Monday, August 3, 2015

Cowboy Candy with Hot Banana Peppers



It's been a terribly busy, but fun, canning season here in the Meadow of Simple Blessings!

I wanted to give you this quick little recipe in case you find yourself blessed with an abundance of hot peppers this year.

Traditionally, Cowboy Candy is made with jalapeno peppers, but it takes a lot of them. I was blessed with so many banana peppers from my friends Mari and Barbara Ann, that I knew immediately, I wanted to try to make the cowboy candy for my husband using some of the banana peppers. I also made a lot of regular Hot Pickled Peppers, too. I'll share that in the next post. This same recipe can be found in many Pinterest posts, so please do not think this recipe is mine. Mari, the same friend who gave me the peppers, actually gave me the recipe. When I had a question about the recipe and couldn't reach her, I tried to see if I could find the answer online. That is how I discovered the popularity of the same recipe! In case you haven't seen it before, I present it to you today!

Cowboy Candy with Hot Banana Peppers
3 lbs hot banana peppers, fresh and firm
          (Sweet peppers may be substituted.)
2 c Apple cider vinegar
6 c granulated white sugar
1/2 t turmeric
1/2 t celery seeds
3 t granulated garlic
1 t ground cayenne pepper

Wearing gloves, remove stems. Slice peppers into uniform 1/8-1/4 inch rounds. Set aside. In a large pot, bring vinegar, white sugar, turmeric, celery seeds, garlic and cayenne pepper to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for five minutes. Add pepper slices and simmer exactly four minutes. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the peppers, loading into clean, sterile canning jars leaving 1/4 inch headspace. Turn up the heat under the pot with the syrup, and bring it to a full rolling boil. Boil hard for six minutes. Use a ladle to pour boiling syrup into jars over slices. Remove air bubbles. Seal. Process in a hot water bath for 10 minutes for half pints or 15 minutes for pints.

Picture tutorial:

Wearing gloves, remove stems and slice peppers into rounds. Set them aside.



Just as as side note, I like to have everything as organized as I possibly can to help things run along quickly and smoothly. While I sliced peppers, I started heating the jars. I let them boil for a few minutes and leave them on low heat as I work so they stay hot until I need them. 

In a large pot, combine sugar, vinegar, turmeric, celery seeds, garlic, and cayenne. Bring it to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for five minutes.


While waiting for this to come to a boil, I cleaned up from cutting peppers and organized my work station so that I could fill jars as quickly and seamlessly as possible. I had the potholder to have a place to sit the hot pan when it was ready. I also had a jellyroll pan lined with a towel on which to place my hot jars when I was ready.

hmm...potholder is looking a little rough there! I told you it's been busy!
Please pardon the bell peppers and dehydrator. I was also working on dehydrating those at the same time.

Add pepper slices, and simmer exactly four minutes. Use the latter end of this time to move jars to your work station.


Using a slotted spoon, transfer peppers to hot jars, filling to 1/4 inch headspace.


Place the pan of syrup back on the stove. Turn up the heat under the pan with the syrup and bring to a full, rolling boil. Boil hard for six minutes.


Use a ladle to pour boiling syrup into jars over slices.


Remove air bubbles, seal, and process half pints 10 minutes or pints 15 minutes.


Until we meet again, may you be blessed!

20 comments:

  1. How many cups of sugar are you supposed to add? I couldn't find the amount on the recipe. Thanks

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    Replies
    1. Oh,dear! So sorry! That should be 6 cups. Thank you for questioning that! I will correct it. :)

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    2. Oh,dear! So sorry! That should be 6 cups. Thank you for questioning that! I will correct it. :)

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  2. have you ever tried using half jalapeno/hot banana peppers and half sweet peppers?

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    Replies
    1. I have never tried that, but that combination should work just fine with this recipe! Try it and see how you like it! I would live to hear your results!

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    2. I used half and half today and they seemed to turn out perfectly!!

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  3. Should I put the jars in cold water or hot water in canner before processing?

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    Replies
    1. Thank you for stopping by! If your brine is hot, always use hot jars to help prevent your jars from cracking. I hope you enjoy the recipe! :)

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  4. Replies
    1. I am about to try since I don't care for hot peppers but it still sounds amazing lol

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    2. I am so incredibly sorry! I never saw these comments until today. I'm sure you have already found your answer, but sweet or hot peppers may be used safely in this recipe.

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  5. I used sweet banana peppers and jalapenos and my hubby loves it! Thank you!

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  6. Can processing be done with a hot water bath or does it have to be under pressure?

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    Replies
    1. I am so sorry I am just now seeing this question! This is a water bath recipe. I will correct this in the recipe.

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  7. How many jars does this make, I don't see it listed. I apologize if I missed it.

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  8. Curious if you could just refrigerate them without the 10 or 15 min hot water bath.

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  9. How long should you wait before trying these?

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