Making Delicious Apple Pie Filling With Ball® home canning
Some things in life just go synonymously together, right?! Like apple pie and autumn! Autumn would kind of feel weird without enjoying a piece of apple pie at least once!
There is just something comforting and soothing to the soul, enjoying apple pie while cozying up with a book on an autumn afternoon. Best of all, when you made it all from scratch! Even more so with apples from your backyard.
This delicious Ball® Apple Pie Filling recipe is a favorite of mine. It delivers just the right amount of sweetness, fragrant flavors, and creaminess.
I also love the fact that it can make the ideal gift for someone which they can use for all the upcoming holidays. Simply bottle it up in a beautiful Ball® pint jar tied with a beautiful ribbon, and it is ready to go!
Scroll down for the recipe and some tips on growing your own apple trees.
*This post is sponsored by the makers of Ball® home canning products
DELICIOUS APPLE PIE FILLING RECIPE
When harvesting our apples, I make a big batch of this yummy pie filling to use during autumn and winter. It is perfect for pie and can also be enjoyed with ice cream, waffles, or pancakes!
I am also sure someone receiving this as a gift will smile from ear to ear as it is something so special and thoughtful and will spare them some cooking time!
Makes: About 7 pint (16 Oz) jars I used Ball® Wide Mouth and Regular Mouth Jars
Get the jars HERE
Prep: 30 Minutes
Processing time: 25 Minutes
INGREDIENTS:
12 cups washed, sliced, peeled, and cored apples*
2-3/4 cups sugar
3/4 cup ClearJel® cooking starch
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
2-1/2 cups unsweetened apple juice
1-1/4 cup cold water
1/2 cup lemon juice ( always use bottled lemon juice)
*To prevent browning, treat apple slices by applying Ball® Fruit-Fresh® Produce Protector according to the manufacturer's instructions or submerge cut apples in a mixture of 1/4 cup lemon juice and 4 cups water. I used the lemon and water and it worked perfectly.
DIRECTIONS:
1. Prepare boiling water canner. Heat jars in simmering water until ready for use. Do not boil. Wash lids in warm soapy water and set aside with bands.
2. Blanch apple slices, working with 6 cups at a time, in a large pot of boiling water for 1 minute. Remove with a slotted spoon and keep warm in a covered bowl.
3. Combine sugar, ClearJel®, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a large stainless steel saucepan. Stir in apple juice and cold water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring constantly, and cook until the mixture thickens and begins to bubble. Add lemon juice, and boil for 1 minute, stirring constantly.
4. Remove from heat. Drain apple slices and immediately fold into hot mixture; heat, stirring, until apples are heated throughout.
5. Ladle hot apple pie filling into a hot jar, leaving 1-inch headspace. Remove air bubbles. Wipe rim. Center lid on jar. Apply band until fit is fingertip tight. Place jar in boiling water canner. Repeat until all jars are filled.
6. Process jars for 25 minutes, adjusting for altitude. Turn off the heat, remove the lid, and let the jars stand for 5 minutes.
7. Remove jars and cool for 12-24 hours. Check lids for seal, they should not flex when the center is pressed.
This apple pie filling recipe makes the perfect gift! It’s delicious and who doesn’t want to make yummy apple pie? Tie a ribbon around the jar and it’s ready to gift!
DID YOU KNOW? To guarantee the most delicious preserved foods, always begin with the best-quality produce at its peak of ripeness.
A QUICK GUIDE ON GROWING APPLES
The apple tree is a hardy perennial tree that can grow in almost all gardening zones. But they do exceptionally in areas where winters are frigid, tolerating temps as low as -40 degrees F. They also prefer mild summers where humidity is medium to high.
Apple trees are medium to fast growers but slow down with age, and they can even live for 100 years or more!
Plant apples where they will have full sun to bear optimal fruit and won't be affected heavily by frost or cold air, such as in a dip.
They will grow best in well-drained loamy soil with a pH of 6.0 to 7.0. More sandy soil or soil with some clay will also be okay.
Don't plant apples in the same spot where apple trees have previously grown as diseases and pests that attack apple trees may still live in the soil.
You get different kinds of apple trees where apples are sweet or more tart and are suitable for either eating fresh, cooking, or canning and preserving.
Apple trees can ripen in mid-summer, late summer, or autumn. So planting a variety can help to extend your harvest season.
Check if the variety you want to grow needs a pollinator. In this case, you need to plant two or more trees within 40-50 feet of each other to get fruit. There are, however, self-pollinating varieties also.
When planting apple trees, you must ensure the spacing is correct, so they have enough space to grow. Space standard apple trees 25 to 30 feet apart, semi-dwarf trees 15 feet apart, and dwarf trees 8 to 10 feet apart.
Apple trees take 4 - 5 years to produce their first fruit. But you can always buy 2 - 3-year-old plants at a nursery; you only have to wait around 2 years!
We planted our apple (and others) tree's in a specific method that allows them to grow faster and stronger.
DID YOU KNOW? Apples stay fresh for 6 to 8 weeks when kept in a cool place above 32 degrees F. Late-maturing apples usually last longer than summer apples.
OTHER BALL® CANNING RECIPE & GIFT FAVORITES
Here are some more delicious recipes and gift ideas for the upcoming holidays!
PIN THIS RECIPE
I hope you and your family enjoy this apple pie filling recipe and treats as much as we do! You just cannot get enough!
Love, Annette xx
Disclosure: This is a sponsored post that is part of an ongoing partnership with the Fresh Preserving Division of Newell Brands. They have provided jars, equipment and monetary compensation. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.