Greek Yogurt Frosting

A simple recipe for vanilla-flavored Greek yogurt frosting, with a low-carb no-sugar option, using either stevia or Swerve Confectioners.

Thick, creamy and delicious, Greek yogurt frosting is a healthy, higher-protein alternative to recipes made with butter or cream cheese (although this keto cream cheese frosting is a good choice too).

The recipe below makes about 2 cups, which should enough to frost a single-layer cake or 12 cupcakes. You can easily double it if you need more.

The ingredients you’ll need

You’ll only need three simple ingredients to make this tasty frosting (exact measurements are listed in the recipe card below):

1. Greek yogurt: Use plain full-fat yogurt for the best results, and make sure it’s Greek. Regular yogurt will be too runny for this recipe.
2. Vanilla extract: Choose a high-quality pure vanilla extract. In such a simple recipe, it makes a difference.
3. Sweetener: Your choice! You can use powdered sugar, Swerve Confectioners, or stevia. I usually use stevia, which I believe is a safe sweetener.

How to make Greek yogurt frosting

It’s so easy! Scroll down to the recipe card for the detailed instructions. Here are the basic steps:

1. Strain the yogurt for at least two hours, and preferably overnight. This is an annoying step, but you really shouldn’t skip it, or the frosting will end up too liquid.
2. Mix. Using an electric hand mixer set on medium speed, beat together the strained yogurt, the vanilla, and the sweetener until the frosting thickens. You can also whisk by hand if you prefer.
3. Refrigerate the frosting while you bake your cake or cupcakes. This will allow the frosting to further thicken and stabilize.

Why you should strain the Greek yogurt

This is not a last-minute type of recipe, because straining the yogurt is a must in order to achieve a thick enough consistency.

Greek yogurt has already been strained and is much thicker than “regular” yogurt. But to use it as frosting we need to get rid of even the small amount of whey that it still contains.

Once we do, whipping it with powdered sugar (or stevia and coconut flour) and then chilling it allows it to thicken enough to be used as frosting.

How long will it hold?

I’m not sure. It’s definitely softer than your typical buttercream or cream cheese frosting. But if you follow the steps listed below in the recipe card, it will hold its shape once piped onto cupcakes – and it is delicious. 

I typically make it and use it right away. It’s possible that it won’t hold for more than a few hours. But I truly don’t know.

How to use Greek yogurt frosting

Use it to frost cakes or cupcakes. I sometimes use it to frost these keto chocolate cupcakes instead of using the peanut butter frosting. It’s a very tasty combination!

No-Sugar option

For a low carb and healthier version of this recipe, try replacing the powdered sugar with Confectioners Swerve. Unlike regular powdered sugar, Swerve does not contain cornstarch, so the low carb Greek yogurt frosting won’t be as thick as the high-carb one.

Another alternative is to use stevia glycerite, as I do in the video below. I like stevia glycerite because it nearly eliminates the bitter aftertaste that so many people object to when it comes to stevia.

When using stevia, I like to add two tablespoons of coconut flour to the frosting. This helps thicken it and make it more durable. But don’t add more than two tablespoons, or the frosting will become grainy (speaking from experience).

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Greek Yogurt Frosting

A simple recipe for vanilla flavored Greek yogurt frosting, with a low carb no sugar option, using stevia or Swerve Confectioners.

Prep Time10 mins

Rest time2 hrs 30 mins

Total Time2 hrs 40 mins

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: frosting, greek yogurt

Servings: 12 servings

Calories: 76kcal

Author: Vered DeLeeuw

INGREDIENTS

• 2 cups plain Greek yogurt (I use Fage 5%)
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 1 cup powdered sugar (or 1 cup Swerve Confectioners, or 1 TBSP stevia glycerite)
• 2 tablespoons coconut flour (if using stevia)

INSTRUCTIONS

• Place a fine-mesh strainer over a small bowl. Place the yogurt in the strainer. Wrap with plastic wrap and place in the fridge to drain, at least two hours and preferably overnight. This step is important. Otherwise, the yogurt will be too liquid to make a proper frosting.
• Using an electric hand mixer set on medium speed, beat together the strained yogurt, the vanilla, and the sweetener (and coconut flour if using) until the frosting thickens, about 2 minutes.
• Cover and place in the fridge for 30 minutes, while you bake your cake or cupcakes.
• To frost your cupcakes, wait until they are completely cool. Then fill a quart-size Ziploc bag with the frosting, snip the corner and use to pipe frosting onto the cupcakes. Or simply use a spatula to spread frosting on the cupcakes.

WATCH THE VIDEO:

NOTES

The sugar-free option has 37 calories and 1 gram of carbs per serving (this excludes sugar alcohol carbs). 

This recipe makes enough frosting for 12 cupcakes. Nutrition info is for 1/12 recipe – the frosting needed for one cupcake.

NUTRITION INFO Nutrition info is approximate and may contain errors. It is calculated using the SparkPeople.com recipe calculator, and the carb count excludes sugar alcohols. Please feel free to make your own calculations. Please read the disclaimers in our Terms of Use carefully before using any of our recipes. Recommended and linked products are not guaranteed to be gluten-free. Please verify they are before using.

Nutrition Facts

Greek Yogurt Frosting

Amount Per Serving

Calories 76 Calories from Fat 18

% Daily Value*

Fat 2g3%

Saturated Fat 1g6%

Sodium 13mg1%

Carbohydrates 11g4%

Sugar 11g12%

Protein 3g6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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