed by two hails but we went to Arkansas Valley farming community…actually the little town where my parents lived during war where my father worked as a welder at Pueblo Air Base and bought our cucumbers. They are a little work but so worth when I hand my 76 year old brother in law a jar. He’s a rancher and his mother passed on the recipe….he gives me his wonderful charming smile. Bless our hardworking farmers and ranchers! Making these this week did stir up lots of memories!

    Reply
    • Cooking Mamas says

      August 19, 2016 at 3:25 pm

      Bless your heart, Thanks for sharing your story. Do you make them in both red & green?

      Reply
    • joan says

      July 15, 2017 at 8:22 am

      Used your recipe added 2 cans beet juice and monk’s fruit and apple juice, for sweetness and color. Diabetics with cancer in my family even the youngest of grandkids can eat these. Christmas gifts in July they will love it! Thanks for posting most like my dad’s recipe I could find, Veteran of Korean war.

      Reply
      • Cooking Mamas says

        July 15, 2017 at 8:36 am

        Hi Joan, you’re so welcome, I will tell my friend Terri, it’s her mom’s recipe. She has fond memories of making these with her mom when she was a child.

        Reply
      • Tammy says

        May 29, 2024 at 7:07 pm

        Joan making red hot pickles and wondering if you would share your lower sugar recipe using beet juice?

        Reply
    • Joy Stewart says

      October 15, 2019 at 11:03 am

      I grew up eating these. My grandmother always made them, then mother and aunt. They always went to the fabric store and picked out a wonderfully bright Christmas inspired design to cut a square for decorating top of jar. Homemade things are the best gifts.

      Reply
  2. Dot. Hall says

    July 5, 2017 at 6:29 pm

    We accidently added the ALUM into the first 24 hour soaking with pickling lime!
    Our cukes turned yellow instead of translucent…Are they ruined or can we still use them just continuing the recipe. Do we need to refrigerate them during any of the processing time up until we put them and the syrup into the jars on the final step?

    Reply
    • Cooking Mamas says

      July 5, 2017 at 7:16 pm

      Hi Dot, Alum is used to crisp the pickles, so I don’t think it will matter. No refrigeration is needed. I hope this helps. ~ Dusty

      Reply
  3. Roger says

    July 29, 2017 at 9:35 am

    Does the lime solution have to be cool before adding the cucumbers?

    Reply
    • Cooking Mamas says

      July 29, 2017 at 12:01 pm

      Hi Roger, The lime solutions is 1 cup lime to 1 gallon water. No heating necessary. ~ Dusty

      Reply
  4. Julie Weyer says

    August 5, 2017 at 5:57 pm

    How many pints does this recipe make?

    Reply
    • Cooking Mamas says

      August 5, 2017 at 8:49 pm

      Hi Julie, I just checked the hand written recipe, it says 8 pints.

      Reply
      • Julie Weyer says

        August 7, 2017 at 4:51 pm

        Thanks! Just missed your reply! I may not have packed my jars as tight.

        Reply
  5. Julie Weyer says

    August 7, 2017 at 4:50 pm

    Well, I answered my own question.. lol.. I got 10 pints. Taste great! Awesome recipe! Nice and crisp!

    Reply
  6. Michelle says

    August 8, 2017 at 11:51 pm

    What do you do with cinnamon sticks ?

    Reply
    • Cooking Mamas says

      August 10, 2017 at 1:32 pm

      Hi Michelle, You use them in the second boil. You can also stick them in the jars before processing. ~ Dusty

      Reply
  7. Robin says

    September 9, 2017 at 9:47 am

    Can you use zucchini instead of cucumbers?

    Reply
    • Cooking Mamas says

      September 9, 2017 at 9:57 am

      Hi Robin, I haven’t used zucchini, but I bet you could, just be sure to remove the seeds! Let me know how it turns out. ~ Dusty

      Reply
      • Diana says

        August 9, 2019 at 2:49 pm

        I prefer making them with zucchoni. I use the big ones that I missed when picking them! I had always made relish out of the big ones. One year my cucumbers didn’t make much so I tried zucchini, we like them much better and it’s another use for the giants!

        Reply
        • Diana says

          August 9, 2019 at 2:53 pm

          I do use alum when making these. Makes them really crisp.

