Canning Goodness: Homemade Applesauce
PUBLISHED ON: 11.23.2012
We can get fresh apples from as far south as North Georgia. While spending time in North Georgia this year, I took advantage of the opportunity to score a few bushels of apples from the local orchard.
Before departing, I also scored this apple peeler on Amazon. You have to be prepared when you arrive home with “bleep” load of apples. You can peel, core and slice apples all day with this nifty gadget. My husband taking note of the purchase, just shakes his head. My response is always the same “I could be in the bars” He laughs.
Since starting our garden I have developed a deep respect and appreciation for preserving foods.
I am learning how to home preserve foods and I do my best to keep it simple. Making applesauce is a good start, it is easy to prepare and preserve.
Homemade Applesauce
Recipe from Ball Complete Book of Home Preserving
Makes about eight pint (500 ml) jars or four quart (1 liter) jars
Note: If you prefer a tart flavor use half tart and half sweet apples when making applesauce and reduce the quantity of sugar as desired.
Ingredients:
12-lbs apples, peeled, cored, quartered, treated to prevent browning (note: you can submerge fruit in a 1/4 cup (50 ml) of lemon juice and 4 cups water (1 Liter)
Water
3 cups (750 ml) granulated sugar (optional)
4 (60 ml) tablespoons lemon juice
Directions:
1. Prepare canner, jars and lids.
2. In a large stainless steel saucepan, combine apples with just enough water to prevent sticking. Bring to a boil over medium high-heat. Reduce heat and boil gently, stirring occasionally, for 5 to 20 minutes, until apples are tender (time will depend upon the variety of apple and their maturity). Remove from heat and let cool slightly, about 5 minutes.
3. Working in batches, transfer apples to a food mill or a food processor fitted with a metal blade and puree until smooth.
4. Return apple puree to saucepan. Add sugar, if using, and lemon juice; bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring frequently to prevent sticking. Maintain a gentle boil over low heat while filling jars.
5. Ladle hot applesauce into hot jars, laving 1/2-inch (1 cm) headspace. Remove air bubbles and adjust headspace, if necessary, by adding hot applesauce. Wipe rim. Center lid on jar. Screw band down until resistance is met, then increase to fingertip-tight.
6. Place jars in canner, ensuring they are completely covered with water. Bring to boil and process both pint (500 ml) and quart (1L) jars for 20 minutes. Remove canner lid. Wait 5 minutes, then remove jars, cool and store.
Variations:
Spiced Applesauce: In step 4, add 4 teaspoons (20 ml) ground spices, such as cinnamon, nutmeg or allspice, to the sauce with the sugar and lemon juice.
Chunky Applesauce: In step 4, coarsely crush half of the cooked apples and puree the remainder. Combine before adding the sugar.
Enjoy!
Anonymous
I'm liking the look of that gadget. Peeling and coring apples is something I particularly dislike doing.
Schnitzel and the Trout
Looks great!! I will have to remember your comment about being in bars. Perfect!!
Angie's Recipes
Homemade is the best!
Hungry Dog
WHat a nifty little device that is! Love it.
Aunt B
We love applesauce at our house. I put by between 100 and 200 pints every year and we use every single one before apple time rolls around again. It's so good on its own, and great for use in recipes. We leave the peels on our apples when making sauce, though, because it provides extra nutrition. We cut up our apples, discarding only the smallest portion of the core, cook them with just enough water to keep them from sticking to the bottom of the pan, then puree the cooked apples in the blender. The result is a darker coloured, more opaque sauce but it still has wonderful flavour.
Martha
Mmmmm, I love fresh homemade apple sauce. My neighbors always bring me bushles of apples fresh off the trees when the come from NY to Florida for the winter. Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving 🙂
Anonymous
I make homemade applesauce too. I love to can and have a garden. It's something I look forward to each summer 🙂 I have many apple trees too, so I'm always looking for things to do with apples.
Rita
I love your answer…about being at the bar; must remember that one Velva. I have been looking at that gadget and you love it right? Peeling those apples for the applesauce is a chore.Rita
Beth
I love your peeler. And your applesauce looks awesome too!
Kim
Making applesauce is so much better than being in the bars 🙂 Gorgeous pics!
Ocean Breezes and Country Sneezes
Don't you just love canning! I'll bet your applesauce is delicious!
Michelle
Love the golden look of your applesauce in those jars.
That Girl
I peel by hand, but I remember that type of peeler from growing up!
grace
i've longed for an apple peeler–going through bushels and bushels of apples by hand gets SO tedious! i'm a darn good peeler, though. :)beautiful sauce!
Chaya
After eating homemade apple sauce. there is no going back.
Anonymous
Homemade – and so lovely!
SavoringTime in the Kitchen
My mother had a peeler like that! I applaud you for making your own applesauce, Velva. I looks delicious!! I must taste so much better than the store bought varieties and you know what's in it too.
The JR
That homemade probably slaps the bought stuff into next week!
Kitchen Belleicious
I love that first pic! Applesauce was and still is my favorite thing to eat and it is for my boys to. i love making my own but haven't in a few months- this got me thinking I need to do it. Would love to try your recipe. Hope you had a great thanksgiving
Tina
Velva, homemade applesauce is the best. The, Best! I love it and it brings back memories of our apple trees in the yard when I was a kid. Your batch looks exceptionally tasty! Thanks for your lovely comment about my fun Saturday and Thanksgiving.
Roz | La Bella Vita Cucina
I haven't made homemade applesauce in years, Velva. Thank you for the reminder of what I've been missing out on! Nothing like fresh!!!!!!!
From Beyond My Kitchen Window
Like you, I love to preserve and can. The applesauce looks great and I like how you included variations.
Chris
I thought your retort to your hubby was hilarious. Usually it's us dudes out buying gadgets.
Rosa's Yummy Yums
The best! I never can mine, because we generally eat it straight away… ;-)Cheers,Rosa
LaDivaCucina
Don't sit under the apple tree, with anybody else but me, anybody else but me, anybody else but me! You deserve a reward for doing this Velva!
Kat
The applesauce looks so lovely in the jars. Nice color, I bet it was delicious.
Amy (Savory Moments)
We go apple picking every year and make a lot of applesauce. I love homemade!
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