Simply Canning, is a great resource for information on canning safety, recipes, canning tips and how to’s. The articles are easy to read and understand, The information is valid for a newbie & veteran canners. If you haven’t checked it out, yet…you should!
Sharon Peterson, the woman behind Simply Canning, is sharing her Apple Pie Filling recipe with us today (see below). Sharon began her canning journey for the same reason many of us have; gardening and home preserving food proved to be a great way to provide nutritious, simple, delicious meals and provides an alternative to the many preservative laden commercial products found on the shelf of the local mega markets.
If you can’t find what you need on her website, you can purchase Sharon’s book, Simply Canning. The book will lead you step by step through the most important safety information for both pressure canning and water bath canning. In addition to her books, Sharon also offers a self paced video course designed to teach you what you need to know for safe home canning.
Gather your canning supplies
Ingredients
Canning Procedure
Peel, core and slice your apples. This is where the apple, peeler, corer, slicer may come in handy. It will cut your prep time in half. However keep in mind that it does slice your apples very thin. I like thicker slices when I am canning apple pie filling.
If you will raw pack your jars keep your peeled sliced apples in a light syrup or water with some ascorbic acid. (Also called – Fresh Fruit Preserver from Mrs. Wages). This will keep your apples from browning while you make your syrup.
To make a light syrup simply heat water and sugar in a sauce pan until sugar dissolves – 2 cups sugar to 1-quart water
Make your thickener or syrup
Raw Pack or Hot Pack?
There are two ways to fill your jars. Raw or Cold Pack and Hot Pack. I recommend a hot pack. Read through both methods below and decide what you think will work best for you.
Raw Pack Apple Pie Filling
Hot Pack Apple Pie Filling
When I am canning apple pie filling I prefer to hot pack. A hot pack seems easier and less messy, sticky. Here’s how to hot pack.
Processing
Wipe the rims clean, remove any air bubbles and place your lids. Process apple pie filling in quart jars for 25 minutes. For more details on processing follow water bath canning instructions.
If you’d like to enjoy more Apple options in your pantry, try your hand at these: Chunky Spiced Applesauce (with no added sugar!)
Crockpot Apple Butter (with and without the peels). Or check out our post 10 Ways to Preserve Apples.
Applesauce and freezing peeled/sliced apples.
Applesauce and Ready to eat Fried Apples
I love the apple pie recipe and have been using clear jel for a long time and love it!
We eat a lot of applesauce in our house, so that is definitely my favorite way to preserve apples!
mine 2
I mostly do applesauce.
Have you tried the Orchard Road lids? I bought a BUNCH of them from Fillmore this summer. They did great in the hot water bath but every time I tried using them in a pressure canner, they buckled. EVERY ONE – EVERY TIME. I pressure can hundreds of jars a year & those and WalMart’s generic ones are the only ones that have ever buckled….
Hi Bonnie, We haven’t heard of other issues, but it’s quite possible that if the lid is a little more flexible, the finger-tightening factor may need to be dialed back a little. The buckling is almost always a result of venting being inhibited. I’d encourage you to pass your findings along to the manufacturer, as I know they’d want to have your feedback!
I actually had a Ball lid buckle on my when I canned chicken stock last week. Pressure canned. First “failed” seal I’ve had in my short (3 attempts) canning career.
You put your lid on to tight.
pie filling
I make a fruit leather with my apples that my kids and grandkids love! I change up flavors all the time depending on what I have on hand, but they enjoy the variety. Pie filling was on my list to try this year if my apples aren’t too wormy 🙂
My family goes through a lot of applesauce and apple butter.
Applesauce! I’m going to try an apple/pear jam soon though.
I like to can them as pie filling. Always looking for a new recipe.
Into jams and jellys
cant wait to win!!
I am a huge fan of apple butter and apple sauce. We don’t eat a lot of pie around here, so not much filling. I have been playing with dehydrated apples and apple chips too.
Apple pie filling is the one I use the most of. We don’t eat as much apple butter these days, but love to smell it cooking.
Canned applesauce and dehydrated apple slices. I cant wait to try this apple pie filling!!!!
