Canned Apple Pie Filling
Delicious homemade sugar-free apple pie filling in jars on the shelf ready for nearly-instant desserts.
This is a high-quality product developed by the USDA that most people cant say enough good about.
Please note that ingredients are per litre jar of end product. If you want to do a standard canner load of 7 such large jars, multiply by 7.
We present two versions, the regular version, and a sugar-free version which reduces the calories by 60%.
Apple Pie Filling Recipe For Water Bath Canning
Who doesnt love the comfort of warm apple pie seasoned with cinnamon and nutmeg? This apple pie filling recipe is a great and easy way to make your favorite all American dessert or save it for later in the year to bake with whenever you wish.
Home canning can be a daunting task, but this recipe is not so. It is done in a water bath canner, not a pressure canner, which can set your mind at ease. A few hours of hard work now will make it a joy when you bake your pies. You can also prep your ingredients the day before to save time for processing day.
Let The Jars Cool Completely
Let the jars of apple pie filling cool completely without disturbing. Once completely cooled, check to make sure jars sealed. The jar lids should have NO GIVE in them if properly sealed. If you find one has not sealed properly, it is not safe to store. Refrigerate it, and use it within a week.
Wipe the jars clean with a wet cloth, then label , and place them in your pantry for long term storage. There you go you just learned how to can apple pie filling!
Even though it is a labor-intensive process to make pie filling, the benefit comes later! Its very convenient to make a pie, cobbler or dessert requiring apple pie filling by grabbing an already made jar right out of the pantry!
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Can You Freeze Apple Pie Filling Instead Of Canning
Yes, you certainly can! I always can mine because my freezer space is so limited. But all you need to do is mix the blanched apples into the filling mix. Let it sit and cool to room temperature.
Then ladle into quart or gallon size freezer bags. Quarts will most likely not fill a pie pan but would be a great treat with homemade ice cream.
If you plan to make pies, I would recommend gallon size Ziploc bags.
Frozen apple pie filling will freeze well for about 6 months provided all the air is removed from the bag.
To learn more about safe freezing and how to get the longest life with freezing, my book the Quick Start Guide to Freezing Food At Home is really helpful. Grab yourself a copy.
To use it after it has been frozen, defrost it in the refrigerator overnight and then use it as you wish.
So, are you starving for a homemade apple pie using your very own canned apple pie filling recipe? Yum! Bet you didnt know it was so easy to make!
Why Make This Recipe
I love apple pies! My favorite is made with tart fresh apples. Sometimes there just isn’t enough time to make a pie and this apple pie filling really comes in handy. You just make a quick pie dough, open a jar of filling, pour it in and bake! Instant dessert!
Apple pie filling is also amazing in cobblers, crisps and warmed and spooned over ice cream! And I’ll let you in on a little secret – this pie filling is delicious just scooped right out of the jar and eaten with a spoon!
I love canning and preserving our own food. We grow a lot of apples and while I do love them best fresh, I also love canning apples and using them all year long. Some of my favorites include apple butter, apple sauce and this canned apple pie filling.
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Home Canned Pie Fillings
Filed Under: Pie Fillings, Seasonal SummerTagged With: Pie
Pie fillings are a great option for home canning a sudden glut of summer or fall fruit, whether its grown or bought during those few weeks of the year that stores practically pay you to take it off their hands. These jars will provide a year ahead full of instant, delicious, wholesome desserts.
And they arent just for pies. They can also be used as toppings on other desserts such as ice cream, or be used in making Danishes, crumbles and cobbers. Canning them in a few different sized jars gives you maximum flexibility, so that youre only opening exactly how much you need at the time.
Click this link if you want to skip the background pre-amble and just get right to the recipe list for home-canned pie fillings.
Cost To Make This Recipe
I calculated the cost of this canning recipe at about $10 or $2.49 per quart, which one quart typically fills up a pie crust.
Now I dont have to say as a homesteader there are substantial savings by growing the apples yourself. It is typically why I can apple pie filling in the first place. This amount of apples can cost close to $10 itself. My homesteader cost is closer to $3.50 or $0.88 per quart.
We love to hear from you, so comment and rate our recipe down below. Also, check out more of our home preservation recipes we love to share.
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Storing Apples For The Freshest Flavor
If youve brought a few apples home to eat and want to keep them as fresh as possible, store your apples in the refrigerator in a plastic bag. Use the high humidity bin if you have one and keep the temperature at 40 degrees. Your apples will keep in this manner for several weeks.
If storing a large amount of apples it is best to store them in a cool, dry, dark, place. Handle your apples carefully to prevent bruising. Some recommend wrapping each apple individually with newspaper to keep them from touching. I personally dont but it is up to you how particular you want to get. I do check my apples regularly to make sure none are spoiling. One bad apple WILL spoil the whole bunch! Also be sure to keep your apples away from potatoes. The gases emitted from the potatoes cause your apples to spoil more quickly.
