Name: Apple Buttercream Icing
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Ingredients: 1 cup butter salted or unsalted (softened); 5 cups powdered sugar; ¼ cup apple butter; 2 tablespoons apple cider

This is a fall infused Apple buttercream icing, perfect for all of your baked goods! We use apple butter for the richest, most jam-packed apple flavor you can imagine.

I’m going to make this short and sweet – just like this apple butter icing recipe. Really, this should be used to top everything in life, but I made it to top my Apple Butter Cookies.

It’s made from scratch in less than five minutes.

easy apple buttercream icing recipe to top cookies for fall

Seriously, I’ve been thinking about using this apple buttercream icing recipe as a dip, coating bread with it, and of course, cake. I’m not sure what that says about me, but I love how the apple butter balances this sweet frosting and adds a subtle fall flavor.

This is not the time nor place to talk about how much butter and sugar I use in my frostings, but I promise you, it’s worth it. If you really feel guilty about it, just try to take a few less tastes along the way. I dare you. I have yet to find success.

If you love apple everything, you’ll love this frosting! You’ll also love Apple Ice Cream, Old Fashioned with Apple Butter and Apple Bread.

Table of Contents

Why You’ll Love this Apple Buttercream Icing

Adds fall flavor to even the most classic recipes!
Incredibly easy way to elevate all of fall baked goods!
It takes less than 5 minutes to make!

Apple Buttercream Ingredients

Butter – Salted or unsalted softened butter, your preference.
Powdered Sugar – Also known as confectioner’s sugar, this sweetens to perfection while maintaining a smooth consistency.
Apple Butter – A rich, flavorful apple butter is the star of the show!
Apple Cider – Thins the frosting while adding a little fall flavor. You can use apple juice in a pinch.

Variations

Make it into a Glaze – Simply thin with apple cider until it reaches desired consistency or simply use my Apple Glaze recipe.

How to Make Apple Buttercream Icing

For step by step instructions, see the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Combine – Combine butter, apple butter, apple cider and powdered sugar until smooth.
Enjoy!

Serving Suggestions

On Cookies – It’s a wonderful addition to Apple Butter Cookies, Bakery Sugar Cookies, Cinnamon Sugar Cookies and so many more of my easy Fall Cookie Recipes.
On Cakes – Add to any of your favorite cakes including Brown Sugar Cake, Frosted Sugar Cookie Cake or Sugar Cookie Bars.

Tips

Bring butter to room temperature if at all possible. Learn how to soften butter quickly here.
Use frosting at room temperature. If you have made it ahead of time, take it out of the fridge 30 minutes before using it.
It’s quickest and easiest to make this frosting with a stand mixer, but you can mix it by hand, just ensure that everything is well combined.
Use apple cider in my apple butter icing recipe if possible, but if you don’t plan on drinking the remaining apple cider and don’t want waste, you can substitute it with milk.

How To Store

Room Temperature – You can store this apple buttercream at room temperature for up to two days safely.
Refrigerated – Store in an airtight container up to one week.
Freezer – Freeze your buttercream frostings for up to two months. Sometimes they can separate a bit during the freezing and thawing process, so the consistency won’t be quite as good.

Dietary Considerations

Gluten Free
Vegetarian
Nut Free

Apple buttercream frosting in a stand mixing bowl.

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More Frosting Inspiration

Fluffy Cream Cheese Frosting

Brown Butter Frosting

Cinnamon Frosting

Frostings & Glazes

Did you make this? Rate the recipe and tag me on social @julieblanner!

5 from 4 votes