Applesauce
I can the pie fill. Chinky applesauce, apple butter and I dey apples for fried pies.
Apple pie jam 🙂
Freezing apple slices and caramel apple jam.
Apple butter with vanilla bean seeds or spices.
This is going to be my new favorite way to preserve apples!
I have only ever tried preserving apples as applesauce and apple butter, but of those two applesauce is my favorite. Thanks for the giveaway!
In my family, we always freeze or dry them. I would love to try canning them.
I love dehydrated apples for oatmeal and my Mom’s Applesauce! Thank you!
I have only dried apples before, but now I want to try pie filling!
Love this article. Have saved to my favorites. Perfect timing for my apple harvest. Great giveaway. Could really use it.
Applebutter!
Apple sauce and dehydrated apples and fruit leather are my favorite ways to preserve Apples
I’ve frozen apple pie filling.
I like to make chunky applesauce.
I havn’t started canning yet,do enjoy helping my cousin make jelly though.
I like to make jam with apples.. cranberry apple is a fav!
I make applesauce; Made apple pie filling last season. This year I’d like to make Cinnamon Apple Slices in wide mouth jars but I’m running out of jars! Our family makes apple cider together but I don’t know if I can can it in jars?
I love to can hot cinnamon candy applesauce and apple pie filling!!!
The best way to get my boys to get more fruits in thru the winter is dehydrated apple chips. They like applesauce and jellies, but we haven’t been to any U-pick orchards.
Apple jam
These items would be wonderful to add to all my canning supplies!
I love making applesauce and my favorite apple is Mutsu
I Love applebutter
I made apple butter and it turned out great. And I canned slices in simple syrup for making different things without having to have just pie filling.
I like to dehydrate apples, seal them in glass jars , and use them to make hand pies.
crockpot apple butter
freezer/dehydrating
Caramel Apple Pie Filling
I love making applesauce and apple butter
Looking forward to finally putting all the clear jel to use that I bought earlier this year.
Most often it’s applesauce but also love apple pie filling. Apple pie is probably my favorite dessert.
Love apple butter & applesauce.
I love applesauce!
I like making and canning apple butter and apple sauce and slicing and freezing some for pies.
Apple Pie! Although I think I’m going to try caramel apple pie filling this year
Apple sauce,apple butter. Some pie filling.
Mostly applesauce. I have a few varities I rotate.
Apple preserves, applesauce mixed with other fruits!
I have not yet preserved apples.
I like making apple butter
My favorite is apple butter, but I have made jelly and applesauce too. It’s all good.
I’ve never preserved apples. I would love to learn.
I’ve never preserved apples before. My husband dries apples and I like applesauce.
Love to make apple pie filling with Clear Jel and apple butter
apple butter since my family begs for it.
As applesauce, it’s the only way I know how to keep apples.
I love apple butter!
I’ve been canning pie fillings, strawberry, rhubarb and apple for some time now. I also like dehydration as a way to keep apples longer … they still seem to disappear fast.
Apple butter and applesauce are standard yearly preserves in this house!
I love making and canning applesauce!
I love canning sauce for my 4 kids. Also the sauce makes great fruit leathers in a dehydrator
Apple Pie Jam!
I love drying my apples for storage so in the winter I can make homemade fried apple pies.
I am a fan of apple jam and applesauce, but I am going to have to try out this apple pie filling too!
Apple pie filling and Caramel Apple Jam are my faves 🙂
Applesauce – hands down favorite at our house.
love making apple butter i mean i stock up on it
I love Simply Canning & Fillmore Container.
I like to make crockpot apple butter…
Apple butter…always apple butter.
I make apple butter every fall and give it away as gifts the next holiday season! It’s so much better when it’s been sitting for a year. Like fine wine, flavors intensify and any acid levels mellow.
Applesauce, definitely applesauce. And of course pickles!
Love apple pie, especially this time of year. Can’t wait to try the recepi!
I love sliced apples for pie filling and dried apples.
Love making different types of applesauce!! Regular applesauce, cinnamon applesauce, raspberry applesauce, pear applesauce, cherry applesauce, blackberry applesauce, blueberry applesauce, cranberry applesauce and peach applesauce! I love applesauce!! 🙂
Mostly applesauce. Sometimes frozen in slices. Want to try dehydrating.
