It doesn’t matter if you call them Candied Jalapeños or Cowboy Candy, this sweet and spicy concoction is downright irresistible! With just a few ingredients, fresh jalapeños are turned into something extra special and perfect with burgers, sandwiches, salads, and appetizers or anything else that suits your fancy.
Over the past couple of weeks, we’ve been doing quite a bit of celebrating. Our youngest son is graduating from high school and he also received his Eagle Scout award. With both of those events being major accomplishments, we’ve been attending parties, lunches, brunches, and ceremonies. In between all of that, I was able to seek in a great “girls night” with two of my best friends. Jeannie, Hope and I meet through our kids when they were in elementary school. With similar personalities, we became fast friends and over the years, have grown closer, sharing many of life’s ups and downs.
We knew this day would come – our “littles” would turn into young adults, and head out into the world, so it was fitting that we get together to share in this special time. After a few text messages were exchanged, we had a plan for our fun evening together and that’s when I went into party mode. I’d been wanting to try a new appetizer recipe for weeks and with these girls, I knew I could spring anything on them, even something like Cowboy Candy.
This recipe is so easy to make and can be used in loads of different ways. It has just a few ingredients and the total time spent at the stove is less than 30 minutes. Once the batch of Candied Jalapeños is cooked, they are put into jars, cooled and stored in the fridge until you’re ready to enjoy them.
What you’ll need to make Candied Jalapeños:
- one to one and a half pounds of fresh jalapeños
- white sugar
- garlic power
- celery seed
- red pepper flakes
- ground turmeric
- apple cider vinegar
- food-safe gloves
- pint jars with lids
I served my Candied Jalapeños spooned onto cool cream cheese. When I brought out this interesting appetizer to the girls, there was the expected, “what is that?” and “ooh, that looks good!” comments. Then, we grabbed some crackers and smeared on a big helping of that goodness. After the first bite, we were all three huge fans and started talking about all the ways we’d use it.
At the end of the evening, there’d been lots of stories told, past escapades remembered and so much laughter that sometimes we cried. It was absolutely wonderful. Good friends, sharing a great evening preparing to move on to a new stage in life. I think we might need to get together more often.
Ways to serve Candied Jalapeños:
- As an appetizer with cream cheese, goat cheese or any other of your favorite cheeses.
- On burgers and Hot Dogs.
- Add to Avocado Egg Salad, chicken or tuna salad.
- Chop and add to 1000 Island Dressing for a spicy kick for salads or for as dip.
- Garnish Deviled Eggs with a few sprinkles.
- Add some syrup to Bourbon Basil Lemonade for an extra bold flavor.
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Ingredients
- 1 pound fresh jalapeños
- 2 cups white granulated sugar
- 2/3 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon granulated garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon celery seed
- 1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Using food safe gloves and a sharp knife, slice Jalapeños into rounds. Set aside.
- To a medium-size pot or dutch oven, add sugar, apple cider vinegar, garlic powder, celery seed, turmeric, and red pepper. Stir and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes, until sugar is completely melted.
- Add sliced jalapeños and stir. Bring mixture back to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes, stirring every so often.
- Using tongs or a slotted spoon, remove peppers from pot and place into pint jars. Bring remaining liquid up to a boil to reduce mixture, cooking for approximately 5 minutes.
- Carefully pour syrup into jars, over the peppers and let cool. Cover with lid and store in refrigerator. Can be stored for up to three months.
**makes 2 pints
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Stacey
We have a few jalapeno plants so I am definitely going to try this.
Donya
Awesome, Stacey! This stuff is crazy good. Let me know how you like it.
XO,
~Donya
Marsha
You don’t mention the heat factor. Do you use all seeds? Some? Few?
Donya
I leave the seeds in but you can certainly take them out.
~Donya
Dana
How many pints does this recipe make? Sounds delish!
Donya
Hey Dana. This fills two pint size jars. Enjoy!
~Donya
Pia
How many jars will this amount fill?
Donya
Hey Pia, this recipes fills two pint size jars. Enjoy!
~Donya
Julie
Can you preserve this with a hot water bath to seal the jars so they wouldn’t need refrigerating?
Donya
Julie, I don’t do any “official canning” but I’m sure you can process that just like you would if you were making jelly. I hope this helps. Keep me posted!
Have a great day,
~Donya
Dean
The jar that is pictured is a half pint jar,so the recipe makes 4 of the half pint or 2 pints is that correct?
Donya
Hey Dean. I got a little under 2 pints and I used the half pint jars. I hope this helps. Let me know how you like the recipe!
Have a great day,
~Donya
ShELby
Does it have to be granulated garlic pepper or can I use regular garlic powder?
Donya
Shelby,
Just use garlic powder.
Have a great day,
~Donya
Kossi
Made this today,going to try it on burgers tonight! So easy to make and smells delish!!! Thanks for sharing.
JacquiJae
Can you use any vinegar I.e. spirit vinegar?
Donya
Hey there.
I’ve never used anything other than what’s written in the recipe. Give it try and let me know how things turn out.
~Donya
Dana
Think sounds delish. I was thinking of trying it in my instant pot, just melting the sugar first. Thoughts?
Donya
Hey Dana!
You could try that. It really doesn’t take that long to make the recipe and having your IP come up to temp might be about the same time as it would take on the stovetop. Just thinking out loud. Let me know what happens.
Have a great day!
~Donya
Lenora
I love theses and have made them a few times. I’ve even made them for gifts at Christmas.
Doug Rapp
Good recipe,great flavor and heat. For those who want a mild version just use a jalepeno popper pepper corer th remove the seeds and some of the veins.Core them,slice them and wallah mild candy. Medium core just half of the peppers.This makes deviled eggs fly off the plate.
Ray
Absolutely addicting condiment. I have been making something very simular for over 25 years. Once a year a make a small batch. This year it was 45lbs. If I can only find a quicker way to slice them?? I put some in the blender for my hummus, and my BBQ Team puts them on everything!! Thanks, enjoy.
Clay Spivey
I just won 2nd Place in the Nation SC Chili Contest and put a pinch of this on every sample. People kept coming back for more!!! I had bought some in a grocery and came home and made my own.
Cookie
My hubby and I love jalapeños, can’t wait to try. So glad I found this recipe, making it tonight with pork chops. Keeping all the seeds in 🤭🔥
Kim
This is AMAZING! I thought this would last for a bit in our home bu my family gobbled it up within 3 days! Used it on cream cheese as an app, on sandwiches and ate it right out of the jar! Thank you so much for sharing! 🙂
Donya
WOW! Kim, thanks for letting me know. I’m happy you like the recipe.
Have a great weekend!
~Donya