Dog ice cream recipes to beat the heat

Updated 05/05/23

The dog days of summer are almost upon us, and that can only mean one thing… ice cream! Rather than waiting for the ice cream van to start serving up pupsicles for our furry friends, we’re taking matters into our own hands. These dog ice cream recipes are Fido-friendly and pup-approved, so your furry sous-chef is safe to lick the spoon and gobble up these delicious ice-cold treats (and you are too, for that matter!). 

How to make dog ice cream

There’s nothing stopping you from grabbing a tub of dog ice cream from the supermarket (make sure you don’t give them any of the human stuff though!), but always be mindful of unnecessary ingredients and additives. That being said, it's cheaper to follow a dog ice cream recipe at home, and you can control exactly what goes in, so you’ve got more of an idea of how it will come out (sorry, TMI!). Dog ice cream recipes are made up of a variety of dog-friendly ingredients like xylitol-free peanut butter, unsweetened yogurt, carrots, blueberries, and some rather stomach-churning toppings (a splash of chicken broth here and a sprinkle of dog treats there).  If you’re looking for a dog ice cream recipe without yogurt, lactose-free yogurt makes an excellent alternative for lactose intolerant pooches, while those with allergies to dairy might be better with coconut milk. To be extra safe, you can make your own peanut butter by simply blending unsalted, roasted peanuts in a food processor or high speed blender until smooth. While these ingredients are typically doggy-friendly, it’s always best to keep an eye on your furry friend after feeding them something new. As always, if your pooch pal has allergies or intolerances, stick to ingredients you know will be easy on your pup’s tum.

No ice cream maker? No problem! Some of our dog ice cream recipes recommend using a blender to get a smooth texture, but hand-mixing the ingredients (with love) will make the ice cream turn out just as delicious, if a little chunkier. Once you or your dog sitter have whipped up a batch of dog friendly ice cream, you can do whatever you like with it! Pour the mixture into ice cube trays, plastic freezer bags, or just wack it into a tin ready to scoop out by the spoonful. Most recipes for dog ice creams will last around 8 weeks in the freezer, so now’s the time to start prepping your summer treats! 

Now we know from past experience that it can be very easy to scoff a whole tub of ice cream down in one (suffering brain freeze afterward is a given), but it’s a good idea to be a little more restrained with your furry friend. These are great snacks for cooling down or treating your fur baby after a trick or two, but as with all of the tastiest treats, they should be given sparingly. So without further ado, we’d best take a look at these dog ice cream recipes before they melt!

Easy dog ice cream recipes

Turn these dog ice cream recipes into fun shapes and pupsicles (a chewy treat serves nicely as a handle) and keep a stash of them in the freezer to enjoy on a hot summer’s day!

Dog Tipper’s Peanut Butter and Banana Dog Friendly Ice Cream Recipe

Ingredients:

• 32 oz of plain yogurt
• 3-4 ripe bananas
• 1 cup of xylitol-free peanut butter 

Method: 

1. Add all ingredients to a blender or food processor and blend until smooth. Don’t worry if you haven’t got a blender, this recipe’s also super easy to mix up by hand. 
2. Pour the mixture into your containers - you can use molds, plastic bags, or fun-shaped ice trays.
3. Place them in the freezer for a few hours until hard, then serve them up cold!

The Cookie Rookie’s Dog Ice Cream

Ingredients:

• 8 ounces of xylitol-free peanut butter
• 8 ounces of plain yogurt
• ¼ cup of chopped-up apples or strawberries

Method:

1. This recipe for dog ice cream’s great if you don’t have a blender as the ingredients are super easy to mix by hand. Combine the yogurt and peanut butter in a bowl or even in the dish you’re planning to freeze them in. 
2. Sprinkle the chopped-up apples or strawberries.
3. Freeze until firm before you and Fido tuck in.

Dog Tipper's Blueberry Ice Cream for Dogs Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of blueberries
• 1 cup of greek yogurt 

Method:

1. Here’s a homemade dog ice cream recipe we can get on board with! Mix the blueberries and yogurt in a blender until smooth. 
2. Pour the mixture into your ice cube trays and freeze for around four hours.
3. All of these ice cream recipes are safe for humans to eat but this one’s the cream of the crop - be sure to taste test these frozen treats!

Food with Feeling’s Sweet Potato Ice Cream Recipe for Dogs 

Ingredients:

• 16 oz of plain yogurt
• ⅓ cup of sweet potato puree (can be swapped for unsweetened pumpkin puree)
• ⅓ cup of xylitol-free peanut butter

Method: 

1. Mix the potato puree, yogurt, and peanut butter in a bowl until well combined.
2. Pour the mixture into your chosen container and freeze for a few hours until hard. 

Non-Dairy Dog Ice Cream Recipe Inspired by Patch Puppy

Did you know that simply blending frozen bananas together creates an icy, creamy treat that’s completely dairy free? If you want to jazz things up a little, try out the non-dairy dog ice cream recipe below. 

Ingredients:

• 12 ounces of coconut milk
• 1 cup of xylitol-free peanut butter
• 1 cup of carrot 

Method:

1. Combine ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.
2. Pour the mixture into containers and freeze until solid. 
3. Your dairy-sensitive pup can safely enjoy this healthy dog ice cream with less worrying about an upset tummy!

Meet our veterinary expert, Hannah

This article has been checked by veterinarian Dr Hannah Godfrey BVetMed MRCV.

Hannah graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in 2011 and worked in mixed practice for a few years before focusing on small animal work. Clinically, she worked in a busy, multi-center hospital practice until 2018, where she underwent training in advanced canine and feline dentistry and began working towards a Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice. She then moved to a local independent practice to care for the pets nearby, allowing more time to focus on other career avenues, which include writing for a diverse range of pet websites, vet practices, drug companies, journals, and veterinary educators. 

Looking for more dog friendly treats?

These are just the tip of the iceberg! Head over to our blog for more tasty treat recipes, from diabetic dog treats to dog safe cookies (icing and all).