Homemade Apple Pie Filling
Apple pie is a classic American dessert, but if youve never made it from scratch before, the process can seem daunting. With this recipe for apple pie filling, youll be able to whip up your favorite home-cooked dessert in no time at all!
A basic apple pie filling consists of sliced apples, water, a thickener like ClearJel powder, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger.
The best apples to use for apple pie are slightly tart and not too sweet. We like Granny Smith due to their tartness and the robust flesh that holds up to the canning and baking process. Honeycrisp is another good choice due to its sweetness and crispness. Pink Lady and Gala are also great in pies.
If you want the best of both worlds, try mixing two varieties together. That way, you end up with a perfect balance of sweetness and tartness in your final product!
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How Long Does Home
Answer: Canned apple pie filling should keep for a year, like other canned foods. That recommendation is because after a year, the food quality will start to decline more rapidly. Some people will keep it longer. However, most fruits are likely to become soft and not as appealing after that one year mark.
So dont throw it away just make a point to bring it to the front of your shelves and make a plan to use it up. Only can what you can use within the year to avoid lower quality when you open the jar.
Can I Change This Recipe By Using Other Sweeteners Or Different Spices
Sorry, Charlie. Its important to use a tested and approved recipe whenever you are canning to keep your family safe from foodborne illnesses. This recipe is directly from the makers of Ball® home canning products, and it has been tested and approved as safe for water bath canning. Any adjustments to the recipe could make it unsafe.
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Making The Homemade Apple Pie Filling With Cornstarch
How Do I Make Canned Apple Pie Filling
Ill be honest here, the peeling of apples is the hardest part of this whole process! Once you get that part done, its smooth sailing. Heres how to put up apple pie filling:
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Canned Apple Pie Filling Recipe
2. Add in the sugar, spices, and ClearJel® and bring to a boil over medium-high heat . Stirring constantly, cook until it thickens and bubbles. Add lemon juice and boil for 1 minute more, constantly stirring.
3. Remove from heat and fold in apples. Ladle apple pie filling into warm prepared jars, a canning funnel makes this way easier, let me tell you.
4. Leave 1-inch headspace, run a spatula down the inside of the jars to remove air bubbles. Wipe rim with a damp clean towel. Center lid and screw bands down until tight.
5. Place jars filled with apple pie filling in a hot water bath for 25 minutes.
6. Turn off the heat, remove the lid, and let sit for 5 minutes.
7. Using a jar lifter, carefully remove hot jars to a towel and allow it to cool without moving overnight.
8. Remove bands, check seals, wipe down outside of the jar, and store in the pantry, out of direct sunlight for up to 1 year.
Altitude adjustment: If you’re 1,000 to 3,000 feet above sea level, increase processing time by 5 minutes , 3,001 to 6,000 feet above sea level, increase processing time by 10 minutes .
Hot Pack Apple Pie Filling
Peel, core, and slice apples into a large pot with hot water. Bring to a boil for 1 minute. Drain, but keep warm.
Combine apples and syrup.
Gently combine apples and thickened syrup .
Fill jars and top off with extra syrup if needed.
Have you ever been canning apple pie filling and ended up short on fruit with lots of syrup left over? In order to avoid this, add most of your syrup to the apples, but dont just dump it all in. Reserve some and gently stir, adding more as needed. This way you will use only as much as needed to cover the apples.
You will have a nice filling with mostly apples and not too much thickened syrup. If needed, you can always top off your jars with the extra syrup.
Fill jars with filling and remove air bubbles. Leave a 1 headspace.
Processing
For more details on processing, follow water bath canning instructions.
Pints and quarts are processed the same: 25 minutes. Make sure toadjust for altitude, using chart below.
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How To Choose The Best Apples
There are many great varieties of apple, way too many for me to mention here each with its own unique characteristics. Some apples are tart and excellent bakers, while others are sweeter and perfect for eating. I found a great chart that lists many different varieties, their characteristics and what they are used best for at Pick Your Own. This is one of my favorite resources when I am in need of a little information.
How To Make Your Apple Pie
After canning apple pie filling, the work of making your apple pie is super easy. You can buy a pre-made crust and simply fill it with your filling.
If you are making a homemade crust, preheat your oven to 425. Fill your crust and bake for 40 to 50 minutes or until the filling is bubbly and crust is lightly browned.
One quart makes a barely filled 9 pie. I usually will use one quart of apple pie filling and then often add a pint of plain canned apples. This makes for a very fruit-filled pie. Love it! OR Ill use a quart and a half of pie filling, saving the other half of the pie filling to top ice cream or some such dessert.
I also like to dab on about 2 tablespoons of butter on top of the pie filling and just below the top crust.
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