Description
Sweet caramel apple jam captures the essence of autumn’s warmth in a delightful spread. Homemade goodness beckons you to savor each spoonful of pure seasonal comfort.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 6 cups (1.4 kg) finely diced peeled apples
- 4 cups (800 g) granulated sugar
- 1 cup (220 g) packed brown sugar
Pectin and Flavor Enhancers:
- 1 package Sure-Jell (powdered fruit pectin)
- 1/2 teaspoon (2.5 ml) ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon (1.25 ml) ground nutmeg
Liquid and Binding Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup (120 ml) water
- 1/2 teaspoon (2.5 ml) butter
Instructions
- Peel and chop apples into small, uniform pieces, ensuring even cooking and consistent texture throughout the jam.
- Combine apples with water and butter in a large stockpot, simmering gently over low heat for approximately 10 minutes until the fruit becomes tender and starts to break down.
- Sprinkle pectin into the softened apple mixture, stirring continuously while bringing the contents to a vigorous rolling boil to activate the gelling properties.
- Integrate both white and brown sugars along with ground cinnamon and nutmeg, creating a rich caramel-like profile that enhances the apple’s natural sweetness.
- Maintain a rolling boil for exactly 1 minute, constantly stirring to prevent scorching and ensure even sugar dissolution and spice distribution.
- Remove the pot from heat and eliminate any foam that has formed on the surface using a clean spoon to achieve a smoother jam consistency.
- Carefully transfer the hot jam into sterilized glass jars, leaving a precise 1/4-inch headspace to allow for proper sealing and expansion.
- Eliminate potential air pockets by gently tapping the jars or sliding a non-metallic utensil along the jar’s interior.
- Thoroughly clean jar rims and secure lids, ensuring a tight seal for preservation.
- Process the sealed jars in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes to guarantee food safety and long-term storage stability.
- After processing, allow jars to cool completely, occasionally rotating to evenly distribute apple pieces throughout the jam.
Notes
- Slice apples uniformly to ensure even cooking and consistent texture throughout the jam.
- Use firm, slightly tart apples like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp for the best caramel flavor profile and balanced sweetness.
- Control heat carefully during pectin incorporation to prevent burning and maintain smooth jam consistency.
- Store jam in cool, dark pantry spaces for up to one year, ensuring proper canning and sealing techniques are followed.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 11 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 263
- Sugar: 64 g
- Sodium: 15 mg
- Fat: 0.5 g
- Saturated Fat: 0.3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0.2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 68 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 0.2 g
- Cholesterol: 1 mg