| |

Apple Butter Old Fashioned

The apple butter old-fashioned recipe is a bourbon-forward cocktail that looks stunning and ticks all the boxes: refreshing, pretty, and delicious. Made with apple butter and bourbon, this cocktail is a perfect fall drink that mixes apple cider and bitters with the warmth of the bourbon to keep away the autumn chill.

A sloped glass with the apple cocktail in it with an apple slices and cinnamon stick
Image Credit: Dishes Delish.

I love the old-fashioned cocktail and when I stumbled on the apple version of the drink, I knew I had to make it.

This is what I found: the heartiness of the apple butter complements the slightly sweet taste of bourbon and apple cider. And add a few drops of bitters to further even out the flavors and balance your cocktail perfectly.

Save This Recipe form

Want to save this recipe?

Enter your email below & we'll send it straight to your inbox. Plus you’ll get great new recipes from us every week!

We are a participant in Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. #CommisionsEarned. You can read my disclosure here.

Want to learn more about bourbon? Read my comprehensive article here.

Helpful
Tips
  • I recommend sugar-free apple butter, but if you can’t find one without sugar, try to get one that isn’t too sweet.
  • I love Woodford Reserve bitters. I have four different flavors: aromatic, orange, chocolate, and my favorite, spiced cherry. For this cocktail, I chose to use aromatic bitters.
  • Two good alternative bitters brands are Angostura and Peychaud’s.
  • Buy the best bourbon whiskey you can afford. I do think even a mid-level bourbon tastes better than bargain brands. A solid budget bourbon is Evan Williams.
  • Apples are in the top 12 fruits with heavy pesticides, so you must thoroughly wash an apple. Here’s how: Squirt some natural, unscented foaming hand soap in your hand and rub the soap on the apple. Take a vegetable brush and scrub the apple skin. Run cold water over the apple and rinse off all the soap. I buy my hand soap at Whole Foods.
  • I prefer large ice cubes in an old-fashioned glass. Here is the tray I use.
A short glass with the apple cider drink it it along with a cinnamon stick and apple slices
Photo Credit: Dishes Delish.

How to make an apple butter old fashioned

Pre-step

Wash an apple, get a cocktail shaker, and fill it halfway with ice. Also, get a measuring glass and two double old-fashioned glasses.

Cut an apple in half, core it, cut away four slices for garnish and set aside. Cinnamon sticks are another great garnish, but optional. If you have them, set 2 aside.

After measuring out the ingredients, pour them into the cocktail shaker.

Step one

Gather the ingredients – bourbon, apple butter, apple cider, and aromatic bitters.

Bourbon, apple butter, cider and bitters on a table
Image Credit: Dishes Delish.

Step two

Measure 4 ounces of bourbon. (A)

Step three

Measure 4 ounces of apple cider. (B)

Bourbon and cider measured out
Image Credit: Dishes Delish.

Step four

Measure 2 ounces of apple butter. (C)

Step five

Add 10 drops of aromatic bitters to the cocktail shaker. (D)

Apple butter measured out and a bottle of bitters
Image Credit: Dishes Delish.

Step six

Cap the cocktail shaker and shake for 15 seconds.

Step seven

Add ice cubes to the double old-fashioned glasses. Divide and strain the liquid between the two glasses.

Place a slice of apple and a cinnamon stick in the glass. Garnish the rim of each glass with a second apple slide.

A bunch of apple slices on a table with two apple drinks
Image Credit: Dishes Delish.

Let’s get a closer look.

A thick bottom glass filled with the old fashioned with a cinnamon stick and apple slices
Photo Credit: Dishes Delish.

And now the vertical view.

Vertical view of the heavy bottomed glass with the apple cocktail with apple slices and cinnamon stick
Image Credit: Dishes Delish.

Yum. The apple butter gives it such a lovely taste, wait til you try it.

I hope you enjoyed this apple butter old fashioned cocktail recipe! Let me know what you think when you try it.

Other festive cocktails

And as always, may all your dishes/drinks be delish!

If you’ve tried this recipe, I’d love to know your thoughts in the comments below. I love hearing from you! You can also FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOKTWITTERINSTAGRAM, and PINTEREST to see more of my delicious food and delightful cocktails!

