What Are Glitter Pickles?

Some things in the world are clearly good, and some things are clearly evil, but a jar of glitter pickles seems to ride a fine line between the two.

Let me backtrack. If you’ve perused food videos on social media this year, it’s likely that you’ve seen a lot of pickles. Pickling as a way to preserve food and infuse it with flavor has been around for more than 4,000 years, but humanity’s love for pickles remains strong today, and that love of vinegar extends to content creators, too.

It’s been an excellent year for pickles, with sweet and sour trends dominating both Instagram and TikTok. Whether it was bright red, candy-topped chamoy pickles, fried pickle dip, or someone trying Dua Lipa’s pickle juice and Diet Coke combo, it was hard not to see pickle content online. Brands got in on the pickle action, too, with Pringles bringing back a fan-favorite dill pickle flavor and Goldfish introducing a spicy dill pickle snack.

As supportive as I am of all this pickle innovation, the latest installment has given me pause: glitter pickles. It might sound shocking, but I’m here to inform you that jars of glitter pickles have recently appeared on my social media feed, and it’s likely you’ll soon see them, too. Videos of jarred pickles in shimmery glitter-infused brine have been racking up millions of views in recent weeks, especially on TikTok.

The clips feature glitter being poured and stirred into the pickle jar and are usually accompanied by signature audio with a slightly eerie voice saying, “pretty pickles,” but there’s not much else to them. It’s all about the beauty of… glitter pickles. Or, as they’re often affectionately called on social media, “glickles.”

The rate at which glitter pickles have made their mark is surprising, with users writing things like “I’m being haunted by pretty pickles. They’re all over my fyp (for you page).” Even Jimmy John’s posted its own glitter pickle video in mid-December.

What are glitter pickles?

You need two things to make glickles: edible glitter and a jar of pickles. The pickles can be sliced crosswise, lengthwise, or not at all. They could be dill or bread-and-butter flavors, extra large pickles, or even tiny cornichons. Pick whichever pickles your heart desires. My only suggestion is that something sliced with ridges might hold onto the glitter better if you want the pickles to be sparkly when you serve them. 

The other requisite item is edible glitter. Emphasis on edible. You cannot make glickles with glitter that is not meant for consuming. It’s easy to purchase edible glitter online, and Amazon has a variety of colors available, so you can make an entire rainbow of glitter pickles. If you see an ingredient labeled as cocktail glitter or edible luster dust, those will work just as well. Many users online note that the edible glitter doesn’t affect the flavor of the pickles, but it’s best to select a well-reviewed brand just in case.

Make sure you leave the brine in your jar of pickles (and why would you ever want to waste it anyway?) before pouring in your edible glitter. It’s also better to start with a small amount of glitter and add more later as desired. Stir or shake to distribute the sparkles, and then you’re ready to admire your homemade glickles.

What can you do with glitter pickles?

I suspect that the trend arose at this time of year because it’s appropriate for the holiday season when pretty much everything is covered in glitter. And while I am, admittedly, skeptical of glitter pickles, they’d be an incredibly easy snack to prepare for a holiday party: You can use spears if you’re going to put them out as a finger food, or make glittery cornichons and use them as a garnish for pickle martinis. Alternatively, make a batch of fried pickle dip and garnish it with some sparkly pickle chips.

All of the glitter pickle content I’ve seen has featured the classic cucumber pickles. And while I fear this might unleash too many ideas into the internet, I do have to say, why can’t we make glickles with other vegetables? Cover pickled carrots with a complementary blue sparkle. Or use pickled cauliflower for a white canvas that will allow the glitter to literally shine. While you’re at it, why not just make a jar of sparkly giardiniera?

I can’t say for sure that the glitter pickle era will last long, but it’s a harmless addition to the long list of social media-founded trends, and I’m on board (albeit reluctantly in this case) with anything that convinces people to eat more pickles. Regardless, I will confidently say that we can expect a lot more pickle innovations on social media in 2025.