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Keep your pup cool and happy this summer with a scoop of dog ice cream! This frosty treat is made with peanut butter, banana, and plain yogurt, topped with crispy bacon bits. Your fur baby won’t be able to get enough.
A lot of store-bought dog treats are loaded with additives and artificial ingredients that aren’t the best for your pup. That’s why I liking making my own at home! You’ll have to try these healthy homemade dog treats, pupcakes, or this dog birthday cake next.
Homemade Frozen Dog Treat
I’m so excited to be adding to my list of pooch-approved recipes! Today’s recipe is ice cream for dogs, and is perfect for keeping your pups cool as the temperatures rise. It has been hot and muggy in Utah lately, and my Portuguese Water Dog, Leia, couldn’t wait to cool down with a scoop of this tasty treat. This dog ice cream is a great alternative to Frosty Paws and so easy to whip up!
This homemade dog ice cream is made with just a few simple ingredients. Mashed banana, plain Greek yogurt, xylitol-free peanut butter, and bacon bits. These are all easily digestible ingredients, but feel free to swap any of them out if your dog has an intolerance to them! That’s the beauty of making dog treats at home. Simply blend everything together, pop it in the freezer, then serve a scoop or two to your furry friend! I’m sure they’ll love it as much as my Leia does.
Ingredients You’ll Need to Make Dog Ice Cream
Your dog is going to LOVE this dog ice cream! And you are going to love that it only takes 4 ingredients to make. It’s a win-win! Check out the recipe card below for the exact measurements that you’ll need.
- Banana: Make sure you use a ripe banana, this way it’s easier to mash.
- Plain Greek Yogurt: Dogs can have a tough time digesting sugars and artificial flavors, so be sure to use plain Greek yogurt. The probiotics in Greek yogurt are great for your pup and it’s also a great source of protein!
- Natural Peanut Butter: Make sure that you use natural peanut butter and that it is XYLITOL-FREE. Xylitol is a sugar alcohol that is found in a lot of foods, but it is toxic to dogs!
- Crispy Bacon Pieces: I like to crumble these and add it to the top of the ice cream. My dog always loves a little extra meaty goodness.
Homemade Dog Ice Cream Recipe
Ice cream for dogs is super easy to make and only takes 5 minutes of prep time! Then it’s hands-off while it chills in the freezer.
- Mash Banana: Use a fork to mash the banana in a large bowl.
- Yogurt and Peanut Butter Mixture: Add the yogurt and peanut butter and mix until combined.
- Add to Bread Pan: Transfer to a metal bread pan and sprinkle bacon pieces on top.
- Freeze: Cover and freeze for at least 4 hours before serving.
- Serve: Allow the ice cream to sit at room temperature for 2-3 minutes before scooping. Once soft enough to scoop, scoop some into a bowl and top with fresh bananas or other fruit and let your pup enjoy!
Tips and Tricks
This homemade dog ice cream will keep your puppy cool and their stomach happy! I’ve listed a few more things below on how to make this frozen treat turn out perfectly.
- Check Labels for Xylitol: Be sure to use natural peanut butter with NO xylitol! This is toxic to dogs and is found in some peanut butters, so check the label carefully.
- Add Different Toppings: You can change this recipe up and add in your dog’s favorite treats. Mash up strawberries, blueberries, or raspberries, or top with crushed dog biscuits or jerky snacks.
- Substitute Peanut Butter for Pumpkin: Substitute the peanut butter for 1 cup of pumpkin purée. Pumpkin is a great treat for dogs and helps aid digestion. Just make sure you’re using pure pumpkin puree and that it doesn’t have any artificial sweeteners added.
- Make Mini Doggie Desserts: Add your ‘ice cream’ mixture to an ice cube tray or silicone molds for bite-sized dog ice cream treats!
How Long Will Dog Ice Cream Last in the Freezer?
The great thing about this dog ice cream is that it has a long shelf life if stored properly in the freezer! It’s a great thing to have on hand during the summer so your dog can stay cool and happy.
- In the Freezer: Store in the freezer in an airtight container for up to 2 months.
More Kid-Friendly Recipes
This dog ice cream is so easy, even kids can make it! My girls love making it for our pup. If your kids are anything like mine, they’re always looking for things to do during summer break, so here are a few easy activities for them! The great thing is, they double as a snack, so you get to kill two birds with one stone. It’s the best hack for busy moms!
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Dog Ice Cream
Ingredients
- 1 ripe banana
- 32 ounces plain Greek yogurt
- 1 cup natural peanut butter xylitol free
- 3-4 pieces of crispy bacon chopped
Instructions
- Use a fork to mash the banana in a large bowl.
- Add the yogurt and peanut butter and mix until combined.
- Transfer to a metal bread pan and sprinkle bacon pieces on top. Cover and freeze for at least 4 hours before serving.
- Allow the ice cream to sit at room temperature for 2-3 minutes before scooping. Once soft enough to scoop, scoop some into a bowl and top with fresh bananas or other fruit and let your pup enjoy!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Can you give this to cats?
Hi Gloria, thank you for your question. Yes, this should be just fine for cats!
Can this be used to fill the marrow bones? Thank you
Hi Adele, thanks for the question. Probably, but it melts so I don’t see it lasting too long inside the bones. I imagine it would get melty and slide out before the dog has much time to lick it out, even if it was frozen solid. Plus I’m not sure if freezing bones is good for dogs. I would never want to tell you something was ok for a dog and it end up not being ok!
Hi, regular, low fat, or non fat plain Greek yogurt? Or it doesn’t matter?
Thank you for your question! I wouldn’t use nonfat otherwise it will get too many ice crystals, but low fat or regular will work well!
I don’t have any yogurt can I use cream cheese or sour cream?
Hi, thank you for your question. Greek yogurt is easier for dogs to digest compared to cream cheese and sour cream. I haven’t tested the recipe with either of those, so I can’t speak for how the recipe will turn out. If you do use one, sour cream would likely give a similar texture to Greek yogurt, but I recommend you feed the ice cream to your dog in small amounts because it will be harder for them to digest. I think cream cheese will be too thick, and not great for your dog. If it were me, I’d stick with greek yogurt and wait until you go to the store to pick some up before making this for your sweet dog! I’d hate for it to get sick!
i just mixed this recipie up and my dog got excited, i told him wat it was and now we have to wait 4 hrs to try. i know hell love it, its got peanut butter in it.
Made this ice cream for my dog – loved it. Thank you very much Alyssa – clever woman!!!