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Home » 4 Ingredient Toffee Apple Jam With Brandy

4 Ingredient Toffee Apple Jam With Brandy

By Karon Grieve 38 Comments

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I’ll admit it here and now, I still like toffee apples, even at my age. It’s that sweetness mixed with the juicy apple. Now how could I turn that into toffee apple jam? You know me, everything can be made into jam in my book.

toffee apple jam by larderlove

 Toffee Apple Jam

Fireworks night, bonfire night, Guy Fawkes! Whatever you want to call it, this is the night of bon fires and fireworks all over the UK. The sky will be alight with flashes of colour, stellar light shows and the sonic booms of over sized party poppers.

We always used to have a bonfire in the garden with my Dad lighting rockets in milk bottles and nailing a Catherine wheel to the wall, where it would sputter and flash, maybe go round a few times and putter out.

The bonfire would be accompanied by sausages (bangers) on rolls with tomato sauce and toffee apples made by Mum for afters.

toffee apple jam by larderlove

The toffee apples were my favourite part. The crackly hard almost over-sweet toffee giving way to a juicy apple underneath.

I used to hover around the kitchen like a vulture waiting for those sweet candy apples to cool down and harden up.

Only to be shoo-ed out by Mum and told to wait till the fire was lit and time was right.

Patience has never been my strong suit.

toffee apple jam by larderlove

Toffee Apple Jam

In the interests of Larder Love and my fondness for toffee apples I decided that I would transfer this sticky treat into a spreadable goodie that could be kept for later and trapped in a jar. Yes, you got it, I decided to make it into Toffee Apple Jam!

toffee apple jam by larderlove

Toffee apple jam ingredients

This was really just a case of getting together the components of the traditional toffee apple and then going the wrong way about making it. Oh and I added a wee dash of brandy, like you do!

Only 4 ingredients!

I used a kilo of Bramley apples (sounds a lot but these guys are big and heavy)

the juice of a lemon

half a kilo of sugar

and 2 tablespoons of brandy.

toffee apple jam by larderlove

How to make Toffee Apple Jam

You peel and core the apples, chop them up and toss them in a bowl with the lemon juice. Then set all this aside while you get on with the toffee bit.

Stir 250g of the sugar with 4 tablespoons of water in a heavy based pan on a low heat till you get it to melt and go golden.

Now toss in the apples and don’t panic when the caramel all clumps up and hardens, it will calm down and soften again when the heat gets going again!

By now the kitchen will be smelling amazing. There is something so comforting about this molten sugar toffee smell.

While we’re on the subject of the sugar now add the rest and stir until it has all dissolved.

Bring to the boil for 10-15 minutes till apples are completely soft. Remove from heat and press it all through a sieve with a wooden spoon – be careful as this stuff is HOT!

Return to the pan and boil again for 1 minute and remove from heat before you stir in the brandy. You’re nearly there now.

I know this seems a bit of a faff but I promise you this toffee apple jam is so worth it. Ladle into sterilised jars and pop on a lid, leave overnight before tasting to let the flavours really develop.

How long will this jam keep?

It will keep for up to a year unopened. Once opened store in the fridge and use within a month.

toffee apple jam by larderlove

Serving suggestions

Oh, come on, you don’t need my help on this one.

Serve your toffee apple jam on toast, scones, crumpets or over ice-cream – yum!

You can even serve this toffee apple jam as part of a cheeseboard too.

I loved making this fun jam. It took me back to my childhood. I love making kid stuff we used to love into something more in keeping with our adult selves. Hence my toffee apple jam. It’s just a slightly more grown up version of the real thing.

Happy Bonfire Night!

larder links

Looking for some other fun recipes for this time of year? Then check these out;

Treacle Scones

Pumpkin and tomato soup

Spiced Apple Scones

Spooky martini for Halloween

Turnip/swede jam for Halloween

Pumpkin Preserve

PIN ME FOR LATER

toffee apple jam by larderlove

Finally, if you make this amazing toffee apple jam do leave a comment/rating below. I love to hear from readers and respond to everyone just as fast as I can. Want more Larder Love, then follow me on Instagram and Facebook and sign up for my free weekly newsletter too.

