Apple Cider Vinaigrette with Apple Butter

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

This homemade apple cider vinaigrette with apple butter brings together sweet apple cider, tangy apple cider vinegar, and rich apple butter for a flavorful dressing that’s lovely on fresh salads. A little Dijon mustard and honey or maple syrup round out the apple flavors without making the dressing complicated.

Homemade apple cider vinaigrette with apple butter in a vintage glass cruet beside a red apple on rust-colored linen.

I tested this apple cider dressing using a simple shake-in-a-jar method, and it turned out great! Everything goes into one jar, so there’s no need for a blender, whisk, or cooking.

It’s a wonderful way to use some of your favorite apple ingredients in everyday cooking. If you enjoy making things from scratch, you can even use my Homemade Apple Cider recipe for the sweet cider in this dressing.

Add As A Trusted Google Source

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Three Layers of Apple Flavor – Sweet drinking cider, apple cider vinegar, and apple butter each bring something different to this homemade vinaigrette.
Simple Jar Method – Just add the ingredients to a jar, secure the lid, and shake. No special equipment or cooking required.
Perfect for Seasonal Salads – The sweet and tangy apple flavors pair naturally with fresh greens, crisp apples, nuts, and hearty fall salads like this Apple Harvest Salad.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Labeled ingredients for homemade apple cider vinaigrette, including apple butter, sweet apple cider, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, maple syrup, black pepper, and oil.

Apple Cider and Apple Cider Vinegar – These are two different ingredients, and you’ll need both. Sweet drinking apple cider brings the apple flavor, while apple cider vinegar provides the tangy acidity that makes this a vinaigrette.
Apple Butter – This adds concentrated apple flavor, natural sweetness, and a little body to the dressing. It gives this version its distinctive apple-forward character.
Dijon Mustard and Oil – Dijon adds a savory note and helps the oil and vinegar come together when shaken. You can use either vegetable oil or avocado oil, as listed in the recipe.
A full ingredient list with exact amounts can be found in the recipe card below.

Close-up of creamy apple cider vinaigrette in a decorative glass bottle with a red apple and dried flowers in the background.

Variations & Add-Ins

Use Maple Syrup – Choose the maple syrup option instead of honey for a slightly different sweetness that complements the apple flavors.
Choose Avocado Oil – Use avocado oil instead of vegetable oil for the oil portion of the dressing. Both are included in the original recipe.
Adjust the Seasoning – Add freshly ground white pepper and a pinch of salt to taste, using the seasoning amounts that suit your preference.

Recipe Tips

Use sweet drinking apple cider – This recipe calls for both apple cider and apple cider vinegar. They aren’t interchangeable. The drinking cider brings sweetness and apple flavor, while the vinegar gives the dressing its tang.

Choose a jar with a tight-fitting lid – You’ll be shaking everything together, so make sure the lid is secure before you begin.

Don’t leave out the Dijon mustard – It adds flavor and helps the oil and vinegar blend together when you shake the dressing.

Shake again before serving – Homemade vinaigrettes can naturally separate as they sit. Give the jar another good shake to bring the ingredients back together.

How To Make Apple Cider Vinaigrette

Add the ingredients to a jar – Pour the vegetable or avocado oil, apple cider vinegar, and sweet drinking apple cider into a jar. Add the apple butter, Dijon mustard, honey or maple syrup, freshly ground black or white pepper, and a pinch of salt.
Secure the lid and shake – Place the lid tightly on the jar and shake until all the ingredients are well combined.
Serve the vinaigrette – Your apple cider vinaigrette is ready to use. Pour it over this Apple Harvest Salad or your favorite salad, giving the jar another shake if the dressing has started to separate.

Storage Suggestions

Refrigerator – Store the finished vinaigrette in a clean, tightly covered jar in the refrigerator. Because this dressing contains fresh apple cider, use a conservative storage approach and plan to enjoy it within 3–4 days. This is general storage guidance, not a tested shelf life for this particular recipe.
Before serving – The oil and vinegar may separate while refrigerated. Shake the jar well before using. If the oil thickens in the refrigerator, let the covered jar sit briefly at room temperature until the dressing can be shaken again.
Freezer – Freezing isn’t recommended for this dressing because the oil-and-vinegar mixture may separate after thawing.

Ways to Use Your Apple Cider Vinaigrette

I originally made this apple cider vinaigrette for this Apple Harvest Salad with roasted delicata squash. The dressing turned out so well that I wanted to share it separately for anyone looking for a homemade apple cider salad dressing.

Autumn Harvest Salad – Drizzle it over this Apple Harvest Salad with crisp apples, fresh greens, roasted delicata squash, and all those cozy fall flavors.
Fresh green salads – Toss it with your favorite greens, crisp apple slices, and toasted walnuts for a simple seasonal salad.
Roasted vegetable salads – Pair it with roasted vegetables, especially delicata squash. This post How to Cook Delicata Squash is a wonderful way to bring those sweet and tangy fall flavors together.
Grain bowls – Drizzle it over cooked farro, fresh greens, and your favorite vegetables for an easy lunch or dinner.
Everyday side salads – You don’t have to save this dressing for autumn! It’s a lovely way to add a little sweet and tangy apple flavor to a simple green salad any time of year.

