January 17, 2025

What is Cowboy Candy

Someone’s talking about a cookout where there was cowboy candy on the meat. All kinds of images come to mind. Was it beans, maybe? Or some kind of chow? Nope! Cowboy candy is jalapeno peppers that have been candied a bit like bread and butter pickles. It gives them a unique flavor and sweet heat you can use as a condiment and food additive.

One of the best things about cowboy candy is that the flavor keeps getting better. I recommend making it at least one week before you use it. After that, it’s good for two months in the fridge, but I doubt it will last that long!

Using Cowboy Candy

Cowboy candy offers a kick to many everyday foods:

Topping: For burgers, hotdogs, tacos, nachos, pizza, and eggs
Glaze: Chicken, pork, brisket
Chopped up: Dips, spreads, creamy egg or potato salad, guacamole, pulled pork
Sauce or glaze for any protein
Mixers: for popper stuffing, baked beans, etc.
Sandwich spread
Marinade
Salad topper

Of course, you may find it so tasty that you eat it as a snack!

Cowboy Candy Recipe

Ingredients

2 dozen jalapeno peppers
1 stick salted butter
1 c apple cider vinegar
2 c brown sugar
2 c white sugar
2 tablespoons hot honey
¼ scant cup Cuso’s Hot Honey Seasoning
¼ scant cup Cuso’s Smoky Garlic Buffalo Seasoning
1 c apricot jam **

** Alternatively, peach preserves or marmalade

Instructions

Slice the jalapenos. You can really make them as thin or thick as you like. Thicker pieces will take a little longer to marry with the other flavors. Some people even pickle them whole, can them, and then use the cowboy candy later.
Set your smoker for 225F
Smoke the peppers for 25 minutes
While the peppers cook, melt the butter
Add Vinegar
Add Both Sugars
Stir until the sugar dissolves
Pour in hot honey
Incorporate Cuso’s spices
Add the apricot jam and the peppers
Simmer, allowing the mix to reduce by ⅓ (about 10 minutes)

Options

You can add pineapple into the pickle mix for a sweeter flavor (this is called Cowgirl Candy)

To make the cowboy candy taste more like bread and butter pickles by including mustard seed and celery seed

PitMaster’s Memo

History tells us that we have a 7-year-old girl named Mindie Heironimus to thank for this unique condiment. She lived on a ranch in St. Augustine, Texas, where her family preserved many crops. One day, she layered a bunch of jalapeno peppers with sugar and spices, using grape leaves in between. She let the crocks sit, and cowboy candy was born.