Frozen Dog Treats: 8 Easy DIY Recipes for Hot Days

Eight easy, safety-checked frozen dog treat recipes, plus the ingredient checks, portion tips, and storage know-how most recipe lists skip.

Your dog has claimed the coolest tile in the kitchen, the tongue is all the way out, and the water bowl is empty again. Summer has officially arrived.

A homemade frozen treat is one of the simplest ways to help your pet family enjoy hot days. Most frozen dog treats take about 10 minutes of prep, use ingredients you probably already have, and give your dog something cold, tasty, and satisfying to lick.

Not every recipe online is as dog-friendly as it looks, though. Some call for coconut water, flavored yogurt, or store-bought broth that may contain onion and garlic. This guide gives you eight easy recipes plus the safety checks that make homemade dog treats something you can feel good about serving.

What Are Frozen Dog Treats?

Frozen dog treats are dog-safe ingredients, such as plain pumpkin, banana, xylitol-free peanut butter, plain yogurt, or unseasoned broth, that are blended or mixed and frozen in small molds. They give dogs a cool, lickable snack on hot days and can double as enrichment, as long as they fit within your dog's daily treat allowance.

Why dogs love them (and pet parents do too)

• Cool comfort: dogs cool themselves mostly by panting, with only a little sweating through their paw pads, so a cold snack is a welcome break on a hot afternoon.
• A little extra hydration: recipes built on watermelon, cucumber, or unseasoned broth add moisture along with flavor.
• Calm enrichment: licking a frozen treat slows your dog down and gives their brain something to work on, which is handy during quiet indoor time.
• Ingredient control: you choose every ingredient, which matters if your dog has a sensitive stomach or a food allergy.
• Less waste: overripe bananas and leftover pumpkin get a second life.

What frozen treats can't do

A frozen treat is a comfort, not a cooling plan. The American Veterinary Medical Association recommends unlimited fresh water, access to shade, and walks during the cooler hours of the day, plus avoiding hot pavement that can burn paws (AVMA warm weather pet safety).

Frozen treats also cannot treat heat stress. The AVMA advises seeking emergency veterinary care if you notice signs such as:

• Excessive panting or drooling
• Anxiousness or restlessness
• Unsteadiness
• Abnormal gum or tongue color
• Collapse

How to Make Frozen Dog Treats in 5 Simple Steps

Every recipe below follows the same basic method. Once you know it, you can mix and match ingredients your dog already loves.

1. Pick a dog-safe base: plain unsweetened yogurt, 100% pure pumpkin, mashed ripe banana, unseasoned broth, or water.
2. Add one flavor: xylitol-free peanut butter, blueberries, seedless watermelon, or plain cooked chicken.
3. Blend or mash until smooth: chop any mix-ins very small, or blend them completely for little dogs.
4. Fill your molds: spoon or pour the mix into small silicone molds or an ice cube tray.
5. Freeze, pop, and store: freeze for 3 to 4 hours (overnight for large molds), then move the treats to a labeled, airtight freezer bag.

The Cool Treat Formula: Base + Flavor + Fun

Think of every frozen dog treat as three simple layers. Choose one base for texture, one flavor your dog loves, and one fun element that turns a snack into an activity.

Fun elements can be as simple as a dog biscuit pressed in as an edible handle, a silicone lick mat, or a stuffable rubber toy. Here is how the most common bases compare.

8 Easy Homemade Frozen Dog Treat Recipes

Yields depend on your mold size, so treat the amounts as a starting point. When you try a new recipe, introduce one new ingredient at a time and watch how your dog's tummy handles it.

1. 2-Ingredient Peanut Butter Banana Bites

You'll need

• 2 ripe bananas
• 1/4 cup xylitol-free, unsalted peanut butter

How to make them

1. Mash or blend the bananas and peanut butter until smooth.
2. Spoon into mini silicone molds.
3. Freeze for about 3 hours.

Great for: first-timers and picky eaters. Because both ingredients are rich, this is a small-portion treat.

2. Watermelon Cooler Cubes

You'll need

• 2 cups seedless watermelon, rind removed
• Optional: 1/4 cup plain unsweetened yogurt for a creamier cube

How to make them

1. Double-check for seeds, then blend until smooth.
2. Pour into an ice cube tray.
3. Freeze for 2 to 3 hours.

Great for: the hottest afternoons and dogs watching their weight, since the base is mostly water.

