🍎 Mock Apple Rings
The Vintage Depression-Era Canning Classic – 18 Pints of Pure Magic!
📌 In This Article
🍎 The Mock Apple Rings Story
"Made 18 pints of Mock Apple Rings. We totally love these!" 🍎✨
Mock Apple Rings are a Depression-era classic that turns humble cucumbers into something that tastes remarkably like spiced apple rings. This recipe has been passed down through generations, using lime, alum, and red food coloring to transform cucumber rings into a sweet, spiced treat that looks and tastes like apples .
The 5-day process is a labor of love, but the results are absolutely worth it. Each ring becomes tender yet crisp, infused with a cinnamon-sugar syrup that's pure comfort food. Whether served as a side dish, a dessert, or a nostalgic treat, these Mock Apple Rings are a conversation starter every time.
💬 A vintage classic: "This was a huge hit – it's like having apple pie without the crust."
📦 Ingredients – For 18 Pints
From the Vintage Recipe Card
- 🥒 2 gallons cucumber rings – peeled, cored, ½-inch thick
- 🧂 2 cups lime – pickling lime (calcium hydroxide)
- 💧 8½ quarts water
- 🍎 1 cup vinegar
- 🔴 1 bottle red food coloring
- 🧂 1 tablespoon alum
For the Syrup
- 💧 3 cups water
- 🍬 15 cups sugar
- 🍬 2¼ cups red hot candies
- 🌿 12 cinnamon sticks
⚠️ Important: "Pickling lime is food-grade calcium hydroxide. Use it only as directed and rinse thoroughly."
📝 The 5-Day Step-by-Step Process
📅 The 5-Day Timeline at a Glance
- Day 1: Soak cucumber rings in lime water for 24 hours
- Day 2: Drain, wash, and soak in ice water for 24 hours
- Day 3: Simmer in vinegar, food coloring, alum, and water for 2 hours. Drain. Add hot syrup and let sit overnight.
- Day 4: Drain syrup, heat, and pour back over cucumbers. Let sit one more day.
- Day 5: Heat syrup, pour over cucumbers, pack into jars, and process in a water bath.
Day 1 – The Lime Soak
- Peel and core cucumbers. Slice into ½-inch thick rings.
- Place cucumber rings in a large non-reactive container.
- Cover with 2 cups lime and 8½ quarts water.
- Let soak for 24 hours.
💡 Pro tip: "The lime soak is what gives the cucumbers their firm, apple-like texture."
Day 2 – The Rinse and Ice Water Soak
- Drain the cucumber rings thoroughly.
- Wash well with cold water to remove all traces of lime.
- Cover with ice water and let soak for 24 hours.
⚠️ Important: "Rinse very thoroughly! Any remaining lime can make the cucumbers bitter or unsafe."
Day 3 – The Color and Simmer
- Drain the cucumber rings.
- In a large pot, combine:
- 1 cup vinegar
- 1 bottle red food coloring
- 1 tablespoon alum
- Water to cover
- Add cucumber rings and simmer for 2 hours.
- Drain and discard this mixture.
- Make the syrup: In a separate pot, combine 3 cups water, 15 cups sugar, 2¼ cups red hot candies, and 12 cinnamon sticks. Bring to a boil.
- Pour the hot syrup over the cucumber rings.
- Let sit until the next day.
💡 Pro tip: "The red hot candies dissolve and add cinnamon flavor and beautiful red color to the syrup."
Day 4 – The Rest
- Drain the syrup off the cucumber rings.
- Heat the syrup to boiling.
- Pour the hot syrup back over the cucumber rings.
- Let sit one more day.
Day 5 – Pack and Process
- Heat the syrup and pour over the cucumber rings.
- Pack the rings into hot, sterilized pint jars.
- Cover with the hot syrup, leaving ½-inch headspace.
- Remove air bubbles, wipe rims, and apply lids.
- Process in a boiling water bath – heat until just boiling and remove from water.
⚠️ Critical: "Be careful – they are crisp and break easily."
