Welcome to Apple Week Day 2! Today’s apple post is all about making apple cider buttercream! Apple cider is another delicious treat during this time of the year. You can serve it hot to warm you up on a cold night, or have it as a cold, crisp, and refreshing drink. One way to get some delicious apple cider into your Fall desserts is to make a simple American-style apple cider buttercream. You can use it in making cakes, cupcakes, macarons, etc. to add another yummy apple element to your dessert. When you combine this buttercream with apple compote in your desserts, they boost the apple flavor while also providing two different, yet complimentary, textures of apple. You can find my apple compote recipe here.

Step 1: Reduce the Apple Cider

Reduced apple cider is a great way to boost the apple flavor in your desserts because the apple cider’s flavor becomes more concentrated as the water is removed. I like to reduce the apple cider to approximately 1/3 to ¼ of the original amount of apple cider. For example, I reduced one gallon (16 cups) of apple cider to approximately 4.5-5 cups, which falls right in between 1/3 to ¼.

Add 8 cups of apple cider to a large pot and bring it to a boil on the stove. Once it begins to boil, lower the heat to a medium-low heat and let the apple cider simmer until it is reduced to at least 2.5 cups. Once the apple cider is sufficiently reduced, remove from the stove and pour into an air-tight container. Allow for the apple cider to sufficiently cool to room temperature before placing the lid on the container and storing it in the refrigerator for up to 7 days. Reducing the apple cider should be done at least a few hours before making the apple cider buttercream, but I personally like to do this step at least a day or two in advance.

Step 2: Cream the Butter

Use either a stand mixer or hand mixer to whip the room-temperature butter on high for approximately 5 minutes, or until the butter becomes light and fluffy.

Step 3: Add the Sifted Powdered Sugar

Sifting your powdered sugar either directly into the mixing bowl or into a separate bowl. Add the sifted powdered sugar to the mixing bowl and mix on a low speed. Once the powdered sugar is incorporated, turn your mixer to a medium-high speed to whip the ingredients together and make a fluffy buttercream, approximately 1-2 minutes.

Step 4: Add Reduced Apple Cider, Apple Cider Drink Mix, and Salt

Add the reduced apple cider, apple cider drink mix, and salt. Mix on a medium-high speed until well incorporated. Your buttercream is now complete and ready to use on any number of delicious desserts!

Apple Cider Buttercream

Recipe by Carly PrestonCourse: DessertCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy

Prep time

30

minutes

Cooking time

30

minutes

Ingredients

• 2 sticks unsalted butter

• 3 cups powdered sugar

• 1 1/2 tablespoons reduced apple cider

• 1 1/2 teaspoons spiced apple cider instant drink mix

• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Directions

• Add 8 cups of apple cider to a large pot and bring it to a boil on the stove. Once it begins to boil, lower the heat to a medium-low heat and let the apple cider simmer until it is reduced to at least 2.5 cups. Once the apple cider is sufficiently reduced, remove from the stove and pour into an air-tight container. Allow for the apple cider to sufficiently cool to room temperature before placing the lid on the container and storing it in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.
• Use either a stand mixer or hand mixer to whip the room-temperature butter on high for approximately 5 minutes, or until the butter becomes light and fluffy.
• Sifting your powdered sugar either directly into the mixing bowl or into a separate bowl. Add the sifted powdered sugar to the mixing bowl and mix on a low speed. Once the powdered sugar is incorporated, turn your mixer to a medium-high speed to whip the ingredients together and make a fluffy buttercream, approximately 1-2 minutes.
• Add the reduced apple cider, apple cider drink mix, and salt. Mix on a medium-high speed until well incorporated. Your buttercream is now complete and ready to use on any number of delicious desserts!

Thank you so much for checking out this recipe! Please leave a comment below regarding how you like this recipe and what you make with your apple cider buttercream!