Coast to Country

If you’ve ever wandered the desert in late summer, you know the magic of prickly pears in bloom, those jewel-toned fruits that seem to glow in the sunshine. I wanted to capture that same color and flavor in a jar, and the result is something truly unique: Desert Sunset Sweet & Spicy Jalapeño Prickly Pear Pickles.

These aren’t your average dill pickles. They’re tangy, sweet, a little fiery from jalapeños, and kissed with the natural fruitiness of prickly pear. Even better, they turn the brine into a gorgeous desert sunset color.

Whether you spread them out on a cheese board, pile them onto tacos, or give them as gifts, these little jars are a true taste of the Southwest.

🫙 The Recipe

Yields:

12 half-pint (8 oz) jars

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Ingredients:

Veggies & Fruit:

🟡 1 lb mini cucumbers (about 7 cucumbers, ~3 cups sliced)

🟡 4 medium carrots, peeled & cut into sticks or coins (~2 cups)

🟡 10–12 prickly pears (tunas), peeled, de-seeded & chunked

🟡 12 oz jalapeños (about 10 peppers), sliced into rings (seeded for mild, with seeds for more heat)

🟡 1–2 medium onions, thinly sliced (optional, but classic in sweet pickles)

Brine:

🟡 6 cups white vinegar (5% acidity)

🟡 2 cups apple cider vinegar (5% acidity)

🟡 4 cups sugar (reduce to 3 cups if you like less sweet)

🟡 4 Tbsp pickling salt (or kosher, non-iodized)

Spices:

🟡 3 Tbsp McCormick Pickling spice

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Or

🟡 3 Tbsp mustard seeds

🟡 2 tsp celery seed (optional)

🟡 2 tsp whole cloves or 2 cinnamon sticks (optional warm spice note)

Instructions:

Sterilize jars: Wash all jars, lids, and rings. Keep hot until filling.

Make brine: In a large pot, combine vinegars, sugar, salt, and spices. Bring to a boil, stirring until sugar dissolves.

Pack jars: Evenly distribute cucumbers, carrots, jalapeños, prickly pears, and onions among 12 jars. Pack tightly. Ladle boiling brine into jars, leaving ½ inch headspace. Remove bubbles, wipe rims, and apply lids and rings finger-tight.

Process: Place jars in a boiling water bath canner with at least 1 inch of water above the tops. Process for 10 minutes (adjust for altitude). Remove, cool 12–24 hours, and check seals.

✨ Serving Ideas

Cheese board star: Their sweet heat and pink color pop against cheeses and charcuterie.

Taco topping: Bright, crunchy, and spicy-sweet — perfect on carne asada or fish tacos.

Sandwich upgrade: Swap out boring dill slices for these and watch any sandwich come alive.

Gifts from the kitchen: With a fun mid-century modern cactus label, these jars make beautiful edible gifts.

There’s something extra special about opening a jar of these pickles and seeing that desert bloom pink brine sparkle back at you. It feels like bottling up sunshine, spice, and a little bit of wild Southwest magic. 🌸🌵🌶️