The Best Homemade Frozen Dog Treats Recipes
From ice cream to lemonade, we definitely turn to food and drink to help keep us cool during summer. So why should our dogs be any different?
Sure, a banana split sporting scoops of rocky road and drowned with chocolate sauce definitely isn’t in the cards for pups. But a frozen peanut butter dog treat (or one made from pumpkin or yogurt) sure is! Read on, to learn how to make frozen dog treats.
*You know that frustrating phrase, everything in moderation? Well, the same applies to dogs. Especially when it comes to cold treats, which can cause stomach upset—or in the worst case, bloat—when consumed quickly in large amounts.
Frozen Yogurt Dog Treats
We’re not going to lie…we’ve purchased our pup frozen yogurt from an ice cream stand plenty of times during summer (hey, we’re indulging, why shouldn’t he?). But simply freezing plain yogurt bypasses the added sugar and preservatives found in the store-bought dairy treat, and allows you to serve your pup an unadulterated dose of gut-healthy probiotics instead!
We especially love adding another colorful layer to these dog frozen treats, like pumpkin. As with yogurt, it’s great for doggie digestion. “Ice cream” that settles the stomach? Sold! Or instead of making frozen pumpkin dog treats, transform this into a sweet potato dog treats recipe, by adding a vibrantly orange swipe of fiber-rich pureed yam instead!
Ingredients
½ cup lowfat plain yogurt
½ cup unsweetened pumpkin puree (not pie filling) or unsweetened sweet potato puree
Silicone ice cube tray or candy mold
Method
Using a teaspoon, fill the indentations of your silicone tray half-way up with yogurt. Use the back of your spoon to make sure the yogurt is flat/level. Place the tray in the freezer for at least 15 minutes to set.
Remove the tray, and fill the indentations the rest of the way up with pumpkin/sweet potato. Use the back of your spoon to make sure it’s level. Place the tray in the freezer for at least 15 more minutes to set.
Keep in the freezer until ready to serve, then pop out your layered treats out and enjoy!
Best in Show: Create a calming CBD dog treat recipe, by folding a bit of CBD oil for dogs into the yogurt or pumpkin before layering and freezing.
Frozen Banana Dog Treats
To be honest, sliced, frozen bananas are an awesome healthy dog treat recipe all on their own. Not to mention people treat…we try to keep a few next to our pint of ice cream, in an occasionally successful attempt to make better life choices 🙂
And when frozen and blended, frozen bananas actually have the texture of ice cream! It’s especially fun to add complementary flavors to the mix, like PB for a peanut butter dog treat recipe, or applesauce for an apple dog treat recipe.
You can scoop the frosty concoction into a bowl to enjoy as is, but we like taking the extra step of creating cute shapes, for enjoying after a hot walk or a refreshing run through the sprinklers.
Did we mean you, or the dog? That’s on you to decide.
Ingredients
2 bananas
¼ cup smooth peanut butter (make sure the brand you use doesn’t contain xylitol, which is toxic for dogs) or applesauce
Silicone mat or wax paper
Cookie cutters
Method
Slice your peeled bananas, and place slices on a baking sheet lined with a silicone mat or wax paper. Put the bananas in the freezer for at least 30 minutes.
Put the frozen bananas in a blender, and process until they form a thick puree, scraping down the sides of the blender with a rubber spatula as needed. Add the peanut butter and process until incorporated.
Transfer the mixture to the lined sheet, and use the rubber spatula to spread into a flat, even rectangle about ½-inch thick. Place in the freezer for at least 1 hour.
Once the mixture is frozen, use your cookie cutters to cut into shapes, and keep in the freezer until ready to serve!
Best in Show: Add a drizzle of fatty acid-rich oil (such as salmon, flaxseed, or coconut oil) to the bananas before blending. Not only are they natural anti-inflammatories, they’ll help create a smoother consistency.
And don’t forget the fresh-cooked dog treats!
After being gently-cooked in human-grade kitchens, PetPlate is flash-frozen to lock in freshness. And when it’s especially steamy outside, we don’t even bother defrosting it…our pup happily licks his refreshing entrée straight out of the cup!
So in case you hadn’t guessed, it’s pretty great for using in frozen healthy dog treat recipes. You will want to defrost it (at least partially) first, so you can use it in all sorts of super simple (but cute and clever) ways. Here’s how to make your dog frozen treats.
Ice Cream Sandwiches
Entrees with a smoother consistency work best for this method, like Lip Lickin’ Lamb or Power-Packed Pork. As for the cookies, our Chicken Apple Sausage Bites make for tiny sandwiches with a chewy base, while our Tummy Ticklin’ and Joint Jumpin’ supplement chews are crumblier and more substantial…and provide health benefits to boot!
Ingredients
Your pup’s favorite fresh-cooked dog food
Your pup’s favorite flat, round dog treat
Method
Line a baking sheet with a silicone mat or wax paper. Place desired number of dog treats on the tray, flat side-up. Use a teaspoon to top each treat with a bit of the dog food. Top with another treat, flat side-down, and press down gently. Place ice cream sandwiches in the freezer for at least 30 minutes to set. Store in freezer until ready to serve.
Best in Show: Before freezing, roll the exposed edges of the sandwiches in a dog-friendly superfood like soaked chia seeds or chopped parsley.
Frozen Pupsicles
We used slivered carrots for the popsicle sticks, although our enthusiastic chewer of a pup probably would have been happier with an actual stick! Anything stable (and edible) will work here, from a stick-shaped dog treat to a broccoli stem.
Ingredients
Your pup’s favorite fresh-cooked dog food
Carrots, cut into sticks
Method
Line a baking sheet with a silicone mat or wax paper. Use a teaspoon to scoop out servings of the dog food, and use your hands to roll it into balls. Gently place a carrot stick in the center of each, and use your hands to smooth the food around the stick so it adheres. Place pupsicles in the freezer for at least 1 hour to set. Store in freezer until ready to serve.
Best in Show: Roll the dog food balls into something yummy before freezing, such as fiber-filled oats for an oatmeal dog treats recipe, or chopped mint…a natural breath freshener!
Ice Cream Sundaes
Any fresh-cooked entrée works here, but we actually prefer recipes with a bit of added texture, such as Tail Waggin’ Turkey or Lean & Mean Venison.
Ingredients
Your pup’s favorite fresh-cooked dog food
Your pup’s favorite cookie-style dog treat, crushed into crumbs
Low-fat plain yogurt
Method
Line a baking sheet with a silicone mat or wax paper. Use a tablespoon to scoop out servings of the dog food, and use your hands to roll it into balls. Place in the freezer for at least 30 minutes or until ready to serve.
To serve, place desired number of “scoops” into a bowl. Top with drizzles of yogurt “whipped cream” and cookie “sprinkles!”
Best in Show: You can never have too many toppings. Just make sure that yours are dog-friendly (i.e., no chocolate sauce need apply!) And while a cherry on top is ok—as long as it doesn’t contain a pit, stem or leaves—fresh blueberries, which are high in antioxidants, are even better.