Fork lifting a bite of apple harvest salad with roasted delicata squash, leafy greens, feta cheese, and apple butter cider vinaigrette.

FAQs

No, you’ll want to use both ingredients as written. Sweet drinking apple cider adds apple flavor and sweetness, while apple cider vinegar provides the tangy flavor. Replacing the drinking cider with more vinegar would make the dressing much more acidic.

Oil and vinegar naturally separate as the dressing sits. Dijon mustard helps them blend when shaken, but it doesn’t guarantee they’ll stay mixed. Just give the jar another good shake before serving.

Apple butter is an important part of this particular recipe. It adds concentrated apple flavor, sweetness, and body. Leaving it out would change the dressing, and I haven’t tested that variation.

Yes! The tested recipe includes either honey or maple syrup. Both are options for adding a little sweetness to balance the tangy apple cider vinegar.

Because this dressing contains sweet drinking apple cider, I recommend keeping it refrigerated in a tightly covered jar and using it within 3–4 days as a conservative guideline. Shake well before serving, and discard the dressing if it develops an unusual smell, appearance, or mold.

More Cozy Recipes from the Cottage

Join the Cozy Cottage Community Today!

Get from-scratch recipes, seasonal cottage living tips, and cozy cottage living inspiration delivered straight to your inbox.

⭐️ Rate This Recipe

Made this recipe? Leave a star ⭐️ rating below, it means the world to me and helps my recipes get found by more people like you. Tag me on Instagram @themoderndaycottage

If you made this recipe, please leave a comment or question below! I’d love to hear how it turned out and am always happy to help troubleshoot.

Want more from The Cottage? Subscribe here for freshly milled flour, sourdough, and from-scratch recipes, plus slow living inspiration from my cottage straight to your inbox.

Add As A Trusted Google Source

Apple Cider Vinaigrette with Apple Butter

Author: Emily Rider

This homemade apple cider vinaigrette combines sweet drinking apple cider, tangy apple cider vinegar, and rich apple butter with Dijon mustard and a touch of honey or maple syrup. Just add everything to a jar and shake for a simple, flavorful homemade salad dressing.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep:5

Total:5

Course: Condiments and Seasonings, Salad Dressing

Cuisine: American

Equipment

Glass jar with a tight-fitting lid
Measuring Cups and Spoons

Ingredients

▢ ⅓ cup vegetable or avocado oil 73 g
▢ ⅓ cup apple cider vinegar 80 g
▢ ⅓ cup sweet apple cider the drink, 80 g
▢ 2 tablespoons apple butter 30 g
▢ 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard 15 g
▢ 2 teaspoons honey 14 g, or maple syrup, 13 g
▢ Freshly ground white or black pepper to taste
▢ A pinch of salt to taste

Instructions

Add the ingredients to a jar – Pour the vegetable or avocado oil, apple cider vinegar, and sweet drinking apple cider into a jar. Add the apple butter, Dijon mustard, honey or maple syrup, freshly ground black or white pepper, and a pinch of salt.
Secure the lid and shake – Place the lid tightly on the jar and shake until all the ingredients are well combined.
Serve the vinaigrette – Your apple cider vinaigrette is ready to use. Pour it over your favorite salad, giving the jar another shake if the dressing has started to separate.

Notes

Sweet Apple Cider – Use sweet drinking apple cider along with apple cider vinegar. The cider adds natural apple sweetness, while the vinegar gives the dressing its tangy flavor.

Ingredient Options – Vegetable oil or avocado oil both work well in this recipe. You can also use honey or maple syrup and freshly ground black or white pepper, whichever you prefer.

Shake Before Serving – Homemade vinaigrettes naturally separate as they sit. Give the jar a good shake to bring everything back together before serving.

Refrigerator Storage – Store the vinaigrette in a tightly covered jar in the refrigerator and plan to use it within 3–4 days. This is a conservative storage recommendation, not a tested shelf life for this recipe.

Yield & Serving Size – Makes approximately 1¼ cups of homemade apple cider vinaigrette, or 10 servings of 2 tablespoons each.

Nutrition

Calories: 806kcal, Carbohydrates: 36g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 73g, Saturated Fat: 11g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 42g, Monounsaturated Fat: 17g, Trans Fat: 0.5g, Sodium: 178mg, Potassium: 198mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 32g, Vitamin A: 19IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 27mg, Iron: 1mg

Close-up of a woman in a peach blouse smiling and leaning against a kitchen counter, with fresh flour and wheat berries visible beside her.

Emily Rider

Home miller since 1999 with fresh-milled flour & sourdough experience. Sharing from-scratch recipes and traditional kitchen skills, rooted in the seasons and inspired by everyday cottage living and seasonal rhythms.

About Me

Homemade Apple Cider Vinaigrette Recipe