Angela, 

According to the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Freeze-drying of some non-potentially hazardous foods like candies or raw fruits (other than cut melon or cut tomatoes and leafy greens) is allowable under the cottage food law if the freeze-drying is conducted in a commercial freeze dryer to completion.  Typically, if it was previously allowed as a Cottage Food item to be sold, then it is allowed to be freeze-dried and sold.  The Barb-bites and Becky's Bites would be allowed; however the Spanish Rice would NOT be allowed.  

The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has reviewed and approved the recipes from Kansas University State Extension’s, their Simple Buttercream recipe available free for download and the recipe from Texas State Extension, American Buttercream recipe from Come and Bake It: Original Edition, available for purchase. These recipes can be used only if they are followed exactly with no changes in proportions of ingredients, additions, or subtractions. Other Buttercream recipes, in other recipe books, or online sources have not been reviewed or approved for use. I would have the cottage food operator to have the recipe that they use with them at the market so you know which approved butter cream frosting they are using. 

They are allowed to purchase a commercially prepared, shelf-stable buttercream frosting as long as it does not have a label stating "Keep Refrigerated" or "Refrigerate After Opening“. There are also two lab tested shelf-stable recipes.

Please let me know if you have any other questions. 

Kellie Jordan

Food Safety Instructor - Think Food Safety

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