Pup Cups Recipe: How to Make a Pup Cup at Home (5 Easy Versions)

A pup cup is a small cup of a creamy, dog-safe treat. Coffee shops made them famous with a cup of whipped cream for dogs. The homemade version is usually plain yogurt with a dog-safe mix-in like peanut butter, banana or pumpkin. It takes about 2 minutes to make, and you control every ingredient.

Below: what goes in a pup cup, 5 recipes with exact amounts, how much to give by dog size, and what never to add.

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Quick Answer: How to Make a Pup Cup

1. Spoon 1/4 cup plain, unsweetened Greek yogurt into a small paper cup.
2. Stir in 1 teaspoon xylitol-free peanut butter (or 1 tablespoon mashed banana or plain pumpkin).
3. Serve right away, or freeze 2 to 3 hours for a frozen pup cup.

That makes one pup cup of about 65 calories, a good size for a medium dog. Give small dogs half.

What’s in a Pup Cup?

A pup cup has two parts: a creamy base and an optional mix-in or topping.

Part	Good choices	Notes
Base	Plain unsweetened yogurt (Greek or regular), plain pumpkin puree, unsweetened coconut yogurt	No flavored, sweetened or “light” yogurt. Those can contain sugar or xylitol.
Mix-ins	Xylitol-free peanut butter, mashed banana, plain pumpkin, mashed blueberries or strawberries	About 1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon per cup.
Toppings	A few blueberries, a banana slice, a small dog biscuit, finely grated carrot	Keep pieces small for small dogs.

What about the coffee shop version? The well-known coffee shop pup cup is sweetened whipped cream. It’s fine as a rare treat for most healthy dogs, but it’s high in fat and sugar. The yogurt version is the better everyday choice.

5 Easy Pup Cup Recipes

Each makes one pup cup. Calories are estimates using plain nonfat Greek yogurt. Whole-milk yogurt adds about 20 calories per cup.

1. Classic Peanut Butter Pup Cup

• 1/4 cup plain unsweetened Greek yogurt
• 1 teaspoon xylitol-free peanut butter

Stir together, or swirl the peanut butter on top. About 65 calories.

2. Peanut Butter Banana Pup Cup

• 1/4 cup plain unsweetened Greek yogurt
• 1 tablespoon mashed ripe banana
• 1 teaspoon xylitol-free peanut butter

Mix the banana into the yogurt and top with the peanut butter. About 80 calories.

3. Pumpkin Pup Cup

• 1/4 cup plain unsweetened Greek yogurt
• 1 tablespoon plain pumpkin puree (not pie filling)

Swirl together. About 40 calories. A good fall option and one of the lightest.

4. Blueberry Pup Cup

• 1/4 cup plain unsweetened Greek yogurt
• 1 tablespoon mashed blueberries, plus 3 or 4 whole ones on top

Mix and top. About 45 calories.

5. Dairy-Free Pup Cup

• 1/4 cup plain pumpkin puree, or plain unsweetened coconut yogurt
• 1 teaspoon xylitol-free peanut butter

Stir together. About 45 calories with pumpkin. For dogs that don’t do well with dairy.

Frozen Pup Cups (Make a Batch)

1. Multiply any recipe above. For example, 1 cup yogurt and 4 teaspoons peanut butter makes 4 pup cups.
2. Spoon into small paper cups, silicone molds or an ice cube tray. An ice cube tray makes bite-size portions for small dogs.
3. Freeze 2 to 3 hours until firm.
4. Let a frozen cup sit out 3 to 5 minutes before serving so it’s easier to lick.
5. Store in a sealed freezer bag for up to 1 month.

How Much Pup Cup to Give

Treats should make up no more than about 10% of your dog’s daily calories. Use this as a guide for an occasional pup cup:

Dog size	Serving	About
Small (under 20 lb)	1 to 2 tablespoons	An ice cube size portion
Medium (20 to 50 lb)	2 to 4 tablespoons	Half to one full recipe
Large (50 lb and up)	1/4 to 1/3 cup	One full recipe

Once or twice a week is plenty. On pup cup days, cut back on other treats.

Never Put These in a Pup Cup

• Xylitol (also called birch sugar). Found in some peanut butters and sugar-free yogurts. It’s toxic to dogs.
• Chocolate, cocoa or coffee.
• Grapes and raisins.
• Macadamia nuts.
• Flavored or sweetened yogurt, ice cream and sweetened whipped cream as a regular treat.
• Nutmeg and pumpkin pie spice.

High-fat treats can trigger stomach upset or pancreatitis in some dogs. If your dog has had pancreatitis or a sensitive stomach, check with your vet before adding rich treats.

Tips for Serving

• Try a small taste first. If your dog hasn’t had yogurt before, start with a spoonful and watch for loose stool over the next day.
• Use a cup your dog can’t eat. Hold a paper cup while your dog licks, or serve it in a bowl.
• Serve outside or on a mat. It gets messy.
• Use it for training. A lick from a spoon makes a high-value reward for recall or nail trims.
• Celebrate. Pup cups are a simple birthday or adoption-day treat. See our dog cake recipe for bigger celebrations.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is in a pup cup?

Coffee shop pup cups are whipped cream. Homemade pup cups are usually plain unsweetened yogurt with a dog-safe mix-in like xylitol-free peanut butter, banana, pumpkin or blueberries.

Is Greek yogurt or regular yogurt better for pup cups?

Both work if they’re plain and unsweetened. Greek yogurt is thicker, so it holds its shape and freezes into a firmer cup.

Can puppies have pup cups?

A small taste is usually fine once a puppy is eating solid food, but puppies have sensitive stomachs. Keep it to a teaspoon or two and ask your vet if you’re unsure.

Can dogs eat whipped cream?

Most healthy dogs can have a small amount now and then. It’s high in fat and the store-bought kind is sweetened, so it’s an occasional treat, not a regular one.

How long do homemade pup cups last?

Fresh pup cups should be eaten right away. Frozen ones keep up to 1 month in a sealed container.

The Short Version

• 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt + 1 teaspoon xylitol-free peanut butter = one pup cup.
• Freeze 2 to 3 hours for a frozen version.
• 1 to 2 tablespoons for small dogs, up to 1/3 cup for large dogs.
• No xylitol, chocolate, grapes or sweetened dairy.

More Frozen and Homemade Treats

• Frozen Dog Treats
• 3 Ingredient Dog Treats
• Greek Yogurt Dog Treats
• Peanut Butter and Oats Dog Treats