Have I ever told you how much I love fall time? I love fall. And about this time every year I start getting antsy for it. So it was a super great move for me to make this recipe because it was better than any candle, wax melt, or scented oil I own. The smell of fresh cut apples simmering in cinnamon and nutmeg? Heaven. I just ignored the fact that it was 96° outside. You can make this recipe to can in jars (read our Introduction to Canning and Preserving by clicking here) or pop batches in your freezer. It’s fun to have on hand for quick desserts like apple pie, apple crisp, apple turnovers, and it’s great on waffles, pancakes and ice cream too. It also makes a super cute gift for the holidays or for a hostess gift or new neighbor gift, etc.
If you’re new to canning, read our Introduction to Home Canning and Preserving post first!
Ingredients and Equipment Needed
This is just a preview of ingredients and method, keep scrolling for full printable recipe.
Ingredients
- Fresh apples – Any variety that is crisp and tart works well. If you do not use a crisp apple, your filling will get mushy when you go to use it later!
- Granulated sugar – You can also use brown sugar for a darker, richer, caramel-like flavor.
- Ultra Gel or Clear Jel – See the box below for specific notes on these thickeners. Do not use cornstarch or tapioca if you plan to can your filling. If using immediately or freezing, then those options are ok.
- Ground cinnamon
- Ground nutmeg
- Apple juice
- Bottled lemon juice – Acid from the lemon juice is what keeps this recipe safe for canning. Since fresh lemons can vary in acidity, the safest best for consistency is always bottled lemon juice. If you are using your filling fresh or plan to freeze it, fresh lemon juice will be just fine. I would not skip it all together, as the citric acid helps preserve the color and flavor of the apples.
A Note About Thickeners
I spent a better part of a Wednesday pulling my hair out and cursing driving around town in search of, and making phone call after phone call trying to get information about thickeners! A huge thanks to my friend/canning mentor Britanie for helping me figure out what the heck to use; I must have texted her 47 times this week. Thanks to her, and my new BFF at the extension office, I can sort of pretend I know what I’m talking about around here. It can be confusing because I noticed recipes call for different things depending on when they were written, and I know the #1 rule of canning is to not make substitutions or changes to a recipe that has been tested for canning.
I noticed a lot of older recipes call for corn starch, which is not recommended by the USDA for safe canning (it can make the filling too thick at the start for heat to penetrate and kill spoilage organisms and then can also break down during the canning process, leaving the final filling runny). Then I found lots of recipes calling for ClearJel, but I couldn’t find ClearJel anywhere. I finally got a hold of someone at my local extension service (I seriously love those people!) and she explained that the only products that have been verified after testing are Ultra Gel and Thick Gel. Ultra Gel is just a modified corn starch that’s safe and effective for use in canning (as well as tons of other things). She said ClearJel is the same thing as Ultra Gel, it’s just changed names. I found Ultra Gel in several local canning supply stores, so if you find a well stocked location you should be able to easily find it. You should also be able to find it at cooking stores. If not, then you can order it on-line, but that’s what you should be using. It’s not the same thing as the little boxes of “Sure-Gel” you get to make jam.
If you are a Boise/Meridian local, I bought mine at Karcher Ranch Market in Nampa. And I’ve been told in Utah it’s at Orson Gygi. I hope that’s helpful to someone else since it took me a while to figure out!
Equipment
- Water bath canner – This is the simplest canning method and it’s great for beginners! The water bath method involves placing jars of prepared food into simmering water for a specified amount of time. It’s basically just a big pot. Since this recipe is small, I actually just used my stock pot. As long as the jars can be fully submerged, you’re good.
- Canning funnel – Optional, but helpful! A canning funnel helps keep your jars mess-free while filling.
- Apple peeler/slicer/corer – Again, optional, but especially helpful if you’re making a large batch! Just run the apples through and then, once the are spiral cut, just cut the whole apple right in half to get perfect slices.
How to Make Apple Pie Filling
- First you’ll prep your apples. I recommend having a bowl of cold water with some lemon juice in it to store them until the next step. This will prevent premature browning.
- Next those apples will get a quick blanch in boiling water. You’ll want to measure your apples after blanching, as they will reduce quite a bit. Those get set aside while you make your sauce.
- Sugar, Ultra Gel, and fall spices get simmered briefly with apple juice and water. Then you’ll add your lemon juice and apples.
- That mixture gets transferred to your jars. Then you’ll just pop those lids on and process the jars in your water bath canner.
- Alternately, you can let the mixture cool and then freeze. Or use some right away, up to you!
Storing and Other Tips
- Enjoy your canned filling within 1 year. While it should still be safe to eat after that, the apples may gradually lose color, texture, and flavor.
- Once you open a can, refrigerate any unused filling and use within 5-7 days.
