Homemade Canned Cherry Pie Filling

For those of you with cherry trees or have access to a Farmers Market in which you can get a quart or more of cherries, may want to try this homemade cherry pie filling.

This homemade pie filling sure tastes a whole lot better than canned cherry pie filling.

Cherry Pie Filling

6 quarts sour cherries
7 cups sugar
1 ¾ cups Clear Jel
1 gallon + 9 1/3 cups cold water
½ cup lemon juice
1 tsp cinnamon
2 tsp almond extract
¼ tsp red food coloring (if desired)
7 quart jars, lids, and rings

Wash and pit cherries.

Bring a gallon of water to a boil and add 6 cups of cherries.

Return to a boil for 1 minute, remove from water and drain. Continue working in batches of 6 cups at a time until all cherries are cooked.

In large saucepan, combine remaining water, sugar, Clear Jel, cinnamon, almond extract, and red food coloring (optional). Stir over medium heat until mixture begins to bubble. Add lemon juice and boil hard for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Gently stir in cherries. Ladle mixture into hot jars, leaving a 1” headspace.

Process in water bath canner for 35 minutes.

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