Just looked up ARIZONA'S Cottage Food Laws... this must have changed in the past couple of years. We have a lot of cookiers here in Arizona... has anyone stopped using Meringue Powder?
Frosting and Seasonal Foods
Here is the scoop: frostings, icings, and fillings must be shelf-stable, not require refrigeration, and should not support the growth of microorganisms. They cannot contain dairy items like milk, cream, butter, margarine, egg, whipping cream, cream cheese, or meringue powder. Dairy alternatives that require refrigeration (plant “milks”, aquafaba, vegan butter) are also not allowed.
Some potential substitutions can be found in the table below. You can use these substitutions or any other substitutions that do not require refrigeration after opening or reconstituting. Remember that some items that are shelf-stable in the grocery store aren’t shelf-stable after opening, including vegan ingredients like soy milk or coconut milk.
| For... | Instead of... | Try... |
|---|---|---|
| Royal icing | Meringue Powder Eggs | Soaked Chia Seeds Soaked Flax Seeds Corn Syrup and Sugar |
| Buttercream | Butter | Shortening Coconut Oil Ghee (Clarified Butter) |
| Ganache | Cream | Beer Coffee Pureed Fruit |
| Other | Flavored Bakery Emulsions Cashew Frosting (Those with Coconut Oil, Not Those with Plant “Milks”) | |
Examples of approved icings include: confectioners’ sugar icing, candy clay, glazes, gum paste, and fondant.
Food products not approved under the Home Baked and Confectionery Goods Program (including food products that have unapproved frostings, fillings, or icings) fall under county regulation, and must be prepared in a licensed and inspected commercial kitchen.