Melt-in-your-mouth sugar cookies infused with fall flavor using apple butter and apple cider. It’s the subtle twist that captures the essence of fall and makes these Frosted Apple Butter Cookies irresistible! Easy to make and delicious to eat!

frosted apple butter sugar cookies on a white serving plate
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Good morning, friends! If it seems I’m a little extra chipper today, it’s because it’s time to bake fall cookies! I’m kicking it off with Frosted Apple Butter Cookies!

These Apple Cookies are so delicious! They’re the perfect way to embrace the flavors of fall and perfectly portioned for all of your fall festivities like hayrides, bonfires or treat or treating!

Apple Butter Cookies are melt-in-your-mouth delicious and topped with an irresistible Apple Butter Icing. The frosting is made in just 5 minutes – it’s not only perfect for these cookies, but you can of course use it on all of your favorite baked goods!

Let’s get started, shall we? When I think fall, I think everything apple, so I tweaked my melt-in-your-mouth sugar cookies and added a bit of fall flavor using apple butter and apple cider.

These apple cookies require just a few simple ingredients, and they are sure to stand out in a crowd!

  • Butter – Salted or unsalted.
  • Vegetable Oil – Makes them melt-in-your-mouth delicious.
  • Apple Butter – The star of the show that gives them all the fall flavor.
  • Sugar – White granulated sugar.
  • Vanilla Extract
  • Eggs
  • Flour – All purpose.
  • Cream of Tartar
  • Baking Soda
  • Powdered Sugar
  • Apple Cider

How to Make Frosted Apple Butter Sugar Cookies

It really couldn’t be easier to make these delicious fall cookies!

  1. Beat Oils and Sugars – Combine butter, oil, apple butter, sugars and vanilla until smooth. 
  2. Add Eggs – Blend in eggs until just incorporated.
  3. Add Dry Ingredients – Add flour, salt, cream of tartar and baking soda until just blended.
  4. Chill Dough – Refrigerate dough covered for 1+ hour. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  5. Bake – Roll dough into 1″ balls. Bake 8 minutes and allow to cool.
  6. Ice – Combine icing ingredients and slather onto cooled cookies.
Close up of frosted cookies on a plate
Can you make these cookies ahead of time?

You can make the sugar cookies ahead of time and store them in an airtight container for 2 or 3 days at room temperature. If you plan on making them ahead of time, don’t ice them, wait until you are ready to serve.

What can I use apple butter for?

Cookies, cocktails, toast, oatmeal and pancakes.

What is the difference between apple butter and apple sauce?

Apple butter is more concentrated, yielding more flavor. It’s also thicker because it’s cooked longer, reducing the water content.

Can I substitute butter with apple butter?

Yes – you can substitute butter or oil and with applesauce to add a little fall flavor. You can find a complete list of baking substitutions here.

frosted apple butter sugar cookies ready to eat

Tips

  • Allow time to refrigerate the dough for an hour before baking the cookies to reduce spread.
  • Bake the cookies in a preheated oven for the best results.
  • Allow the cookies to cool completely before icing them.

To Store

  • Room Temperature – In an airtight container with parchment between each layer up to 1 week.
  • Freeze – Freeze in an airtight container up to 3 months. It’s preferable to freeze unfrosted, but they’ll keep either way.
Eight cookies with frosting on a white plate

If you try this frosted apple butter sugar cookie recipe, please come back to share using my 5 star rating in the comments below! Not only do I appreciate it, but I know readers do, too! For more easy recipes and simple living ideas, subscribe to my newsletter!

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frosted apple butter sugar cookies
4.39 from 39 votes

Frosted Apple Butter Cookies

Melt-in-your-mouth sugar cookies infused with fall flavor using apple butter and apple cider. It’s the subtle twist that captures the essence of fall and makes these Frosted Apple Butter Sugar Cookies irresistible!
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 8 minutes
Refrigerate Dough: 1 hour
Total: 1 hour 18 minutes
Servings: 36
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Ingredients  

Apple Butter Icing

  • 1 cup butter softened
  • ¼ cup apple butter
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider
  • 5 cups powdered sugar

Instructions 

  • In a large mixing bowl or stand mixer, combine butter, oil, apple butter, sugars and vanilla until smooth. 
  • Blend in eggs.
  • Add flour, salt, cream of tartar and baking soda until just blended.
  • Refrigerate dough covered for 1+ hour. Preheat oven to 350°F.
  • Roll dough into 1″ balls. Bake 8 minutes and allow to cool before icing with apple butter icing.

Apple Butter Icing

  • In a medium mixing bowl or stand mixer, combine butter, apple butter, apple cider and powdered sugar until smooth.

Julie’s Tips

To Store

  • Room Temperature – In an airtight container with parchment between each layer up to 1 week.
  • Freeze – Freeze in an airtight container up to 3 months. It’s preferable to freeze unfrosted, but they’ll keep either way.
Calories: 175kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 19mg | Sodium: 105mg | Potassium: 38mg | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 130IU | Calcium: 5mg | Iron: 0.8mg

Estimated nutrition information is provided as a courtesy and is not guaranteed.

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28 Comments

  1. Hi Julie the apple butter cookie sounds delicious and I can’t wait to try it. I cant find your apple butter frosting recipe on the posted cookies recipe. Please help.
    Thanks so much
    Raina

  2. Yessss!! Frosted cookies are my FAVORITE! I’m all about these. They look awesome! Excited to spend the week baking together!

    xo Michael