          Reply
        • Cooking Mamas says

          August 9, 2019 at 5:44 pm

          Hi Diana, That’s my mom’s name too! Wow, I never thought to use zucchini, what a great idea and a great use for the larger zukes! Thanks for sharing! ~ Dusty

          Reply
        • Teresa Meeks says

          May 7, 2021 at 7:50 am

          i use watermelon rind ( the white of the rind only) my family likes this better than the cucumber.

          Reply
  8. Karen Thomas says

    September 22, 2017 at 12:21 pm

    I’m trying to make some crisp apple slices instead of cucumbers using the pickling lime. Just for the heck of it. Crisp cooking apples in season right now too so figure if it doesn’t work, I haven’t lost much. I looked up recipes for spicy apple slices which also used red or green food coloring, but apparently that recipe for apple slices only keeps in the refrigerator for ONE WEEK….I meant them to last longer than that so i’m trying the cucumber recipe. Will find out if the pickling lime will work on the apple slices too. Anyway, have my pickling cucumbers sitting in lime for 24 hours. And have a separate big bowl soaking my apples in pickling lime too. My kids grew up eating cinnamon red hot cucumber pickles and they have put in their special request for me to show them how to make them. .will soak all in the alum/vinegar/red food color solutions for 3 hours tomorrow then can it all….apples and cukes separately, of course.

    Reply
    • Cooking Mamas says

      September 22, 2017 at 12:42 pm

      Wow, let me know how this turns out! I’ve never thought of using apples…

      Reply
    • Becky says

      August 3, 2018 at 8:36 pm

      I was wondering if you have any suggestions on how to use the syrup after you empty a jar. Its such a waste to throw it out

      Reply
      • Sarah W says

        July 15, 2019 at 6:13 pm

        My friend and I boiled it down and made Cinnamon syrup.

        Reply
  9. Janet Hunter says

    May 17, 2018 at 6:56 am

    I hope someone can help. My grandma always had two pint jars on her table, one green one red. They contained thin sticks, I think cucumbers. What were these?

    Reply
    • Cooking Mamas says

      May 17, 2018 at 9:55 am

      Hi Janet, It might be cumcumbers, if so you have the right recipe! 🙂

      Reply
      • Jeanette Ratliff says

        August 9, 2020 at 4:33 pm

        My Mother-in-law made red cinnamon and green were clove. I loved both!

        Reply
  10. Barbara says

    August 20, 2018 at 3:08 pm

    I love to put it in my cottage cheese it adds flavor to it. It keeps forever in the refrigerator. My Papaw used to make them and they are my favorite pickle.

    Reply
  11. Susan Noonan says

    August 24, 2018 at 1:45 pm

    Used recipe last year only put pickles in the food processor. Made it relish. Sure great on hot dogs and other sandwiches.

    Reply
  12. Lara says

    August 30, 2018 at 3:08 pm

    I misread and added the sugar, redhots, and cinnamon with the alum mixture.
    Can I still can them or is the batch no good?

    Reply
    • Cooking Mamas says

      August 30, 2018 at 3:22 pm

      I’m sorry Lara, Do NOT can them, you’re suppose to throw out the alum mixture, you’re going to have to start over.

      Reply
  13. Michelle says

    September 22, 2018 at 5:59 pm

    What can I eat with the cinnamon pickles? Or what can I mix with the cinnamon pickles? Dessert? Any thing is helpful.

    Reply
    • Cooking Mamas says

      September 22, 2018 at 7:12 pm

      Hi Michelle, These sweet and crunchy pickles are great right out of the jar! Serve them alongside sandwich, as an appetizer, on a charcuterie platter, over vanilla ice cream or give away as gifts during the holidays. Hope that helps?

      Reply
  14. Rebecca says

    November 4, 2018 at 12:27 am

    So happy to find this recipe. My grandmother would make them every holiday – only she would make a batch with red, and a batch with green. And I would absolutely inhale them!

    I had the recipe but lost it years ago in a flood, and didn’t get the chance to ask her for it again before she passed last year.

    I can’t wait to make them for my new friends here in Pennsylvania. (Midwestern transplant)

    Reply
  15. Redona merritt says

    June 21, 2019 at 6:13 pm

    I really like your website. I’m using your cinnamon pickles. I’m gonna TRY some asparagus…..
    The cuke pickles look great
    Will let u know how asparagus does!!!!!!

