Canning Blackberry Pie Filling
Home canned blackberry pie filling is an easy way to preserve ready a ready to use pie filling right on the pantry shelf.
Equipment
Ingredients
For A Single Quart:
- 3 1/2 cups Blackberries about 2 lbs
- 3/4 cup + 2 Tbsp. Sugar
- 1/4 cup + 1 Tbsp. Clear Jel
- 1 cup water or juice
- 3 1/2 tsp. Bottled lemon juice
For a 7 Quart Canner Batch:
- 6 quarts Blackberries about 14 to 15 lbs
- 6 cups Sugar
- 2 1/4 cups Clear Jel
- 7 cups Water or juice
- 1/2 cup Bottled Lemon Juice
Instructions
- Before you begin, prepare a water bath canner, jars, and lids.
- Start picking over the blackberries, removing any stems, leaves or debris. Then wash and drain the fruit. (If using frozen fruit, thaw them in a colander over a bowl and reserve the juice.)
- Bring a few quarts of water to a boil on the stove and blanch the blackberries for 30 seconds to 1 minute until they're heated through. Work in batches, and be gentle with the fruit so it doesn't fall apart. Remove them with a slotted spoon and keep them warm while making the clear gel mixture. (This step is important, see notes for why.)
- Combine sugar and clear jel in a large pot, big enough to hold all the fruit comfortably. Add cold water or cold juice to the pot and whisk to dissolve the clear jel completely. This is important! Do not turn on the heat until the clear jel is fully dissolved into the water. See notes for why below.
- Turn on the heat to medium-high and whisk continuously until the mixture begins to bubble and thicken. As soon as it bubbles, add lemon juice and cook for 1 additional minute.
- Turn off the heat and fold in the drained berries.
- Immediately fill the canning jars with the mixture, taking extra care to de bubble the jars as the mixture will be thick. Leave 1-inch headspace, and don't skimp here. Be sure the headspace is no less than 1 inch, but no more than 1 1/2 inch.
- Cap the jars with 2 part canning lids and twist on rings to finger tight. Process in a water bath canner for 30 minutes, adjusting for altitude. Canning times are the same for pints and quarts.
- Once the processing time is complete, turn off the heat and allow the jars to sit undisturbed in the canner for about 10 minutes. This reduces the risk of siphoning as you remove the jars from the canner. (See notes for why.)
- Remove the jars from the canner with a jar lifter and allow them to cool on the counter for 12 to 24 hours. Check seals, and store any unsealed jars in the refrigerator for immediate use.
- Properly canned and sealed jars of blackberry pie filling will maintain peak quality on the pantry shelf for about 12 months. Refrigerate after opening.
Notes
Blanching Fruit: This is a "hot pack" recipe and all the ingredients must go into the jars hot, but more importantly, the fruit must be pre-blanched before it's mixed in with the clear jel. If the fruit is not blanched first it will float in the jars, release extra juice during canning which prevents the clear jel from gelling properly, and also potentially be under cooked so that it's not safe for canning. Do not skip blanching.
Clear Jel Dissolved in Cold Water: It's incredibly important that the clear jel is dissolved in cold water, as it'll clump quickly in hot water. I know it's temping to use the water you already have on the stove, or the blanching water from the berries...but don't. Adding hot water to clear jel just makes an unusable mess.
Be sure to follow the instructions carefully for the best results.
Altitude adjustments for canning are as follows:
- 0 to 1,000 Feet in Elevation: 30 minutes
- 1,001 to 3,000 Feet in Elevation: 35 minutes
- 3,001 to 6,000 Feet in Elevation: 40 minutes
- Above 6,000 Feet in Elevation: 45 minutes