You can add sugar to taste.

Sugar actually is a preservative, depending on the amount. And in your case it is just flavoring, just like salt, pepper.

I have a friend that made pickled jalapeno peppers using a ball bread and butter pickles mix and they were really good. So I don't see why you couldn't add sugar if you wanted to.

I don't know if the OP is getting these emails since they never returned here to reply. But there are many sweet pickled peppers recipes available - including bread and butter types.

As others have said you can always add sugar to taste but if you want a specific recipe check out all the ones offered by NCHFP as they are already tested.

Dave