Texas Cowboy Candy Recipes

CANNED COWBOY CANDY

Steps:

• Begin by heating cleaned jars in simmering water in your canner until you are ready to use them.
• Removing the stem end of the pepper, cut either rounds or smaller chunks of jalapeno for canning. (See notes!). Set aside.
• In a heavy bottomed pot, add the vinegar and sugar. Heat to a boil, add the celery seed. Be sure the sugar in the brine is dissolved.
• Carefully add the peppers into the brine and stir. Let the mixture come back to a boil and boil hard for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Meanwhile, get your jars ready. Take your jars from the water canner. (keep this water simmering!) Set your lids and rings aside.
• When the 5 minutes are up, carefully transfer the peppers into the jars. Turn the heat up again on the brine left in the pot and boil for another 5 minutes. Carefully ladle the boiling brine over the peppers in the jars, leaving a 1/2" headspace at the top. (See notes!!!!)
• Wipe the rims of the jars with a vinegar dampened cloth or towel to remove any particles that might prevent a good seal.
• Place the lid and the ring on the jar and tighten finger tight.
• Place the jars into the water canner. Bring the water up to a boil and then start timing for 15 minutes, adjusting for your altitude. When 15 minutes are up, turn off the heat and leave the jars in the water for another 5 minutes.
• Carefully remove the jars with a jar lifter and set them on a towel lined counter to catch water droplets. Leave them to cool for 24 hours without disturbing the jars.
• As the jars are cooling, it's perfectly normal to hear the lids 'ping' to indicate they are sealing. Sometimes they won't ping, and that's ok. As long as there is no give in the lid when you press down on it after the jar has cooled for 24 hours, you're good to go!
• In the event that a jar did not seal, place it in the fridge to use first. Let the cowboy candy rest for at LEAST two weeks before consuming, and a month would be even better. Keep this timeline in mind when making gifts!!

CANDIED JALAPENOS

Steps:

• Remove and discard stems from peppers, then slice into 1/4" slices. Set pepper slices aside.
• To a large pot, add cider vinegar, white sugar, garlic powder, turmeric, and celery seed and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to about MED LOW and simmer for 5 minutes.
• Raise the heat to about MED HIGH to bring mixture back to a boil. Once boiling, add the pepper slices. Allow to return to a boil, then reduce the heat again (to about MED LOW) and simmer for 4 minutes.
• Transfer the peppers using a slotted spoon to clean glass canning jars, filling jars to within 1/4 inch of the upper rim of the jar.
• Only the syrup should remain in the pot at this point. Increase the heat to bring to a full rolling boil. Boil like that for approximately 6 minutes.
• Ladle the syrup into the jars with the jalapeno slices. If you notice any air pockets, take a clean spoon and insert it into the jar to get rid of the trapped air. Fill jars to within 1/4-1/2" from the upper rim of the jar.
• Wipe the rims of the jars with a damp paper towel, then screw on canning jar lids. Label if desired and refrigerate for at least 1-2 weeks (3-4 weeks for optimal flavor). Candied jalapenos are good for up to 3 months if kept properly refrigerated.

CANDIED JALAPENOS RECIPE (HOMEMADE COWBOY CANDY)

Steps:

• First, slice the jalapeno peppers into ¼-inch round slices.
• Stir together the sugar, vinegar and seasonings in a pan. Bring to a quick 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 them with the syrup.
• Simmer them about 4 minutes. They will darken a bit as they slightly cook and absorb some of the sugars.
• Transfer the candied jalapeno peppers to cleaned jars, then fill the jars with the remaining syrup.
• Cover and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 months. You can eat them right away, but it is best to let the flavors develop at least 1 week in the refrigerator before eating.

CANDIED JALAPENO OR COWBOY CANDY

Steps:

• Wearing gloves, remove the stems from all of the jalapeno peppers. The easiest way to do this is to slice a small disc off of the stem-end along with the stem. Discard the stems.
• Slice the peppers into uniform 1/8-1/4 inch rounds. Set aside.
• In a large pot, bring cider vinegar, white sugar, turmeric, celery seed, granulated garlic and cayenne pepper to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes.
• Add the pepper slices and simmer for exactly 4 minutes.
• Use a slotted spoon to transfer the peppers, loading into clean, sterile canning jars to within 1/4 inch of the upper rim of the jar.
• Turn heat up under the pot with the syrup and bring to a full rolling boil. Boil hard for 6 minutes.
• Use a ladle to pour the boiling syrup into the jars over the jalapeno slices. Insert a cooking chopstick to the bottom of the jar two or three times to release any trapped pockets of air. Adjust the level of the syrup if necessary. Wipe the rims of the jars with a clean, damp paper towel and fix on new, two-piece lids to finger-tip tightness.
• *If you have leftover syrup, and it is likely that you will, you may can it in half-pint or pint jars, too. It's wonderful brushed on meat on the grill or added to potato salad or, or, or... In short, don't toss it out!
• Place jars in a canner, cover with water by 2-inches. Bring the water to a full rolling boil. When it reaches a full rolling boil, set the timer for 10 minutes for half-pints or 15 minutes for pints.
• When timer goes off, use canning tongs to transfer the jars to a cooling rack. Leave them to cool, undisturbed, for 24 hours. When fully cooled, wipe them with a clean, damp washcloth then label.
• Allow to mellow for at least two weeks, but preferably a month before eating. Or don't.

