Caramel Apple Jam

 

Caramel Apple Jam: falling into perfect combination of flavors! So homemade and comforting  …

Apple time, people!

One of my closest friends has returned from her holidays just for a few days to pick the apples up at her countryside garden. She also takes a special care of heirloom varieties, so it happened I got a basket full of her treasures to enjoy. Those varieties are created for winter, to stay on wooden closet in the bedroom where, while we sleep, carbon dioxide is releasing and keeps the apples prevented from spoiling. Importers, on ships, do the very same thing to keep the apples in good condition to come to our markets.
So, I have taken some apples out and the story started… caramel seemed the best match since there is perfume of autumn around and all at sudden, we need something warm, candy-like.

How to make caramel apple jam?

You start with peeling tart apples, remove the middle out and cut them to cubes. Small sized. At this point, you can sprinkle them with lemon juice. I did not do it since the idea is to make you the base for your own creations of jam. I’ll be back to this theme later on ….

So, after you prepare your apples, you start melting sugar over medium heat. Once melted you add water, apples and vanilla extract and finish with mixture of sugar and pectin.

To be back to variations of this apples’ recipe, I skipped the spices (cinnamon, and nutmeg) and made plain version, but you can always add spices according to your preferences.

For toffee touch, you can replace some water with dark rum or bourbon. So you see, the possibilities are endless once you have such a great base as this one!

 

There are several theories about the caramel noun etymology: Latinists say it comes from calamellus – sugar cane and Arabists say it comes from koramochalla – ball of sweet. Whatever the source is, the taste of caramel is irresistible. Combined with apples, it takes your blues away.

This caramel flavoured apple jam matches pecan pies, morning toast, waffles, pancakes, cheesecakes, morning glory muffins and many more.

This jam recipe is also great alternative for apple pie filling, little apple pies or apple galette  .