Best Beet Pickles

Name: Best Beet Pickles
Prep time: 1 h 15 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 1 h 50 min
Yield: 6 pints.
Ingredients: 3 pounds fresh beets; 4 cups water; 2 cups sugar; 2 cups white vinegar; 2 tablespoons mixed pickling spices; 12 whole cloves

Luscious, sweet-spicy beets stand out like jewels at meals throughout the year. The flavor takes me back to summer days. —Marla Fogderud, Mason, Michigan

Ingredients

3 pounds fresh beets
4 cups water
2 cups sugar
2 cups white vinegar
2 tablespoons mixed pickling spices
12 whole cloves

Directions

Scrub beets and trim tops to 1 in. Place in a Dutch oven and cover with water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 30-60 minutes or until tender. Remove from the water; cool. Peel beets and cut into 1-in. pieces.
Place beets in a Dutch oven. Add the water, sugar and vinegar. Place pickling spices on a double thickness of cheesecloth; bring up corners of cloth and tie with string to form a bag. Add to the beet mixture. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 20 minutes. Discard spice bag.
Divide cloves among six hot pint jars; carefully pack beets into jars to within 1/2 in. of the top. Carefully ladle hot liquid over beets, leaving 1/2-in. headspace. Remove air bubbles; wipe rims and adjust lids. Process for 35 minutes in a boiling-water canner.

Editor's Note

The processing time listed is for altitudes of 1,000 feet or less. For altitudes up to 3,000 feet, add 5 minutes; 6,000 feet, add 10 minutes; 8,000 feet, add 15 minutes; 10,000 feet, add 20 minutes.