COWBOY CANDY

Steps:

• Slice jalapenos, and place in a small sauce pan.
• Add water and sugar.
• Cook over medium heat until boiling.
• Reduce temperature to low, and simmer until the liquid has reduced, and the sugar water has become syrup-like (about 15- 20 minutes depending on temperature of heat source).
• Let cool and place in clean jelly jar.
• Store in refrigerator.

COWBOY CANDY AKA CANDIED JALAPENOS

Steps:

• Prepare the jalapenos by slicing off the stem and then slicing 1/4-1/8 inch coins. This is made easier by wearing disposable gloves! Reserve jalapenos.
• In a large stockpot, add all of the other ingredients and bring to a boil. Add the jalapenos and simmer in the syrup for 5 minutes.
• If you are canning, transfer peppers into sterile canning jars with a slotted spoon. Leave 1/4 inch headroom.
• Bring the heat up on the syrup to a full rolling boil. Boil 6 minutes.
• Use a ladle to ladle the syrup over the jalapeno slices. Wipe the rims of the jars clean, add lid and ring, and secure tightly.
• Place the jars in hot water canner, covered by 1-2 inches of water, and boil 12 minutes. Remove the jars and place carefully on a towel on the counter-top. You may hear popping noises as they seal. Let cool for 10-12 hours. Tighten rims and store.
• The candied jalapenos can also be boiled and transferred to a jar and kept in the refrigerator without processing in the water bath. Keep refrigerated.

CANDIED JALAPENOS

Steps:

• Wearing gloves, remove the stems from all of the jalapeno peppers. The easiest way to do this is to slice a small disc off of the stem-end along with the stem. Discard the stems.
• Slice the peppers into uniform 1/8-1/4 inch rounds. Set aside.
• In a large pot, bring cider vinegar, white sugar, turmeric, celery seed, granulated garlic and cayenne pepper to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Raise the heat to boiling again, add the pepper slices, return to a hard boil, then reduce the heat again and simmer for exactly 4 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the peppers, loading into clean, sterile canning jars to within 1/4 inch of the upper rim of the jar. Turn heat up under the pot with the syrup and bring to a full rolling boil. Boil hard for 6 minutes.
• Use a ladle to pour the boiling syrup into the jars over the jalapeno slices. Insert a cooking chopstick to the bottom of the jar two or three times to release any trapped pockets of air. Adjust the level of the syrup if necessary. Wipe the rims of the jars with a clean, damp paper towel and fix on new, two-piece lids to finger-tip tightness.
• *If you have leftover syrup, and it is likely that you will, you may can it in half-pint or pint jars, too. It's wonderful brushed on meat on the grill or added to potato salad or, or, or... In short, don't toss it out!
• Place jars in a canner, cover with water by 2-inches. Bring the water to a full rolling boil. When it reaches a full rolling boil, set the timer for 10 minutes for half-pints or 15 minutes for pints. When timer goes off, use canning tongs to transfer the jars to a cooling rack. Leave them to cool, undisturbed, for 24 hours. When fully cooled, wipe them with a clean, damp washcloth then label.
• Allow to mellow for at least two weeks, but preferably a month before eating. Or don't. I won't tell!

TEXAS COWBOY CANDY

Steps:

• 1. Slice jalapenos into thin slices and dice onions (I would suggest a pair of rubber gloves for handling jalapenos.) Place in pan with water and vinegar, bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer about 10 minutes or until tender.(DO NOT TOUCH FACE OR BREATH THE FUMES.)
• 2. Pour off most of the water/vinegar mixture, add the sugar and spices bring to soft candy temperature to completely dissolve sugar, about 10 minutes.
• 3. Place boiling mixture into warm/sterilized jars, leaving 1/4 inch head space. Put on caps and place rings on loosely. Tighten the rings once the jars are completely cooled.

COWBOY CANDY | CANNING CANDIED JALAPENO PEPPERS

Steps:

• Wearing gloves, slice jalapeno peppers into 1/4-inch rounds, set aside. For even cuts use a mandolin.
• In a large non-reactive stockpot bring to boil apple cider vinegar, sugar, turmeric powder, celery seed, and garlic.
• Reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Add jalapeno peppers and allow to simmer for an additional 5 minutes.
• Using a slotted spoon, scoop jalapeno peppers into half-pint jars.
• Bring the remaining brine to a hard boil for another 5 minutes. Using a ladle, add hot brine to the jars, leaving a 1/4-inch headspace.
• Remove air bubbles, wipe jar rim, add warmed lids and rings.
• Process in a hot water bath or steam canner for 15 minutes. Adjust the processing time for altitudes above 1,001 feet in elevation.