Caramel Apple Jammy Topping

Caramel Apple Jam

     What a better way to start off the day then making something with apples. I like the idea of this recipe because it has many uses! You can thicken more and use as a pie filling with pecans, warm and pour over french toast or pancakes, drizzle onto or into your Fall or Holiday desserts and even top onto baked brie as a wonderful warm appetizer. I likes that this "jam" wasn't SUPER gelled and had just the right amount of "give" - just thick enough to consider it 'jam' and thin enough to scoop and use in so many other dishes! As a bonus, your house smells wonderful when making this! Enjoy - Diane.  **updated New & Improved! 9/2017

The Best Caramel Apple Jammy Stuff 

Ingredients: 
6 cups diced peeled apples (1/8-inch cubes)
1  cup apple juice, preferred  (or water)
1  Tablespoon lemon juice
1  package powdered fruit pectin **
2  cups white granulated sugar
2  cups packed brown sugar
2  teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2  teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 dash of vanilla bean paste *optional

Directions:
     Combine apples, apple juice *or water and lemon juice in a large sauce-pot or dutch oven. Simmer, covered for 10 minutes. Stir in all but, 1/4 cup of sugar and bring to a full rolling boil, stirring frequently. Add in pectin mixed with remaining sugar. Return to a full rolling boil. Boil hard 1 minute, stirring frequently. Once thickened, remove from heat; stir in cinnamon, nutmeg & vanilla. Taste to see if jam needs any more cinnamon or nutmeg.  Pour hot jam into hot jars, leaving 1/4 inch head-space. Wipe rims of jars with a dampened clean paper towel; adjust two-piece metal canning lids. Process in a Boiling Waterbath Canner 5 minutes, adjusting for your altitude.  (add one minute for every 1,000 foot rise in elevation) 

Yield: 6 half-pints.

Recipe Note: ** I like using (Pink Box) Sure Jell Premium Fruit Pectin in this recipe. You can add 1/2 teaspoon of butter to reduce foaming. 
  
TRY DIFFERENT FLAVOR PROFILES:
Apple Pie Jam I - use all white sugar:  Cinnamon, Nutmeg & Allspice (or Mace)  
Apple Pie Jam II - use all white sugar: Ginger & Cardamom
Salted Caramel Jam:  Kosher Salt,  to taste & Vanilla Bean Paste 

Recipe adapted from:  NCHFP Apple Preserves
Photos by: Diane Baker  for  Canning and Cooking at Home