    Reply
  16. Tammy says

    July 26, 2019 at 7:10 pm

    I have a friend who does the cinnamon pickles from an old family recipe, but she will not share. She does not use the red hots. Hers are not red. do you know of any other recipe for these. she also does not use the cinnamon sticks.

    Reply
    • Cooking Mamas says

      July 26, 2019 at 8:07 pm

      Hi Tammy, Possibly candy pickles or lime pickles? I have a recipe for watermelon pickles, but I don’t think that’s what you’re looking for. I hope this helps! ~ Dusty

      Reply
  17. CINDY TOOTIE MAHONEY says

    August 6, 2019 at 10:45 pm

    WOULD WATERMELON RIND WORK. I LOVE THESE PICKLES.THANKYOU FOR POSING THE RECIPE.

    Reply
    • Cooking Mamas says

      August 7, 2019 at 11:16 am

      Hi Cindy, I suppose you could, but I have never tried this recipe with watermelon rind. Here’s a link to my recipe for Watermelon Rind Pickles: https://www.cookingmamas.com/watermelon-rind-pickles/

      Reply
  18. Connie says

    August 20, 2019 at 6:55 am

    Can you use pickling salt instead of lime

    Reply
    • Cooking Mamas says

      August 22, 2019 at 11:48 am

      Hi Connie, No, Pickling lime is calcium hydroxide. Pickling salt is sodium chloride without additives. You could use Ball Pickling Crisp instead of lime. Hope this helps?

      Reply
      • Laura says

        August 25, 2020 at 6:39 pm

        Hello! What would be the changes to use pickling crisp instead? Would they still soak over night? My first batch was by the book except my mom bought me salt instead of lime and my pickles were limp and soggy and I can’t find lime anywhere but found pickle crisp but can’t find out how to use it.

        Reply
        • Cooking Mamas says

          August 25, 2020 at 8:13 pm

          Hi Laura, I have never used Pickling Crisp, but here’s an article that might explain it. I hope this helps. http://americanpreppersnetwork.com/pickling-crisp-vs-pickling-lime/

          Reply
  19. Kit says

    August 25, 2019 at 5:34 am

    Hi! I’m excited to try this recipe. I’ll be starting the process this morning and i have just enough pickling cucumbers to make 2 batches. My question is, can this recipe be doubled, or will I need to make 2 separate batches at the same time?

    Reply
    • Cooking Mamas says

      August 25, 2019 at 11:19 am

      Hi Kit, I would do two separate batches! 🙂

      Reply
  20. Vickie says

    August 26, 2019 at 6:56 pm

    Just finished day 2. My syrup had a thin layer on top that was milky white. Not sure if it’s lime or alum. I swear I rinsed the lime reside forever. Anyone else have this issue? Will it go away in day 3/4?

    Reply
    • Cooking Mamas says

      August 26, 2019 at 8:56 pm

      Hi Vickie, Wondering if you used both lime and alum? The recipe calls for lime, not alum. Let me know…

      Reply
      • Vickie says

        August 27, 2019 at 12:48 pm

        Yes, I looked at several recipes and most called for soaking in lime and then adding alum to the boiling liquid on day 2. I did the lime soak and rinsed and rinsed. Then I added Alum to the vinegar and water when I simmered it for 2 hours. It said to drain that mixture off, but didn’t say to rinse it afterward, so I didn’t.

        I wonder if I rinse them tonight and make the syrup over if I can get rid of it.

        Reply
  21. Jennifer Cannon says

    August 29, 2019 at 5:14 pm

    I have been making these for years, everybody loves them. My question is why remove the seeds? I remove them for these pickles but not for any of my others. Thank you

    Reply
    • Cooking Mamas says

      August 30, 2019 at 5:43 pm

      Hi Jennifer, Good question! There’s really no reason you couldn’t leave the seeds. I personally think they’re prettier without! 🙂

      Reply
  22. Dara B. Millwood says

    September 20, 2019 at 1:35 pm

    Just wanted to say thank you for this recipe. It is as close to my grandmothers and great aunts as I have found, and I have used it a couple of years in a row. This year I wanted to try my own spin on them and did some Cinnamon mango pickles using the same recipe. They are amazing! Like pickled peaches times 10! Thanks again for the very detailed instructions. I’m passing it down )
    Sincerely , Dara

    Reply
    • Cooking Mamas says

      September 20, 2019 at 1:59 pm

      You’re welcome Dara, so glad we could help! Love your spin on the recipe, sounds AMAZING!

