Over the past couple of weeks we’ve been to 3 different apple orchards and I think I’ve peeled, chopped, and sliced over 6 bushels of apples. Holy cats, I think my right arm could actually win an arm wrestling match which is saying a lot if you know me personally.
I’ve made crockpot after crockpot of homemade applesauce (using my favorite crockpot recipe here), plates of apple crumble, dishes full of baked apples overflowing with raisins and cinnamon, and jar after mason jar of my homemade apple pie filling. Yum, Yum, and YUM! And this is why I love fall so much in case you were wondering!
I thought today I’d share my super simple but oh-so-tasty recipe for Homemade Apple Pie Filling. It is a winner through and through. We love it in pie form, of course, but it also goes great with a big ‘ol scoop of french vanilla ice cream. If you want to make it for ice cream may I suggest that you decrease the cornstarch by half so that you have a nice runny cinnamon-y flavored apple syrup in which to douse your ice cream with. Not something you’d necessarily want for an apple pie…unless you like your pie soggy! Enjoy!
Easy Homemade Apple Pie Filling
Recipe Type: Dessert
Author:
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Makes 3 quarts or 6 pints, one quart makes one pie
Ingredients
- 12 cups sliced apples (which is about 15 medium-sized apples)
- 2.5 cups water
- 4 cups sugar
- 2 Tbsp lemon juice
- 2/3 cup cornstarch
- 2 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
Instructions
- In a large bowl, toss apple slices with lemon juice and set aside.
- Combine water, sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, salt, and nutmeg and add to a dutch oven over medium heat.
- Stir well and bring to a boil.
- Boil 2 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add apple slices, cover dutch oven and let return to boil, about 8 minutes.
- Cool mixture for 30 minutes and then place into freezer containers leaving about 1/2 inch of headspace.
- Can be frozen up to 12 months.
Ready? Let’s make some apple pie filling!
Slice up your apples first…get about 12 cups worth if you can! Toss the apples with 2 Tbsp of lemon juice and set your bowl of lovely, delicious apples aside.
In the mean time, mix together the water, sugar, cinnamon, salt, nutmeg, and cornstarch in a dutch oven over medium heat and get that mixture to boil, stirring often. Once it boils, let it do so for about 2 minutes. It should look nice and frothy and light caramel colored!
Then add in the apple slices and mix well. Place a lid over your dutch oven and let everything cook for about 8-10 minutes. Then turn off your burner and let everything cool for about 30 minutes.
Once it’s cool, ladle your apple pie filling into freezer safe containers if you wish to save it for a later date…ummm, maybe Thanksgiving or Christmas? Or put it in jars if you plan on eating it right away.
Mmm…deliciousness!
If you’re feeling gifty you can package the pie filling all nice and purty and share the apple love with someone else!
I made a few fun tags and used some fabric scraps, twine, and paper doilys to pretty up a few jars for giving!
Hope you enjoy making your own apple pie filling, it is too easy not to now that you know how!
Thanks for stopping by today!
XOXO,
Sounds wonderful! I’d love to add baking instructions to the gift tag. How long do you bake it and at what temperature? Thank you!
I would say most apple pies bake at 425 degrees for 15 minutes and then at 350 degrees for another 45 minutes or so.
Trying this soon!! Where did you find the aqua stamp set? Cute packaging too 🙂
I think I bought it at Hobby Lobby…it was a while ago though!
Oh my gosh what a cute idea! This would be such a cute gift for neighbors. Thanks for sharing!!!
I actually gifted some of these to my neighbors!!! Great minds!! 🙂