This apple pie filling for canning has changed my life! I am a very festive person and making at least a couple different types of pies for the holiday’s is a must for me! So having jars of apple pie filling ready to fill a crust and bake is such a time saver during the busy holiday season!
Buying apple pie filling at the store never crossed my mind! I would never because I love everything homemade and all natural and it’s gluten free! I prefer organic plus, everything tastes better when it’s made with love.
We have quite a few apple trees around my house and this is a great way to preserve some of the harvest!
You could do so much with this pie filling. You could make apple pie bars, mini pies, hand pies, the list goes on and on!
Preparing For Canning
To begin, you want to prepare your water bath canner. Filling it high enough with water to come up to the top or close to the top of your filled canning jars.
You will need to have your clean quart sized jars, lids, and bands hot and clean. I leave mine in a warm oven with the lids and bands in a steaming saucepan while I make the sauce.
Making The Pie Filling
First off, you will have your apples peeled and sliced in a large bowl with cold water. The water keeps them from browning.
Then, you can bring your water, cornstarch, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and brown sugar to a simmer in a large pot or dutch oven.
Continue to stir with a wooden spoon or spatula for about 3 minutes after it has began to simmer or boil.
Once, it has simmered for a few minutes and has thickened add the vanilla extract and lemon juice.
Quickly removed hot quart jars from oven or steamer carefully. Then fill with sliced apples. Leave about a half inch headspace to the top of the jar.
Now you can begin to ladle the sauce into the apple filled jars! Remembering to leave some headspace.
Look at the beautiful colors! I love making this! If there is ever any apples or sauce leftover that didn’t quite make a full jar I will usually make a pie that day with it!
Now, seal with lids and bands. Then you will carefully place the quart filled jars in the hot water bath canner. Boil for 15 minutes or so. I never time it and every single jar always seals completely! If for some reason it doesn’t, stick it in the fridge after it has cooled and use it within five days.
Here are some of my favorite canning tools! The stainless steel set is amazing although I have the red set! lol
If you enjoy this recipe follow my board on Food Preservation on Pinterest!
Apple Pie Filling For Canning
Equipment
- Water Bath Canner
- Quart sized canning jars with lids and bands
- Canning tools
Ingredients
- 6 lbs apples
- 1 cup cornstarch
- 4 tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp ground nutmeg
- 1 ½ tsp salt
- 10 cups water
- 4 ½ cups brown sugar or white
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 4 tbsp lemon juice
Instructions
- Start by getting your water bath canner filled with water and on high heat. It only has to be filled up high enough to reach the tops of the canning jars. Get your clean quart jars steaming or place in warm oven to keep hot until ready to fill. Have lids and bands steaming.
- Slice and peel apples about a half inch thick. Place in a bowl with cold water to keep them from browning.
- In a large stock pot or dutch oven, add water, cornstarch, salt, sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Bring to a simmer. Once it is simmering continue to stir and boil for about 3-5 minutes or until thickened. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract and lemon juice.
- Carefully fill hot jars with sliced apples. Making sure to drain water from apples before filling jars. Leave a half inch headspace.
- Now ladle hot sauce from pot into jars. Leaving a half inch headspace.
- Put on lids and bands and place into a hot water bath canner. Boil/process for 15 minutes or so.
- Remove from hot water bath and set to cool on counter. You will hear a pop when it has sealed. Sometimes it will take hours and sometimes you wont hear them all pop. If for some reason one doesn't seal you can refrigerate it once it's cooled and use it within five days.
- Store cooled jars in a cool dark place.
Please let me know what you think or if you made any changes! I would love to chat about apple pie filling!
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