Canning Peaches, Nectarines & Plums (and a canned fruit cobbler recipe)

 

Last week, I was delighted to receive a beautiful box full of Washington fruit from the Washington Fruit Commission. I was selected to be a member of their Canbassador campaign which promotes the preservation of fruit. It wasn't a stretch for me at all, because I love to can and preserve fresh fruits and veggies for my family. If you check out their website Sweet Preservation, there are tons of great recipes for preserving peaches, plums, cherries, nectarines and apricots. I chose to stick with the simple old version for canning these fruits. I simply made a syrup and cut the fruits into serving size. Recipes follow...

Canned Nectarines

1. Wash fruit in cold water. Cut around the fruit and split in half. Remove pits/centers using a large spoon and cut into fourths. Place in clean, sterilized jars, filling jar to just below ring line.

2. Place a large pot on the stove and make syrup. The syrup recipe I use calls for 5 1/2 cups water and 2 1/4 cups sugar. It should yield about six cups of syrup. It usually takes about 1 1/4 - 1 1/2 cups of syrup per quart sized jar, so you'll have to do the math to figure out how many batches of syrup you will need to make. Bring the syrup to a boil, but be very careful not to spill it on your hot stove. It makes a mess ;)

3. Pour boiling syrup over nectarines in jar, tapping jar to remove air bubbles. I try to do one batch at a time so that the nectarines do not start to brown. Wipe rims clean. Add seal and ring to jar.

4. Process in boiling hot water bath for 30 minutes for quart jars, 25 minutes for pint jars. Do not start timing until the water begins to boil. Remove and store.

Canned Peaches

1. Fill a large pot with water and bring to a boil. Drop whole peaches into boiling water for about 60-80 seconds. Immediately transfer to a sink full of cold water to cool.

2. Peel peaches and cut in half. Remove pit and any bruised spots. Cut into fourths or eighths and place in clean, sterilized jars, filling jar to just below ring line.

3. Place a large pot on the stove and make syrup. The syrup recipe I use calls for 5 1/2 cups water and 2 1/4 cups sugar. It should yield about six cups of syrup. It usually takes about 1 1/4 - 1 1/2 cups of syrup per quart sized jar, so you'll have to do the math to figure out how many batches of syrup you will need to make. Bring the syrup to a boil, but be very careful not to spill it on your hot stove. It makes a mess ;)

4. Pour boiling syrup over peaches in jar, tapping to remove air bubbles. I try to do one batch at a time so that the nectarines do not start to brown. Wipe rims clean. Add seal and ring to jar.

5. Process in boiling hot water bath for 30 minutes for quart jars, 25 mintes for pint jars. Do not start timing until the water begins to boil. Remove and store.

Canned Plums

1. Wash fruit in cold water. Cut around the fruit and split in half. Remove pits and cut in half. Place in clean, sterilized jars, filling jar to just below ring line.

2. Place a large pot on the stove and make syrup. The syrup recipe I use calls for 5 1/2 cups water and 2 1/4 cups sugar. It should yield about six cups of syrup. It usually takes about 1 1/4 - 1 1/2 cups of syrup per quart sized jar, so you'll have to do the math to figure out how many batches of syrup you will need to make. Bring the syrup to a boil, but be very careful not to spill it on your hot stove. It makes a mess ;)

3. Pour boiling syrup over plums in jar, tapping to remove air bubbles. Wipe rims clean. Add seal and ring to jar.

4. Process in boiling hot water bath for 30 minutes for quart jars, 25 minutes for pint jars. Do not start timing until the water begins to boil. Remove and store.

 

Besides eating the fruit as a side dish, we really enjoy it in a cobbler. This recipe is an old old recipe, and it is very simple (with very few ingredients). It is delicious plain, or served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, and it is good with any of the above canned fruits. This is such an easy recipe, that Grace makes it all the time for our family. It's a great one for teaching your kids to bake!

Old Fashioned Fruit Cobbler

-1 stick butter

-1  1/2 cups flour

-1  1/2 cups sugar

-2 tsp. baking powder

-1/2 tsp. salt

-1  1/2 cups milk

-1 tsp. almond extract

-1 quart of canned fruit, drained

Preheat over to 350 degrees. Place stick of butter in 9"x13" baking pan and place in oven until melted. Meanwhile, combine dry ingredients and mix well. Add milk and almond extract and milk until smooth. Pour into pan with melted butter. Drop fruit pieces into batter and bake about 40 minutes or until golden brown.

Comments

[Nora Vigil]

First timer Canner.
How long of a shelf life span do Nectarines and Peaches have after canning. It seems easy to can.

[Sue]

I came here for the cobbler recipe. Thank you! I have some wonderful whole canned plums and am looking for good recipes for them. The cobbler sounds perfect.

[Breann]

Can you can nectarines without sugar? Or does it do something specific to preserve? Could I substitute for it using pure maple syrup? I can't have sugar so I'd appreciate your recommendation! thanks!

[Melinda]

Beautiful pictures! I was wondering how you halved the nectarines, though. They never seem to twist apart for me like peaches do. And out of curiosity, why don't you remove the skins on nectarines the same way you do peaches? And recently I was making peach jam and I blanched first to remove skin and THEY did not twist apart either (which was ok for Jam, but would not be very pretty for canning slices), was it just the variety? I got a fresh-unblanched ones to pull apart with a little effort. Sometimes when peaches are really ripe, I don't even need to blanch to remove the peel, I love when that happens!

[Vicki]

Thanks for the recipe. We have three plum trees and I can every year. My kids and husband love the plum cobbler. It's a great way to add variety. I've juiced them, made jam and eaten them canned but this is terrific.

[Libby]

A friend (also named Sherelle) gave me several jars of plums last year and I didn't really know how best to enjoy them. I can't wait to try the cobbler recipe!

[Dawn Zaidel]

I followed the recipe for canning plums (not using as much sugar) however they where mushy. Is this a normal consistency, or does the sugar make the difference. Im a diabetic and cant use so much sugar and trying to cut back but still enjoy canned fresh fruit.

[Karen]

Your photos remind me of the days I homeschooled our three children and everything we ate was home grown and home preserved. They were involved in all of the upkeep of the garden and so eager and happy to participate in the preservation and cooking. You have a wonderful eye for capturing the love of the moment and your kitchen also reminds me of my kitchen of those days - ahhhhh GREAT memories....thank you!! Karen on Whidbey

[JeanneP]

Wonderful recipe!!! I feel like I am right there with you guys in your kitchen! Thanks for always sharing your wonderful recipes!!
xo
Jeanne

[Liz Elliott]

Love all of your canning photos, tips and recipes! I wonder if you have ever counted how many jars you own? haha Your hard work is an inspiration to us city folk! Your whole family is gathered around, including auntie and grandparents, to help in the process. What a fun family activity...hard work, laughter and time spent together are the perfect ingredients for happiness and great memories!

[Misty C]

Curious. Do you use your ceramic top to water bath or camp chef? If ceramic top stove, any tips/tricks?

[alyssa]

I love reading about your canning adventures and how involved your kids are in the process! I also enjoy canning and our garden was plentiful this year despite severe drought, so I've had plenty to do! Tonight I finished off the last of my apples and my freezer pie filling so we'll have lots of yummy pies this winter!

[Bronwyn]

As usualyou have captured wonderful family moments perfectly in your photos. I opted not to can any fruit this year - but your images may have just cahnged my mind!!

[Dayami Lauzurique]

In love!!! And congratulations! You are simply amazing!
Hugs,
Dayami :)