- For frozen filling, enjoy within 3 months for best results.
Ways to Enjoy Your Apple Pie Filling
Apple Pie
- From the Can: Whip up a double crust using this Apple Pie recipe, or use a store bought one. Line your pie plate, fill with a can of filling (approximately 4 cups), top with your second crust, add some vents, and bake. With the above crust, I bake at 375°F for approximately 45 minutes, or until the crust is golden and the filling is bubbling.
- From Frozen – You have a few options with frozen filling!
- Thaw – Thaw the filling and use as outlined above.
- Freeze in a pie plate – Place approximately 4 cups of filling in a gallon sized freezer storage bag and lay in a pie plate. After the filling is frozen, you can remove the pie plate. When you’re ready to bake, prepare your pie crust and pop your frozen filling right in. Cover with a second crust, vent, and bake. Expect the pie to bake for 20-30 minutes beyond the normal baking time. If the crust is getting too brown, cover the edges or top loosely with foil and continue baking until filling is bubbling from the vents.
- Freeze a whole pie – Prep your whole pie, with a double crust and vents. Wrap tightly in plastic and then foil. Freeze for up to 3 months. When ready to bake, follow the directions above, but expect to add and additional 20-30 minutes to the baking time.
Apple Crisp
- Dump your filling into a pan and top with Classic Apple Crisp topping, then bake until golden and bubbly.
As a Topping
- You can use this filling just like you would canned pie filling from the store. It’s delicious on waffles and pancakes, or served over cheesecake or ice cream.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you are canning, do not use any of these. See the Note on Thickeners in the Ingredient section above. These are not safe for canning and/or will affect the consistency negatively.
If you are using the filling fresh or freezing, cornstarch or tapioca are ok, but pectin will not work.
You can, just make sure they are uniform sizes. Note that very thin slices may overcook between canning and baking later and may become mushy. Slices about 1/4-1/2 inches thick work well. Cubes or chunks will also work.
Canning is tricky and food safety should be taken seriously. This recipe is designed specifically for apples. I would not substitute another fruit if you are going to be canning. If you are going to eat the filling fresh or freeze it for later, feel free to experiment with other fruits!
This recipe can be safely canned in pint or quart jars, according to the USDA/National Center for Home Food Preservation. Processing time remains the same. Do not use jars any larger than that, as they are not approved as a safe option for home-canned pie filling.
Yes, if you’re canning! This step removes air and excess liquid from the apples, which is a necessary step in reaching to correct consistency and for canning.
If you’re not canning your filling it’s ok to skip this step, although your filling might be a little thinner after your pies bake.
Apple Pie Filling (For Canning or Freezing)
Ingredients
- 6 quarts fresh apples (15-18 pounds, or 24-30 apples.) Use firm, crisp apples. If apples lack tartness, use an additional ¼ cup of lemon juice to the sauce for each 6 quarts of slices.
- 5 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 1 ½ cups Ultra Gel or Clear Jel
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 2 ½ cups cold water
- 5 cups Apple Juice
- ¾ cups bottled lemon juice plus extra, to prevent browning while slicing
Instructions
- Wash, peel, and core apples. Prepare slices ¼-½ inches wide and place in cold water containing ¼ cup lemon juice for every 4 cups water (or water containing ascorbic acid) to prevent browning.
- Place 6 cups of apples at a time in 1 gallon of boiling water. Boil each batch 1 minute after the water returns to a boil. Drain, but keep heated fruit in a covered bowl or pot.
- Combine sugar, spices, Ultra Gel, and spices in a large kettle with water and apple juice. Stir and cook on medium high heat until mixture thickens and begins to bubble. Add lemon juice and boil 1 minute, stirring constantly. Fold in drained apple slices immediately and fill jars with mixture without delay, leaving 1 inch headspace. Adjust lids and process immediately in a waterbath according to the recommendations below.
- Processing time for pint or quart size jars: 0-1000 ft: 25 min, 1001-3000 ft:30 3001-6000 ft: 30 mins Above 6000 ft: 40 mins.
- Freezer Instructions: Alternately this recipe can be placed in freezer bags and frozen for several months. Place approximately 4 cups apple mixture to fill one standard size pie.
Notes
- Make More or Less: If you’d like to make a larger or smaller batch, adjust the yield on the recipe card before printing, or use the chart below.
- To Use in a Pie: Simply prepare your crust as normal, fill the pie with a quart of apple pie filling, cover with a top crust, and bake at 450°F for 20 minutes, then reduce to 375°F and bake 25-35 minutes more. Crust should be golden and the filling should be bubbling through the vents in the crust.
- If Your Filling is Frozen: Thaw overnight in the fridge before using in a pie.
