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+ servings

Candied Jalapenos

Candied jalapeños are sweet, hot, and delicious.  Pour on top of cream cheese as an appetizer or use as a condiment for almost anything. Makes about 6 half-pints.
Prep Time:50 minutes
Cook Time:10 minutes
Process Time:15 minutes
Total Time:1 hour 15 minutes

Equipment

  • Water Bath Canner and accessories
  • Mason jars (pint or half-pint with lids and rings)
  • Clean dish towel
  • Gloves (you really need these to handle all the peppers!)
  • Sharp knife
  • Large mixing bowl

Ingredients

  • 3 pounds of jalapeno peppers (sliced into ¼ inch rings - equals 8 cups of sliced jalapeños)
  • cups white vinegar
  • 3 cups white sugar
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon turmeric
  • 1 teaspoon ginger

Instructions

  • Prep jars. Make sure the jars are clean and heated in the oven at 200°F or in a pot of hot water. Then, heat the rings and lids in a small pan of hot water. Fill your canner with water and bring it to a boil.
  • Prep your jalapeños. Get your peppers and if you have a scale, weigh 3 pounds (about 8 cups of sliced jalapeños). Don't forget to wear gloves and start slicing the peppers by hand.
  • Make the syrup. Combine the vinegar, sugar, cinnamon, turmeric, and ginger in a large stockpot or high-sided sauté pan. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low and let it simmer until the liquid turns into a sticky syrup for approximately 5 to 7 minutes.
  • Cook the jalapeños in the hot syrup. Increase the heat to medium-high until the mixture boils again, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Add the sliced jalapeños and simmer for 5 minutes. The jalapeños will change color and become less bright green.
  • Fill the jars. Use a funnel to ladle the hot jalapeño mixture into clean, hot half-pint jars, leaving about ¼-inch of headspace. Use a tool to press down the peppers and let any air bubbles escape. Wipe the edges clean so the lids can seal properly. Take the lids and rings from the hot water and screw them on “fingertip tight.” This means tightening until you feel a little resistance but not too much—you should be able to turn it on or off with just your fingertips.
  • Process. Lower the jars into the boiling water bath canner, cover the pot with the lid, and process for 10 minutes for half-pints or 15 minutes for pints.
  • Cool and store. Remove the jars from the canner and place them on a clean dish towel to cool at room temperature. Once the lids have been sealed (you should hear a popping sound), let them sit for 24 hours undisturbed. Store the jars in a dark, cool place for up to 1 year.

Video

Notes

If you don't want to preserve them, simply spoon the cowboy candy into clean jars, close the lids, and let them cool at room temperature. You can keep them in the fridge for up to 3 months.
When cooking a large batch of jalapeños, a lot of capsaicin can be released into the air, which may be irritating. Make sure your kitchen is well-ventilated, and think about using a fan or opening windows.

Nutrition

Calories: 139kcal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 0.4g | Saturated Fat: 0.1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.02g | Sodium: 3mg | Potassium: 173mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 33g | Vitamin A: 734IU | Vitamin C: 81mg | Calcium: 11mg | Iron: 0.2mg
Servings: 20 servings
Calories: 139kcal
Author: Katie Shaw