Hot day. Tail wagging. Those puppy dog eyes while you’re enjoying an ice cream. Sound familiar? You’d think your dogs deserve a scoop of ice cream on a hot day just as much as you and, well, it’s not hard to make them. No chemicals, no additives, just delicious and safe ingredients from your pantry.
I began experimenting with frozen treats for my dog after looking at the label on a commercial treat and having to read it with a magnifying glass. Never again. These 10 Homemade Frozen Dog Treats are easy (and healthy) and your pup will think you won the Food Network Challenge.
What You Need Before You Start
Before we jump into the recipes, let’s talk basics. Most of these treats use ingredients you probably already have hanging around.
The staples you’ll need:
- Plain Greek yogurt (unsweetened always)
- Natural peanut butter (must be xylitol-free this is non-negotiable)
- Dog-safe fruits like bananas, strawberries, blueberries, and watermelon
- Unsweetened applesauce
- 100% pure pumpkin puree (NOT pumpkin pie filling)
The molds can be ice cube trays. For a more decorative look, silicone paw or bone shaped molds are adorable. IMO, I think the paw ones are too cute to be used for dog treats.
Table of Contents
1. Classic Dog Ice Cream (Only 3 Ingredients!)
Ingredients
- 1 cup plain Greek yogurt (unsweetened)
- 2 tablespoons natural peanut butter (xylitol-free)
- 1 ripe banana
Recipe: Blend the mashed banana in a mixing bowl. Add peanut butter and Greek yogurt to it, and mix all the ingredients till you have a creamy consistency. Spoon the mixture into ice trays or silicone molds. Place them in the freezer for 4-6 hours. Remove and feed your doggy one by one.
2. Frozen Applesauce and Blueberry Treats
Ingredients:
- 1 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 2 tbsp xylitol-free peanut butter
- ½ cup fresh or frozen blueberries
Recipe: Combine the applesauce and peanut butter in a bowl thoroughly. Then carefully incorporate the blueberries. Spoon into molds shaped like paws, ensuring that there are a few blueberries in each mold. Place in the freezer for 4 to 6 hours before serving.
You can use fresh or frozen blueberries here either works just fine.
3. Peanut Butter and Jelly Frozen Treats
Ingredients:
- ½ cup xylitol-free peanut butter
- ½ cup strawberries, hulled and sliced
- ½ cup blueberries or raspberries
- ¼ cup plain Greek yogurt
Recipe: Blend the berries until they become chunky. Combine the peanut butter and yogurt separately in another container. Put the peanut butter mixture at the bottom of the mold, followed by the berry mixture. Place the popsicles in the freezer for 4 to 6 hours. Enjoy!
Pop them into paw-shaped molds for extra charm and watch your dog demolish them in approximately three seconds flat.
4. Fresh Breath Frozen Dog Treats
Okay, real talk dog breath can be rough. These homemade frozen fresh breath dog treats are a game-changer.
ingredients:
- Plain Greek yogurt
- Fresh mint (avoid English pennyroyal mint it’s toxic to dogs)
- Curly parsley only (flat-leaf parsley is a no-go for dogs)
Recipe: Chop the parsley and mint leaves as finely as you can. Mix these ingredients with the Greek yogurt until well combined. Transfer the green concoction to your paw-shaped silicone mold and freeze. In the morning, your furry friend will have a fresh-smelling kiss! 🐾
5. Watermelon and Blueberry Frozen Treats
Ingredients:
- 2 cups seedless watermelon, cubed (no rind, no seeds)
- ¼ cup water
- ½ cup fresh or frozen blueberries
Recipe: Mix the watermelon chunks with water till you get a puree consistency. Put in 3-4 berries per cavity of the ice cube tray. Pour the mixture on top of the blueberries to fill the tray. Freeze for 5-6 hours.
These are light, refreshing, and dogs go absolutely crazy for them. It’s practically impossible to go wrong here.
6. Peanut Butter Pumpkin Frozen Treats
Pumpkin and peanut butter together? Your dog is going to lose it.
Ingredients:
- ½ cup 100% pure pumpkin puree (NOT pie filling)
- ¼ cup xylitol-free peanut butter
- ½ cup plain Greek yogurt
Recipe: In a bowl, mix the pumpkin puree, peanut butter, and Greek yogurt together. Mix until the mixture becomes creamy and thick, with an orange color. Pour the mixture into silicone molds and make sure to even out the top using the back of a spoon. Let it freeze for 5 to 6 hours.
