Warm weather means two things at our house for both two- and four-legged residents: lots of swimming…and ice cream! Whether you opt for our most popular Peanut Butter & Banana dog ice cream recipe or one of the other super simple flavors, you can spend just minutes making your dog a fun summer treat. (And we won’t tell if you eat some of it, too!)
These doggie ice cream recipes are less expensive to make than the varieties you’ll find in the freezer section of your grocery store–and you can make them at home with no ice cream maker required!
Peanut Butter & Banana Dog Ice Cream
Our Peanut Butter and Banana Dog Ice Cream Recipe has been one of our most popular dog treat recipes since we first published it in 2010, appearing here on the site before it was included in our cookbook, The Healthy Hound Cookbook, and several book reviews.
Our dogs love bananas and peanut butter so I used them as the basis for the recipe.
All you need are ripe bananas, plain yogurt and peanut butter…that’s it!
Important Safety Note:
Be sure to check that your peanut butter does NOT contain Xylitol, a sweetener that is extremely toxic to dogs!
The ice cream just takes a minute to make. Toss the bananas, peanut butter, and yogurt into a blender and blend until it’s mixed.
Next, pour the mixture into ice trays.
You’ll need about five or six ice trays for this amount.
If you don’t have that many available, just pour some of the mixture into a plastic zippered bag and toss it in the freezer to break up when you’re ready to serve.
Silicone trays–available in cute dog bone and paw sets–are another excellent way to make small frozen ice cream treats for your dog.
Pop the trays in the freezer and in a few hours your doggie ice cream is ready to serve!
How to Store the Ice Cream
Once the ice cream has frozen completely, you can pop the cubes out of the trays and place them in a zippered bag in your freezer. The ice cream can be frozen for six months (although I bet it won’t last that long!
Peanut Butter and Banana Dog Ice Cream
You don't need an ice cream maker for this easy recipe that will have tails wagging at your house!
Ingredients
- 3-4 ripe bananas, peeled
- 32 ounces plain yogurt, low-fat
- 1 cup peanut butter, organic
Instructions
- Add bananas, peanut butter, and yogurt to a blender.
- Blend until thoroughly mixed.
- Pour into ice cube tray and freeze.
Notes
Organic peanut butter isn't required but MAKE SURE your peanut butter does NOT include toxic xylitol. Xylitol is fatal to dogs and is found in a few peanut butter brands. Check the ingredients list before
serving.
Blueberry Dog Ice Cream
Have some leftover yogurt from the Peanut Butter and Banana Dog Ice Cream? Have no fear…turn that yogurt into Blueberry Dog Ice Cream!
Along with serving as small treats, this blueberry dog ice cream also makes a fun filling for a stuffable rubber treat dispensing toy for some longer-lasting fun. Rich in antioxidants, blueberries are a superfood that’s a favorite with many dogs, ours included.
Stuffable toys like KONG® rubber toys can be filled with liquid mixtures and frozen; their shape will slow your dog’s chewing to extend the life of the treat and to reduce choking hazards.
Tip: Wash Fresh Produce! To avoid the risk of bacteria and pesticides, the best way to wash berries is to give them a good rinse under cold running water right before use.
OK, this is about as easy a recipe can get–all you need are two ingredients and a little bit of time to allow for freezing!
Blueberry Dog Ice Cream
Ingredients
- 1 cup blueberries
- 1 cup plain yogurt
Instructions
Puree blueberries and yogurt in blender.
No blender? You can stir in the blueberries and freeze. Your "doggie ice cream" will be a little chunkier than it would be if pureed, but every bit as tasty to your dog!
Pour in ice cube trays, silicone trays or into a stuffable toy and freeze.
Serve frozen.
Pumpkin Dog Ice Cream
OK, pumpkin may sound more like autumn than summer–but we all know it’s a great food for our dogs year around.
One of the easiest (and most appreciated!) ways to serve it is as dog ice cream — a super simple recipe that you can even share with your dog!
Visit our Pumpkin Dog Ice Cream post for the recipe–and you can also make your own pumpkin puree or purchase canned pumpkin.
It’s very important that you DON’T buy pie filling, though…it contains additional sugars and spices that are not good for your dog). All you want is plain, 100% pumpkin puree.
FAQ
Can dogs eat ice cream?
While these recipes are formulated especially for dogs, dogs cannot eat ice cream made for humans due to several reasons.
Firstly, their bodies are not equipped to digest milk after the weaning stage. While puppies have the necessary enzyme, lactase, to break down their mother’s milk, adult dogs produce less lactase, making it difficult for them to properly digest milk products. Feeding dogs ice cream or other dairy products can result in gastrointestinal discomfort, such as loose stools, diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pain, or gas. Moreover, high-fat dairy products can even lead to pancreatitis in dogs.
In addition, dogs can develop allergies to milk and dairy products, including ice cream, due to the proteins present in such products. Allergic reactions may manifest as vomiting, diarrhea, or itchy skin rashes.
Furthermore, ice cream is often high in sugar, which can lead to weight gain and obesity in dogs. This can subsequently result in various health issues. Even if the ice cream is labeled as sugar-free, it is crucial to check for the sweetener xylitol, as it is highly toxic to dogs.
Another safety concern involves certain flavors of ice cream that can be harmful to dogs. For instance, chocolate is toxic to dogs and should be avoided at all costs.
Lastly, while some dogs may tolerate a small amount of plain vanilla ice cream as an occasional treat, it is important to note that it is not a necessary addition to their diet. High-quality dog foods provide sufficient calcium and other essential nutrients for their bone and overall health. Thus, there are alternative treats available that are less likely to cause digestive problems for dogs.
What’s an easy alternative to doggie ice cream?
When looking for alternative treats to ice cream for dogs, there are several options available. One delicious choice is making your own “nice cream” using ripe bananas and a food processor or blender. Simply blend the bananas until they become creamy, then freeze them. This fruit-based dessert is safe for dogs to enjoy and provides them with some nutritional value. Bananas are known for being high in potassium, vitamin B6, vitamin C, and fiber. However, since bananas do contain sugar, it’s important to offer them to your dog in moderation.
More Doggie Ice Cream Recipes
Cooks: Don’t miss our My Dog Says I’m a Great Cook™ cookbook with over 100 dog treat recipes from the publishers, readers and fans of DogTipper! This paperback book is available in our YUCKY PUPPY gift store!
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