 

toffee apple jam by larderlove

Toffee Apple Jam

Karon
4.29 from 7 votes
Print Recipe Leave Comment Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 25 mins
Total Time 35 mins
Course preserves

Ingredients
 

  • 1 kilo/2 1/4 lb Bramly apples
  • Juice of 1 lemon
  • 500 g/1lb 2oz sugar
  • 2 tbsp brandy

Instructions
 

  • Peel and core apples and chop, toss in a bowl with lemon juice and set aside.
  • Stir 250g (8oz) sugar with 4 tablespoons water in heavy based pan till golden.
  • Add apples and remaining sugar and stir on low heat to dissolve.
  • Boil 10-15 mins to soften apples and thicken.
  • Press through sieve with wooden spoon.
  • Return to pan and boil 1 more minute.
  • Remove from heat and add brandy.
  • Ladle into sterilised jars and pop on the lids. Leave overnight to let flavours develop.
Keyword apple, jam, toffee
Tried this recipe?Mention @LarderLove or tag #LarderLove

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: ALL RECIPES, Homemade Jam

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Comments

  1. Sue says

    November 5, 2013 at 8:50 am

    5 stars
    Oh wow, that sounds perfect, I’ll have to give this a go 🙂

    Reply
    • Karon Grieve says

      November 5, 2013 at 9:07 am

      you’ll love this Sue, just don’t panic when the sugar all bunches up when you add the apples, keep stirring!
      K x

      Reply
    • Jemma says

      August 16, 2017 at 6:02 pm

      What type of sugar is best to use?

      Reply
      • Karon Grieve says

        August 24, 2017 at 9:42 am

        any will do

        Reply
  2. Jannine says

    November 27, 2013 at 2:54 am

    5 stars
    I found you on Punk Domestics where I also contribute. This recipe sounds great. I like the jars in the pictures you used for the jam. Where did you get them (if I may ask)?

    Reply
    • Karon Grieve says

      November 27, 2013 at 8:01 am

      Hi Jannine
      This was a recycled jar, think from some sort of Italian contents. I am such a sucker for good jars I’ll buy them just to find something pretty and different for my own preserves.
      Sorry I can’t be of more help.
      Kx

      Reply
  3. jessica says

    November 27, 2013 at 12:02 pm

    How long can this be stored? I’m wanting to make it as a gift for Christmas x

    Reply
    • Karon says

      November 29, 2013 at 9:37 am

      Hi Jessica
      No problems re keeping for Christmas, it will keep up to 4 months usually.
      K x

      Reply
  4. Sam says

    September 14, 2014 at 11:37 pm

    Mine did not thicken to jam consistency or clarity as your photos show but it did make for an incredibly lush apple sauce. I did not have brandy on hand so omitted; surely this can’t be why I didn’t get jam?

    Reply
    • Karon says

      September 15, 2014 at 8:33 am

      maybe try cooking for longer next time. All fruit is different and mine came together in this time frame, it is all trial and error when cooking, especially with fruit.
      K x

      Reply
      • SS says

        October 12, 2016 at 7:29 am

        Mine also came out cloudy and sauce like. Apples were cooked well and passed through a sieve easily. I also didn’t have brandy – would this make a difference?

        Reply
        • Karon Grieve says

          October 12, 2016 at 12:44 pm

          Don’t quite know what went wrong for you. I always put in the booze.
          K x

          Reply
  5. Jpdy says

    November 5, 2014 at 8:47 pm

    Hi, I was wondering if you could tell me how much jam this recipe yields. I Think I may need to double to recipe as I’m making gifts for christmas hampers and this looks just the job!

