Fire & Ice Pickles

A Little Sweet! A Little Heat!

A Big Treat!

Fire & Ice Pickles (aka Wickles?)

After stumbling upon a Fire & Ice Pickle recipe and doing a little 'Sherlocking", I decided to try my hand at an old favorite some folks in the South call Wickles!

What are Wickles, you ask? Well, the basic description is "a wickedly delicious pickle"! Wickles Pickles  are produced in Dadeville, Alabama, using an 'old family recipe'. My 'old family recipe' follows, culled from reviews of several other recipes. And this is a simple recipe, does not require cooking and requires very little time.

These are delicious! Or at least I think so... which is all that really matters. Just sayin'.

Let's Try It!

Ingredients (yields 3 pints):

• 2 jars 32 oz. hamburger dill slices or dill spears, if preferred*
• 4 c. granulated sugar
• 2 tbsp. hot sauce (I used Tapatio Sauce)**
• 1 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes**
• 6 garlic cloves, sliced  or lightly smashed
• 1 tsp. pickling spice blend

*note: kosher dills do not work as well for this recipe
**note: if you like a little more heat, add additional Tapatio Sauce, additional red pepper flakes or 1/2  - 1 tsp. chopped pickled jalapeno

 

Directions:

1. Drain pickles in a strainer or colander
2. Place 1/2 of pickles in a large glass bowl or ceramic baking dish.
3. Sprinkle 2 c. granulated sugar over the top, 1 tbsp. hot sauce, 1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes, 1/2 of the garlic & 1/2 tsp. pickling spice blend.
4. Repeat the layers with the remaining ingredients.
5. Let the mixture rest on the counter top at room temperature for approximately 1 hour. The sugar will break down, drawing out the liquid from the pickles.
6. After 1 hour, gently mix the pickles with a spoon, cover & let sit on the counter for approximately 3 more hours. You can occasionally stir the pickles, gently very gently, during this time.

7. After 3 hours, gently stir the pickles & distribute into 3 pint size jars (I used Ball  brand canning jars), evenly distributing the garlic slices/smashed garlic cloves.
8. Evenly distribute the liquid in the 3 jars, which should fill each jar to about 1/4 inch of the tops.
9. Seal the jars with the lids, gently shake each jar & place in the refrigerator.



10. Leave the jars in the refrigerator for 1 week prior to serving, occasionally shake or turn up-side down to allow the liquid to evenly distribute among the pickles.

To Serve:

Goes well with different meats, barbeque, toppings for your favorite burgers, as a condiment. Share with friends, neighbors or family! Enjoy your Fire & Ice P/Wickles!