7. Homemade Strawberry Ice Cream for Dogs
Ingredients:
- 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1 cup strawberries, hulled (fresh or plain frozen)
Recipe: Put strawberries and Greek yogurt in the blender. Blend until it is completely smooth, around 30-45 seconds. Pour the pink blend into bone-shaped or paw-shaped molds. Freeze for 4-6 hours and wait for 1-2 minutes before serving your doggy!
This one is particularly popular during summertime and looks absolutely adorable molded in the shape of bones. Your dog will steal the show at all backyard get-togethers.
8. Pumpkin Ice Cream for Dogs
Ingredients:
- 1 cup 100% pure pumpkin puree (NOT pie filling)
- 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
Recipe: Blend the pumpkin and the Greek yogurt in a bowl to make sure it is well-blended. Place the blended mixture into your silicone molds. Give the mold a few taps against the counter top to get rid of any air bubbles. Place in freezer for 5 to 6 hours before enjoying!
This one is great year-round, not just in summer pumpkin is a flavor dogs seem to enjoy no matter the season.
9. Applesauce and Pumpkin Frozen Treats
Apples and pumpkins are too difficult to choose from? How about having both? This is an amazing recipe that blends applesauce (unsweetened) with pumpkin puree in one bite.
Ingredients:
- ½ cup unsweetened applesauce
- ½ cup 100% pure pumpkin puree
- 2 tbsp plain Greek yogurt (optional)
Recipe: Combine the applesauce, pumpkin puree, and yogurt if you wish to use any. The paste will become golden orange when combined. Spread the mixture into the paw molds and make sure the top surface is even and level. Leave them to freeze for 4 to 6 hours.
10. Strawberry Banana Frozen Treats
And last, but certainly not least, there’s the combination of strawberry, banana, and peanut butter, which is sure to be a hit with any dog no matter the size or breed
Ingredients:
- 1 ripe banana
- ½ cup strawberries, hulled and sliced
- 2 tbsp xylitol-free peanut butter
- 2 tbsp plain Greek yogurt (optional)
Recipe: Place the banana, strawberries, peanut butter, and yogurt in the blender. Blend everything until very smooth, which takes around 45 to 60 seconds. Next, pour the peach pink color blend in the bone shaped silicon molds. Allow the blend to freeze in the freezer for 4 to 6 hours.
Quick Cheat Sheet
| # | Treat | Key Ingredients | Freeze Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Classic Dog Ice Cream | Yogurt, PB, Banana | 4–6 hrs |
| 2 | Applesauce & Blueberry | Applesauce, PB, Blueberries | 4–6 hrs |
| 3 | PB & Jelly | PB, Mixed Berries, Yogurt | 4–6 hrs |
| 4 | Fresh Breath Treats | Yogurt, Mint, Parsley | 6+ hrs |
| 5 | Watermelon & Blueberry | Watermelon, Blueberries | 5–6 hrs |
| 6 | PB Pumpkin | Pumpkin, PB, Yogurt | 5–6 hrs |
| 7 | Strawberry Ice Cream | Yogurt, Strawberries | 4–6 hrs |
| 8 | Pumpkin Ice Cream | Pumpkin, Yogurt | 5–6 hrs |
| 9 | Applesauce & Pumpkin | Applesauce, Pumpkin | 4–6 hrs |
| 10 | Strawberry Banana | Strawberry, Banana, PB | 4–6 hrs |
Quick Tips to Keep in Mind
Before you start whipping up batches of frozen goodness, here are a few important reminders:
- Always use xylitol-free peanut butter xylitol is toxic to dogs
- Stick to unsweetened Greek yogurt it’s easier for dogs to digest
- Use 100% pumpkin puree, never pie filling
- Only use curly parsley in fresh breath treats, not flat-leaf
- Avoid English pennyroyal mint, opt for standard fresh mint instead
- Fresh or frozen berries both work in most recipes
- Silicone molds make popping treats out much easier than plastic trays
Final Thoughts
The truth is that making frozen dog treats doesn’t demand any cooking abilities whatsoever, nor does it require a fully equipped kitchen. On top of that, preparing dog treats takes less than 10 minutes, and uses cheap materials only. And your pet gets an awesome treat, while you have a chance to become a wonderful dog owner.
Pick any recipe that takes your fancy, or why not try making several different batches during a Sunday afternoon session and store them in your freezer? Your dog is going to love it all week long, and you won’t feel bad about giving him one at all!
So go on grab those ice cube trays and get freezing. Your pup’s been patient enough.
