What kind of yogurt do you use to dip the treats in?

I have seen yogurt dipped treats and was wondering what to use or how you do it.

Chef's Answer ~ There are several recipes for yogurt icing, but I've included one to get you started.

What you need to keep in mind is that most commercial yogurt coatings have many artificial chemicals, preservatives and other undesirable ingredients, so duplicating these recipes can be difficult or impossible for the home chef. Then those that do not use undesirable ingredients use such a small ratio of yogurt that it hardly seems like a yogurt coating!

So, what's a dog treat chef to do? Compromise. I have done some research and have found an alternative. The alternative still uses confectioners sugar, but the ratio of yogurt is higher. Dog treats dipped or drizzled in this yogurt coating should still be an occasional treat because of the high amount of sugar. You can also color the coating with food coloring liquid or paste.

Yogurt Dog Treat Icing:

8 oz. yogurt cream cheese (see instructions below)

1/4 cup butter

6 c. powdered sugar

1 1/2 tsp. vanilla

Combine yogurt cream cheese and butter in heavy bottomed saucepan. Stir over low heat until butter is melted, yogurt cream cheese is soft and mixture is well combined. Transfer to a large bowl or mixer. Add powdered sugar, one cup at a time, until frosting is thick and creamy but not dry. Next, add vanilla. Using tongs or chop sticks, dip dog treats into the mixture and place on waxed paper to dry. It will take at least 4 hours (even overnight) to dry. The time variance depends on the humidity and climate. You can speed this process up by placing in the refrigerator.

Yogurt Cream Cheese

1 quart plain yogurt, (low or fat free)

Line a large fine mesh strainer with cheese cloth. Place the strainer over a bowl and then place the yogurt in the strainer and let drain overnight in the refrigerator. Cover the bowl and strainer with plastic wrap so nothing will accidentally drop into the draining yogurt. After 12 hours, take the cheese cloth and very gently squeeze any remaining moisture out of the cheese. Empty the whey from the bowl and let stand another 8 hours in the refrigerator. Place your cheese in a clean container and your yogurt cheese is ready to use.

Hope this helps you in decorating your dog treats with yogurt dog treat icing! :)

Comments for What kind of yogurt do you use to dip the treats in?

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Hardening Yogurt Dog Treat Icing
by: natasha

I sell homemade dog treats at my local market.

Does the icing stay hard or does it always need to be refrigerated? I am searching for a yogurt coating which i can make at home using locally purchased products (yogurt, butter, etc).. any idea if this would be suitable?

Chef's Comments ~ Yes, this yogurt icing should harden. You'll need to do your own experiments regarding how long the icing can be out of refrigeration. It depends on your local environments temperature and humidity levels.

drain yogurt in refrigerator?
by: Nicole

Do you drain the yogurt in the refrigerator? I'm assuming so, but it doesn't say, so I want to be sure!

Chef's Answer ~ Yes, drain the yogurt in the fridge. Sorry I didn't add that to the instructions, I'll change that right away. :)

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