Cool Treats Your Dog Will Love
The good news is that homemade dog ice cream recipes are incredibly easy to make and very easy to adapt. Most of them follow the same simple formula — a yogurt base, a fruit or vegetable, and an optional flavoring. So once you have made one, you can start swapping ingredients and creating your own combinations.
Always choose plain, unsweetened, natural yogurt — never flavored or sweetened versions. And check that any peanut butter you use is completely xylitol-free, as xylitol is highly toxic to dogs. A full guide to what dogs can and cannot eat is at the bottom of this post — worth a read before experimenting with new ingredients.
Every dog is different, and you know your pup best. Some dogs have sensitive stomachs and may not tolerate certain ingredients well. So before making any of these recipes, make sure the ingredients are ones your dog already handles. If anything is new to them, introduce it slowly first.
Recipes
No complicated steps, no special skills needed — just measure the ingredients, blend them together, pour into a mould, and pop it in the freezer.
Banana Peanut Butter Ice Cream
A classic combination that most dogs go absolutely crazy for. The banana adds natural sweetness and the peanut butter makes it rich and creamy. Simple, filling, and endlessly popular.
Ingredients:
– 16 oz plain yogurt 1 ripe banana
– ⅓ cup natural peanut butter (xylitol-free)
Mint Blueberry Ice Cream — For Fresh Breath
This one does double duty — it is a delicious frozen treat and also helps with doggy breath. The mint and blueberries work together beautifully, and the yogurt base keeps it creamy and gentle on the stomach.
Ingredients:
– ½ cup plain yogurt
– 1 large sprig of mint (about 8 leaves)
– ⅓ cup fresh or frozen blueberries water as needed
Watermelon Sherbet
Light, refreshing, and perfect for hot days. Watermelon is one of the best summer fruits for dogs — it is mostly water, so it helps with hydration too. Just make sure to remove all seeds and rind before using.
Ingredients:
– 1½ cups frozen watermelon
– ¼ cup natural unsweetened yogurt
Pumpkin Ice Cream
Pumpkin is one of the most dog-friendly ingredients out there. It is great for digestion and dogs tend to love the flavour. This two-ingredient version could not be simpler — and it is a wonderful option year-round, not just in summer.
Ingredients:
– 1 cup pumpkin puree
– 1 cup natural unsweetened yogurt
Green Breath Treat
Another breath-freshening option — this one uses spinach, parsley, and mint for a triple hit of natural freshness. It looks a little unusual but dogs do not seem to mind at all.
Ingredients:
– 1 cup spinach
– ¼ cup curly parsley
– ¼ cup plain low fat natural yogurt
– 6 fresh mint leaves
Tools and Moulds
These moulds are perfect for portioning out homemade dog ice cream — just fill, freeze, and pop out when ready. Click on the image to find them.
What Can Dogs Eat — and What Should They Avoid?
Before experimenting with new ingredients in homemade dog ice cream recipes, it is worth knowing what is safe and what is not. Dogs process food very differently from humans, and some perfectly healthy human foods can be dangerous for them.
Fruits and Vegetables what Dogs Can Eat
✅ Fruits safe for dogs (in moderation)
- Apple (no seeds) — vitamins A & C, fiber
- Banana (moderation) — potassium, vitamins
- Blueberries — antioxidants, fiber
- Cantaloupe (no seeds) — nutrients, hydration
- Cucumber — low calorie, hydrating, vitamins K, C, B1
- Mango (no pit) — vitamins A, B6, C, E
- Orange (flesh only) — vitamin C, potassium, fiber
- Peach (no pit) — fiber, vitamin A
- Pear (no seeds) — copper, vitamins C & K
- Pineapple (no skin) — vitamins, minerals, bromelain
- Raspberries (max 8oz) — antioxidants, anti-inflammatory
- Strawberries — fiber, vitamin C, whitens teeth
- Watermelon (no rind/seeds) — vitamins A, B6, C, hydration
✅ Vegetables safe for dogs (in moderation)
- Carrot — beta-carotene, good for teeth
- Celery — heart health, freshens breath
- Green beans — vitamins, minerals, low calorie
- Peas — protein, fiber, vitamins
- Broccoli (small amounts) — fiber, vitamin C
- Brussels sprouts (moderation) — nutrients, antioxidants
- Pumpkin (pure) — digestive health
- Spinach (very small amounts) — vitamins, minerals
Fruits and Vegetables what Dogs Can’t Eat
❌ Fruits to avoid
- Avocado — contains persin toxin
- Cherries — cyanide poisoning
- Grapes/raisins — kidney failure
- Tomatoes (green parts) — solanine toxin
❌ Vegetables to avoid
- Onions/leeks/chives — toxic, damages red blood cells
- Wild mushrooms — can be toxic
- Asparagus — no real benefit for dogs
Nuts and Seeds:
✅ Safe for dogs (small amounts, unsalted)
- Peanuts — technically a legume, not a nut; unsalted, xylitol-free peanut butter is fine
- Cashews (roasted) — small amounts only, avoid raw
- Hazelnuts — not toxic but a choking hazard, remove shell first
- Pistachios (shelled) — not toxic but high in fat, shell is a choking hazard
❌ Avoid
- Almonds — choking hazard, hard to digest, high fat content
- Macadamia nuts — TOXIC, can cause tremors, seizures, weakness
- Black walnuts — TOXIC, contains juglone
- Walnuts — high fat, prone to mold
- Pecans — contains juglone, high fat
- Wild mushrooms — can be toxic
One more thing worth mentioning — chocolate is never safe for dogs, no matter the amount or type. It contains theobromine, which is toxic to dogs and can be fatal in larger quantities. This includes chocolate-covered nuts, Nutella, and any treat that contains cocoa.
More ice cream recipes?
If you’re making frozen treats for the whole family this summer, check out our homemade ice cream recipes too
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