📅 Detailed Day-by-Day Timeline
Day 1 – Prep and Lime Soak
- Morning: Peel, core, and slice 2 gallons of cucumbers into ½-inch rings.
- Cover with 2 cups lime and 8½ quarts water.
- Let sit 24 hours.
Day 2 – Rinse and Ice Water Soak
- Morning: Drain, rinse thoroughly, and cover with ice water.
- Let sit 24 hours.
Day 3 – Color and Simmer
- Morning: Drain. Simmer in vinegar, food coloring, alum, and water for 2 hours.
- Afternoon: Drain and discard liquid. Make syrup with water, sugar, red hot candies, and cinnamon sticks. Pour over rings. Let sit overnight.
Day 4 – Rest Day
- Morning: Drain syrup, heat it, and pour it back over the rings.
- Let sit one more day.
Day 5 – Jar and Process
- Morning: Heat syrup, pour over rings, pack into jars, and process in a water bath.
💡 Pro Tips for Perfect Mock Apple Rings
- 🥒 Use firm cucumbers: Pickling cucumbers work best – they hold their shape and stay crisp.
- 🔴 Don't skip the red food coloring: It gives the rings that beautiful apple-red color.
- 🧂 Rinse thoroughly: Any remaining lime will make the rings taste bitter.
- 🌿 Save the cinnamon sticks: You can reuse them or add fresh ones to each jar for extra flavor.
- 🍬 Red hot candies are key: They dissolve and add both color and cinnamon flavor.
- ⏱️ Don't rush the process: Each day is important for developing the right texture and flavor.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
❓ What exactly are Mock Apple Rings?
A Depression-era recipe that transforms cucumber rings into a sweet, spiced treat that looks and tastes like apple rings.
❓ Why do I need to use lime?
Pickling lime (calcium hydroxide) firms up the cucumber rings, giving them that crisp, apple-like texture.
❓ Is pickling lime safe to eat?
Yes – it's food-grade calcium hydroxide. Just make sure to rinse thoroughly.
❓ Can I use a different food coloring?
You can, but red is traditional and makes them look like apple rings.
❓ How long do Mock Apple Rings last?
Properly sealed jars last up to 18 months in a cool, dark pantry.
❓ Can I use a different candy?
The red hot candies are key – they add both cinnamon flavor and color.
❓ Why are they called "mock" apple rings?
They were created during the Depression as a cheaper alternative to real apples.
❓ What do they taste like?
They taste like spiced, sweetened apple rings – the texture is crisp and the flavor is warm cinnamon.
❓ What should I serve them with?
They're great as a side dish, dessert, or on their own as a sweet treat.
❓ Can I cut this recipe in half?
Yes – just halve all the ingredients proportionally.
📄 Printable Recipe Card
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║ MOCK APPLE RINGS ║
║ The Vintage Depression-Era Canning Classic ║
╚═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
YIELD: 18 pints | TIME: 5 days
INGREDIENTS:
- 2 gallons cucumber rings (peeled, cored, ½" thick)
- 2 cups lime (pickling lime)
- 8½ quarts water
- 1 cup vinegar
- 1 bottle red food coloring
- 1 tablespoon alum
Syrup:
- 3 cups water
- 15 cups sugar
- 2¼ cups red hot candies
- 12 cinnamon sticks
DAY-BY-DAY INSTRUCTIONS:
Day 1: Cover cucumber rings with lime and 8½ quarts water. Soak 24 hours.
Day 2: Drain and wash cucumbers. Cover with ice water and soak 24 hours.
Day 3: Drain. Cover with vinegar, food coloring, alum, and water to cover.
Simmer 2 hours. Drain and discard liquid.
Boil syrup ingredients and pour over cucumbers. Let sit overnight.
Day 4: Drain syrup, heat, and pour back over cucumbers. Let sit one more day.
Day 5: Heat syrup and pour over cucumbers. Pack into jars.
Water bath – heat until almost boiling and remove.
STORAGE: 18 months (cool, dark place).
"Made 18 pints of Mock Apple Rings. We totally love these!" 🍎✨
© CanningRebels — Mock Apple Rings | The Vintage Depression-Era Canning Classic
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