Dessertscreativecanning5.0
Crabapple Sauce
This simple crabapple sauce is a delicious way to use up a fall harvest of tart, flavorful crabapples. Naturally high in pectin, crabapples cook down into a rich, tangy sauce that’s perfect for canning, freezing, or enjoying fresh.
👥 8 Servings⏱️ Prep & Cook: 45 min⏳ Prep: 10 min🔥 Cook: 20 min👤 Ashley Adamant📖 creativecanning
🥘 Ingredients
Check off ingredients as you prepare them:
🍳 Cookware
- ●pot
- ●saucepan
- ●blender
- ●strainer
📝 Preparation Steps
1
Prepare the Crabapples: Rinse the crabapples thoroughly to remove any dirt. Remove stems and cut out bad spots, but there’s no need to peel or core them—the skins and seeds will be strained out later.
crabapples (washed, stems removed)5 lbs
2
Cook the Fruit: Place crabapples in a large saucepan or stock pot with 1 cup of water or apple juice. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then cover and reduce to a simmer. Cook for 20 to ⏱️ 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the fruit is soft and falling apart.
crabapples (washed, stems removed)5 lbswater (or apple juice)1 cup
3
Mash and Strain: Mash the soft fruit with a potato masher or immersion blender. For a smoother sauce, run it through a food mill or press through a fine mesh strainer to remove the skins and seeds. You should be left with about 3 to 4 cups of smooth crabapple puree.
4
Sweeten and Season: Return the strained puree to the pot and add sugar to taste. Start with 1/4 cup and add more if needed. Optional: Add 1 Tbsp lemon juice for brightness if you have very sweet and not acidic crabapples, and ½ tsp cinnamon for a warm note. Simmer gently for another 5 to ⏱️ 10 minutes, stirring to prevent scorching.
Sugar to Taste (Optional, 1/4 cup to 1 cup for 5 lbs apples suggested)crabapples (washed, stems removed)5 lbs
5
Preserve or Store: If canning, ladle the hot crabapple sauce into sterilized jars, leaving ½ inch headspace. Wipe rims, apply lids, and process in a boiling water bath canner for ⏱️ 15 minutes for pints and ⏱️ 20 minutes for quarts. Adjust for altitude if above 6,000 feet in elevation, see notes.
water (or apple juice)1 cup
6
If not canning, cool and refrigerate for up to 1 week or freeze for up to 6 months.
Nutrition Facts
calories
147 kcal
fat Content
0.5 g
serving Size
1 serving
fiber Content
7 g
sugar Content
29 g
sodium Content
4 mg
protein Content
1 g
carbohydrate Content
39 g
saturated Fat Content
0.1 g
unsaturated Fat Content
0.12 g
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