      Reply
  23. Nancy L Erb says

    October 9, 2019 at 2:56 am

    Please help.. when you’re soaking the Cucumbers overnight in the syrup with the Red Hots and the sugar it says to process them the next morning I’m not able to do that until later in the afternoon will they still be okay sitting on the counter?

    Reply
    • Cooking Mamas says

      October 9, 2019 at 7:48 am

      Hi Nancy, No worries, they should be fine 🙂

      Reply
  24. Judy S. says

    June 4, 2020 at 7:24 am

    I cannot find the lime and bought the pickling crisp granules. Does work the same and how much do you use?

    Reply
    • Cooking Mamas says

      June 4, 2020 at 12:54 pm

      Hi Judy, I’ve never used that before. You might want to google it first. (I found this article that might help you – http://americanpreppersnetwork.com/pickling-crisp-vs-pickling-lime/) I know Walmart carries the pickling lime. I ended up buying mine on Amazon. I hope this helps?

      Reply
  25. Carol Kilpatrick says

    June 25, 2020 at 8:34 pm

    How do you make them green? Do you still use the red hot syrup? Doesn’t that make them red?

    Reply
    • Cooking Mamas says

      June 25, 2020 at 9:17 pm

      Hi Carol, This recipe is for “Red” Hot Cinnamon Pickles. There is a recipe for “Green” Spicy Christmas Pickles using Tabasco sauce. You’ll have to Google it.

      Reply
  26. wayne welch says

    July 28, 2020 at 9:38 pm

    can you use whole crabapples with stems in place of cucumbers? is it necessary to water bath after packing in jars?

    Reply
    • Cooking Mamas says

      July 29, 2020 at 8:30 am

      Hi Wayne, The recipe calls for cucumbers, I would not use crab apples, and yes, a water bath is necessary for sealing and preserving the pickles.

      Reply
  27. rachel says

    August 6, 2020 at 5:32 am

    Hello, I rinsed the cucumbers off after soaking in lime water overnight..i rinsed and rinsed and filled bowl with cold water to soak for 4 hours, fell asleep and woke up 9 hours later, can i still use my hard work cucumber and move on to the next step..Thank you..

    Reply
    • Cooking Mamas says

      August 6, 2020 at 8:04 am

      Hi Rachel, Yes, of course!

      Reply
  28. Robin Hopper says

    August 7, 2020 at 10:03 am

    Thank you for your detailed instructions! I made a perfect batch of translucent crisp cinnamon pickles last year, (using another recipe, almost like yours) and encouraged by how great they were, I bought enough cukes to make a double batch the next week. I followed the exact same directions, making a double batch, and they were pasty, brown, and soft after five days. I had to throw everything out. This year, I decided to try again, thinking that maybe I had just done something wrong last summer, by doubling the recipe. This week, I used two buckets, and made a single batch in each. I’ve rinsed and soaked 3 times, like my recipe called for, and then boiled them in water for 2 hours. Before the boil, the pickles weren’t translucent, like last year’s first good batch were, but they were crisp. After the boil, most of them were brown and mushy…. I’m so sad! I went looking for another recipe online, and found yours. You say to put the alum in the boil. The other one says to put it in the lime soak. I’m wondering if the alum blocked the lime from doing its work in the 24 hour soak? That doesn’t really make sense to me, because following the same recipe last year yielded me a perfect batch, followed by two mushy ones, with the same recipe. I’m going to try to find some more cukes, and try your version. I sure hope that it works! I used huge green cukes this week, that I bought from a greenhouse – they weren’t yellow, and they were firm and crisp, until the boil stage. Do you have any advice that might help me replicate the perfect batch I made last year, instead of throwing out another batch of sorry, soggy spears again? Thank you! Robin, from Alaska

    Reply
  29. Robin Hopper says

    August 7, 2020 at 10:07 am

    I have to amend my first note to you! In re-reading your directions just now, I realized that you didn’t even mention using alum. Thank you for any advice you can give me.

    Reply
    • Cooking Mamas says

      August 7, 2020 at 1:51 pm

      Hi Robin,

      I’m so sorry to hear you had to throw them out, that’s a lot of work! The only thing I can think of is the size and quality of the cucumbers, but it sounds like that wasn’t the problem.

