Simple Candied Jalapeños Recipe (Cowboy Candy)

Candied Jalapeno Ingredients

• Fresh jalapeños (21 peppers) - I leave the seeds and membranes attached, remove them if you want less heat
• Sugar - white granular sugar
• Apple cider vinegar - great flavor profile but white vinegar can be substituted
• garlic powder -
• celery seed -
• ground turmeric - adds great yellow color as well as flavor
• red pepper flakes - add more if you like it hotter (cayenne pepper can be substituted)

How to make candied jalapeños

1. Prepare the jalapenos by using a sharp knife to slice the Jalapeños into uniform ⅛ – to ¼-inch rounds. Be sure to wear food-safe gloves to protect your hands from the capsaicin.
2. Prepare canning jars in a hot water bath.
3. In a medium-size pot or dutch oven, bring to a rolling boil, the sugar, apple cider vinegar, garlic powder, celery seed, turmeric, and red pepper flakes.
4. Reduce to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes, until sugar is completely dissolved and the syrup starts to reduce.
5. Add sliced jalapeños and stir to coat completely.
6. Bring the mixture back up to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes, stirring every few minutes but then stir continually the final 2 minutes.
7. Remove the candied peppers from the syrup and place into half-pint jelly jars.
8. Carefully pour the syrup into jars, cover the peppers and allow to cool. Cover with lid and store in the refrigerator.
9. To water bath can the peppers, after pouring the syrup over the candied peppers, leave ¼" headspace, wipe the rim, place on a new lid and finger tighten a ring on the jar. Process for 10 minutes in a boiling water bath.

Canning instructions:

1. Place the filled jars in a water bath canner, be sure the jars are covered with 2 inches of water.  
2. Bring the water to a full rolling boil.  
3. With the water boiling, set a timer for 10 minutes for half-pint jars or 15 minutes for pints.  
4. Use canning tongs to transfer the jars to a cooling rack.  
5. Leave them to cool, undisturbed, for 24 hours.  
6. When cool, wipe the jars clean with a damp washcloth and label.
7. Check for sealed jars, store unsealed jars in the refrigerator.

Ways to serve candied jalapenos

• As a topping for a burger
• Poured over a brick of cream cheese, served with crackers
• Part of a charcuterie and cheese board.
• In a grilled cheese sandwich
• As a topping on walnut meat cheese fries
• Added to cornbread
• As a topping to Mahi-Mahi fist tacos