3. Blueberry Yogurt Pops

You'll need

• 3/4 cup plain unsweetened Greek yogurt
• 1/2 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
• 1/2 ripe banana

How to make them

1. Blend everything completely smooth. Whole berries can surprise a small dog when the yogurt melts.
2. Pour into molds and press in a small dog biscuit as a handle, if you like.
3. Freeze for about 4 hours.

Great for: dogs who already do well with dairy. Start with a single pop to see how your dog tolerates it.

4. Pumpkin Lick Cubes

You'll need

• 1 cup 100% pure pumpkin puree (not pie filling)
• 1/2 cup plain yogurt or water
• Optional: 1 tablespoon xylitol-free peanut butter

How to make them

1. Stir everything together until smooth.
2. Spoon into an ice cube tray or spread onto a lick mat.
3. Freeze for about 4 hours.

Great for: a fiber-rich, lickable treat. Use water instead of yogurt for a dairy-free version.

5. Savory Chicken Broth Cubes

You'll need

• 2 cups homemade or unseasoned chicken broth with no onion, no garlic, and little to no salt
• 1/2 cup plain cooked chicken, shredded, with no skin, bones, or seasoning
• Optional: a few small pieces of cooked carrot

How to make them

1. Drop a little chicken (and carrot, if using) into each tray slot.
2. Pour broth over the top.
3. Freeze for about 4 hours.

Great for: meat lovers and dairy-free dogs. Most boxed broths for people include onion or garlic, so homemade or a broth made for dogs is the safer pick.

6. Apple Carrot Crunch Cubes

You'll need

• 1 apple, cored, with all seeds removed
• 1 medium carrot
• 1 cup water

How to make them

1. Blend the apple, carrot, and water until mostly smooth.
2. Pour into an ice cube tray.
3. Freeze for 3 to 4 hours.

Great for: a light, low-calorie option with a little texture.

7. Backyard Ice Lick Block

You'll need

• A large food-safe container or silicone cake mold
• Water or diluted unseasoned broth
• Dog-safe mix-ins: blueberries, carrot coins, cucumber slices, small dog biscuits

How to make it

1. Add a layer of liquid and a few mix-ins, then freeze until firm.
2. Repeat with a second and third layer so the goodies are spread throughout.
3. Freeze overnight, then serve outside on the grass or a towel.

Great for: multi-dog households and long, slow lick sessions. Stay nearby and pick up the block once it gets small enough to swallow.

8. Frozen Stuffed Toy or Lick Mat

You'll need

• A stuffable rubber toy sized for your dog, or a silicone lick mat
• A smooth filling: pumpkin and yogurt, banana and peanut butter, or soaked kibble and unseasoned broth

How to make it

1. Fill the toy or spread the mat with your mixture.
2. Seal a toy's opening with a thin layer of xylitol-free peanut butter.
3. Freeze overnight.

Great for: crate time, work-from-home afternoons, and noisy summer evenings when your dog could use a calming activity.

Short on time? Keep a bag of PawFurEver treats ready

Not every hot day leaves time to blend. PawFurEver's 3-Ingredient Peanut Butter Dog Treats are grain-free and all-natural, made with a minimal ingredient list and no fillers. Use one as a topper on a frozen cube, a reward after a cool-down, or an easy treat on busy days. If your dog has allergies, check the ingredient list on the product page.

Shop Dog Treats

Ingredient Safety Checklist: What's Safe and What to Skip

This is the section most recipe roundups rush through, and it is the one that matters most. Every dog is different, so think of these lists as a starting point and check with your veterinarian if your dog has a health condition.

Dog-friendly ingredients for frozen treats

• Fruits: banana, blueberries, strawberries, seedless watermelon (no rind), cantaloupe (no rind), apple (no core or seeds)
• Vegetables: 100% pure pumpkin, carrot, cucumber, plain cooked sweet potato
• Proteins: plain cooked chicken or turkey with no skin, bones, or seasoning
• Creamy add-ins: xylitol-free, unsalted peanut butter; plain unsweetened yogurt for dogs who tolerate dairy
• Liquids: water or unseasoned broth with no onion or garlic

Ingredients to skip

• Xylitol: the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warns that this sweetener, found in some peanut butters and sugar-free foods, can be dangerous for dogs (FDA). It is sometimes listed as birch sugar.
• Grapes and raisins: the ASPCA notes they can lead to kidney damage in dogs (ASPCA Poison Control).
• Onion, garlic, and chives: watch for them in boxed broth and baby food.
• Chocolate and cocoa: keep human frozen desserts out of the treat tray.
• Macadamia nuts and other fatty nuts: the ASPCA lists these among foods to avoid.
• Coconut water: it shows up in plenty of frozen treat recipes, but the ASPCA notes it is high in potassium and advises against giving it to pets.
• Added sugar, honey, syrups, and ice cream made for people: dogs don't need the extra sweetness or calories.
• Salty foods: large amounts of salt can cause serious problems, so choose low or no sodium broth.

