My Grandpa Jones made the best crabapple juice when I was a kid. He wrote out the recipe for me years ago, but I have never found the chance to try it out until now, thanks to my friend Kyla and her bountiful apple tree!
CRABAPPLE JUICE
1 ice cream pail of crabapples, halved or quartered
18 c. boiling water
1 tsp. cream of tartar
1 1/2 - 2 c. sugar
Bring the water and cream of tartar to a boil while you chop the apples. Pour the apples into the boiling water and remove from heat. Cover and let sit for 24 hours. Strain and add sugar. Bring to a boil for 5 minutes. Bottle or freeze juice.
I only added 1/2 c. sugar to see how it would taste, and it was perfectly fine. At first I thought my grandpa must have been nuts to add so much sugar to his juice, but it turns out the apples my friend gave me weren't crabapples, they were some other kind which aren't as tart. So I guess it's best to just add 1/2 a cup of sugar at a time and do a little taste testing as you go, so you don't end up with something too sweet.
My kids said this was their favourite apple juice. The other night I poured it into port glasses and the kids thought it was such a great idea, my daughter has declared that every Tuesday we will drink apple juice out of those little glasses!
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38 comments:
Is the apple measurment before or after the apples are cut up? Thanks for the recipe!
Before they are cut up
Thank you. This is a great, simple recipe. I've made this juice for two years now (and counting). :)
Do I need to take the cores out?
No, you don't need to core the apples.
Great thx.. I'll let ya know how it turns out
Do I have to use creme of tartar? Would it not be the same if I don't?
Silly question... how big is "1 ice cream pail"? Ice cream here comes in many size tubs. Can you maybe post a ratio of apples to water?
I think standard ice cream pails are 4litrs, or 1gallon?
I think standard ice cream pails are 4litrs, or 1gallon?
Absolutely amazing, thank you for sharing! We're going back for more crabapples :-)
Out of interest, I halved the recipe as I was going to use some of the crabapples in a cake. These are the measurements I used (UK): 2.25 litres water, 500g crabapples, 1tsp cream of tartar, 200g castor sugar. I also added a teaspoon of ground ginger and a cinnamon stick to it... Filled 2x 750ml wine bottles, plus a glass leftover for tasting!
Thanks again, truly delicious!
Polly
My Crab Apple Juice was Red, Smelled like Cherries, and tasted like a cross of cherries and apple juice. I used 1 1/2 cups of white sugar and bottled juice in 4- 1 quart mason jars.
I'm making more. I wonder if this is how the pioneers made juice? it's so simple.
I have never used cream of tartar in mine and it has always worked beautifully.
Hi, how many cups of juice does this make? Thank you.
When I boil the apples in water and cream of tartar, do I cut the apples or leave them whole
Hi, so I made this with whole apples and mmmmm it's good, thank you so much. I'm going to make more
I am going to try this today. How long will it keep in wine bottles, corked. Those that have bottled in quart jars, do you process.
I finished a batch of this juice yesterday. It is really good. I am starting another today. I wonder if I can make it as a double batch..
I also am not aware of how much a bucket of ice cream equals?!! Please let me know I’ve got a lot of crabs and this sounds absolutely delicious!🙏❤️
What do you use to strain it? Cheesecloth or just a colander?
4 quarts
An ice cream pail is 5 quarts.
I too am wondering what to stain it with.
Being a Brit, what are the quantities that we’d understand? Pints, weight what is c? Thank you!
i made this years ago and hot water processed to store all winter in quart jars
Rosy and delicious!
After boiling the juice there were still seeds and blossom pieces so I used a coffee filter nested in a fine strainer. Worked very well.
Do the apples need to be peeled ?
This is our go to hot drink when it’s cold. Tiny bit of cinnamon, even tinier amount of cloves and nutmeg. Oh so good!!
I want to avoid sugar, is there a substitute you recommend for sweetener? Maybe honey?
I made this recipe yesterday and my husband I both agree it barely has any taste. I used apple crabs. Which have a strong flavour. I used between 16 to 18 cups of cut up apples to 18 cups of water. Any idea of what went wrong I also let it sit for 24 hours.
I employed the neighborhood kids to make this recipe exactly as posted... and it is wonderful! I'm sure the apples matter, they're all different, but I came out with a slightly tart, pink apple juice.
The pectin which makes the jelly set is in the skins.
I make this in double batches the purpose of the cream of tartar is to pull the juice out of the apples so you will get more juice and a stronger flavor i use to ice cream pails and 32 cups of water and i seal it in a 5 galon pail for 24 hours and i get around 10. - 12 quarts and a bit left over this is a fantastic recipe but i cut all my crabapples in half if they are whole the cream of tartar does not work as well i have made this 5 years in a row i add cinnamon and sugar to taste and then. I drink it with caramel vodka it is delicious especially if your like me and don’t drink very much it tastes like apple pie in liquid form but different apples will change the taste i have tried many different apples and none make juice as good as my crabapples do hope this helped. I really recommend not skipping the cream of tartar
You can get a bag made for straining called a nut milk bag used for various liquids online in various sizes i found mine on amazon or cheese cloth works but the nut milk bag is reusable and washable in you washing machine i found the nut milk bag works best
C stands for cup which is 8 ounces
Ok as far as i can tell these would be the measurements for the uk is
160oz of apples halfed
4500mls boiling water
4.8 grams cream tartar
374-500 mls sugar
Wash and cut apples. Boil water and dissolve cream of tartar in boiling water. Pour boiling water mixture over cut apples in sealable container cover and let sit for 24 hours strain out apple and pulp with strainer and cheese cloth or nut milk bag, then bring juice to boil on stove for 5 minutes adding cinnamon and sugar to taste before either caning, bottling or freezing make sure containers are sterile putting juice in containers to store i hope this helps with translating the recipe for you best of luck happy juicing.
First time making this recipe. What can I do with the apples after making juice?
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