Peach Pie Filling
This summer I tried my hand at making Peach Pie Filling with Clear Jel for the first time. I didn't know what to expect and was very pleased with the end results.
You might remember that I also made homemade cherry vanilla pie filling this summer. For the cherry vanilla pie filling I used cornstarch for the thickener.
Disclosure: Product links are affiliate links. If you click on an Amazon store link I will earn a small commission.
Wow, there is a very big difference between using cornstarch and Clear Jel for homemade pie fillings. At the time, I made the Cherry Vanilla Pie Filling I couldn't find any Clear Jel locally and had to order a container of the cook type Clear Jel from Amazon.
I didn't have time to wait for the Clear Jel to be shipped so I went ahead and made the Cherry Vanilla Pie Filling with what I had on hand which was cornstarch.
The difference between using cornstarch and Clear Jel as a pie filling thickener is amazing. The pie filling made with clear jel was very thick. It was so thick the first time I used it that I thought I had done something wrong and tossed the first batch and started over. Well, if you've ever used the cook type of clear jel you know that there was nothing wrong with my first batch and I wasted a whole lot of ingredients for nothing.
I couldn't wait to try out my peach pie filling in a recipe but life and the new school year got the better of me and I didn't get to use the peach pie filling until last week. I've made two different recipes using the peach pie filling so far and they both turned out great.
Usually when you can peach pie filling you can it by the quart. Remember I canned the Cherry Pie filling first and I did can that in quart jars. The problem with that is I wasn't planning on making any deep dish pie recipes with the peach pie filling that I made.
I planned to make two recipes with the peach pie filling and neither one of them would require a full quart of peach pie filling. Waste not want not my grandmother always said so I wanted to can the peach pie filling in smaller portions.
So instead of making a 1 quart batch of peach pie filling I altered the recipe a tiny bit and made three pints of pie filling instead.
The first peach pie filling recipe I wanted to make was a Peach Slab Pie recipe and the second a Peach Pie Bars recipe using the base recipe I used when I made these old-fashioned Peach Almond Jam Bars last year.
I'll be sharing those recipes soon. Keep in mind that you will need some homemade peach pie filling or canned peach pie filling to make those two recipes.
Since I've never made a homemade pie filling recipe with clear jel I turned to the internet and found a basic peach pie filling recipe from a trusted source. Always use canning recipes from trusted sources. We always want to make sure that we are canning with safe recipes.
Ingredients to make 3 pints
- 4 cups fresh sliced peaches, peeled and pitted
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ⅛ cup ClearJel Cook type thickener (affiliate link)
- ¾ cup water
- ¼ cup bottled lemon juice
- Ball Canning Fruit Fresh Protector affiliate link (prevents browning)
Directions
- Prepare jars following safe canning practices.
- While peeling, slicing and pitting the peaches add the recommended amount of Ball Jar Citric Acid to the bowl of sliced peaches to prevent browning.
- Whisk the ClearJel and sugar together in a large pot.
- Add the water and lemon juice to the pot.
- Bring this mixture to a quick boil and cook one minute.
- Remove pot from the heat and stir well.
- Mixture will be very thick.
- Fold peaches into the mixture and return to the stove. Cook 3 minutes, stirring constantly.
- Immediately fill hot jars with the hot peach pie filling, leaving 1 inch of headspace.
- Remove any air bubbles and place the flat jar lid and band on jar.
- Process in a hot water bath for 30 minutes.
Peach Pie Filling
Ingredients
- 4 cups fresh sliced peaches (peeled and pitted)
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ⅛ cup ClearJel Cook Type thickener ((link in notes))
- ¾ cup water
- ¼ cup bottled lemon juice
- Ball Canning Fruit Fresh Produce Protector
Instructions
- Prepare jars following safe canning practices.
- While peeling, slicing and pitting the peaches add the recommended amount of Ball Canning Citric Acid to the bowl of sliced peaches to prevent browning.
- Whisk the Clear Jel and sugar together in a large pot.
- Add the water and lemon juice to the pot.
- Bring this mixture to a quick boil and cook one minute.
- Remove pot from the heat and stir well. Mixture will be very thick.
- Fold peaches into the mixture and return to the stove. Cook 3 minutes, stirring constantly.
- Immediately fill hot jars with the hot peach pie filling, leaving 1 inch of headspace
- Remove any air bubbles and place the flat jar lid and band on jar.
- Process in a hot water bath for 30 minutes.
- 3 Pint Jars
Recipe Expert Tips
- The easiest way to buy ClearJel is to order it from Amazon. (affiliate link).
- Keep fresh peaches from browning by using Fruit Fresh Produce Protector. (affiliate link).
- Recipe makes 3 pint jars. One jar will fill a 9 inch deep dish pie crust.
- Make a peach slab pie with the filling.
Nutrition
For more canning recipes like this homemade peach pie filling recipe check out my canning recipe page.
Kathie Bender
Just finished canning 2 batches of Peach Pie Filling using a recipe I found a few years ago...it was from BALL and it also uses Clear-Jel cooking starch. One thing I like about it is that it makes 7-8 pints per batch, and as my niece has 2 peach trees, we have an abundance of tree-ripened peaches. It actually is for apple pie filling, but it works just as well for peaches.
I just found your site recently and I am loving it!!! My niece also has blackberries and I was soooo excited to see your blackberry jam recipe...it will be my next project! Thank you so much for all the new recipes I have saved.
Arlene Mobley
Kathie
You are so lucky to have fresh tree ripened peaches. I'm jealous! I haven't had fresh picked blackberries since I lived in Georgia over 20 years ago! So glad you are enjoying the site and canning recipes. I have canned more this year than ever! I made cherry cobbler/pie filling this year. It turned out wonderful!
gail
more of a question than a comment, can I freeze this instead of jarring?
Arlene Mobley
Gail
I am really not sure.I've never froze pie filling. But since you can buy frozen pies at the store I would say yes you could freeze it. You could probably freeze it in a frozen pie shell then pop it in the oven when you want a peach pie without the extra work.
Johlene@FlavoursandFrosting
I've never used clear jel before... never even heard of it.. Now I'm intrigued ! 🙂
Arlene Mobley
Johlene
Neither had I. It really does make a bteer pie filling than cornstarch.
Virginia
I copied your recipe for peach pie filling for 3 pints. You use clear jel powder but you put cook do you mean 1/8 cup clear jel.powder?
Arlene Mobley
Virginia
There are two types of clear jel. I used the clear jel that needs to be cooked. This is the link to the exact brand I of Clear Jel I used.
Virginia
Thanks for your reply, I will order from the link you offered. I did not know there was a clear jel that had to be cooked.
Arlene Mobley
Virginia
You are very welcome!