Cooking the Harvest: Cowboy Candy aka Candied Jalapenos

Trust me. You may want to double the recipe on this one for Christmas gifts! Soooo addicting! This recipe was vetted by the WSU Processing Authority for safety.

Cowboy Candy, aka Candied Jalapenos
Adapted from the Foodie With Family recipe
Makes about 8 half pint (aka 8 oz) jars (can be made in pint jars as well)
Note: I doubled this recipe

3 pounds fresh firm, jalapeno peppers, washed
2 cups cider vinegar
6 cups white granulated sugar
1 tsp onion powder
1 tbsp granulated garlic
1 tbsp canning salt

Wearing gloves, remove the stems from all of the jalapeno peppers.

Slice the peppers into uniform 1/8-1/4 inch rounds using a food processor, or by hand or using a mandoline.

In a large pot, bring cider vinegar, sugar, salt and spices to a boil, stirring well until sugar is dissolved. (Be careful. If you turn your back, this syrup can boil over quickly!) Add the pepper slices, return to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 4 minutes.

Turn heat to low so contents stay hot. Use a ladle, transfer hot peppers into clean canning jars to within 1/2 inch of the upper rim of the jar.

Now ladle the hot syrup into the jars over the jalapeno slices. Adjust the level of the syrup as necessary to ½ inch head space (note, peppers will want to float). Wipe the rims of the jars with a clean, damp paper towel and cap with new 2 piece lids/rings to finger tight.

Place jars in a canner, cover with water by at least an inch. Bring the water/jars to a full rolling boil. Once at a full boil, set timer for 10 minutes for half-pints or 15 minutes for pints. When timer goes off, turn off heat and let sit in hot water for 5 minutes. Then transfer the jars to a table or cooling rack. Leave them to cool, undisturbed, for 24 hours. Remove rings before storing.

Best if allowed to “cure” for 2 weeks before opening.

Alternative recipe from Ball that is slightly less sweet. https://www.ballmasonjars.com/blog?ci...

TIMESTAMPS
0:00 The Harvest
0:49 Slicing the Jalapenos
2:59 Sugar Syrup
8:32 Simmering the Jalapenos
13:50 Jaring up
21:01 Into the canner
23:15 Out of the canner
26:42 Labeling the next day
27:29 Taste test
27:49 Subscribe!