      Lime is used in older pickle recipes to add crispness.

      If you use good-quality ingredients, alum is not needed. Alum is used to firm fermented cucumbers but does not improve the firmness of the pickles. I took the alum out of my recipe and they turned out beautifully.

      Do you still have the recipe you used the first time? Maybe you can contact them to see what they recommend.

      I hope this answers some of your questions. Please let me know if there is anything else I can do to help. ~ Dusty

      Reply
  30. Bernardine says

    August 22, 2020 at 5:42 am

    can this recipe be used for watermelon rinds, and if so will it take three days. I had a recipe for red hot water melon rind but lost it. I didn’t have to do all those steps though. Thank you

    Reply
    • Cooking Mamas says

      August 22, 2020 at 9:14 am

      Hi Bernadine, I actually have a recipe for Watermelon Rind Pickles https://www.cookingmamas.com/watermelon-rind-pickles/

      Reply
  31. PJ Mann says

    August 31, 2020 at 5:53 pm

    How long would I process 1/2 pints?

    Reply
    • Cooking Mamas says

      August 31, 2020 at 6:43 pm

      Process them in a boiling water canner for 10 minutes, adjusting for altitude.

      Reply
  32. Nancy Benter says

    September 11, 2020 at 2:55 pm

    On day 1. On day 2,when you cover with red hot solution, it seems there is not going to be enough liquid. Do I add water?

    Reply
    • Cooking Mamas says

      September 11, 2020 at 4:54 pm

      Hi Nancy, Add more water just to cover them, watch carefully when simmering, add water as needed.

      Reply
  33. Bernice says

    September 2, 2021 at 7:23 pm

    I didn’t have red food coloring to put in when I did the alum, vinegar mix. I have it now. I am in day three of a five day process. Can I add it to the syrup solution now or is it too late? The cucumbers are going to be a washed out color.

    Reply
    • Cooking Mamas says

      September 2, 2021 at 7:35 pm

      Hi Bernice, You will get some color from the red hot candies, just not as intense. You could add a teaspoon of red food coloring to intensify the color, but I would not add the entire tablespoon, it will change the taste of the pickles.

      Reply
  34. Tina B. says

    July 20, 2022 at 6:11 am

    Me and my mom make these a lot, and one time her batch turned out soggy instead of crunchy. Reckon why this happened? I just wondered if u have encountered it before.
    Also- I’ve heard recipes say “you need yellow cucumbers” and others say “it doesn’t matter”.. your thoughts?

    Reply
    • Cooking Mamas says

      July 20, 2022 at 4:28 pm

      Hi Tina,
      The only thing I can think of is that they may have been overripe causing them to be soft.
      I use pickling cucumber from my garden. I’ve never used yellow cucumbers, so I can’t really comment on that, sorry.

      Reply
  35. Theresa says

    July 26, 2023 at 10:14 am

    5 stars
    My mother in law always made these with the tiny red hots. All I could find were boxes of movie style bigger red hots. Don’t think these were quite as sweet or cinnamony- my made up word. I did add a little more sugar which I dissolved in the actual juice in microwave and added to final boil, so no extra liquid, with a few drops of candy making cinnamon oil. Can you think of any reason these ingredients may compromise the final product?

    Reply
    • Cooking Mamas says

      July 26, 2023 at 10:39 am

      Hi Theresa, I wouldn’t think so. Let me know how they turned out!

      Reply
  36. Tammy Martin says

    July 11, 2024 at 8:08 pm

    5 stars
    Hi lady – I have just made my first batch of Christmas Pickles. They are wonderful, so wondered if I could make the exact pickles without the red hots and have a regular sweet pickle? Have you ever tried that?

    Reply
    • Cooking Mamas says

      July 19, 2024 at 10:24 am

      Hi Tammy, I have not. This recipe comes from a dear friend of mine. I will ask her if she has ever tried it that way.

      Reply
  37. Judy Shockey says

    October 6, 2024 at 5:34 pm

    Is there any way to get the lime to dissolve?

    Reply
    • Cooking Mamas says

      October 6, 2024 at 11:47 pm

      Hi Judy, You can whisk it in the water before adding the cucumbers. Remember to rinse the cucumbers the next day. Hope this helps.

      Reply

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