Fall Caramel Apple Jam (Printer-friendly)
Autumn-spiced apple jam with caramel notes—thick, spreadable, ideal for toast, pastries, or homemade gifts.
# What You'll Need:
→ Fruit
01 - 6 cups peeled, cored, and finely chopped apples (approximately 6 medium apples, such as Honeycrisp or Granny Smith)
02 - 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
→ Caramel Base
03 - 2 cups granulated sugar
04 - 1 cup packed light brown sugar
05 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, cut into cubes
→ Spices & Thickener
06 - 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
07 - 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
08 - 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
09 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
10 - 1 pouch (3 ounces) liquid pectin
→ Liquids
11 - 1/2 cup apple cider or apple juice
12 - 1/4 cup water
# Directions:
01 - In a large, heavy-bottomed pot, combine chopped apples, lemon juice, apple cider, and water. Bring mixture to a simmer over medium heat. Cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until apples are tender.
02 - Slightly mash the cooked apples using a potato masher or immersion blender, retaining some small pieces for enhanced texture.
03 - Add granulated sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and salt to the pot. Stir thoroughly until sugars dissolve completely.
04 - Introduce the butter cubes. Cook on medium heat, stirring frequently and gently scraping the bottom to prevent scorching, until the mixture thickens and takes on a golden caramel color, approximately 20 to 25 minutes.
05 - Increase the heat to bring the mixture to a full boil. Add liquid pectin, stir well, and boil vigorously for 1 to 2 minutes. Remove pot from heat.
06 - Skim off any foam if present. Ladle hot jam into sterilized jars, leaving 1/4-inch headspace. Wipe jar rims, secure lids, and process in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes (adjust for altitude if necessary).
07 - Allow sealed jars to cool completely on a towel-lined surface. Store in a cool, dark place. Refrigerate jars after opening.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- This jam packs all the comfort of a caramel apple stand into a cozy jar you can enjoy all year.
- Friends ask for it the second the leaves start to turn, and it never fails to make a thoughtful little gift.
02 -
- Rushing the caramel stage can leave the jam grainy, so patience during stirring is truly worth it.
- Floating apples mean the mash wasn’t chunky enough—leaving some pieces bigger helps them suspend beautifully.
03 -
- A dash of vanilla at the very end brings out the butteriness in a magical way.
- If you like some tartness, blend in a couple unpeeled Granny Smiths with the rest for color and flavor.