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    Home » Dessert Recipes » Pie Recipes

    Homemade Apple Pie Filling for Canning

    Published: Sep 28, 2016 Last updated: Sep 4, 2021 by Shelby Law Ruttan · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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    This delicious and convenient recipe makes approximately 7 quarts of homemade apple pie filling.
    Mom's Homemade Apple Pie Filling
    Mom's Apple Pie Filling

    This recipe for Mom's Homemade Apple Pie Filling is a shelf stable canning recipe. Made with fresh apples, sweetener, pectin, and spices, Mom's Apple Pie in a Jar can be enjoyed year round.

    My family enjoys this homemade apple pie filling in pies, caramel apple cheese danish, apple fritters and more!

    Jump to:
    • Mom's Canning Recipe
    • The Best Apple To Make Apple Pie
    • How Many Apples in a Pound
    • 🥘 Ingredients
    • 🔪 Instructions
    • 💭 Top Tips
    • More Apple Recipes
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments
    Two quart sized jars and one pint sized jar of homemade apple pie filling on a rustic wood plank with a orange and green plaid napkin in the background

    Mom's Canning Recipe

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases from affiliate links.

    This recipe for Mom's Apple Pie in a Jar is one that I received from her later in my momhood. When she gave it to me, it called for cornstarch as a thickener which is apparently how she has always done it.

    After a reader comment on whether cornstarch was safe, I did my research and read that only approved recipes for canning pie filling should use cornstarch. I cannot tell you this is an approved recipe. I do not know where my mother got it from. This website

    At this point, I encourage you to decide what is best for you to do. If looking to use something other than cornstarch, Clear Jel is the recommended thickener (a modified cornstarch).I would use the same amount of clear jel as cornstarch and follow the instructions as written.

    Overhead shot of Two quart sized jars and one pint sized jar of homemade apple pie filling on a rustic wood plank with a orange and green plaid napkin in the background

    The Best Apple To Make Apple Pie

    When making a pie you want an apple that is firm and will still hold its shape when cooked. Softer apples will become applesauce. The best apples to use would be Braeburn, Cortland, Honeycrisp (my fav!), Golden Delicious, McIntosh, or Jona Gold.

    How Many Apples in a Pound

    If you are like me you may be wondering how many apples make a pound and how many cups equal 7 pounds? I did the math for you! Four medium sized apples are approximately one pound. This recipe calls for 7lbs of apples. So approximately 28 medium sized apples.

    If going by pounds to cups, one pound of apples will yield approximately 4-⅓ cups of apple slices. This means you would need approximately 37 cups of apples for this entire recipe.

    Overhead shot looking into the top of a  quart sized jars of homemade apple pie filling with a orange and green plaid napkin in the background

    🥘 Ingredients

    Cornstarch or Clear Jel

    Fresh apples

    Water

    Granulated Sugar

    Lemon juice

    Cinnamon

    Nutmeg

    Mom's Homemade Apple Pie Filling

    🔪 Instructions

    Step 1:

    1. Add the water, sugar, Sure Jell, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt to a large stock pot.
    2. Cook over medium high heat until sauce has thickened. Add the lemon juice.

    Step 2:

    1. Fill the hot sterile jars with the freshly cut apple slices.
    2. Pour the hot sauce mixture into jars until 1" from the top.
    3. Cover with sealing lid and cap. Process in a hot water bath for 20 minutes.
    4. Allow the jars to cool completely on the counter top. Store any unsealed jars in the refrigerator.
    Mom's Homemade Apple Pie Filling

    💭 Top Tips

    • Use a firm apple as indicated above for this recipe.
    • Substitute classic monkfruit for a sugar-free pie filling.
    • Brown sugar can be used in place of granulated sugar for a deeper caramel flavor.

    More Apple Recipes

    • Apple Cider Caramel Sauce
    • Baked Apples with Chocolate and Caramel
    • Sparkling Cider Pound Cake
    • Apple Upside Down Cake
    • Salted Caramel Apple Cake
    Mom's Apple Pie Filling in quart sized jars.

