Cinnamon Candy Christmas Pickles are sweet with the infused flavor of melted cinnamon Red Hots candies, so crisp they snap when you break them. They are often served at Christmas because of their festive red color and often made in the summer and given as holiday gifts. A perfect way to use up those large, overgrown cucumbers at the end of gardening season.
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Cinnamon Christmas Pickles is one of those Southern recipes that you will adore because your Grandma always made them or you will cock your head a little and say, "What in the world?".
It may sound a little crazy to infuse Red Hots candy into a pickle, but trust me, they are addictive!
Is this a shortcut recipe?
Let me say upfront, this is NOT a shortcut recipe.
Most of my recipes are Southern with a shortcut but I had to share my experience with this old-fashioned, unique pickle recipe because it's worth a little more effort.
The good news is each step in the 4 day process doesn't take a ton of time.
What do Cinnamon Christmas Pickles taste like?
If you've ever had Watermelon Pickles, these will remind you of those with a little "bite" (but not hot) from cinnamon red hots. I have fond memories of Grandma Wilson, originally from Iowa, making Watermelon Pickles and I loved them.
They will also remind you of Cinnamon Apple Rings. They
So, when I had these for the first time in Florida at a Camo Dreams fishing trip dinner for my son, it transported me back immediately to Grandma's pickles. I couldn't figure out if they were watermelon rinds, cucumbers, or even apples because they were so crisp and sweet.
The hostess kindly told me her mother always makes them with the overgrown cucumbers that were too big to use for regular pickles. She made them in half-moon shapes but I made them in long "sticks" . You could also make them in spears more like a dill pickle spear.
I was hooked! I almost embarrassed myself by going back for seconds and thirds. I researched similar recipes on the internet all the way home that weekend.
Why are they called Christmas Pickles?
I discovered they are often called Christmas Pickles because of the vibrant red color and served during the holidays. They also make nice food gifts. When you discover something this unique and delicious, you want to share it with others!
They are also called Cinnamon Pickles for the obvious reason Red Hots cinnamon candies are used to make a syrup the "cukes" are steeped in-twice.
I call them Cinnamon Candy Christmas Pickles so you can tell right away they aren't made with ground cinnamon.
I found a recipe on Taste of Southern called Cinnamon Pickles with great step by step pictures. My Farmhouse Table also has an easy-to-follow recipe and she calls them Candied Red Hot Cinnamon Pickles.
I made them as soon as I had time and could find very large cucumbers at the store. All images on this page are my own.
If you're like me, you won't be able to wait until Christmas to enjoy a jar of these beautiful pickles.
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Shortcut Pickles
If you like shortcut pickles, try my Shortcut Sweet Heat Shortcut Pickles and Vidalia Onions.
Cindy Allen
My great Aunt used to make the best and my favorite pickles when I was young.They do resemble the spears but they were made with a pickling syrup but not with the red hots. I don’t like red hots. Do you know if there is a pickling syrup that I could substitute with? Hers had a yellow tinge.
Cindy Allen
Vandiver Alabama
gritsandgouda
I'm wondering if your great aunt might have use a similar syrup recipe but just didn't add red hots? I do not know of another recipe but I bet a recipe for pickled watermelon rinds would give you a similar tangy/sweet flavor you are looking for. Let me know if you find one and make it.
BonJon
Hey there, southern Grandma here. Using frozen vegetables to make pickles? Answer is NO. Y'all gotta start with extra, extra fresh veggies. Been making cinnamon pickles for 35 years. Store bought cucs resulted in mushy pickles 50% of the time, so now I only buy from a farmer. I'm online now looking for recipes to use up the last batch that was mushy, from 4 years ago! LOL
gritsandgouda
You are so right! Never make pickles from frozen cucumbers. I don't think cucumbers freeze well for anything.
Helen
I cut yellow squash zucchini and cucumbers into French fries and freeze in food saver bags, I’m wondering if I could make these pickles with zucchini and yellow squash too??
gritsandgouda
I'm not sure the squash will come out as crisp as a cucumber. I'm wondering if the squash would fall apart.
Peg
I made these pickles this summer and I love them. My sister loves them even more than I do. They are super easy to make even though they take a few days. I was able to do each daily step before work.
gritsandgouda
I do love how you can spend just a few minutes each day on one step. The color of these pickles are gorgeous and perfect for serving at the holidays!
Sarah
Hi!! I can only find pickling lime online. Locally, I can only find Pickle Crisp Granules. It’s still calcium chloride but you don’t have to do the whole soaking and rinsing thing. Do you know how this would work with this recipe! I REALLY want to try out this recipe!!
gritsandgouda
Glad to hear you want to make these colorful and flavorful pickles! I did a little research and Pickle Fresh is Calcium Chloride and Pickling Lime is calcium hydroxide so it is not the same at all. I do not want to recommend any changes to this recipe as I am not a chemist nor have I made the pickles with anything but the recipe as TasteOfSouthern.com has written in the link I give on the post. Their recipe also has alum in it which may aid in this unique pickle texture and crispness. I would love to know if Pickle Fresh works to avoid all the rinsing. Please let me know if you try it.
Faye
I was wondering the same thing. Did you get a reply ?
gritsandgouda
Hi Faye! I responded to Sarah on August 29. Let me know if you can't see that response about the pickling lime and I'll try to copy and paste and email it to you. Thanks!
Margi P.
try hardware stores, thats where I found mine since the big box stores dont carry it!
gritsandgouda
Yes, hardware stores like Ace and Tractor Supply are good choices. I also see it on Amazon. Mrs. Wages pickling lime and Mrs. Wages pickling salt.
Jennifer
Oh my goodness! I need to try these!
gritsandgouda
They are not one of my shortcut recipes but sooooo worth the effort!
Shirley Jones
Hi Kathelene, This is Shirley Jones from Florida. I am sending the recipe to my Mom to see have close they are. And I like the shape of the pickles in your picture. Hope you and your family are doing well. Hi to Grayson from Jeff and I and Captain Harris.
gritsandgouda
So great to hear from you! I'm glad you like the pickles and thank you so much for inspiring me to make them.
Carolyn Brown
I love it when you mention your mother and grandmother! Keep up the good work!!
gritsandgouda
Aww. Thank you. It's really hard not to mention them when I cook. Their food, especially my mom's, is ingrained in me along with the memories made while cooking with her as a teenager.
Carm
I make these every year with over grown zucchini. I let them get huge. It is a lot of work... So worth it. Was really happy to see this recipe come up on the feed. It's definitely an oldey but a goody!
gritsandgouda
They are more effort thsn my typical shortcut recipes for sure. Did you mean over grown cucumbers or do you use zucchini? I'm fascinated with how the zucchini works, if so. Let me know here in the comments. Thank you so much for sharing!