A sloped glass filled with the apple cocktail with an apple slice and cinnamon stick as garnish

Apple Butter Old Fashioned

The apple butter old fashioned recipe is a bourbon forward cocktail that looks stunning and ticks all the boxes: refreshing, pretty, and delicious. Made with apple butter and bourbon, this cocktail is a perfect fall drink that mixes apple cider and bitters with the warmth of the bourbon to keep away the autumn chill.
5 from 13 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Cocktail
Cuisine: American
Keyword: apple butter cocktail, apple butter old fashioned
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 2 cocktails
Calories: 307kcal

Ingredients

  • 4 ounces bourbon
  • 4 ounces apple cider
  • 2 ounces apple butter (unsweetened)
  • 10 drops aromatic bitters

Garnish

  • 4 apple slices
  • 2 cinnamon sticks (optional)

Instructions

  • Get a cocktail shaker and fill halfway with ice. Also get a measuring glass, and glassware.
  • Add bourbon, apple cider, apple butter and bitters.
    4 ounces bourbon, 4 ounces apple cider, 2 ounces apple butter, 10 drops aromatic bitters
  • Cap shaker and shake for 15 seconds.
  • Add fresh ice to glasses and strain and divide the cocktail between the glasses. Add ice from the shaker as well.
  • Add 1 apple slice to each glass and 1 slice to the rim of the glasses. Add a cinnamon stick to each glass.
    4 apple slices, 2 cinnamon sticks
  • Sip
  • Smile
  • Enjoy
See all my favorite tools and gift ideas at my Amazon Store page!Check out Elaine’s Amazon Store!

Notes

Helpful tips
    • I recommend sugar-free apple butter, but if you can’t find one without sugar, try to get one that isn’t too sweet.
    • I love Woodford Reserve bitters. I have four different flavors: aromatic, orange, chocolate, and my favorite, spiced cherry. For this cocktail, I chose to use aromatic bitters.
    • Two good alternative bitters brands are Angostura and Peychaud’s.
    • Buy the best bourbon whiskey you can afford. I do think even a mid-level bourbon tastes better than bargain brands. A solid budget bourbon is Evan Williams.
    • Apples are in the top 12 fruits with heavy pesticides, so you must thoroughly wash an apple. Here’s how: Squirt some natural, unscented foaming hand soap in your hand and rub the soap on the apple. Take a vegetable brush and scrub the apple skin. Run cold water over the apple and rinse off all the soap. I buy my hand soap at Whole Foods.
    • I prefer large ice cubes in an old-fashioned glass. Here is the tray I use.
 

Nutrition

Serving: 1cocktail | Calories: 307kcal | Carbohydrates: 41g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 9mg | Potassium: 241mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 32g | Vitamin A: 74IU | Vitamin C: 12mg | Calcium: 62mg | Iron: 1mg
Get new recipes in your inbox!Click here! to sign up for our newsletter
Website | + posts

From lighting up stages with her BA in theater to food journalist, Elaine Benoit's journey is a testament to passion's transformative power. As the CEO of Dishes Delish, she offers a blend of healthy, comforting recipes and exquisitely crafted cocktails. Beyond the kitchen, Elaine voiced her culinary adventures on her podcast, "Dishing," and co-owns Food Blogger Help, extending her expertise to guide budding food bloggers to success. Whether it's for a heartwarming dish or insights into food blogging, Elaine's diverse experiences make her a beacon in the culinary digital landscape.

Similar Posts

22 Comments

  1. OMG this looks and SOUNDS amazing! It has all of the flavors I love! This is definitely on the menu for Halloween for us while we hand out treats!

  2. This was incredible! I’d never used apple butter in a drink before and am so glad I tried it. It’s just amazing, thank you!

  3. I love easy-to-make cocktails and this one definitely fits the bill, a great cocktail for the fall season, it looks so pretty!

  4. OMG, absolutely love the flavor apple butter brings to this classic cocktail! Definitely going into my fall drink rotation.

  5. What a perfect fall drink that highlights apple! This is going to be on my fall dinner menu for sure! Delicious!

  6. This looks so tasty and refreshing. A perfect drink to serve during the winter season and celebrate beautiful apples and seasonal flavors. I’m definitely going to make this. It’s such a simple drink too. Win!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating