Saturday, November 12, 2011

Canning: Canned Spiced Apples

With a minimal garden this year, I didn't get to do any canning. I was out of canned apples, so I decided to buy a bag at the store and use the same simple recipe from last year. To make them more to my liking, I changed the flavouring from vanilla to spices and added some red food colouring for a crab apple look.
Canned Spiced Apples

10 medium apples
4 3/4 cups sugar
4 cups water
4 cinnamon sticks
1 teaspoon whole cloves
1 teaspoon red food colouring

Fill a large bowl with water then add one tablespoon salt and one tablespoon vinegar. This will be a "bath" to keep the apples from turning brown while you get them all peeled and cut.









Peel, core, slice then put apples in the water bath. Mix sugar (I ended up using a cup less to reduce the sweetness), water, food colouring and spices wrapped in cheesecloth in a large pot and bring to a boil to make a heavy syrup.

Drain and rinse the apples. Carefully add them to the heavy syrup and cook for 5 minutes or until they become translucent. Stay just under the boiling point to prevent foaming. Spoon the apples into clean hot jars, cover with boiling syrup leaving 1/2 inch head space. Seal the jars and process in a boiling water bath for 30 minutes.

The syrup is very sweet, making the apples a good side dish or topping for ice cream. I had a lot of syrup left over and hated to waste it. It had a spicy apple flavour, so I tried putting some in 7-Up and it made a tasty fall drink. Later, I got some club soda and that was even better. Do you have any favourite fall apple recipes? I'd love to hear them. - Margy

9 comments:

  1. Those look delicious and that color is lovely. What did you think of your first canning experience?

    Margaret

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  2. That looks great, Margy!

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  3. Lovely color. Canning can be fun sometimes if you do a little at a time. I am going to make applesauce this weekend.
    ~~Hugs~~

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  4. Yes Betty, it is fun a little at a time. I'm not sure how I would feel if it was a huge batch.

    Margaret, it was pretty easy but I still worry about sterilizing and making sure it is safe. But maybe that's a good thin.


    Margy

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  5. Thanks for the idea. We love apples any old way and right now I am drying them. Four gallons dried with another 20 to go.

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  6. That looks scrumptious! Years ago, I had a recipe for pork chops and candied apples that used a package of the cinnamon red hots! I remember they were delicous. I'll have to look for that recipe!

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  7. Thanks for the great idea and recipe. I remember rings of spiced apples being served with a meal at restaurants when I was a kid - I always liked them. Now I can try to make something similar here at home.

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  8. This is now my second year of making canned spiced apples. They were still easy and tasty. We ate three jars almost before they cooled. - Margy

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We welcome your comments and questions. - Wayne and Margy