Apple butter buttercream frosting has apple and spice mixed right it. It is fluffy but sturdy enough for piping. Make some for your next cake, cupcakes or cookies.
If you are looking for a fun new flavor of frosting to try, you are in the right place. This yummy apple buttercream is perfect for fall desserts but is so good you will want to make it all year long.
By now you know I am a frosting fanatic. I love trying new flavors and techniques.
That combined with my over 60 apple recipes here on the site, it is actually a surprise that I haven’t done an apple frosting before. I suppose I’ve always made cream cheese frosting or caramel frosting to go with my apple treats.
But when I landed on making mini apple butter cupcakes for our apple cook-off, I knew the frosting needed to be apple too. The easiest way to add concentrated apple flavor with a bit of spice is apple butter, so apple butter buttercream was born!
The addition of apple butter in the buttercream made for a really nice texture and perfect balance between butter and apple flavor. It was the perfect topping for the little cupcakes if I do say so myself.
You could also make it to top a spice cake, butter cake or use it on an applesauce cake. It would also be wonderful sandwiched between maple cinnamon cookies, molasses cookies or even graham crackers.
So whip up a batch and see for yourself how good it is. Then tell me what wonderful creations you paired with it.
What is apple butter anyway?
Apple butter is essentially applesauce that has been cooked down with some spices until it is concentrated and thick. So the flavor is stronger than traditional applesauce and it is smooth with lower liquid content.
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That makes it perfect for adding to buttercream. It adds big flavor without too much moisture, so you can still use the frosting for decorating.
You can make your own apple butter from fresh apples or you can make apple butter from applesauce. You can also pick up a jar at the grocery store or apple orchard, any of these options will work.
Don’t know what to do with the extra apple butter? Try making creamy apple butter fruit dip for a fun and easy snack!
Tips and Tricks for Perfect Buttercream
Use the paddle attachment on your stand mixer if you have one. That is the perfect way to get just enough air into the buttercream without overdoing it.
Whip your butter for a few minutes before you add the other ingredients. This will make it light and fluffy and ensure you don’t have lumps in your frosting.
Speaking of the butter, make sure it is soft enough to beat smooth but not so soft that it looks greasy. You should be able to make indents if you squeeze it, but it shouldn’t look melty.
You can use salted butter if you want, or use unsalted and add a pinch of salt. You need a little bit of salt to balance out the sweetness.
Don’t forget to scrape the sides of your bowl a few times along the way. You don’t want anything hiding out at the bottom or stuck to the side.
Taste your frosting and add a bit of cinnamon or nutmeg if you want more spice.
Storage
This apple buttercream can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for a day or two. You can keep it in the refrigerator for up to a week or the freezer for several months. Just bring it to room temperature and then stir it before using.
Apple Butter Buttercream
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup apple butter
Instructions
- Beat butter on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.1 cup unsalted butter
- Add the remaining ingredients and mix on low until combined.3 cups powdered sugar, ¼ teaspoon salt, ¼ cup apple butter
- Turn the mixer to medium and beat for another 2 to 5 minutes or until light and fluffy.
- Adjust the consistency with a little bit more apple butter or powdered sugar if needed.
- Buttercream can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for a couple of days, in the refrigerator for a week or the freezer for 3-4 months.
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In all things delicious. This was AMAZING.
Yay! I am happy you liked it!
You are the frosting queen! Mixing in apple butter sounds wonderful. And I’m envious of your piping skills.
Thank you! You know I love a good frosting and this one was really well received.
Such a delightful buttercream. Perfect for Fall!
Thank you, Andrea!