    *If you made this recipe, please give it a star rating*

    📖 Recipe

    Mom's Homemade Apple Pie Filling

    Mom's Homemade Apple Pie Filling for Canning

    Shelby Law Ruttan
    This delicious and convenient recipe makes approximately 7 quarts of homemade apple pie filling.
    4.44 from 32 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Go to Collections
    Prep Time 20 mins
    Cook Time 30 mins
    Total Time 50 mins
    Course Desserts
    Cuisine American
    Servings 54
    Calories 90 kcal

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Ingredients
      

    • 7 lbs apples peeled, cored, and sliced
    • 3½ cups sugar
    • 1 cup cornstarch
    • 10 cups water
    • 3 tablespoons lemon juice
    • 2 teaspoons Cinnamon
    • ¼ teaspoons nutmeg

    Instructions
     

    • Add the water, sugar, cornstarch*, cinnamon, and nutmeg, to a large stock pot.
    • Cook over medium high heat until sauce has thickened. Add the lemon juice.
    • Fill the hot sterile jars with the freshly cut apple slices. Pour the hot sauce mixture into jars until 1" from the top.
    • Cover with sealing lid and cap. Process in a hot water bath for 20 minutes

    Notes

    Disclaimer: According to documentation that I have read, cornstarch should not be used in unapproved recipes for canning. My mother made this pie filling recipe for years and I have made it the same way myself. I have always used cornstarch. However, if you have concerns about using cornstarch in canning pie filling, please use the appropriate substitute of Clear Jell for cornstarch.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 90kcalCarbohydrates: 23gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 3mgPotassium: 64mgFiber: 1gSugar: 19gVitamin A: 32IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 6mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword Apple Pie Filling, Apple Pie in a Jar, Homemade Apple Pie Filling
    Tried this recipe?Mention @grumpyshoneybunch or tag #grumpyshoneybunch!

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    About Shelby Law Ruttan

    Shelby is the author/owner of Grumpy's Honeybunch. Established in 2007, she shares and preserves family recipes as well as recipes for cooking light and keto. She has authored the One-Pot Paleo Cookbook and The Pescatarian Keto Cookbook. She is an experienced, self-taught home cook who loves to share recipes with others. She also authors the websites Honeybunch Hunts and The Best Vegetarian Recipes. You can see her work on websites such as Veal Made Easy, Parade, Community Table, SoFab Food, Yummly, and FoodGawker.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Cindy Gerber

      September 13, 2022 at 5:25 pm

      Can I use half granulated white sugar and 1/2 brown sugar?

      Reply
      • Shelby Law Ruttan

        September 13, 2022 at 6:59 pm

        Hi Cindy, Yes, I believe it will work, and just add a deeper caramel flavor.

        Reply
    2. Lucy

      September 12, 2022 at 11:00 am

      This recipe is very confusing if your new to canning it says 3 different times about the gel ? Clearly needs to say clear gel not sure ? And when the mixture is done it definitely does not go over the apples way to thick. Had to modify mostly. But all in all came out good.

      Reply
      • Shelby Law Ruttan

        September 13, 2022 at 5:16 am

        I am not sure what you found so confusing. I went through and read this post several times before responding to make sure I was not missing anything. I made it very clear in my post that it is clear-gel that can be used in place of cornstarch in equal amounts if you felt the need to do so. I also link to the specific product I was talking about. You do not indicate exactly what you did so I cannot offer up any advice as to why your mixture was too thick. I am happy to hear that it turned out good for you anyway. Thanks for trying. Shelby

        Reply
        • Debbie

          October 05, 2022 at 6:44 pm

          I tried this also! I had to use cornstarch as I couldn't find anything called Clear Jel only Sure -Jel. So used cornstarch the liquid tasted delicious but also was very thick. We struggled getting it to the bottom of the jar. I believe we probably cooked it to long and got too thick to flow in the jars nicely. But as I said it tasted good.

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    Welcome! I'm Shelby Law Ruttan, I'm a mom, grandmother, and cookbook author for HoneyB's Kitchen who started blogging family recipes in 2007 for.... 

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