Harvest Time Apple Relish

Gather

Ingredients

• 8 pounds apples (crisp cooking variety such as Honey Crisp, Cameo, or Pink Lady)
• 3 cups distilled white vinegar (5%)
• 2½ cups sugar
• 2 cups water
• 2 teaspoons ground cloves
• 8 pieces stick cinnamon (3 inches each)
• 1 tablespoon ground allspice
• 4 teaspoons ground ginger
• 4 tablespoons (¼ cup) finely chopped red Serrano pepper (about 4-6 peppers as purchased)

Preserve

Instructions

1. 01

   Keep half-pint or pint jars hot and prepare the lids. Wear gloves while preparing the Serrano peppers and avoid touching your face.

2. 02

   Wash and core the apples; peeling is preferred for quality. Hold diced or coarsely shredded apple in 1 teaspoon ascorbic acid mixed with 4 quarts water.

3. 03

   Stem and seed the washed Serrano peppers, then chop them finely.

4. 04

   Combine 5% vinegar, sugar, 2 cups water, cloves, cinnamon, allspice, ginger, and chopped pepper. Stir until the sugar dissolves, then boil.

5. 05

   Drain the apples, add them to the syrup, and boil gently for 5 minutes until mostly translucent. Remove the cinnamon and place one stick in each jar.

6. 06

   Fill hot jars with fruit and covering syrup, leaving 1/2-inch headspace. At 0–1,000 feet, process for 10 minutes in a boiling-water canner; increase the time for elevation.
   Calculate your elevation adjustment →