This sweet icicle pickle recipe is definitely a lot of work, but I think if you are a pickle lover you will think it is worth every bit of it.

It really works best if you have a place where you can put the crocks aside and tend quickly to them on a daily basis as you will need to do.

Ingredients:
20 medium cucumbers, quartered, or about 60 tiny cucumbers
2 cups pickling salt
1 gallon water
5 cups vinegar (5% acidity)
8 cups sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons mixed pickling spices

Directions:
Place the cucumbers in a large crock, glass or stainless steel container and set aside. Combine the salt and water and bring to a boil. Pour the water over the cucumbers. Place a dinner plate or saucer on the cucumbers. Place a weight on the plate to submerge the cucumbers in the brine. Cover the container with a clean cloth and let the cucumbers stand for 1 week in a cool, dry place. Remove the scum that will appear on the brine everyday by skimming it off the top.

Drain the cucumbers and rinse well. Cover the cucumbers with boiling water and let stand for 24 hours. Drain and cover the cucumbers with boiling water again, Let stand for another 24 hours and drain.

Combine the sugar and vinegar in a Dutch oven. Tie the pickling spices in a cheesecloth bag. Put the bag in the vinegar mixture. Bring the mixture to a boil and simmer for 5 minutes or until the sugar dissolves. Pour the syrup over the cucumbers. Cover and let stand for 24 hours.

Drain the syrup and bring it to a boil. Pour the syrup over the cucumbers and let stand for another 24 hours. Repeat this procedure 4 more times.

Pack the pickles into hot sterilized quart jars, leaving 1/4 inch headspace. Remove the spice bag and bring the syrup to a boil. Pour the hot syrup over the pickles, leaving 1/4 inch headspace. Remove the air bubbles. Cover at once with metal lids and screw on bands.

Process in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes.

Makes 3 quarts.

• This recipe is delicious but it is a LOT of work. Personally, I would multiply the recipe several times and make a much larger batch than this. While you are at it, might as well make enough to make it worth your while.
• I like the tiny cucumbers pickled this way, but larger ones certainly work, especially if you have a garden and it is overrun with ripe cucumbers in the summer.