Frosted Apple Butter Cookies Recipe
If you’re on the hunt for a truly swoon-worthy autumn treat, look no further than these Frosted Apple Butter Cookies. Imagine a batch of soft, pillowy cookies swirled with cinnamon, nutmeg, and rich apple butter, all crowned with a creamy spiced frosting that melts delicately in your mouth. This is the kind of cookie that quickly turns into a family tradition, with comforting aromas curling through your kitchen and each bite delivering all the best parts of fall.
Ingredients You’ll Need
The magic of these Frosted Apple Butter Cookies is in the simple but thoughtfully chosen ingredients. Each one plays a starring role: the apple butter adds fruit-forward depth, a dash of cinnamon warms things up, and that final swoosh of frosting takes everything over the top.
- Unsalted butter (for cookies & frosting): Softened butter helps create a creamy, tender crumb, and a little in the frosting adds silkiness.
- Brown sugar: Adds a caramelly sweetness that partners perfectly with the apple butter.
- Granulated sugar: Balances the richness for a classic cookie bite.
- Large egg: Gives the cookies structure and moistness.
- Apple butter (for both cookie and frosting): Infuses each cookie with spiced apple flavor and keeps them soft.
- Vanilla extract: A splash enhances all the other flavors.
- All-purpose flour: The foundation for a chewy but tender cookie.
- Baking soda & baking powder: These leaveners ensure your cookies rise just right.
- Ground cinnamon & nutmeg: Give the cookies that irresistible autumn warmth.
- Salt: A small but mighty addition that wakes up every flavor.
- Powdered sugar: Forms the base of the sweet, dreamy frosting.
- Milk (as needed): Used to achieve that just-right, spreadable frosting texture.
How to Make Frosted Apple Butter Cookies
Step 1: Preheat and Prepare
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C) and lining two baking sheets with parchment paper. This ensures the cookies bake evenly and makes clean-up a breeze. You’ll appreciate having everything ready once your dough is set to go.
Step 2: Cream Together Wet Ingredients
In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until the mixture turns light, fluffy, and a bit paler in color. This step lays the foundation for your cookies’ soft texture. After it’s creamy, beat in the egg, apple butter, and vanilla, letting all those flavors swirl together.
Step 3: Mix Dry Ingredients
Grab a separate bowl and whisk the flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Taking a moment to combine these ensures that every cookie has a perfect hit of spice and rises beautifully while baking.
Step 4: Combine and Form Dough
Gradually mix the dry ingredients into your wet mixture, stirring just until everything comes together. Overmixing can make cookies tough, so stop as soon as you see there are no streaks of flour. The dough will smell incredibly inviting—think apple orchards and cozy sweaters!
Step 5: Bake to Soft Perfection
Drop tablespoon-sized spoonfuls of dough onto your prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart for a little room to spread. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until the edges are just golden and the tops are set. Let them cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Your kitchen will fill with that classic Frosted Apple Butter Cookies aroma!
Step 6: Make the Spiced Apple Butter Frosting
While the cookies cool, melt the butter in a small saucepan over low heat. Whisk in the apple butter and cinnamon, then remove from the heat. Slowly stir in the powdered sugar and enough milk to make the frosting smooth and spreadable—it should glide right on but not drip off.
Step 7: Frost and Finish
Once the cookies are completely cool, spread a generous dollop of frosting on each one (the more the merrier!). If you want to get fancy, give them a little swirl on top. Let the frosting set up before serving—if you can wait that long!
How to Serve Frosted Apple Butter Cookies
Garnishes
For a bakery-worthy finish, dust the tops of your Frosted Apple Butter Cookies with a touch of cinnamon sugar or sprinkle over some crushed dried apple chips. Not only does it look stunning, but it also adds a gentle crunch and an extra pop of flavor in every bite.
Side Dishes
These cookies play well with others! Try serving them alongside warm apple cider, a mug of robust coffee, or even tucked next to a scoop of vanilla ice cream. At autumn gatherings, a big platter of cookies surrounded by crisp apple slices and sharp cheddar cheese creates an impressive harvest spread.
