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    Home » By Ingredient » Vegetables and Fruits » Canning Apple Pie Filling

    Canning Apple Pie Filling

    Posted on December 10, 2022 By Beth Neels

    7 shares
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Pinterest image with text overlay for canning apple pie filling..
    Pinterest image with text overlay for canning apple pie filling..

    Canning apple pie filling is the perfect way to preserve your harvest of apples and enjoy a sweet treat all year long.

    Quart jars of apple pie filling.
    Canned Apple Pie Filling

    If you have apple trees, you know you have a boatload apples ready at the same time. And sure, apples last for at least a month under refrigeration, but realistically, you can only eat so many raw apples in a month.

    Canning apple pie filling is a great way to use up a lot of your apple harvest or those bags of apples you bought at the farmer’s market.

    It’s great to have some ready to put together desserts in your pantry when company comes over too.

    What varieties of apples to use

    It is said that the best apples are the apples that you have. Many different varieties are good for pie filling. We like to tart apples and a few sweeter apples for a more rounded flavor. Some varieties we like are Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Golden delicious, Rome, and MacIntosh, among others. Choose fresh, firm fruit for best results.

    Mixture of apples on light background.
    Use a mixture of apples

    What you need

    • apples – use a mixture of apples for the best result.
    • sugar – use all granulated sugar or half brown sugar and half granulated
    • lemon juice – use bottled lemon juice
    • apple juice
    • water
    • clear jel – Do not use cornstarch, tapioca or flour if canning this recipe! It is not safe.
    • cinnamon
    • nutmeg
    • allspice
    • cloves (optional)
    • pinch of salt

    Note: the finished color of your pie filling base will be determined by the spices you use.

    Ingredients for canning apple pie filling. See details in recipe below.
    Ingredients for canning apple pie filling.

    How to make it – step by step

    Wash and prepare jars, lids and bands. Get your water bath canner boiling because that can take up to 45 minutes to boil.

    Wash apples well.

    Peel, core and slice apples (½-inch thick) into a bowl with water and lemon juice or follow the instructions on your fruit fresh or another ascorbic acid to deter browning.

    Get a gallon of water boiling in a large pot. Place 6 cups of apples in boiling water.

    When water returns to a boil, boil for one minute.

    Remove with a slotted spoon to a covered bowl to keep them warm.

    Step One

    Add sugar, Clear jel and spices in a large bowl.

    Spices and clearjel added to bowl.
    Add spices and clearjel to a bowl.

    Step Two

    Mix well.

    Mixed up sugar mixture.
    Mix well.

    Step Three

    Add apple juice to large pot. Turn burner on medium high.

    Apple juice in large pot.
    Add apple juice to large pot.

    Step Four

    Pour in sugar mixture.

    Stirring in sugar mixture.
    Stir in sugar mixture.

    Step Five

    Stirring constantly, heat the mixture on medium high heat until it thickens and bubbles and lumps are stirred out.

    Stirring pot with a wooden spoon.
    Stir to combine and remove any lumps.

    Step Six

    Add lemon juice. Boil for one minute, stirring constantly so that it doesn’t scorch.

    Thickened pie filling.
    Cook until thickened. Add lemon juice. Combine.

    Step Seven

    Fold in the warm apples immediately.

    Apples added to filling base.
    Add apples to the filling base.

    Step Eight

    Quickly fill hot jars with hot pie filling. Leave 1 inch headspace.

    Canning funnel in jar with pie filling added.
    Using your canning funnel, ladle into hot jars.

    Step Nine

    Remove air bubbles with a chopstick or bubble tool.

    Wipe rims of jars with a damp paper towel to remove any debris.

    Chopstick removing air bubbles in jar.
    Remove bubbles.

    Step Ten

    Center lid on jar.

    Using a lid lifter to add lid/
    Center warm lid on jar.

    Step Eleven

    Screw on band.

    Band screwed onto jar.
    Screw on band fingertip tight.

    Process pints or quarts in a water bath canning pot for 25 minutes, adjusting for altitude. Let jars sit in hot water for at least 5 minutes to cool slowly to reduce siphoning.

    Remove to the counter and leave undisturbed for 12- 24 hours. Check seals. If lid flexes up or down, jars did not seal and should be stored in the refrigerator.

    How long will canned pie filling last?

    Store jars in a cool, dark space like the basement for about one year.

    Three jars of pie filling with apples and cinnamon sticks.

    How to make a pie with canned pie filling

    Make a homemade pie crust or buy a premade crust. Center crust in pie plate. pour in pie filling. One 9 inch pie will take about a quart jar of filling. Place top crust on pie and crimp edges or make a Dutch apple pie and use a crumb topping. If you use a top crust be sure to cut some holes in it to let steam escape.

    Bake arranged pie at 350°F/ 170°C for 45 minutes to one hour until crust is golden brown and filling is hot and bubbly.

    What else can you do with apple pie filling?

    • make hand pies or tarts
    • make a gallette
    • serve on top of vanilla ice cream
    • top pound cake
    • fill cakes or donuts or make apple pie taquitos
    • make apple bars
    • crisps or crumbles
    • top cheesecake
    • Add it to quick bread
    • top French toast, pancakes or waffles
    • Use some in smoothies or milk shakes
    • Put a spoon or two on oatmeal

    Helpful Tools

    • quart canning jars
    • canning pot
    • Canning tool set
    • canning lids
    • canning bands

    More canned pie fillings

    • Peach pie filling
    • Blackberry pie filling
    • Cherry pie filling
    • Strawberry pie filling
    • Blueberry pie filling
    Sliced Dutch apple pie
    Dutch Apple Pie

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    If you have any questions or comments, please ask in comment section below. We’d love to hear from you!

