Frozen Dog Treats: 6 Easy No-Bake Recipes
Frozen dog treats are the easiest homemade treats there are: stir a few dog-safe ingredients together, pour them into an ice cube tray or silicone mold, and freeze. They keep dogs busy, help on hot days and soothe teething puppies. Below are six no-bake recipes with exact amounts and rough calories, safe and unsafe ingredients, how long they keep, and a few safety tips most recipes leave out.
Quick Answer
- Basic method: blend or stir the ingredients, spoon into a silicone mold or ice cube tray, and freeze 3 to 4 hours.
- Best bases: plain yogurt or kefir, low-sodium broth with no onion or garlic, plain pumpkin, mashed banana, water.
- Always check labels for xylitol (birch sugar) in peanut butter and yogurt.
- Calories: about 5 to 30 per cube, depending on the recipe.
- Storage: about 2 months in a sealed freezer bag.
6 Easy Frozen Dog Treat Recipes
| Recipe | Ingredients | Calories per ice cube |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Peanut butter banana pops | Banana, peanut butter, yogurt | About 30 |
| 2. Yogurt berry pupsicles | Yogurt, blueberries, strawberries | About 10 |
| 3. Pumpkin yogurt cubes | Pumpkin, yogurt | About 8 |
| 4. Frozen broth block | Broth, water, carrots, green beans | About 20 for a whole block |
| 5. Watermelon cubes | Seedless watermelon | About 5 |
| 6. Apple carrot ice cubes | Apple, carrot, water | About 5 |
1. Peanut Butter Banana Pops
Makes: about 16 ice cubes | About 30 calories each
- 1 ripe banana
- 1/4 cup xylitol-free peanut butter
- 1/2 cup plain yogurt
- Blend or mash everything until smooth.
- Spoon into an ice cube tray or paw mold and freeze 3 to 4 hours.
Richest of the six. Give small dogs half a cube.
2. Yogurt Berry Pupsicles
Makes: about 20 ice cubes | About 10 calories each
- 1 1/2 cups plain yogurt
- 1/2 cup blueberries
- 1/2 cup chopped strawberries
- Blend the yogurt and fruit, or stir in chopped fruit for chunks.
- Spoon into molds and freeze 3 to 4 hours.
3. Pumpkin Yogurt Cubes
Makes: about 24 ice cubes | About 8 calories each
- 1/2 cup plain pumpkin puree (not pie filling)
- 1 cup plain yogurt
Stir together, spoon into molds and freeze. More in our pumpkin dog treats guide.
4. Frozen Broth Block
Makes: 1 large block | About 20 calories for the whole block
- 1 cup low-sodium chicken or beef broth with no onion or garlic
- 1 cup water
- A handful of carrot coins and chopped green beans
- Pour the broth and water into a plastic container or bowl.
- Drop in the vegetables.
- Freeze overnight, pop it out and serve outside or on a towel.
Low in calories and keeps dogs busy licking for a long time. Good for strong chewers because it melts instead of breaking into hard pieces.
5. Watermelon Cubes
Makes: about 20 cubes | About 5 calories each
- Cut seedless watermelon into small cubes. Remove any seeds and all of the rind.
- Freeze on a tray, then bag them.
Or blend the watermelon and freeze it in a mold for a smooth version.
6. Apple Carrot Ice Cubes
Makes: about 16 ice cubes | About 5 calories each
- Finely chop 1 apple (cored, no seeds) and 1 carrot.
- Divide among the ice cube tray, top up with water and freeze.
Dog-Safe Ingredients
- Bases: plain yogurt, plain kefir, low-sodium broth with no onion or garlic, water, coconut water with no added sugar (small amounts)
- Fruits: blueberries, strawberries, banana, seedless watermelon, apple (no core or seeds), cantaloupe, mango (no pit)
- Vegetables: carrots, green beans, cucumber, plain pumpkin, sweet potato
- Extras: xylitol-free peanut butter, plain cooked chicken
Never Use
- Xylitol (birch sugar) or any sugar-free sweetener
- Grapes, raisins or currants
- Chocolate, coffee or anything caffeinated
- Onion, garlic or broths and soups that contain them
- Ice cream, sweetened or flavored yogurt
- Fruit pits, seeds, cores and watermelon rind
- Macadamia nuts
Safety Tips
- Watch the teeth. Rock-hard frozen chunks can crack teeth in dogs that crunch instead of lick. Use small cubes, or let treats soften a few minutes first.
- Size for your dog. Use mini molds for small dogs and avoid pieces small enough for big dogs to gulp whole.
- Start small with dairy. Some dogs don’t digest lactose well. Kefir or plain yogurt with live cultures is often easier than milk.
- Frozen treats don’t treat heatstroke. Heavy panting, drooling, weakness or vomiting in the heat is an emergency. Move your dog to a cool place, offer water and call a vet right away.
- Count the calories. Keep all treats to about 10% of your dog’s daily calories.
Storage
- Once frozen solid, pop treats out of the mold and store in a labeled freezer bag.
- Use within about 2 months for best texture.
- Don’t refreeze treats that have melted.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are frozen treats safe for dogs?
Yes, when they’re made with dog-safe ingredients and sized for your dog. Watch heavy chewers, since very hard frozen pieces can damage teeth.
Can puppies have frozen treats?
Yes. Frozen treats can soothe sore gums during teething. Use small, soft-frozen pieces and supervise.
How many frozen treats can my dog have a day?
It depends on the recipe and your dog’s size. Keep all treats to about 10% of daily calories. Low-calorie options like broth blocks and watermelon cubes allow more.
Can I use ice cream?
No. Regular ice cream has sugar and sometimes xylitol or chocolate. Use plain yogurt or a frozen banana base instead.
The Short Version
- Mix, mold, freeze: plain yogurt, broth, pumpkin, banana and dog-safe fruit.
- Check for xylitol and skip grapes, chocolate, onion and garlic.
- Use small cubes and let them soften for hard chewers.
- Store in a freezer bag for up to 2 months.
