Classic Southern Pimento Cheese Gets A Cowboy-Style Upgrade With Just One Ingredient

Pimento cheese is a Southern classic, equally at home between two slices of bread as it is nestled on a platter with crackers at a family gathering. The familiar combination of shredded cheddar, mayonnaise, and sweet red pimentos is rich and tangy, with enough down-home personality to have earned the nickname "the pâté of the South." But there's a sweet-spicy addition that can give this old favorite some Western swagger: candied jalapeños, also known as "cowboy candy."

Cowboy candy consists of sliced jalapeños simmered in a sweetened apple cider vinegar mixture, often seasoned with garlic and spices, until the peppers become tender and nearly translucent. They're syrupy-sweet, but the familiar heat of cooked chilis and acidity helps balance out the sugar. That combination is absolutely delicious in pimento cheese, whose main components, cheddar and mayonnaise, can stand up well to strong flavors. Stirred into the spread, the jalapeños introduce little pockets of chewy texture among the shredded cheese and tender pimentos. 

Although pimento cheese is now closely associated with Southern cooking, its earliest versions emerged around the turn of the 20th century, when commercially produced cream cheese and imported Spanish pimentos were becoming fashionable American ingredients. Southern cooks eventually developed the cheddar-and-mayonnaise version we know and love, and the spread has continued to be accommodating to regional variations. Cowboy candy falls easily in line with that tradition, and it's as easy as adding the candied peppers into your existing pimento cheese. Go little by little, and taste before adding more if it's your first rodeo, since sweetness and spiciness can vary, pepper to pepper. 

There are several different ways to incorporate candied jalapeños into pimento cheese, depending on how prominently you want the pepper flavor to feature. Finely chopping will distribute their flavor throughout the mixture, whereas larger pieces will stand out more strongly, with distinct bursts of sweetness and heat. You can also scatter some chopped pieces or arrange a few whole slices over the finished spread, or on each individual bite, if serving cocktails and canapés, for an attractive presentation. A small drizzle of the pickling liquid can add another sweet-tart dimension, although a light hand is advisable to keep the cheese from becoming watery or too sugary. 

If you do want the cowboy candy flavor to be pervasive throughout the pimento cheese, consider using candied jalapeño mayonnaise as the binder. Our Candied Jalapeño Mayo recipe combines mayonnaise with homemade candied peppers, which creates a condiment that contains two of the ingredients you would already be using in the pimento cheese. You can substitute it for some or all of the regular mayonnaise in our Classic Pimento Cheese recipe, adjusting proportions to suit your taste. Crispy bacon is another delicious addition, bringing a smoky, salty flavor that complements the candied peppers. If you accidentally ended up with a batch of mild jalapeños, a pinch of cayenne can increase the piquancy. 

Once you've made a batch, there are plenty of ways to serve, including but not limited to as a dip with crackers or corn chips. Spread between slices of soft white bread, or use it to make grilled cheese. It would also be excellent as a burger topping or spooned into twice-baked potatoes. This candied recipe twist application is as adaptable as the original.