How to Make Cowboy Candy (Complete Guide)

Cowboy candy is a delicious version of candied jalapeno peppers. Gardener Scott shows all of the steps from harvesting to tasting cowboy candy. (Video #482)
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The basic ingredients:
3 lbs Jalapeno peppers, sliced
6 cups Sugar
2 cups Cider vinegar
6 cloves garlic (or 3 tsp granulated garlic)
2 tsp Red pepper flakes
1/2 tsp Turmeric (Optional)
1/2 tsp Celery seed (Optional)
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[@brock5925]

I want Gardner Scott to adopt me.

[@bluewolf4915]

Back of the line pal! 😂

[@lmullens75]

🙋‍♀️

[@WarmFuzzyVibes]

Me too!

[@dawnpettiglio6930]

I LOVE cowboy candy! I use 50% red and 50% green jalapenos and give away for Christmas!😊

[@OakKnobFarm]

We made this last year for the first time. it's fantastic stuff, and hope your other viewers try it!

[@yshwgth]

You know what? I think I will.

[@katrinas8128]

I made this!!! Ok...not exactly. I subbed out jalapeños for blackberries and fresh basil from my garden. It tastes amazing!!! All of the complex flavors were out of this world. I use the mixture over meats. I also add the mix to sparkling water as a delicious, refreshing drink. I have to make more! Sublime!

[@dwaynewladyka577]

That is a great way to use the peppers from your garden. Cheers, Scott! ✌️

[@garynorcal4269]

Love the C'Boy hat...

[@WarmFuzzyVibes]

I wasn't a big jalapeno fan, but this recipe could change my mind!

[@heidiclark6612]

Great video! I have heard of cowboy candy but never thought to make it. i will have to try it.

[@eliandkate]

Oh fab! I’ve heard the term cowboy candy but didn’t actually know what it was. Thank you

[@Steve197201]

"I'm Gardener Scott. Enjoy Gardening." And Cowboy Candy! 🌶

[@Jeff-rd6hb]

Love, love, love cowboy candy! I've made it with different peppers, sometimes a mix of spicy & sweet varieties with different colors. My favorite pepper for cowboy candy is Serrano. Oh, and that leftover syrup is solid gold. I actually water bath can it in 1/2 pint jars so I have it year round. It's an amazing marinade for beef, chicken, pork & even seafood. Cowboy candy grilled prawn skewers are insanely delicious!

[@GardenerScott]

Great idea! I'm definitely doing the skewers this week.

[@julie-annepineau4022]

Love kitchen videos from gardeners. Excited to try these this year. First time growing jalapenos but already planning to add more next year.

[@theelpydimension]

Thanks so much for sharing this! I love that you can make it to store in fridge, that you don't have to can it at all.

[@barryswinney7379]

Thanks a lot

[@joanies6778]

Cowboy candy is the main reason I grow jalapenos, plus for salsas. Unfortunately, the cool wet spring has put mine behind the 8 ball, some are still stunted. I broke down and bought some huge jalapenos just delivered to the grocer to make the cowboy candy.😋 I also use the juice for delicious salad dressing or to drizzle over taco salad. I eat my cowboy candy on hotdogs, hamburgers, and to top taco salads, too.

[@melindapearson295]

LOVE YOUR VIDEOS!!!!!!!

[@DanaN43]

Another great video, really enjoy your recipe/preserving videos keep them coming.

[@mutantryeff]

Just found your channel and subscribed. I don't grow peppers that I can purchase in the store and prefer to grow the more exotic peppers given my limited garden area (even though I live on a large piece of property). I might try this with my Hawaiian peppers as they are both sweet and have a similar heat to Jalapeno. I do everything possible to keep my pepper plants alive year after year. The longest I've ever kept them alive was five years for a pubescens variety 'Manzano' and 'Pepper for Hell'. My other main peppers are Chilhuacle Negro (nice depth of flavor for chili without heat) and Chilhuacle Amarillo (different flavor profile with a bit more heat), Indian PC-1 for dried peppers and flakes, plus several others that are used by my son for their flavor and/or heat. Thanks for the recipe. By the way, the pubescens variety of pepper usually takes 2 or 3 years before you get any useful production. They can put out 15 foot long vines and some treat them like trees.

[@simplifygardening]

So many great tips in this one esp with 2 recipes. cowboy candy is popular here Scott

[@nathanielflory9916]

The addition of celery seed is possibly for the aid in preservation.

[@WarmFuzzyVibes]

You can also can or freeze the excess syrup to use for marinating meats or chicken.

[@cheriberry9633]

I need to plant more jalapeños next growing season!!

[@LeverActionLarry]

Perfect! My jalapenos went off this year in zone 6b/7a. Thanks GS!!

[@robbyers7614]

I loved this video. Thank you

[@annissa485]

Can’t wait to try

[@katrinajernell2575]

Leftover CBC syrup makes the best cucumber pickles. 🥒

[@robingirven4570]

I can the leftover “brine”, it’s great on chicken as a marinade.

[@bluewolf4915]

Looks great. If you get some jars that don't seal, you could try them freeze dried. 👍🏻 (And then you can send me some.) 😆

[@GardenerScott]

I am planning to freeze dry the ones I put in the container.

[@hoopie_304]

Nice All-Clad pan. That’s where I work. American made in Canonsburg,PA.

[@GardenerScott]

I love them!

[@Dreamzz101]

I went ahead and water bathed my extra to use later

[@brightantwerp]

I have so many peppers, I don't know what to do with them, except freezing. I will try this recipe. Would it be possible to replace the sugar with honey, or any other natural sweetener?

[@GardenerScott]

You can, but then you lose the preservation benefit, so refrigerate them.

[@brightantwerp]

Thank you! I developed an allergy to refined sugar. @@GardenerScott

[@ivethgo2876]

👌🏻❤

[@beachday4439]

not sure if you can. maybe pouring the sugar syrup out thin on a tray to harden to make a hard candy might be nice, but not sure if the vinegar in it would cause a issue.

[@JimMcAsey]

How long does the syrup last at room temperature?

[@GardenerScott]

It should be good for a few months, but I refrigerate for extra food safety.

[@mutantryeff]

7000 foot elevation? Approximately where in the country?

[@GardenerScott]

Colorado.

[@mutantryeff]

@@GardenerScott I guess you really are looking down on the rest of us. I'm at 100' elevation in California.