Apple Butter Cookies with Cinnamon Vanilla Frosting

Soft and chewy, these oversized Apple Butter Cookies with Cinnamon Vanilla Frosting will make their way straight into your heart! They get their cakey texture from a combination of smooth, velvety apple butter and brown sugar.

And the frosting, made with real vanilla bean and lots of cinnamon, makes these cookies an extra special treat.

I’m loving these cookies for fall baking and straight into the holiday cookie season!

What’s in these Apple Butter Cookies

If you want a really soft cookie that stays soft for days, you’ve got to amp up the brown sugar. In this recipe, we’re using twice as much brown sugar as regular granulated sugar.

Here is what you’ll need to make these cookies:

• all-purpose flour
• unsalted butter
• apple butter
• brown sugar
• granulated sugar
• egg
• vanilla extract
• baking soda
• cinnamon
• salt

Need a gluten free option? Simply swap in your favorite measure-for-measure gluten free flour blend for the all-purpose flour.

What else can you use apple butter for?

Apple butter, which has no actual butter at all, is a super versatile spread. There’s so much you can do with it!

• Bake it into muffins, breads and donuts
• Spread it onto scones or challah toast
• Mix it into cocktails
• Add it to a cheese board

It’s well worth making a batch at the start of apple season so that you’ll have it on hand. My recipe is here. You can also take a short cut and buy it at the store. It’s pretty easy to find during the fall months.

How to make the Cinnamon Vanilla Frosting for these Apple Butter Cookies

This frosting won’t harden on your cookies. Since it stays soft and spreadable, it adds to the cake-like experience. Just a few ingredients is all you’ll need:

• unsalted butter
• confectioner’s sugar
• vanilla bean paste
• cinnamon

Just beat the ingredients together in a stand mixer or with a handheld electric mixer. You can refrigerate it, but it’s not necessary. This frosting can definitely be stored at room temperature.

Vanilla Bean Paste vs. Vanilla Extract

Vanilla bean paste is a combination of vanilla extract and vanilla powder. It adds bold vanilla flavor to whatever you’re making, with the added bonus of those little black flecks that everyone loves so much.

Don’t worry if you don’t have the paste – you can use regular vanilla extract in the same amount in any recipe that calls for vanilla bean paste.

Using vanilla bean paste just adds that little something extra to this Cinnamon Vanilla Frosting that I think you’ll love.

When you make these Apple Butter Cookies with Cinnamon Vanilla Frosting, I’d love to hear about it! Drop a rating or leave a comment below. Enjoy!

For more apple butter recipes, try these:

• Apple Butter Cranberry Muffins with Streusel Topping
• Apple Butter Vodka Cocktail
• Baked Apple Butter Doughnuts

For more cookie recipes, try these:

• Raspberry Rugelach Cookies
• Gingerbread Cookies with Vanilla Bean Frosting
• Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookies