Recipe: Certo Apple Butter (canning recipe)

CERTO Apple Butter
Makes: about 8 (1-cup) jars or 128 servings, 1 Tbsp. each

5 cups prepared fruit (buy about 4 1/4 lb. fully ripe tart apples)
1 1/2 cups water
1/4 cup lemon juice
2 tsp. ground cinnamon
7 cups sugar, measured into separate bowl
1/2 tsp. butter or margarine (optional)
1 pouch CERTO Fruit Pectin

BRING boiling-water canner, half full with water, to simmer. Wash jars and screw bands in hot soapy water; rinse with warm water. Pour boiling water over flat lids in saucepan off the heat. Let stand in hot water until ready to use. Drain well before filling.

REMOVE blossom and stem ends from unpeeled apples. Core apples; cut into quarters. Place in 4-quart saucepan. Add water and lemon juice; stir. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium; cover and simmer 20 minutes or until apples are tender, stirring occasionally.

Pass mixture through food mill or strain mixture through coarse sieve, using wooden spoon to force apples through sieve; discard peels. Measure exactly 5 cups prepared fruit into 6- or 8-quart saucepot. Stir in cinnamon.

STIR sugar into prepared fruit in saucepot. Add butter to reduce foaming, if desired. Bring mixture to full rolling boil (a boil that doesn't stop bubbling when stirred) on high heat, stirring constantly. Stir in pectin. Return to full rolling boil and boil exactly 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Skim off any foam with metal spoon.

LADLE immediately into prepared jars, filling to within 1/8 inch of tops. Wipe jar rims and threads. Cover with 2-piece lids. Screw bands tightly. Place jars on elevated rack in canner. Lower rack into canner. (Water must cover jars by 1 to 2 inches; add boiling water if needed.) Cover; bring water to gentle boil. Process 10 minutes. Remove jars and place upright on a towel to cool completely. After jars cool, check seals by pressing middle of lid with finger. (If lid springs back, lid is not sealed and refrigeration is necessary.)