How to Can Raspberry Pie Filling

Save summer’s fresh raspberries with this easy to make and can raspberry pie filling recipe!

These homemade raspberry preserves are as easy to make as homemade jam but have so many more uses for households that simply don’t go through jars of jam quickly.

Even if you do go through jam, raspberry pie filling is a wonderful option for filling the pantry and providing plenty of tasty menu options later.

Minimal Ingredients

You don’t need much to make canned pie fillings – raspberries, water, sugar, lemon juice, and clearjel. Truly that’s it.

Clearjel is the only approved thickening agent for canning. I know, I know, grandma might have used flour. Clearjel works great every single time and is an easy thing to keep in the pantry for your canning (and fresh pie baking) adventures.

Making the actual pie filling is quick and easy – it will take longer for the water to boil in the canner than it will to make the filling.

Quick & Easy

It will take longer to get your boiling water canner, up to a rolling boil than it will to make the filling itself.

Do get your canner filled up with water and heating before you even begin to get your jars, lids, and rings ready.

Can be Doubled

Unlike making jam with pectin which can sometimes not set if doubled, clearjel and pie fillings don’t have that issue.

If you have a bunch of raspberries on hand, feel free to double or even triple the recipe for a big canning batch.

Make a batch or two to provide yourself some winter coziness later.

Jar Size

I often can this in the twelve ounce jars. However, you can easily do it in pint or even half-pint jars.

The various sizes would be perfect for a wide variety of uses and even gift giving.

Berry Choices

The recipe is written for using red raspberries but you can honestly use any berry or combination of berries you have on hand for something special and delicious.

I often make a mixed berry version with whatever I can find growing in my garden and forage in the nearby woods for something extremely unique to give away to family and friends.

Amazing Gift Idea

I’m a huge fan of giving homegrown and homemade gifts and jars of this are a great thing to give away to baking friends.

It’s also a great way to bake up some special treats for care packages and more later in the year even if you don’t want to give jars of it alone as a gift.

How to Use the Canned Filling

Obviously, you can make a simple pie. Simply pour about 4 cups of pie filling into an unbaked pie shell, top with another crust, if desired, and bake as you would any fruit pie. I quite like it with a crumb topping.

The options don’t end there, however:

• Spread it on oatmeal bars instead of jam.
• Use it as a filling in thumbprint cookies.
• Substitute this in any recipe calling for other pie filling flavors – such as cakes, muffins, and more.
• Stir it into oatmeal or yogurt.
• Top pancakes, waffles, cakes, ice cream, and more.

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