15 Apple Butter Recipes & Ways to Use It | SimplyMealful

Silky, spiced, and endlessly versatile — apple butter is fall's secret weapon. These fifteen recipes start with homemade apple butter, then show you brilliant ways to use it: swirled into oatmeal, glazed on pork, baked into bars, and spread on everything.

1. Classic Slow Cooker Apple Butter

The mother recipe — apples slow-cooked into silky, deeply spiced apple butter.

Ingredients

• 6 lbs apples, peeled and chopped
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp nutmeg
• 1/4 tsp cloves
• 1 tsp vanilla
• Pinch of salt

Instructions

1. Combine everything in a slow cooker.
2. Cook on low 10 hours, stirring occasionally.
3. Blend smooth with an immersion blender.
4. Cook 2 more hours uncovered to thicken.
5. Stir in the vanilla.
6. Jar and refrigerate up to 3 weeks.

2. Apple Butter Overnight Oats

Creamy oats with swirls of apple butter — fall breakfast, prepped the night before.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup rolled oats
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/4 cup Greek yogurt
• 3 tbsp apple butter
• 1 tbsp chia seeds
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• Chopped pecans
• Diced apple

Instructions

1. Stir the oats, milk, yogurt, chia, and cinnamon in a jar.
2. Swirl in 2 tablespoons of apple butter.
3. Refrigerate overnight.
4. Top with the remaining apple butter.
5. Add pecans and diced apple.
6. Grab and go.

3. Apple Butter Glazed Pork Chops

Sweet-spiced glaze caramelized on juicy pork chops — weeknight dinner, upgraded.

Ingredients

• 4 pork chops
• 1/2 cup apple butter
• 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
• 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tsp thyme
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• Salt and pepper

Instructions

1. Whisk the apple butter, Dijon, vinegar, garlic, and thyme.
2. Sear the seasoned chops 4 minutes per side.
3. Brush generously with glaze.
4. Finish in a 400°F oven 6 minutes.
5. Rest 5 minutes.
6. Serve with extra glaze.

4. Apple Butter Cinnamon Rolls

Pillowy rolls swirled with apple butter instead of plain cinnamon sugar — next level.

Ingredients

• 1 tube pizza dough or homemade
• 3/4 cup apple butter
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• 4 oz cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 2 tbsp milk
• 1 tsp vanilla

Instructions

1. Heat the oven to 350°F and roll the dough into a rectangle.
2. Spread with apple butter; sprinkle brown sugar and cinnamon.
3. Roll up and slice into 12 rolls.
4. Bake 22 to 25 minutes until golden.
5. Beat the cream cheese, powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla.
6. Frost the warm rolls.

5. Apple Butter BBQ Sauce

Sweet, smoky, and tangy — the secret-weapon BBQ sauce for ribs and chicken.

Ingredients

• 1 cup apple butter
• 1/2 cup ketchup
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 2 tbsp molasses
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp black pepper

Instructions

1. Whisk everything in a saucepan.
2. Simmer 15 minutes, stirring.
3. Taste and adjust sweetness or heat.
4. Cool and jar.
5. Refrigerate up to 1 month.
6. Brush on everything grilled.

6. Apple Butter Thumbprint Cookies

Buttery cookies with apple butter centers — like little edible jewels.

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 2 egg yolks
• 2 cups flour
• 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup apple butter
• Powdered sugar, for dusting

Instructions

1. Heat the oven to 350°F and cream the butter and sugar.
2. Beat in the yolks and vanilla; mix in the flour and salt.
3. Roll into 1-inch balls; place on a lined sheet.
4. Press a thumbprint into each.
5. Fill with apple butter.
6. Bake 12 to 14 minutes; dust with powdered sugar.

7. Apple Butter Pancakes

Fluffy pancakes with apple butter in the batter and on top — double apple goodness.

Ingredients

• 2 cups pancake mix
• 1 1/2 cups milk
• 1/3 cup apple butter
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 2 tbsp melted butter
• Maple syrup
• Whipped cream

Instructions

1. Whisk the pancake mix, milk, apple butter, egg, and cinnamon.
2. Rest the batter 2 minutes.
3. Cook on a buttered griddle until golden.
4. Stack high.
5. Top with warm apple butter and maple syrup.
6. Add whipped cream if you're feeling it.

8. Apple Butter & Brie Grilled Cheese

Melty brie and sweet apple butter on buttery sourdough — the ultimate fall sandwich.