    Many thanks,
    Jody

    Reply
    • Karon Grieve says

      November 17, 2014 at 12:20 pm

      Think I got about 2 medium jars from this recipe.
      K x

      Reply
  6. vicariouslyvintage.com says

    August 27, 2015 at 3:52 pm

    5 stars
    I made this last fall & will make it again this fall. In the last week, I’ve sent 2 people to this recipe & will continue to do so. It’s one of my favourite recipes to make with apples now! I double or triple the batch & can it! Yummy!

    Reply
    • Karon Grieve says

      August 28, 2015 at 10:44 am

      Thanks so much for this lovely comment, I’m thrilled that you like my recipe so much and have been sharing it as well as using it yourself.
      Kx

      Reply
  7. Janine H says

    September 18, 2015 at 8:55 pm

    I made this yesterday using rather tart crab apples but as I didn’t have brandy, added some cinnamon and spice to add flavour.
    Delighted with the results! It’s set perfectly and is a beautiful spread. No trace of sour!
    Thank you so much!!

    Reply
    • Karon Grieve says

      September 20, 2015 at 3:40 pm

      Hi Janine
      Love the sound of crab apples with cinnamon and spice. So glad you liked my recipe.
      K x

      Reply
  8. Sue says

    August 27, 2016 at 5:34 pm

    Hi there
    Just found your recipe – do you use jam sugar for this?

    Reply
    • Karon Grieve says

      August 30, 2016 at 10:33 am

      You can use normal granulated sugar as lots of pectin already in the apples.
      K x

      Reply
  9. Julie Collins says

    October 2, 2016 at 3:38 pm

    Hi Karen, Can you make this with eaters. Our Cox’s apple tree has produced loads this year and I would like to use them in preserves as well as eating and juicing.
    Thanks
    Julie

    Reply
    • Karon Grieve says

      October 12, 2016 at 12:48 pm

      Yes go for it, use any apples you like.
      K x

      Reply
  10. Sue says

    November 2, 2017 at 12:40 pm

    5 stars
    Your photography and presentation for this recipe are JUST… seductive, lol!
    Seriously, I could not (and frankly did not want to) resist using my last batch of windfalls to make this today.
    Toffee apples have always been an aspirational taste for me – I never liked the actual product as such – there always seemed to be too much plain (and often not very ripe) apple and nowhere near enough toffee for my taste, but I am a sugar hog at heart!
    So I’m hoping that this recipe will right some wrongs and produce the taste I have in my mind as “toffee apple: 😉

    Reply
    • Karon Grieve says

      November 3, 2017 at 2:08 pm

      Hope you like the jam and thanks for nice comments on my photography
      Kx

      Reply
    • Karon Grieve says

      November 23, 2017 at 8:15 am

      Hope you made the jam and enjoyed it
      K x

      Reply
  11. Bea says

    October 15, 2018 at 5:03 am

    4 stars
    Does your jam get the crackly bits back since you said it would soften and pass thru the sieve? I’m curious how to get the crackly bits back before I make it. I want to know how it should turn out. Your pic definitely shows it? Thanks so much!!

    Reply
    • Karon Grieve says

      October 15, 2018 at 10:34 am

      I’m a bit confused there are no crackly bits in this jam

      Reply
  12. Louise says

    June 17, 2019 at 4:36 pm

    Will rum work instead of the brandy as I don’t have any? Or should I just leave out the alcohol altogether??

    Reply
    • Karon Grieve says

      June 17, 2019 at 4:56 pm

      Hi Louise
      Yes rum would work just as well. Hope you enjoy it.
      K x

      Reply
  13. Lu says

    October 8, 2019 at 5:23 pm

    a tasty way to use up some of my apples. Mine is too hot to try yet but looks great. Had a bit of a problem making toffee, first attempt I stirred and it went back to grains , second time I could not get it to change co lour
    Must also be honest and tell you I put the chopped apple lemon and half sugar in bowel together while making toffee. also did not sieve but but used a hand blender

    Reply
    • Karon Grieve says

      October 10, 2019 at 9:39 am

      Hope you like it when cools down
      K

      Reply

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