    I hope you enjoyed the recipe today!

    Enjoy. And have fun cooking!

    Binky's signature
    Jars of apple pie filling with fresh apples and cinnamon sticks.

    Apple Pie Filling | Canning Instructions

    Canning apple pie filling is the perfect way to preserve your harvest of apples and enjoy a sweet treat all year long.
    See Step by Step Photos Above!Most of our recipes have step by step photos and videos! Also helpful tips so that you can make it perfectly the first time and every time! Scroll up to see them!
    5 from 5 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 30 minutes
    Cook Time: 30 minutes
    processing time: 25 minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
    Servings: 8 servings
    Calories: 128kcal
    Author: Beth Neels
    Cost: $8

    Ingredients

    • 3½ cups apples
    • ¾ cup Sugar
    • ¼ cup Clear Jel modified cornstarch
    • ½ cup water
    • ¾ cup apple juice
    • 2 tablespoons Bottled Lemon Juice
    • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon optional
    • ⅛ teaspoon nutmeg optional
    • ⅛ teaspoon allspice optional
    • pinch cloves
    • lemon juice or ascorbic acid

    Instructions

    • Before starting, wash and heat jars and lids. We heat them in the canning pot because we need to have that heating anyway. Jars do not need to be sterilized because process time is over 10 minutes.
    • Start another large pot of water boiling.
    • Wash apples well. Peel and core apples. Slice into a bowl of cold water and lemon juice or ascorbic acid.
      lemon juice or ascorbic acid, 3½ cups apples
    • Once pot is boiling add a up to 6 cups of apples to the pot for 60 seconds, after water begins to boil again.
    • Remove with a slotted spoon. Place in a covered bowl to keep them warm and continue with remaining apple slices.
    • Combine the water, sugar, clear jel and spices in a large saucepan. Stir and cook over medium heat until it thickens. (Don’t be concerned if the clearjel clumps. This is common. Just keep stirring until the clumps go away.)
      ¾ cup Sugar, ¼ cup Clear Jel modified cornstarch, ½ cup water, ¾ cup apple juice, ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon, ⅛ teaspoon nutmeg, ⅛ teaspoon allspice, pinch cloves
    • Add lemon juice. Boil one more minute.
      2 tablespoons Bottled Lemon Juice
    • Fold in apples.
    • Immediately fill hot jars with the pie filling leaving a 1 inch headspace.
    • Remove air bubbles with a bubble removal tool or a plastic or wooden chopstick.
    • Wipe rims of jar clean with a damp paper towel. Center lids on jars. Screw on bands finger tip tight. Process immediately.
    Water Bath Canning Pot
    canning tool set
    canning jars- Quart
    saucepans
    See all of my favorite tools and gift ideas on my New Amazon Store!Check out Binky’s Amazon Store!

    Notes

    Makes one quart as written.
    One quart will make a nice, full 9 inch pie.
    Adjustment for Altitude
    For pints or quarts
    0-1000 feet above sea level                 25 minutes
    1001-3000 feet above sea level           30 minutes
    3001-6000 feet above sea level          35 minutes
    above 6000 feet above sea level         40 minutes

    Nutrition

    Serving: 0.5cups | Calories: 128kcal | Carbohydrates: 33g | Protein: 0.2g | Fat: 0.2g | Saturated Fat: 0.03g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.04g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.01g | Sodium: 3mg | Potassium: 87mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 27g | Vitamin A: 31IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 8mg | Iron: 0.1mg
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    7 shares

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Sara Welch

      January 23, 2023 at 3:05 pm

      5 stars
      This was such a quick and easy way to prep apple pie! Looking forward to making this pie soon; already smells so delicious!

      Reply
      • Beth Neels

        January 23, 2023 at 3:12 pm

        Thanks so much Sara! I really appreciate you letting me know.

        Reply
    2. Lima Ekram

      January 23, 2023 at 12:30 pm

      5 stars
      Just made it and had it hot on some ice cream. So delicious!!

      Reply
      • Beth Neels

        January 23, 2023 at 1:45 pm

        Oh yum! Especially when it’s warm. Thanks Lima!

        Reply
    3. Kathleen

      January 23, 2023 at 11:36 am

      5 stars
      I can honestly say that apple pie filling is not something I have ever attempted to can before. This is fabulous! I can’t wait to do this.

      Reply
      • Beth Neels

        January 23, 2023 at 1:45 pm

        Thanks Kathleen. We hope you enjoy it!

        Reply
    4. Amanda Wren-Grimwood

      January 23, 2023 at 11:13 am

      5 stars
      We always have a glut of apples and freezer space is often limited. This is the perfect solution for quick desserts.

      Reply
      • Beth Neels

        January 23, 2023 at 11:32 am

        We love popping them open to make a quick apple crisp or pie. Thanks Amanda!

        Reply
    5. Amy

      January 23, 2023 at 10:52 am

      5 stars
      I have not made this in years, but you’ve inspired me to put some on my pantry shelf. This will come in handy this fall!

      Reply
      • Beth Neels

        January 23, 2023 at 11:31 am

        I always forget to make pie fillings too but they are so handy to have when company comes over. Thanks Amy.

        Reply

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    Welcome! Thanks for stopping by! I am Beth "Binky" Neels, wife, mother of 2 boys and 3 dogs! I will impart tips and tricks I have learned over the years, to make cooking easier and fun for you!

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    photo of Beth Neels aka Binky

    Welcome! Thanks for stopping by! I am Beth "Binky" Neels, wife, mother of 2 boys and 3 dogs! I will impart tips and tricks I have learned over the years, to make cooking easier and fun for you!

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