Creative Ways to Present
Stack a few Frosted Apple Butter Cookies and tie them up with baker’s twine for a sweet edible gift, or layer them between sheets of parchment paper in a rustic tin. At holiday parties, arrange on a vintage cake stand and garnish with fresh apple slices and colorful autumn leaves for true seasonal flair.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
To keep your cookies as soft and flavorful as possible, store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days. Place a sheet of wax paper or parchment between layers to keep the frosting intact and the cookies looking their best.
Freezing
If you want to get ahead on your fall baking, these cookies freeze beautifully! For best results, freeze the unfrosted cookies in a single layer, then transfer to a zip-top bag or airtight container. Thaw and frost before serving. You can also freeze fully frosted cookies—just freeze on a tray first, then stack gently once set.
Reheating
While there’s no need to reheat, you can warm unfrosted cookies in the microwave for 5-8 seconds for a just-baked softness. If you’ve frozen frosted cookies, let them come to room temperature on the counter before enjoying—the frosting needs a little time to relax and become creamy again.
FAQs
Can I use homemade apple butter?
Absolutely! Homemade apple butter brings a whole new level of warmth and spice to Frosted Apple Butter Cookies, but store-bought works perfectly well too. If your apple butter is especially thick or sweet, taste the dough and adjust the sugar if needed.
Can I make these cookies gluten-free?
Yes! Swap the all-purpose flour for your favorite gluten-free cup-for-cup blend. The soft and moist nature of the dough lends itself well to gluten-free substitutions, just be sure not to overmix and keep an eye on bake times.
How do I prevent my cookies from spreading too much?
If you notice your dough is a bit soft, chill it for about 30 minutes before baking. This helps the cookies hold their shape and results in those perfect, thick Frosted Apple Butter Cookies with tender centers.
What’s the best way to store these cookies for gifting?
Let them set until the frosting is firm, layer them between pieces of parchment paper, and pack in a decorative tin or sturdy bakery box. This prevents smudging and keeps every cookie as beautiful as when you frosted it!
Can I double the recipe?
Absolutely! This recipe easily doubles for a crowd. Just mix carefully and maybe use a stand mixer to keep the dough even. You’ll have extra batches of Frosted Apple Butter Cookies to share (or keep for yourself—no judgment!).
Final Thoughts
If you’re a fan of warm, spiced desserts and can’t resist soft, frosted cookies, these Frosted Apple Butter Cookies are a must-bake this season. The aroma alone will have everyone drifting into your kitchen, and the flavor is pure autumn comfort. Give them a try—I promise they’ll be the highlight of all your cozy gatherings!
Print
Frosted Apple Butter Cookies Recipe
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
These Frosted Apple Butter Cookies are a delightful treat perfect for the fall season. Soft, spiced cookies made with apple butter and topped with a sweet apple butter frosting, they are a delicious addition to any autumn baking lineup.
Ingredients
For the Cookies:
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter (softened)
- 1/2 cup brown sugar (packed)
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 cup apple butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
For the Frosting:
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons apple butter
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 1/4 cups powdered sugar
- 1–2 tablespoons milk (as needed for consistency)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Cream butter and sugars: In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. Add the egg, apple butter, and vanilla extract and mix until combined.
- Combine dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing just until combined.
- Bake: Drop spoonfuls of dough onto the prepared baking sheets and bake for 10–12 minutes, or until lightly golden. Cool on a wire rack.
- Make the frosting: Melt the butter, add apple butter and cinnamon, then whisk in powdered sugar and milk to reach a spreadable consistency.
- Frost the cookies: Spread frosting over cooled cookies and let set before serving.
Notes
- Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
- For extra fall flavor, sprinkle the frosted cookies with a pinch of cinnamon sugar or crushed dried apple chips.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 140
- Sugar: 13g
- Sodium: 80mg
- Fat: 6g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 21g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 20mg
