This easy dog ice cream recipe uses bananas, peanut butter, and plain yogurt to create delicious frozen treats for any puppy friend! These copycat Frosty Paws treats are a tasty way to cool down on a hot day.
The fact that you are here right now means that you enjoy spoiling your fur baby! Why not make a cozy dog bed out of a crib mattress or a puppy placemat to soak up food and water spills?
The word “ridiculous” means nothing to Ruby and I. We made a batch of homemade dog ice cream for Toby and are darn proud with how they turned out! Now every time we open the freezer, he's right there hoping for a little dessert.
The local ice cream shop in town sells dog ice cream. Once I realized all it was were the scrapings from inside the ice cream case (minus anything chocolate), I thought it was a waste to buy it! I was basically paying for freezer-burned regular ice cream shavings.
Why We Like This Recipe
- Simple ingredients. Bananas, plain yogurt and peanut butter. If you want to be extra you can add a mini bone or doggy treat, but you don't have to.
- Easy to make. Simply blend the ingredients together, then pour into muffin liners. That's it! This is quite possibly the easiest ice cream recipe to make. Ever.
- Freezes for up to two months. Make a bunch of ice cream cups to store in a freezer bag for up to two months!
- Inexpensive. Toby absolutely loves the containers of Frosty Paws ice cream for dogs that you can find at the local grocery store, but they run about $3 for 6 small cups. I made him 12 homemade cups for the same price and ours include a special biscuit treat inside each one as a bonus.
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What Others Are Saying
Brilliant way to use my over ripe bananas & the dogs love them 🐾💕---Kate
Tips and Tricks
- How to easily remove the ice cream cups from the muffin pan. When frozen solid, remove the pan from the freezer and let it sit on the counter for about 5 minutes. This allows the cups to loosen from the pan and makes the liners easy to remove from the ice cream for storing.
- Use fresh or frozen bananas. Got old bananas in the freezer? They work perfectly for this recipe. Fresh or frozen, over-ripe or perfectly yellow. It doesn't matter. If you have bananas that are going to go bad, peel them and put them in the freezer. Then pull them out another day for bread, a smoothie, or ice cream for dogs. Let them come to room temperature first unless you are using them in a smoothie.
- Create fun shapes! Use silicone molds or ice cube containers to freeze the ice cream mixture into fun shapes like dog paws or bones. We used muffin cups which are super easy too!
Recipe Ingredients
- Plain Yogurt: Plain Greek yogurt is the best choice for dogs because it contains less lactose. The dog treats in the photos are made with plain yogurt, and the ones in the video are made with plain Greek yogurt. We've used both, and both are Toby-approved.
- Peanut Butter: Peanut butter is a safe snack for dogs as long as it does not contain Xylitol. I have yet to see a brand that I've purchased that contains that ingredient, but always check before feeding it to your dog.
- Bananas: This is a great recipe for using over-ripe bananas that you need to use up.
How To Make Peanut Butter and Banana Ice Cream For Dogs
Step 1: Slice bananas and place in a blender or food processor with peanut butter and yogurt. Blend until smooth and creamy.
Step 2: Line a muffin pan with liners and fill each cup about ⅔ full with the mixture. Place a mini biscuit in the center of each one and freeze until solid (about 3 hours).
Step 3: When frozen solid, remove the pan from the freezer and let it sit on the counter for about 5 minutes. This allows the cups to loosen from the pan and makes the liners easy to remove from the ice cream for storing.
Bonus Tip
When I shared this idea with friends, one said that she freezes beef broth and makes popsicles for her dogs. I think we will try that next!
Dog Ice Cream FAQs
Yes, and they like it! But not all peanut butters are created equal. Most are dog-safe, but watch out for any that use the sugar substitute, Xylitol (sometimes labeled "xyz"), it is fatal for dogs and can be found in a few brands of specialty nut butters. Here is an article that lists those brands who use xylitol. I haven't ever seen it listed as an ingredient in the brands that I use, but it's always a good idea to double check before using it to make ice cream for dogs or any kind of dog treat. You can also blend pumpkin puree and bananas instead of peanut butter or strawberries and bananas and that's tasty for your pet friend, too.
Place all ice cream cups into a gallon sized ziplock bag and keep in the freezer.
Absolutely! If you have bananas that are going to go bad, peel them and put them in the freezer. Then pull them out another day for bread, a smoothie, or ice cream for dogs. Let them come to room temperature first unless you are using them in a smoothie.
According to 1-800-PetMeds, plain Greek yogurt is the best choice for dogs because it contains less lactose. The dog treats in the photos are made with plain yogurt, and the ones in the video are made with plain Greek yogurt. We've used both, and both are Toby-approved.
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PEANUT BUTTER BANANA DOG ICE CREAM RECIPE
Ingredients
- 2 cup plain yogurt
- 2 ripe bananas
- 3 Tbsp. peanut butter
- 12 mini dog biscuits/mini cookies
Instructions
- Slice bananas and place in a blender with peanut butter and yogurt. Blend until smooth and creamy.
- Line a muffin pan with liners and fill each cup about ⅔ full. Place a mini biscuit in the center of each one and freeze until solid (About 3 hours).
Kate says
Brilliant way to use my over ripe bananas & the dogs love them 🐾💕
Mary says
Can this be made with almond milk instead of yogurt?
Brandy says
Hi Mary! I haven't tried that before, but I'm sure your pup would still love it. Just use less since it isn't as thick of a consistency. Blend the banana and peanut butter with just enough almond milk to make it pourable (thick smoothie consistency).
Monica says
What it means T and C as a measure in your recipe ?
Brandy says
Tablespoon
Cup
Carol says
Would Greek yogurt work in this recipe?
Brandy says
Yes! I've heard it is actually a better choice for dogs because it has less lactose.
Helen says
In the uk we have Meridan peanut butter which is 100% peanuts nothing added it’s the only peanut butter I buy for my dogs and I made ice cream with it last summer. If we ever get a summer this year I’ll be making it again. I also fill kongs with chicken stock and treats then freeze
Carol Cox says
I have vanilla yogurt, it that ok to use in place of plain? Thanks
Brandy says
I would imagine that'd be just fine!
Eva says
I will definitely try these ice cream treats but I wanted to THANK-YOU for your warning about Xylitol!! I was clueless about it.
Brandy says
I was too, until a reader mentioned it! Luckily I haven't seen any brands that I purchase that actually contained it. Still good to watch out for!
Nancy says
Great idea adding the banana and biscuit! Will try that next time. I’ve made these treats with pumpkin instead of peanut butter and they are a hit!
Donna @ Modern on Monticello says
I have four dogs and they beg to lick the bowl every time one of us has ice cream. I know they will love these. Thanks for sharing at #HomeMattersParty
Amy @ The Quiet Homemaker says
Thank you so much for this! I know my pups are going to love this!! 🙂 Pinned!
Blessings,
Amy