My daughter won’t touch store-bought applesauce anymore, so it’s applesauce all the way in our house!
I like to can applesauce.
We can basic apple slices in light syrup, and then use them for everything. Next is apple jelly with the peels and cores, then applesauce with the leavings from jelly. Finally we make vinegar with what’s left!
I’ve been canning for a couple of years now and I never thought of using a thickening agent in my apples. Lol every year my spiced apple slices absorb all the liquid they’re packed in and I tery sometime different to prevent it, but a thickener never crossed my mind. Thanks for the idea!
Apple chutney and apple butter!
Nice to see contests for items that are actually useful. Thanks for running these. One can never have too many canning jars — there are always inspiring things to try.
I love dried apple rings the most, but we have also canned a lot of applesauce and even some pie filling yhis year!
Apple butter! I think I could live on good toast and apple butter!
apple butter!
Applesauce!
Apple Butter!
I am new to canning so I haven’t tried canning anything yet. But very excited to start!
Various flavors of Apple butter
I have only ever dried apples to preserve them.
I “sun dry” apples every season.
My favorite way is applesauce.
I used a packaged product to make apple pie filling for the first time this year and it is HORRIBLE! I am happy to get your information on making pie filling.
I have made apple butter and apple pie jam before, but we usually end up eating all our apples!
I would love to win these jars, funnel, the recipe book and the video. I already can but want to teach my Granddaughter how to can properly. I love the look of the jars your company has.
Making Apple Butter and variations such as with Rosemary or with Pears
Applesauce
The most popular way in my household to preserve apples is in applesauce.
We’re big on applesauce around here. That’s what I’m doing today!
Apple butter and apple sauce of course!
I love making hard cider. 😀
I had never thought of canning apple pie filling. I am interested in trying this.
I love making the apple butter , apple bread to go with it , and the grand kids love the Apple chips I make with the food dehydrator..
i make applesauce, apple butter with many variations of other fruit, apple pies frozen, apple jam and jelly, and make my own pectin. would love to win this
In the fridge, my husband likes to eat them plain. How boring…!
My favorite way to preserve apples is applesauce.
We dehydrate them, make juice, apple jelly, and apple butter.Applesauce as well.
Canning applesauce and / or apple butter.
Thank you for this giveaway opportunity
I like to make applesauce.
I love making apple butter and apple sauce every fall.
Applesauce for sure! I can never make enough!
We love to use honey crisp apples for no sugar added apple sauce. (don’t tell my family but I throw a few Cortlands and Northern Spies in there too) 🙂
I am new to canning, but have done applesauce, crab apple pectin, and apple pie filling. Wanting to try apple butter next! 🙂
apple sauce with chunks
I love to dehydrate apples or make lots of apple sauce!
I like making/canning applesauce the best.
I’m still learning canning, but I did make a really nice tasting apple preserves. I haven’t ever tried pie fillings before but I will now!
Applesauce
Love applesauce!
Applesauce or Apple butter followed by apple pie! Apple anything is tops in my pantry! How about an apple pear pie canning recipe???
I like to can my apples sliced with just the water I blanch them in. Then I can use them to bake with later or just to eat as is!
Apple Butter mostly…boyfriend can’t get enough
Apple strawberry jam
Applesauce!!!
I like to dehydrate the apple slices for snacks and to use in oatmeal and yogurt
My mom passed away a few years back and I was lucky enough to get all of her canning supplies. I had never canned anything until I got her pots & supplies. I started watching & reading Simply Canning that I found on line. It has been one of the most fun things to learn and now I think of my mom every time I can something. Thanks so much for all the great ideas on not just canning but gardening as well.
The only thing that got lost when I got my moms canning things was the container to put the glass gars into so I have been doing the small towel in bottom and only doing 3 at a time so they don’t touch. Works, I have been on the look out for the proper container for the glass.
We love to bottle apple sauce and also apple butter!
I love making unsweetened applesauce and it’s a favorite of my friends. I also use Dolgo crabapples to make crabapple butter, crabapple jelly and spiced crabapples.
