Healthy Greek Yogurt Frosting

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Greek yogurt frosting is refreshing and tasty without the addition of butter or cream cheese. Plus, it has far less sugar than many other frostings! It’s tangy and just the right amount of sweet.

healthy frosting

Yogurt frosting is wonderful on cakes and cupcakes and some of my readers have even mentioned that they use it as a fruit dip!

Ingredients

One of the challenges of making frosting without butter or cream cheese is getting it to thicken up so it doesn’t simply slide off of baked goods. The secret is gelatin [paid link]. Adding just a little plain gelatin to frosting keeps it from dripping without adding lots of calories!

If you’re a vegetarian, you can always use a vegetarian gelatin substitute. You’ll have to match the volume of gelatin and liquid to my recipe and alter that part of the instructions for your substitution.

Of course, the main ingredient in this frosting is plain Greek yogurt. You can also experiment with your favorite yogurt flavors!

How It’s Made

Place 3 tablespoons of water in a small bowl and sprinkle one teaspoon of gelatin over it. Distribute the gelatin as evenly as you can to avoid big clumps. You do not need to stir.

Adding gelatin to water

Let it sit for three minutes.

Microwave for 7 seconds or until the gelatin is dissolved.

Gelatin dissolved in water

Mix the yogurt, powdered sugar, and vanilla by hand or with an electric mixer.

Mixing yogurt and powdered sugar

Stir in the prepared gelatin.

Adding gelatin to Greek yogurt frosting

Cover and chill for three hours. When you remove it from the refrigerator, it will look a little like JELLO. Don’t worry – it doesn’t taste like it and it won’t have that consistency once you break it up.

A bowl of Greek yogurt frosting straight out of the fridge

Mix with an electric mixer or vigorously by hand to break it up.

Spread over desserts. This frosting can’t be piped.

Spreading Greek yogurt frosting

Refrigerate frosted desserts until ready to serve.

Expert Tips and FAQs

Cupcakes frosted with Greek yogurt frosting

Try using Greek yogurt frosting on fruity desserts like peach muffins, banana muffins, strawberry banana bread, and strawberry cupcakes.

Yogurt and honey are a classic combination and I love this frosting on honey cupcakes and honey cake, too.

How long will this frosting last?

Store any baked goods that use this frosting in the refrigerator. It will stay good for about one week.

Can I use vanilla yogurt instead of plain yogurt?

Yes! If you do so, you can leave off the vanilla extract. Also, cut back on the sugar in the recipe because most vanilla yogurts are sweetened.

Other Healthy Desserts

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3.74 from 23 votes

Greek Yogurt Frosting

Greek yogurt is a sweet and tangy healthier frosting alternative.
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings 12 servings
Calories 31kcal
Author Stefani

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons water
  • 1 teaspoon plain gelatin
  • 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
  • 1/2 cup powered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

  • Place water in a small microwave-safe bowl.
  • Sprinkle gelatin evenly over the top of the water. Avoid having any large clumps. Do not stir.
  • Let the gelatin sit for three minutes.
  • Microwave for seven seconds or until the gelatin dissolves.
  • Whisk together yogurt, powdered sugar, and vanilla.
  • Stir in prepared gelatin.
  • Place in the fridge for at least three hours.
  • Remove and stir until smooth.
  • Spread on baked goods.

Notes

For a twist, try using flavored Greek yogurt in this frosting. Keep in mind that flavored Greek yogurt is typically sweetened so you’ll want to cut back on the amount of sugar you add to the frosting.
This frosting can only be spread, not piped, and it must be kept refrigerated.

Nutrition

Calories: 31kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 7mg | Potassium: 24mg | Sugar: 5g | Calcium: 18mg
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