Cowboy Candy (Candied Jalapeños)

By Dawn PerryPublished: Jun 8, 2022

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PHOTO: LUCY SCHAEFFER PHOTOGRAPHY; FOOD STYLING: LENA ABRAHAM

Giddy up! Cowboy Candy (aka candied jalapeños) are spicy, tangy, salty, and sweet—the perfect condiment for topping everything from Bloody Marys to migas to grilled creamed corn. You could also chop Cowboy Candy and stir into pickle relish, tuck into a ham sandwich, or artfully arrange over a hot dog with chopped raw onion. The combination of fiery heat from the jalapeño and the nearly caramelized coating from the sugar is truly addictive. Unlike most pickle recipes, Cowboy Candy has a whole cup of sugar in the pickling mixture, which allows it to become truly candied.

Legend has it that Cowboy Candy originated in 1922 on the St. Augustine, Texas-based WHH Ranch by a 7-year-old named Mindie Heironimus, who pickled homegrown jalapeños with sugar and spices. The family called them Cowboy Candy for unknown reasons, maybe because the cowboys couldn't get enough of this sweet-hot treat.

Be sure to taste a few slices of the fresh chiles before you go crazy—jalapeños can vary wildly in spiciness and one hot one will infuse the whole bunch. You’ve been warned! If you're sensitive to heat, pull the seeds out of the jalapeño rings before cooking.

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Yields:: 1 c.
Prep Time:: 10 mins
Total Time:: 30 mins

Ingredients

1 c.
apple cider vinegar
1 c.
granulated sugar
1 1/2 tsp.
kosher salt
3/4 tsp.
brown or yellow mustard seeds
1/2 tsp.
coriander seeds, lightly crushed
1/2 tsp.
cumin seeds
1/2 tsp.
fennel seeds, lightly crushed
8 oz.
fresh jalapeños (about 6), stemmed and thinly sliced

Nutrition Information

Per Cup

Calories908 Fat2 gSaturated fat0 gTrans fat0 gCholesterol0 mgSodium1559 mgCarbohydrates211 gFiber7 gSugar210 gProtein3 gVitamin D0 mcgCalcium79 mgIron2 mgPotassium799 mg

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
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Directions

1. Step 1In a small pot, combine vinegar, granulated sugar, salt, and mustard, coriander, cumin, and fennel seeds. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until sugar dissolves, about 4 minutes.
2. Step 2Add jalapeños and return to a boil. Cook, pressing gently to help jalapeños stay mostly submerged, until they look shiny and a little shriveled, about 5 minutes.
3. Step 3Using a slotted spoon, transfer jalapeños to a 10- to 12-oz. container (an old glass jam jar is a good choice).
4. Step 4Return vinegar mixture to a boil and continue to cook until syrupy and reduced to about 1/2 c., 8 to 10 minutes (this largely depends on size of pot you use, so keep an eye on it).
5. Step 5Carefully pour syrup over jalapeños in jar, pressing gently so they're mostly submerged. Let cool to room temperature. Refrigerate, covered, up to 3 weeks.

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PHOTO: LUCY SCHAEFFER PHOTOGRAPHY; FOOD STYLING: LENA ABRAHAM

Dawn Perry

Contributing Editor

Dawn Perry is the author of Ready, Set, Cook: How to Make Good Food With What’s on Hand. Her recipes and writing have been featured in the LA Times, The New York Times, and the Washington Post, among other publications.