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Home » Preserves » Canned Vegetables » Cowboy Candy (Candied Jalapeno Peppers)

Cowboy Candy (Candied Jalapeno Peppers)

Aug 17, 2022 · 4 Comments

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A Saltine cracker with a smidgen of cream cheese, topped with a spoon of cowboy candy - this must be one of the tastiest appetizers mankind has invented. It's sweet and hot, but not too hot to turn away most eaters. My kids love it. Open a jar at a party - it will be gone in the blink of an eye. It's that good.

Cowboy candy jalapenoes in a jar

What is cowboy candy?

Cowboy candy, aka candied jalapeños, in essence, is sliced jalapeno peppers that are simmered in a sweet pickling brine consisting of sugar, honey, apple cider vinegar, and seasonings such as garlic powder, turmeric, and chili powder.

Serving cowboy candy (aka candied jalapeno slices) with saltine crackers and cream cheese.

About my cowboy candy recipe

There are many variations of this dish. Some prefer to use only jalapeno peppers, while others like to mix in other peppers. Banana peppers seem to be a very popular option, and I like adding them too. Mixing hot jalapenos and sweet banana peppers makes this dish more palatable for a wider audience. My kids love it and don't find the dish too hot. It's very pleasantly hot.

In my cowboy candy recipe, I like dicing my peppers instead of slicing them. Diced cowboy candy seems easier to spoon, and they stay on top of crackers more easily. There are no other differences between the two variations. Pick the one that you personally like.

I also like adding some kosher salt to the sweet brine. This isn't something you will normally see in other candied jalapeno or cowboy candy recipes, but I always add salt. The simple reason is that it brings balance to the taste. Trust me, a little bit of salt makes the very sweet brine taste not so sweet. It improves the taste. This is why flakes of Maldon salt are added to sweet caramel - to balance out the sweetness.

Cowboy candy on a saltine cracker with cream cheese.

Making cowboy candy

Start with making the pickling brine. Put the ingredients in a saucepan and bring them to a boil. Reduce heat and let the brine simmer for 5 minutes. This will allow the brine to thicken a bit, darken and develop a complex flavor.

While the brine is simmering, rinse, then slice or dice your jalapenos and banana peppers. Do not net remove the membranes and the seeds from the peppers. You want them in; otherwise, your cowboy candy will have no heat. Trust me, you need that heat. Once the peppers simmer in the brine for 5 minutes, much of that heat will go away.

Next, simmer the chopped or sliced peppers in the brine for 5 minutes. This will remove some of the heat and harshness from jalapenos, making them taste just perfect.

That's it. Your cowboy candy is done.

Canned cowboy candy (candied jalapenos)

Canning and storing cowboy candy

Canning cowboy candy is optional. Transfer the prepared peppers to a clean jar, cover with a tight lid, let them cool down to room temperature, and refrigerate for up to 3 months or longer.

If you do want to can cowboy candy, transfer the peppers with the hot liquid to sterilized pint or half-pint jars, leaving a 1/2" headspace. Wipe rims of jars with a clean damp paper towel. Put on lids, tighten the bands finger-tight, and process in a boiling-water canner according to the table below.

 

Process Time at Altitudes of
Jar Size 0 - 1,000 ft 1,001 - 6,000 ft above 6,000 ft
pint or half-pint 10 min 15 min 20 min

Sources:

Preparing and Canning Pickled Vegetables - Pickled Hot Peppers

Preparing and Canning Pickled Vegetables - Pickled Bell Peppers

Serving

Saltine crackers with some cream cheese, a spoonful of cowboy candy on top - that's how I like eating mine. Any crackers will do, but Saltine crackers are the best. They have just the right texture, soft crunch, and saltiness to complement the sweetness and soft texture of candied jalapenos.

Enjoy!

Cowboy candy jalapenoes in a jar

Cowboy Candy (Candied Jalapeno Peppers)

Yields 2 half-pint jars
Print Pin Rate
Course: Appetizer, Snack
Cuisine: American
Keyword: candied jalapeno peppers, Cowboy candy
Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes
Canning: 35 minutes minutes
Total Time: 1 hour hour
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 265kcal
Author: Victor

Ingredients

  • 1 lb jalapeno peppers sliced or diced
  • 1 lb sweet banana peppers sliced or diced
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 cup honey
  • 1 cup apple cider vinegar
  • ½ tsp ground turmeric
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp Ancho chile powder or regular chili powder
  • 1/2 tsp kosher salt

Instructions

  • Combine vinegar, sugar, honey, and spices in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Reduce the heat and simmer until syrup thickens a little, about 5 minutes.
  • Add the peppers and stir well. Bring the mixture to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer for another 5 minutes.
  • Transfer the peppers with the hot liquid to sterilized jars, leaving a 1/2" headspace. Process in a boiling-water canner according to the table above or cover with a tight lid, let cool to room temperature, and refrigerate for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Calories: 265kcal | Carbohydrates: 67g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 0.1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.04g | Sodium: 162mg | Potassium: 343mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 63g | Vitamin A: 878IU | Vitamin C: 114mg | Calcium: 21mg | Iron: 1mg
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    Recipe Rating




     

  1. Julene Jessop says

    August 29, 2024 at 4:50 pm

    Can I replace honey for sugar

    Reply
    • Victor @ Taste of Artisan says

      August 30, 2024 at 12:15 pm

      You may, but it will change the consistency.

      Reply
  2. S Shuey says

    July 28, 2024 at 11:24 am

    Do you have to let the cowboy candy sit unopened for a certain time before you start to eat them?

    Reply
    • Victor @ Taste of Artisan says

      July 28, 2024 at 12:00 pm

      They get better after a few weeks, IMHO, but I make a few jars and one is opened a lot sooner than that, and it still tastes delicious.

      Reply

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