Description
Whipping up this apple pie jam brings the warmth of homemade comfort right to your breakfast table. Spread generously on toast, this sweet preserve captures the nostalgic flavors of a classic American dessert in a delightful, spoonable form.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 4 cups peeled, diced apples
- 4 cups granulated sugar
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
Supporting Ingredients:
- 1 box pectin
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
Spices and Seasonings:
- 1 ¼ teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon unsalted butter
Instructions
- Gather sterilized canning equipment and prepare a boiling-water canner with water three-quarters full, heating to a gentle simmer.
- Peel and dice 4 cups of Granny Smith and Pink Lady apples into small, uniform pieces.
- Transfer diced apples to a large pot and pour 2 tablespoons of lemon juice over them to prevent browning.
- Sprinkle 1 ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon ground ginger, and ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg into the pot.
- Add ½ teaspoon butter and the entire 1.75-ounce box of pectin, stirring ingredients thoroughly.
- Increase heat to high and bring the mixture to a vigorous, rolling boil that cannot be stirred down.
- Pour in 4 cups granulated sugar and 1 cup packed brown sugar, stirring constantly to dissolve completely.
- Return mixture to a full rolling boil for exactly 1 minute, maintaining constant stirring.
- Remove pot from heat and quickly skim foam using a clean metal spoon.
- Carefully ladle hot jam into sterilized jars, maintaining ¼-inch headspace at the top.
- Clean jar rims with a damp cloth and secure lids and bands, tightening just until finger-tight.
- Lower filled jars into the simmering water canner, ensuring they are covered by 1-2 inches of water.
- Process jars at a full boil for 10 minutes at 212°F.
- Remove jars and allow them to cool completely at room temperature for 12-24 hours.
- Test jar seals by pressing center of lids – properly sealed lids will not flex or move.
Notes
- Always dice apples into small, uniform pieces to ensure consistent cooking and texture throughout your jam.
- Use fresh, firm apples like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp for the best balance of tartness and sweetness in your jam.
- Test jam’s readiness by placing a small amount on a chilled plate – it should wrinkle when pushed with your finger, indicating perfect setting.
- For a lower-sugar version, swap half the granulated sugar with a no-sugar pectin to reduce overall sweetness while maintaining proper consistency.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 11 minutes
- Category: Pies
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 243
- Sugar: 58 g
- Sodium: 10 mg
- Fat: 0.5 g
- Saturated Fat: 0.1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0.4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 63 g
- Fiber: 1.5 g
- Protein: 0.2 g
- Cholesterol: 1 mg