- Freeze and Assemble a Whole Pie: Allow filling to cool completely. Assemble your pie in a freezer-safe pie plate with a bottom crust, approximately 4 cups of filling, and a top crust with vents. Wrap well in plastic then foil and freezer for up to 3 months. Bake directly from frozen, adding about 20-30 minutes to the baking time, until crust is deeply golden and filling is bubbling.
Questions & Reviews
I swear you read my mind; I’ve been really curious to learn how to can or freeze pie apples this year. As much as my mother tried, I have never learned how to can. Time to try it out.
I have a question though, what is the difference between Clear Jel and Instant Clear Jel? Does it matter which one for canning pie filling? Or does one work better for different temperatures? Thanks
Clear Jel is a product like traditional corn starch which requires being brought up to a boil in order to thicken fully. Instant Clear Jel will thicken instantly whether the product is hot or cold, though it works slightly better in cooler products. You can use either, but for a cooked and canned filling normal Clear Jel, Ultra Gel or Thick Gel work better as they are more stable against the heat of canning and the sitting time on a shelf and disperse better through out the product. If you are going to freeze the results, then using Instant Clear Jel isn’t a problem. 🙂 This type of process works really well to make cherry pie filling and peach pie filling as well.
I was wondering if there is any Canadians out there? Wondering where in Canada we can get the thickner? This recipe sounds wonderul and I have a tree full of apples to use!
Cash & Carry in Boise (just off the connector at River St.) has the Clear Gel.
In Utah you can find Ultra Gel and often Thick Gel at Bosch Kitchen stores, Maceys, Harmon’s, most Lin’s, Dan’s and Dicks, Dixie Nutrition some Whole Foods and soon in A Fresh Markets. There are a lot of Bosch stores in Idaho, Oregon and Washington which also carry the products. 🙂 In Idaho Ultra Gel is usually sold in a big blue pouch and in Utah often in a white 1 pound container, though those will switch over to pouches soon as well. Thick Gel will either be in yellow pouches or the white containers and usually come in 2 pound increments.
Thanks… I was wondering… I will check out some of those places I have around me!
Oh and I also want the label whenever you actually have time to post it. 🙂
I’ve loved your canning week!!! I’m also a newbie to canning and these recipes have certainly inspired me to try them!
Thanks for this post out local Pick your Own Orchard opens in 2 weeks! I’ve been using Clear Jel for years, glad to know that the name changed to Ultra Gel. I’m having trouble finding it at my local Co-ops, they’ve changed to a product called Thermflo. Can anyone tell me what the difference is and can I use it the same as Clear/Ultra Gel?
Thermflo is a newer generation of the non instant Clear Jel. You can use it in place of Clear Gel or Ultra Gel if you are cooking the product. It will not work in instant applications though, and your amounts may have to be adjusted slightly so the product isn’t overly thick. It will tend to thicken more than Clear Jel or Ultra Gel for the same measurement. It’s a cool product though. 🙂
If I just want to make this as an eat-now apple dessert (plain or with ice cream), does that change the recipe? Do I still need the thickener, or can it be tasty and a good consistency without, if I’m eating it right then? I’ve never seen apples boiled – I’m used to stirring them over low heat FOREVER, so this seems like a neat method if it can be done without the gel? Thanks!
You can blanch your apples like she did here, or if you really want to cheat and make it fast toss the slices in a microwave safe bowl with about 1/4 cup of apple juice. Cover with plastic wrap and nuke for 3-5 minutes on high. Toss them around and if they’re not soft enough another few minutes. Totally cheater way to soften apples really fast. You’ll still need the thickener, or some thickener, if you want it as an eat now dessert unless you increase the number of apples greatly and decrease the liquid. It’ll taste the same with or without thickener, but because you’re not boiling the apples in the apple juice to pull the natural apple pectin there’s nothing there to cause the juices to thicken and set.
Good luck. 🙂
I’m really excited to try this out. I was at a relief society activity last night on canning and a friend told me about your blog and that I could get some help here. I think I’m in LOVE! Thanks so much for your work!
For our Utah friends, you can buy Ultra Gel at Orsn Gygi’s. I have also seen it in the Alison’s Pantry catalog
Actually, check your Associated Food Stores- Maceys, Dan’s, etc. They should have some in the canning section. The Bosch kitchen stores carry them too.
Thanks for the shopping tip for Utah … although now I’m sure there will be a run on it after this post 🙂 Thanks Sara for the step-by-step, hoping to have enough apples off the apple trees we planted last year to use this in the fall … I’ve never tried canning, but it’s been on my list of things to do one day.
Can this be used for other fruits or would you just stick with the apples?
Thank You Thank You!!
I get mine at Kitchen Kneads in Ogden or Logan every year
Just called and they only sell instant ClearJel. Is there a difference between instant and regular?
For apple pie fillings you want to use the regular kind, not instant!