I have never canned apples before so don’t have a favorite, but Iwould like to try applesauce.
I make apple sauce or freeze fruit for pies and smoothies later.
Apple pie filling but I might try just plain apples if I have enough after we go to the orchard on Sunday 🙂
I can applesauce and apple butter but freeze sliced apples. Thanks for the recipes and the great giveaway.
Thank you so much for these giveaways. It give us a chance to try products we might not normally consider. It also gives us ideas for trying something new!!! Thanks,
Apple cinnamon filling!
Applesauce and apple butter. I tried the spiced apple rings from the Ball book once, but wasn’t a fan of the taste. I might try it again anyway, though.
Love applesauce. At home we can a variety of jams, sauces, pickled cucumbers and chutney!
Apple sauce, apple butter and apple pie filling. Hmm Hmm
I enjoy Canning apple butter. Delicious!
Like making apple butter.
Freezing and drying!
I love canning chunky cinnamon applesauce and apple pie filling!
Applesauce,apple butter
Home canned applesauce from home grown apples is my favorite way to preserve them.
Apple pie filling and Applebutter are my two favorites!
I like freezing some for pies. I have canned them cooked and in a thickened juice for like pies or with ice cream.
Thank you for the generous offer. I don’t enjoy applesauce as much as my husband does, but like apples in general.
I like to freeze or make applesauce
I’m new to preserving and have never tried anything with apples. This would help me!
Between apple pie, apple cake and apple sauce, we never have any left to preserve 🙁 May just have to pick more this year
I like to make applesauce.
I use a recipe similar to yours and can pie filling. It is so wonderful to make a real homemade pie in just a few minutes for a special treat
Apple Pie filling and apple sauce!
Our favorite way for preserving apples is applesauce. My husband’s grandpa had a variety called Early Transparent. They ripened in July and made the best applesauce. They were tart and took a fair amount of sugar to sweeten, but oh so delicious!
I like to can apple butter
I make applesauce. This year would like to try pie filling.
I guess I need to learn how to preserve food. The only way now is in the refrigerator or freezer. Or I guess I could just eat it.
I love preserving my apples as apple butter.
I have a steam juicer, so I make jelly and drinking juice.
Applesauce… I just put up 3 bushels worth
I like to can the chunky applesauce, apple butter and apple pie filling.
I love canning applesauce and apple butter as ways to preserve apples!
Apple Pie Filling, Applesauce (especially candied), Apple Pie Jam and spiced apples.
I love making applesauce and apple pie filling
I don’t generally preserve apples. I buy as many as I think I can eat before they go bad, and make apple crisp and apple bread to speed the consumption. I have stored them in my spare fridge and made it as far as March with apples from my local orchard.
I make Apple Peel Jelly, using the peels of the apples, after I have made applesauce, apple butter and sliced apples for pies and other goodies!
I have only canned unsweetened applesauce. I want to do so much more!
Applesauce by far!
Apple butter!
Love making apple sauce and apple butter but haven ever tried apple pie filling. This will be the year!
I like canning Apple pie filling the best. The results are great.I will try this recipe. It is very similar to a recipe I found in Ball Complete Book if Home Preserving. I really like using Clear Jel, too. Perfect results every time.
Applesauce and Pie filling.
So far, my best apple-preserving success has been by dehydrating them. Thanks for this opportunity.
I can applesauce and apple butter and pie filling
I like to dry apple slices or can applesauce. Not a big pie maker myself, but love apple crisp, so freeze some apple slices, too.
Thank you for the great info about canning apples.
I love to make apple butter in the crock pot!
As always, looking forward to your next post! I may be a seasoned canner but I find I learn something new or interesting quite frequently here. Thank you for all your wonderful information and efforts!
I like to cold store apples, sometimes wrapping each in shiny advertising pages of the newspaper or magazines for longer storage, to eat fresh apples for as long as I can! For applesauce, my fav is Courtland…the applesauce is pink. 🙂
so, how do you enter the giveaway drawing? Lots of links but no links for that. -james
Hello James, the giveaway widget is at the bottom of the post after the details about what’s included in the giveaway. Good luck!
