10 Ways To Use Apple Butter - Running To The Kitchen

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10 Ways To Use Apple Butter

By Gina Matsoukas

Feb 27, 2018, Updated Oct 13, 2024

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This roundup features 10 ways to use apple butter from appetizers, breakfast, entrees to desserts. There’s an apple butter recipe for any time of year!

You may be thinking: 10 ways to use apple butter in March? It’s not really apple season, Gina.

Yeah, I hear ya. It’s not really anything season in NY this time of year though (major eye roll) and while maybe an oddly timed post, I find condiments to be one of the few things that get me through this in between seasons time where everything feels gray, dreary and you start to lose hope that spring will ever actually arrive.

As far as condiments go, apple butter definitely makes my top 5 list (along with honey mustard, ketchup, sriracha and miso paste).

So what better way to celebrate it than a post dedicated to the best recipes that use it?

10 Ways To Use Apple Butter

*This post is in partnership with Musselman’s. All content and opinions are my own. 10 Ways To Use Apple Butter - adding apple butter to many sweet and savory recipes is a great way to enjoy this lovely condiment!

What Do I Do with Apple Butter?

Glad you asked! That’s what this post is for, to give you 10 uses for apple butter you might not have otherwise thought of.

use it as a glaze or condiment on meats and seafood
bake it into scones, muffins, bars and breads
replace jelly or jam with it
stir it into a bowl of oatmeal or yogurt
add it to a charcuterie board

From a glaze to a condiment to an ice cream ingredient and cookie filling, there are so many fun ways to incorporate apple butter into almost any recipe.

It’s one of my faves partly because of its versatility.

It can go either sweet or savory, be used simply as a spread (like on these paleo pumpkin english muffins) to enhance flavors or, as an integral part of a recipe.

I think you’ll love these 10 apple butter recipes, enjoy!

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Apple Butter Carrot Cake Oatmeal

This carrot cake oatmeal is given a fall twist with both apple butter and apples. Topped with apple butter marscapone it’s quite a cozy fall breakfast! View Recipe

4.50 from 76 votes

Apple Butter Roasted Chicken

This apple butter roasted chicken is a killer combination of sweet and savory flavors. With a crispy outside and a juicy, tender inside, it’s the perfect Sunday dinner! View Recipe

4.50 from 4 votes

Apple Butter Bacon Scones

These apple butter bacon scones are stuffed with fresh apples, salty bacon pieces and made with apple butter to keep them nice and moist. Perfect breakfast on a crisp cool fall morning. View Recipe Turkey apple butter panini.

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Turkey Cheddar Apple Butter Panini

This turkey cheddar apple butter panini is the perfect fall lunch. Pressed until the cheese is super melty with crisp apples, sage and fresh turkey, it’s like fall in a bite. View Recipe

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Apple Butter Cacao Nib Rugelach

These gluten free apple butter rugelach are studded with cacao nibs for a crunchy bite. They’re buttery, soft and a fun cookie option for the season! View Recipe A pizza with cheese and arugula on a plate.

A pizza with cheese and arugula on a plate.

Apple Butter Pizza with Blue Cheese and Pancetta

This apple butter pizza with blue cheese and pancetta is the perfect addition to your weeknight menu. It’s sweet, savory and oh so delicious. Plus it’s ready in just 30 minutes! View Recipe Menu Suggestions Grocery List Substitutions Add us as a Google Trusted Source Oatmeal bars on a white plate.

Apple Butter Salted Caramel Bars

These apple butter salted caramel bars are filled with homemade apple butter & salted caramel that are then baked to perfection! The ultimate Fall dessert! View Recipe A pumpkin cheesecake on a plate with whipped cream.

A pumpkin cheesecake on a plate with whipped cream.

Cinnamon Apple Butter Cheesecake | Baked by Rachel

Creamy homemade cinnamon apple butter cheesecake with a graham cracker crust. A flavorful Fall dessert! View Recipe A cast iron skillet filled with apples and a glass of wine.

A cast iron skillet filled with apples and a glass of wine.

Apple Butter Pork Chops (One Pan Skillet Pork Chops with Apples) Recipe – The Cookie Rookie®

Apple Butter Pork Chops are the perfect ONE PAN recipe for fall and winter! These skillet pork chops with apples are so juicy and flavorful. View Recipe Roasted meat with carrots and potatoes on a plate.

Roasted meat with carrots and potatoes on a plate.

Slow Cooker Pork Loin with Vegetables

Slow cooker Pork Loin saves time on busy evenings and boasts a rich, tangy sauce that gets a special twist from the spice of apple butter. View Recipe

Now that you’ve taken a look at all those amazing apple butter recipes, you may have some lingering questions about the spread.

How is Apple Butter Different than Applesauce?

The difference between applesauce and apple butter is actually quite simple.

Apple butter is just cooked down longer. It becomes thick and glossy in appearance and the flavor is much more intense than applesauce.

Applesauce tends to be eaten alone or used in baking whereas apple butter is often treated as more of a condiment.

Either can be made with a variety of apples but if you’re curious which apples are the best for baking, we have a whole guide dedicated to that.

How Long Does Apple Butter Last?

Apple butter will stay good after opening the jar for about a year if kept refrigerated.

Trust me, I know this because I had a 32 ounce jar of it for at least that long in my fridge last year before we used it all up and I never saw the beginnings of mold like you undoubtedly would with applesauce in that timeframe!

Gina Matsoukas

Founder and Writer at Running to the Kitchen | About

Gina Matsoukas is an AP syndicated writer. She is the founder, photographer and recipe developer of Running to the Kitchen — a food website focused on providing healthy, wholesome recipes using fresh and seasonal ingredients. Her work has been featured in numerous media outlets both digital and print, including MSN, Huffington post, Buzzfeed, Women’s Health and Food Network.

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A person uses a small metal zester tool to remove thin strips of zest from a yellow lemon, with both hands visible. The person is wearing a white shirt and a blue striped apron.

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12 Comments

Those apple butter salted caramel bars are calling my name!
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This is such a delicious recipe! Can’t wait to try it!
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Running to the Kitchen

Hi, I'm Gina!

Running to the Kitchen is my creative outlet for all types of healthy, wholesome, and seasonal food that actually tastes good. You'll find a little bit of everything here, have fun exploring!