If you like sweet and spicy, you’ll love these quick and easy Candied Jalapenos, or Cowboy Candy as it’s also known. This recipe has only two ingredients, making it as easy as it is delicious (and addicting).
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What makes candied jalapenos so good
There are so many reasons why you will love this recipe. First, it’s so easy. With only two ingredients, it makes whipping up this recipe for a snack or an appetizer a snap. Candied Jalapenos are also extremely addicting. You can’t just eat one. It satisfies your sweet and spicy craving.
Candied Jalapenos are also known as “Cowboy Candy” or “Kandy Crisp Jalapenos”. If purchased in the store, these are very expensive. So making these from scratch will also save you a ton of money and it makes a great gift idea.
Why you’ll love this cowboy candy recipe
If you like sweet and spicy, you’ll love this quick and easy candied jalapeno recipe. This concoction couldn’t be more simple – it only has two ingredients! Making it as easy as it is delicious (and addicting!). Once that first jar is cracked open, you’re not going to be able to stop eating these wonderful candied peppers.
What kind of jalapenos do you need?
When selecting jalapenos for this recipe, always grab pickled jalapenos. You will want to purchase a large can of jalapenos to start. Most grocery stores, as well as Sam’s and Costco, will carry these types of jalapenos.
If you can’t find them, also look under nacho pepper slices or pickled jalapeno slices. Make sure you purchase them in the large number 10 can.
Ingredients
This recipe really can’t be any easier. The only thing you may need other than the ingredients is patience. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Pickled Jalapeno Peppers
- Sugar
- Canning Jars
How to make candied jalapenos
- The first thing, you need to do, is to drain the peppers. I opened my can and drained them for about 15 minutes before I continued.
- You will then dump the jalapenos into a large container.
- Add 5 cups of sugar to the peppers and stir them up very well.
- Stir the jalapenos every day for the next 5 or 6 days.
- A spicy-sweet syrup will develop, and you will be ready to enjoy these. At this point, you can put these into small jars.
Recipe Tips
I always save glass jars so when I want to package a few of these peppers up for someone I have something on hand to do so. Of course, you can always buy some small canning jars to put these in, but the old mustard jars work well too.
Use simple white sugar for this recipe, nothing too fancy.
You’ll also need a large colander and a large airtight container. The colander for the draining of the peppers and the airtight container for the stirring process.
How to enjoy cowboy candy
You can use these on hamburgers, stash them in sandwiches, tuck them into tacos, chop them up on baked beans, add them to rice, and bake them into cornbread. They also make a great cream cheese dip. You may even want to put one in a martini.
Love Jalapeno peppers? Try these recipes
- Homemade Jalapeno Poppers
- Jalapeno Popper Grilled Cheese
- Air Fried Jalapeno Popper Recipe
- Jalapeno Popper Wontons
- Stuffed Jalapenos
- Jalapeno Cheddar Smokies
- Jalapeno Ranch Dipping Sauce
Favorite Appetizer Recipes
- Rotel Dip
- Bacon Wrapped Little Smokies
- Cheese Wonton
- White Cheese Dip
- Chili’s Queso
- Jezebel Sauce Recipe
There’s more! Take a look at the best appetizer recipes and more of my quick and easy recipes.
Are you ready to make Candied Jalapenos? Let me know in the comments below.
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Quick and Easy Candied Jalapenos
Ingredients
- 6 pounds pickled jalapenos
- 5 cups sugar
Instructions
- Drain jalapenos in a large sieve or colander for about 15 minutes. You may need to do this in batches. You can save the drained juice for other recipes.
- Pour drained jalapenos into a large container that can be closed with a lid, or wrapped with plastic. Pour five cups of sugar over the jalapenos and stir well. Cover container and place into the refrigerator.
- Stir the jalapenos once a day for five days. On the sixth day, you may repackage the peppers into smaller glass jars. Store these in the refrigerator. These will stay fresh for about 60 days.
Video
Notes
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- I always save glass jars so when I want to package a few of these peppers up for someone I have something on hand to do so. Of course, you can always buy some small canning jars to put these in, but the old mustard jars work well too.
- Use simple white sugar for this recipe, nothing too fancy.
- You’ll also need a large colander and a large airtight container. The colander for the draining of the peppers and the airtight container for the stirring process.
Elizabeth
So, just to be clear, i am NOT refrigerating them during the 5 days of the processing? I just refrigerate afterwards- to store & keep them longer?
Stephanie Manley
Yes, please refrigerate these after you add the sugar, during the processing time.
Rita
Has anyone canned these with a water bath? If so, how did you do it and did it affect the quality?
Stephanie
I make a 5 gallon bucket every year and water bath can and they always turn out great
gena crump
just made these, yummmy!!
JWarren
Hi! Is it possible to make these with pickled peppers other than slices, such as strips, chunks or whole pickled jalapeños?
Stephanie Manley
I would say yes on the strips, and possibly the chunks. I don’t know how the whole pickled ones would work out.
Wilhelmina
Can these be pressure canned or done with a water bath after the 6 days and repackaged into smaller jars? If so which was is best and does it affect the quality?
Dale Townsend
How do you store these? Do they need to be kept in the refrigerator?
Stephanie Manley
I keep mine in the fridge. While they would likely be ok outside of it, they would last longer if you stored them in the fridge.
Michael Ferguson
I have a 16oz.jar of sliced pickled peppers .About how sugar should I add for this small amount?Thank You it seems since COVID, I can’t find candied peppers in stores!
Stephanie
You need a little more than 3/4 cup of sugar, you need about 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons
Jennifer
Can you can these after you complete the 5 days of stirring them in the refrigerator? Would you heat them in a stockpot before adding them to the jars in order to can them? Please advise! This is the best recipe I have found and am excited to use it soon!
Stephanie
You eat them, you can put them on a cracker with a bit of cream cheese, or use them as a garnish, or simply snack on them.
John
I gave it a 4 star rating because I know it has it’s applications but if I was comparing to the traditional, I would be hard pressed to give it a 2. I have been making the traditional for years and can’t make enough each growing season to keep up with the demand from family and friends. I have seen a few of these recipies that call for pickled vs fresh and my wife finally convinced me to try it. Yes without a doubt it’s quicker and much less work but it doesn’t come close to the flavor and taste of the real thing. We even gave the remainder to a friend who wasn’t told the difference. He called the next day and stated ” I hate to sound ungrateful but my wife and I both noticed a big difference with this year’s cowboy candy, doesn’t taste the same”.I laughed and told him he was our taste tester, explained the deal, and told him to stop by for the real thing. He brought the faux jar back and we trashed it… I apologize for posting this opinion but feel that it’s important to point out the truth. This isn’t cowboy candy.
Stephanie Manley
Thank you for letting me know.
Jacki
I’m confused, do you add the original pickling juice back to the jars of the sweetened jalapenos? Don’t you need liquid to cover them in storage?
Stephanie
You do not need to cover them back with the juice. The sugar and the jalapenos will begin to make their own juice again.