Ingredients

• 8 slices sourdough
• 8 oz brie, sliced
• 1/2 cup apple butter
• 4 tbsp butter
• Fresh thyme leaves
• 1 apple, thinly sliced
• Honey
• Arugula (optional)

Instructions

1. Spread apple butter on 4 slices.
2. Layer brie, apple slices, and thyme.
3. Cap and butter the outsides.
4. Grill 3 to 4 minutes per side until golden and melty.
5. Drizzle with honey.
6. Slice and serve warm.

9. Apple Butter Baked Oatmeal

A cozy baked oatmeal with apple butter swirled through — feeds the whole family.

Ingredients

• 2 cups rolled oats
• 1 1/2 cups milk
• 1/2 cup apple butter
• 2 eggs
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Instructions

1. Heat the oven to 350°F and whisk everything except the walnuts.
2. Pour into a greased 8×8 dish.
3. Swirl in extra apple butter.
4. Top with walnuts.
5. Bake 30 to 35 minutes until set.
6. Serve warm with milk.

10. Apple Butter Muffins

Moist, spiced muffins with apple butter centers — bakery-worthy at home.

Ingredients

• 2 cups flour
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 cup oil
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/2 cup apple butter

Instructions

1. Heat the oven to 375°F and whisk the dry ingredients.
2. Whisk the oil, eggs, and milk; combine with dry.
3. Fill muffin cups halfway.
4. Add a teaspoon of apple butter to each; cover with batter.
5. Bake 18 to 20 minutes.
6. Cool 10 minutes — the centers are molten.

11. Apple Butter Glazed Meatballs

Sweet-tangy glazed cocktail meatballs — the party appetizer with a twist.

Ingredients

• 24 cocktail meatballs
• 3/4 cup apple butter
• 1/2 cup BBQ sauce
• 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
• 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• Chopped parsley
• Toothpicks

Instructions

1. Simmer the apple butter, BBQ sauce, Dijon, vinegar, and paprika 5 minutes.
2. Add the meatballs; simmer 15 minutes.
3. Keep warm in a slow cooker for parties.
4. Sprinkle with parsley.
5. Serve with toothpicks.
6. Sweet, tangy, gone in minutes.

12. Apple Butter Swirl Cheesecake Bars

Creamy cheesecake bars with apple butter ribbons on a gingersnap crust — stunning and easy.

Ingredients

• 2 cups gingersnap crumbs
• 1/2 cup melted butter
• 16 oz cream cheese, softened
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 3/4 cup apple butter
• 1 tsp cinnamon

Instructions

1. Heat the oven to 325°F; press the crumbs and butter into a 9×13 pan.
2. Beat the cream cheese, sugar, eggs, and vanilla until smooth.
3. Pour over the crust.
4. Dollop apple butter and swirl with a knife.
5. Bake 30 to 35 minutes until just set.
6. Chill 3 hours before cutting.

13. Apple Butter Vinaigrette

A sweet-tangy salad dressing with apple butter — makes every fall salad better.

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup apple butter
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
• 1 tbsp honey
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• Salt and pepper
• 1 tsp thyme

Instructions

1. Whisk everything until emulsified.
2. Taste and adjust honey or vinegar.
3. Refrigerate up to 2 weeks.
4. Shake before using.
5. Amazing on kale-apple salads.
6. Also great as a marinade.

14. Apple Butter Hand Pies

Flaky little pies with gooey apple butter filling — the perfect portable treat.

Ingredients

• 2 pie crusts
• 3/4 cup apple butter
• 1 egg, beaten
• Coarse sugar
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tbsp flour
• Caramel sauce
• Vanilla ice cream

Instructions

1. Heat the oven to 400°F and cut 12 rounds from the crusts.
2. Fill 6 rounds with apple butter.
3. Top, crimp with a fork, and brush with egg.
4. Sprinkle with coarse sugar and cinnamon.
5. Bake 16 to 18 minutes until golden.
6. Serve with caramel and ice cream.

15. Apple Butter Old Fashioned (Mocktail)

A cozy non-alcoholic sipper — apple butter, cider, and warm spices over ice.

Ingredients

• 3 tbsp apple butter
• 1 cup apple cider
• 1/2 cup ginger ale
• 1 tsp lemon juice
• Pinch of cinnamon
• Ice
• Apple slice
• Cinnamon stick

Instructions

1. Whisk the apple butter with a splash of warm cider until smooth.
2. Add the remaining cider, lemon juice, and cinnamon.
3. Fill a glass with ice.
4. Pour over ice; top with ginger ale.
5. Garnish with an apple slice and cinnamon stick.
6. Stir before sipping.