I love picking apples in the fall. After picking all those apples I can’t wait to make crockpot sugar-free apple sauce. But what happens when your small heirloom apple orchard decides to give you a lot more apples than the previous year. Or you just happen to pick way too many apples? Are you swimming in apple cores? Well, you could make a ton of jars of apple core cider vinegar, or you can make apple core apple juice instead. One full swoop and you use all all those apple cores. Which one would you choose?
Apple core apple juice.
I knew you would.
The thought of tons of apple cider vinegar fermenting jars all over my kitchen is just not too appealing. (Save some of those cores just in case you want to make apple cider vinegar.)
Apple core apple juice is so yummy. You will want to learn how to make it.
Read on to learn how.
Just an aside, you can simply store your apple cores in the freezer until you get enough to make apple juice. You don’t need to own an orchard or pick enough apples to share with the whole neighborhood.
Let’s get started. My recipe is adapted form this recipe.
Apple Core Apple Juice:
Ingredients:
Apple cores
Water
Sugar (optional)
Glass Jars
Instructions:
- Simply add water to about an inch above the apple cores and apple peels if you have them. (I removed all the seeds since I am paranoid about cyanide in the seeds. That’s just me.)
- Bring the apple core mixture to a boil and then simmer for 30 minutes.
- Discard the apple cores and peels. Let it cool and then use a coffee filter to filter out any sediment so the apple juice is clear.
- You can add sugar, honey, or stevia at this point if you don’t find that the juice is sweet enough. I didn’t find that it needed sugar but I don’t like an ultra-sweet taste.
I made 3 spaghetti jars of apple juice. The amount of juice is directly related to how many apple cores that you have.
I canned my apple juice using a boiling water canner. Read the instructions HERE. (I used 23 quart pressure canner as a boiling water canner.)
Alternatively, you can freeze the apple juice in glass jars. Just make sure you provide plenty of head room in the jar so that the glass doesn’t crack. Follow these instructions to freeze liquid in glass jars especially if you are using tomato sauce jars that have shoulders.
Enjoy!
Join the Conversation:
Have you ever made apple core apple juice?
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lindsay says
Yum this looks so good! Fall is the time for yummy apple juice and cider. Have you ever tried to make apple wine?
Anna@Green Talk says
Lindsay, I haven’t. Maybe next year? Anna
Libby says
Thank you for today’s inspiration. I just happen to have several pounds of apples that need to be repurposed so I know what I’ll be doing this morning.
Anna@Green Talk says
Libby, let me know how you like the apple juice. Anna
emily @ recipes to nourish says
That’s so awesome that you have your own apples! Nice recipe!
Anna@Green Talk says
Emily, I have 2 peach trees too! Anna
Tash says
This sounds like such a great way to really use up everything! i didn’t realize how easy it could be to make apple juice this way. Thanks for sharing!
Anna@Green Talk says
Tash, it might need sugar if you want that authentic taste. Anna
Megan stevens says
I love the frugality and outcome of this recipe! Thank you!!
Anna@Green Talk says
Megan, I love to use all the parts of food. I am still working on how to use kale stems. I find them so tough. Any ideas? A recipe? Anna
Alisha says
When you cook them, blend the stems into a puree and use in spaghetti sauce or just adding to soups or even mashed potatoes. Yummmm
linda spiker says
Pinned this to my Waste Not, Want Not Board! Love that you use the cores!
Anna@Green Talk says
Thanks Linda!
Renee Kohley says
This is so cool! I have already made my applesauce for the year and I could have totally done this with all of the cores! I will be holding onto this for next year! Thank you!
Anna@Green Talk says
Renee, you can also make apple core jam as well. Anna
Chloe says
Great idea! My husband loves to bake with apples, so it is great to have something to do with what it leftover!
Anna@Green Talk says
Chloe, I can’t waste anything! Anna
Elaina Newton says
I had no idea it was this easy to make apple juice! I always assumed you had to press a bunch of apples & that it was time consuming. I usually don’t buy or drink apple juice because it tastes so sweet to me, but with this recipe I can buy a more tart variety and use way less sugar. Awesome!
May says
very clever idea! and I’m glad you mentioned removing the seeds, I think I would too! going to give this a try
Ed Kleiner says
We chopped whole small green apples into quarters after rinsing then boiled them until soft. The chopping process cut many of the seeds in half. We boiled until soft and then sieved the apples, thus eliminating the skins and seeds . Given the cyanide discussion, I’m concerned if our finished sauce is okay to eat. Thx; Ed