Caramel Apple Jam
- 6 granny smith apples
- 6 braeburn apples (or other sweet apple)
- 6 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon fruit fresh (a citric acid powder that prevents fruit from browning)
- 3 cups sugar
- 2 cups apple juice (not cider)
- 1 vanilla bean, split & scraped (substitute 1 grated tonka bean, if possible)
- 2 tablespoons honey
- Peel, core and cut the apples into 1 chunks.
- Toss immediately with the lemon juice and Fruit Fresh.
- In a large, heavy preserving pan combine 2 1/2 cups of the sugar with 1/2 cup of apple juice.
- Cook over medium high heat until the sugar dissolves, boils and turns light brown, a very early stage caramel.
- This can take 10-15 minutes or longer, depending on how high the heat is.
- Heat the remaining juice to a simmer and add to the pot with the apples, the vanilla bean and 2 T. of honey.
- When the apples and juice come to a simmer, pour in the early stage caramelized sugar.
- Cook over medium heat, stirring , for 20 minutes.
- The sweet apples will break down while the Granny Smith will show her mettle and stay pretty chunky, though the chunks will be nice and soft.
- Meanwhile, take the remaining 1/2 cup of sugar and a T. of water.
- Put in a pan and cook over high heat, stirring, constantly, until you have a nice dark brown caramel.
- Go as far as you dare, being careful to stop short of burning the sugar.
- Pour the hot dark brown caramel into the apple jam mixture careful, it will erupt though after a few quick stirs it will meld with the whole.
- Pour into prepared 1/2 pint jars and process in a boiling water bath for 5 minutes (If your altitude is above 1000 ft = 10 minutes, if over 6000 ft = 15 minutes).
apples, braeburn apples, lemon juice, fruit fresh, sugar, apple juice, vanilla bean, honey
Taken from www.food.com/recipe/caramel-apple-jam-506050 (may not work)