I would love to win . my husband and I do a lot of canning. we just went to pick apples in September and I love to bake apple pies, therefore I jar apple pie mix. thanks for the chance.
This would be a great way to start over with supplies. When we moved, we had to give so much away. Just did not have the room in the moving truck )O:
I love your tips and recipes on here.
Probably applesauce with cinnamon or apple pie spice. I usually freeze it…quicker that way!
Canning Apple Pie filling was on my to do list this weekend. Converted to clear gel a few years ago. Your recipe uses 2x the liquid that the one I have been using does. I’ll give yours a try and see if the syrup is more manageable.
I usually make apple pie jam!
I love to make apple butter!
I love homemade applesauce so that would be my favorite way. I haven’t done any canning since I was a kid with my mother and grandmother but now that I’m retired I want to get into it.
Canning applesauce.
I love Fillmore and thoroughly enjoy reading your posts!
im just getting started so i have no canning equipment yet 🙁 so i dont preserve anything , i uselly just buy what i need when i need it, hoping to have all my supplies to get canning by next year , money is supper tight .. winning this would sure help
Just starting to learn, no favorite way yet.
Definitely apple juice. I also love canning apple jelly, sauce, pie filling, and butter. Yum!
I do not know how to make a apple pie filling, but I really look forward to trying to make my own now. Thank you for sharing this post with all of us. I use Fillmore Containers for a lot of my products I’m just starting to make for my business. I grow all my own herbs then dry them and store them in the jars.
Canning is one of my favorite things to do. Would love to try some of these recipes soon!
I make more applesauce than anything else. But I also love to can apple pie filling and spiced apples.
I would love to try canning Apple pie filling, what a great idea!
I’ve never canned apples (or anything else), but I would love to learn! Apple butter and apple pie filling would top the list.
Oh yum! My grandmother used to do a ton of canning what I was little. I regret that I never really paid much attention to what she was doing or how she was doing it. I would love to start doing some canning on my own.
Where I live we don’t have many apple trees, but lots of pear trees, so we do a lot of pear preserves. But I love applesauce so I’m sure that is what I would make.
We like applesauce and apple butter, so I always do those. My new favorite is apple pie jam- amazingly good!
I really like dehydrating them and either snacking on them or throwing them in granola, etc.
New to this, loving already, can’t wait to taste all the yummy food I can!!!!!
I like to can applesauce and apple butter
Applesauce!
I haven’t put up apples in any form yet, but would love to try.
I mostly make applesauce. I would like to find a way to do pie filling that is non-GMO. I have organic corn starch, but I know it isn’t the same as the Clear Gel.
Can’t wait to try this recipe. Love canning foods for out of season cooking!!!
Picked Arkansas Blacks and Winesap at the upick yesterday. A batch of AB in dehydrator now. The rest for applesauce, apple butter, pie filling and jelly. Was going to use clearjel for my pie filling but just realized I have instant. Since I have to order it I guess I will be using cornstarch.
I refer to your blog often for canning. Info. Lots of Apple sauce and Apple pie filling this year.
AppleSauce!!
I love to make apple butter
Applesauce
Who can pick just one? Apple sauce, apple jelly, and apple pie filling!
I would like o win this. I’m still learning thing each time I can. Don’t have a pressure cooker so everything is done by water bath.
I love making Apple Jelly.
Chunky applesauce. Yum!
I’ve only baked apples in the past, but this is my year to put up apple pie filling and make apple butter in the slow cooker. It’s never too late to learn new skills.
I would love to win.
Applesauce that I freeze, apple butter, and canning my apple pie filling is ways I hold on to my precious apples.
My favorite ways of preserving apples include making loads of applesauce and dehydrating thin apple slices.
Dehydrating and applesauce.
appplesauce
Would love to can some apple pie filling!
Freezing. I hope to can my first batch soon
My favorite way for canning apples is using my NINJA and making fresh applesauce! Hope I win!! ♡
Dehydrate
I’ve actually never preserved apples. Since we discovered the Honeycrisp and Holiday varieties, they get eaten fresh too fast in our house!
My family loves canned apple pie filling and apple butter. I put the apple pie filling over bread pudding and bake normally. The best.
