Candied Jalapenos Recipe (Cowboy Candy)

We're making a Homemade Cowboy Candy recipe today, my friends. I love DIY cowboy candy, otherwise known as Candied Jalapenos. They're sweet and spicy and I can just about eat a whole jar's worth in one sitting. 

It's a classic recipe, really, and a great way to preserve your summer jalapeno harvest.

You can store them in the refrigerator for a few months easily, or preserve them in a water bath and keep them in the pantry, which I've included in the recipe card.

What Is Cowboy Candy?

Cowboy candy is the popular nickname for candied jalapenos, fresh jalapeño slices simmered in a seasoned sugar syrup until they're tender, sticky, and preserved. The result is a sweet, spicy condiment that works as a snack, a topping, a garnish, or a mix-in. The candying process softens the heat considerably while locking in all that jalapeño flavor, which is exactly why people can't stop eating them straight out of the jar.

The term has been around for ages, but the recipe is so popular, a small company even trademarked the common name. This homemade version is far superior. Everything is better homemade, isn't it? And super easy!

Why buy this stuff when you can SO EASILY make it at home?

Let's talk about how to make cowboy candy, shall we?

Homemade Cowboy Candy Ingredients (Candied Jalapenos)

You will need the following ingredients to make Cowboy Candy (Candied Jalapenos):

• Jalapeno Peppers.
• Sugar.
• Apple Cider Vinegar.
• Seasonings. I use chili powder, turmeric, ground ginger and others. Use your favorites. Celery seed and garlic powder are popular.

How to Make Cowboy Candy (Candied Jalapenos) - Step by Step

First, slice the jalapenos into ¼-inch round slices. You can remove the seeds if you'd like, but I make them without coring. You should wear gloves if handling hot peppers bothers your skin.

Stir together the vinegar, sugar and spices in a pan or a large pot.

Bring to a full rolling boil, then reduce the heat to a low simmer until the sugar dissolves into a gooey syrup.

Add the jalapeno pepper slices and mix to evenly coat the the sliced peppers with the syrup.

Reduce heat and simmer them for 4 minutes. They will darken a bit as they slightly cook and absorb some of the sugars after you add the pepper slices.

Transfer the candied jalapeno peppers to cleaned pint-sized jars, then fill the jars with the remaining syrup. Just pour the boiling syrup right in after you transfer the peppers with a slotted spoon.

You can cool it slightly first if you'd like.

Wipe the rim of the jar then cover and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 months.

Boom! That's it! I love my homemade cowboy candy. Great stuff!

Makes about 3.5 cups.

Packed into three 1/2 pint jars.

How to Can Cowboy Candy (Water Bath Method)

If you want to preserve your cowboy candy for long-term pantry storage, water bath canning is the way to go. The process takes about 20 extra minutes but the payoff is worth it. Properly sealed jars keep for a year or longer at room temperature, and they make great gifts.

You'll want standard half-pint mason jars and a large pot with a steamer rack. The key things to watch for:

1. Leave ¼ inch of headspace
2. Make sure the jars are fully submerged by at least 3 inches of water
3. Listen for that satisfying pop as the lids seal

Full step-by-step instructions are in the recipe card below.

Leftover Candied Jalapenos Syrup

If you have any leftover syrup, Don't toss it! Save it. Use it to make yourself a cocktail or a spicy mocktail. It's quite delicious! Pour it over cupcakes, even potato salad. Get creative!

Serving Candied Jalapenos

I like to simply snack on my candied jalapenos straight out of the jar as a quick sweet snack. They are also ideal for garnishing. Pop them on top of your favorite Corn Bread Recipe, on top of a cupcake, a slice of pie, or ice cream.

It's super awesome over cream cheese. Smear some cream cheese over crackers and top them with candied jalapenos. Amazingly delicious. You can even mix them into a serving bowl with cream cheese for a candied jalapeno cream cheese dip.

Garnish a cocktail with them. Margaritas, anyone? Chop and swirl some into your favorite guacamole recipe for a touch of sweetness.

Use them to top off hamburgers and hot dogs. So many ways to serve up your candied jalapeños!

How Long Does Cowboy Candy Last? Storage Information.

Candied jalapenos will last about 3 months in the fridge without processing. If you process them in a water bath in canning jars, they can last easily a year in the pantry until you are ready to open them.

I've included how to process them with a water bath below and in the recipe card.

Can I Make This Recipe with Other Peppers?

Absolutely. You can "candy" any type of chili pepper. Just slice them into rings and proceed with the recipe. Some peppers are obviously larger than others, though. Chop those up into smaller pieces.

The process is great with spicier peppers. I personally love candied habaneros. Crazy delicious.

The candying process tamps the heat quite a bit with candied jalapenos or any pepper, so they won't be as spicy as you might expect.

Try making these with superhot chili peppers as well, like scorpions or Reapers. Oh baby!

Try Some of My Other Spicy Dessert Recipes

• Mexican Brownies
• Chocolate Covered Jalapeno Peppers
• Jalapeno Cornbread
• Homemade Chamoy Sauce
• Cowboy Butter

People also asked about these similar topics: Tangy Pickled Jalapenos.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do you eat candied jalapenos with?

Candied jalapenos are incredibly versatile. The most popular way is spooned over cream cheese with crackers, the perfect combination. Beyond that, they're great on burgers, hot dogs, nachos, and pulled pork sandwiches. Try them on cornbread, folded into guacamole for a touch of sweetness, or as a cocktail garnish on a margarita. Honestly, once you have a jar in the fridge, you'll find yourself reaching for them constantly.

Can I make cowboy candy with other peppers?

Absolutely. The same method works with any chili pepper. Just slice them into rings and follow the recipe as written. Serrano peppers are great if you want more heat. Habaneros are fantastic if you want to go seriously spicy. The candying process tames them more than you'd expect. You can even use a mix of peppers for color and variety. For larger peppers like poblanos, chop them into smaller pieces rather than rings.

Can I make low-carb cowboy candy?

Yes, with one swap. Replace the granulated sugar with a 1:1 cup-for-cup sugar substitute. Allulose works best here because it works most like real sugar in a hot syrup and won't crystallize. Monk fruit blends and erythritol-based sweeteners work too, though they can turn a bit grainy once refrigerated. The syrup won't be quite as thick or sticky as the original, but the flavor is still great.

What do I do with the leftover cowboy candy syrup?

Don't toss it. That syrup is liquid gold. Use it as a cocktail mixer (it's incredible in a margarita or a spicy mule), drizzle it over cornbread or biscuits, stir it into a vinaigrette, or brush it on grilled chicken in the last few minutes of cooking. You can also pour it back over a fresh batch of sliced jalapeños and let them soak, essentially a second batch for free.