This Homemade Apple Pie Filling is a canning recipe that eliminates those tins of canned pie filling you buy in the store. Delicious flavor and convenient for making pies, topping ice cream, or mixing into tasty apple fritters!

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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!

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

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Why You'll Love Apple Pie in a Jar
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

Why You'll Love Apple Pie in a Jar

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Mom's Canning Recipe

This recipe for Mom's Apple Pie in a Jar is one that I received from her later in my mom hood. 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.

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

Baked apple pie with crumb topping in a ceramic pie dish.

🔪 Instructions

Step 1:

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

Step 2:

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.
Allow the jars to cool completely on the counter top. Store any unsealed jars in the refrigerator.

A slice of apple pie made with Mom's Apple Pie Filling for canning.

💭 Top Tips

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

More Apple Recipes

Mom's Apple Pie Filling in quart sized jars.

When you make this recipe, please comment below and let me know what you think. I'd love it if you tag me on Instagram @grumpyshoneybunch or #grumpyshoneybunch so I can see your photos!

If you love this recipe, please leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating

📖 Recipe

Upclose image of Mom's Apple Pie in a Jar.

Mom's Homemade Apple Pie Filling for Canning

Shelby Law Ruttan

4.52 from 49 votes

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Prep Time 20

Cook Time 30

Total Time 50

Course Desserts

Cuisine American

Servings

Calories 90 kcal

Equipment

Canning set
Large stock pot
Canning jars
Canning seals and lids

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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!

Comments

4.52 from 49 votes (38 ratings without comment)

Homemade Apple Pie Filling for Canning