Applesauce and dehydrating.
i love to take cortland apples and make applesauce
I love to can low sugar cinnamon applesauce.
I prefer to dehydrate my apples the most. I love that I can eat them like chips and know that it is something healthy to snack on.
Applesauce and slices in light syrup
I can apple slices in a thin syrup and also dehydrate slices.
Pickled apples..love them, of course apple butter and salt ce..pie filling too.
Thanks.
Btw..love the color of your apples..striking and rich!
Apple butter <3
My whole family loves apple butter!
I love apple chunks in their own juices! slow cooked over a hot fire!
Applesauce, Pear-Applesauce, and pie filling.
Would love to jump start my collection
It’s really not my choice. 4-yo Granddaughter says we HAVE to make apple pie filling.
My father-in-law has apple trees and every year I like to make apple pie filling (or more of the baked apples like Cracker Barrell has). I use splenda instead of sugar so that my husband can indulge occasionally as well…we love it.
Marilyn Wilson in MS
We have our own apple trees and love to make applesauce out of the apples!
I’ve done applesauce, apple jelly and apple butter. I’m going to try your apple pie filling. We love turnovers and this will make them fast, easy and delicious!
Applesauce and apple butter
If only apples lasted long enough with our 5 kids! I’d love to be able to dry some apples to put up and to make applesauce and apple pie filling.
apple butter or sauce
I HAVE NEVER CANNED APPLES BEFORE ONLY DEHYDRATED THEM. WOULD LOVE TO MAKE SOME PIE FILLING!
Applebutter!!! All-time favorite.
Apples don’t last too long around here mainly because we are a applesauce family.
I dehydrate and I freeze what apples I don’t eat fresh 🙂
Applesauce
Apple butter or apple sauce
Applesauce
Apple Butter, Applesauce, and Apple Tarts – plus any of the recipes that brings me back to those special moments in time with my grandmother sharing with me, her how-to’s on how to can and preserve foods – I so loved her stories – and here I am now running an apothecary business – she’d love it!
We love canning chunky apple butter in the fall.
I’ve recently been mixing up apple pie filling (apples, brown sugar, spices, and a little butter), then vacuum sealing and freezing. Would love to try canning!
I like to can it as applesauce or apple butter
Apple butter and apple cider
applesauce and dried apples!
Apple pie filling
In your photo of the pie filling, the photos show the filling all the way up to the top of the jar. Do you really do that when canning pie filling?
Hello Clare, This photo was taken after the jars were removed from the canner. Most Apple Pie Filling Recipes call for 1 inch of headspace, which I stuck with when filling these. In previous batches, I’ve had to allow more than 1 inch in order to not risk overflow due to the amount of expansion which can vary depending on the apples.
I prep my apples and freeze them recipe ready. I haven’t canned in awhile but I want to get back to the basics of preserving my harvest!
Apple Pie
I’m new to preserving apples. I just eat them. But I’m looking for good ideas and I like what I see here.
My favorite way to preserve apples is to dehydrate them or make applesauce. I’ve made apple pie filling but I end up with too much of the non-apple parts and my family just isn’t into that. So apple slices and applesauce are my go-to methods!
I have canned cinnamon applesauce.
Since my family is small, I sometimes like to can apple pie fillings in pint jars for tartlets.
We enjoy making applesauce, apple pie filling and spiced apples.
I love making applesauce and canning it to have on hand …
I love to preserve my apples as apple butter with cinnamon. Winter breakfasts are brightened with the addition of home preserved apple butter to top oatmeal, toasts, pancakes, french toast and yogurt.
Love apple filling with more sauce!
I dry them, have made apple butter but would like to try this method!
I love canning apple pie filling and using it for apple crisp. It is a quick and easy dessert that sometimes gets used for breakfast, too.
I love making apple pie filling. I can control the sugar content and my kids will eat it over pancakes on a cold midwest morning!
Freezing them.
Hello – I notice that the jars of pie filling in the photograph are filled completely, even touching the bottom of the lids. If you are to leave a 1″ headspace, how does this happen? Thank you.
Hi Margaret, This is a very common result with apple pie filling because of the expansion of the contents during processing even if you leave the proper headspace.