3 label traps hiding in everyday groceries

1. "Reduced sugar" or "keto" peanut butter: scan the ingredient list for xylitol or birch sugar every time you buy a new jar.
2. Store-bought broth and stock: onion and garlic powder are common, even in "low sodium" versions.
3. "Light" or flavored yogurt: these can include sugar substitutes. Plain and unsweetened is the only yogurt for the freezer tray.

If you think your dog has eaten something toxic, contact your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 right away.

How Many Frozen Treats Can a Dog Have?

A common veterinary guideline is to keep all treats, frozen ones included, to about 10 percent of your dog's daily calories. That matters more than many pet parents realize: in the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention's 2022 survey, veterinary professionals classified 59 percent of dogs as overweight or having obesity (APOP).

Use this table as a starting point, then adjust with your veterinarian's advice. Rich recipes with peanut butter, banana, or yogurt count for more than watermelon or broth cubes.

On days when your dog gets a bigger frozen treat, trim their regular meal slightly to keep things balanced.

Frozen Treat Tips for Every Kind of Dog

Puppies

Keep it small, smooth, and simple, with one familiar ingredient. Many pet parents find frozen treats soothing during teething. Supervise every session, and ask your veterinarian before introducing new foods.

Senior dogs

Older dogs with sensitive teeth usually prefer soft, lickable textures. Let a cube sit for a few minutes before serving, or spread the mix on a lick mat instead.

Small breeds

Use mini molds and blend everything completely. A whole blueberry or chunk of carrot is a bigger bite for a Chihuahua than it looks.

Power chewers

Hard ice can be rough on teeth for dogs who crunch everything. Serve frozen mixtures inside a sturdy stuffable toy so your dog licks rather than bites.

Sensitive stomachs

Try one new ingredient at a time and lean on dairy-free bases like pumpkin, water, or unseasoned broth. If you see loose stools or vomiting, pause and check in with your veterinarian.

Flat-faced breeds

The AVMA notes that short-nosed breeds face higher risk with warm-weather exercise. For Pugs, Bulldogs, and their friends, frozen treats work best alongside shade, air conditioning, and very short walks during cool hours.

Dogs with health conditions

If your dog has diabetes, kidney disease, pancreatitis, or a special diet, ask your veterinarian before adding fruit, peanut butter, or yogurt.

Tools, Molds, and Storage

What you'll need

• Food-grade silicone molds in fun shapes, or a standard ice cube tray
• A blender, or a fork and bowl for mashing
• A silicone lick mat or stuffable rubber toy
• Freezer bags or airtight containers
• A marker and labels

How long do homemade frozen dog treats last?

Once your treats are frozen solid, pop them out and store them in an airtight freezer bag with the air pressed out. Most keep up to about 3 months, though they taste and look best within 1 to 2 months.

Don't leave melted yogurt or meat-based treats sitting out in the heat, and toss any that thawed and were refrozen.

Multi-dog homes: label by name

If one dog is dairy-free and another is on a diet, label each bag with the dog's name, the ingredients, and the date. It takes ten seconds and prevents mix-ups when a pet sitter or family member is handing out treats. A treat made just for your pet should land with the right pet.

Homemade vs. Store-Bought Frozen Dog Treats

Both can earn a spot in your freezer. Here is how they compare so you can choose what fits your week.

Many pet families use all three: homemade frozen treats for hot afternoons at home, and a shelf-stable bag for walks, training, and trips where a freezer isn't handy.

Make Frozen Treats a Summer Tradition

Host a backyard treat bar

Inviting a few dog friends over? Set out a cooler with two or three treat types, a water station in the shade, and separate spots for each dog so nobody guards their snack. Ask the other pet parents about allergies before you serve anything.

Frozen mini cake for a birthday or gotcha day

1. Mash 1 ripe banana with 2 tablespoons xylitol-free peanut butter.
2. Press it into a silicone cupcake mold or small ramekin.
3. Top with 1/4 cup plain yogurt and a few blueberries.
4. Freeze overnight, then pop out and serve as one special, once-in-a-while portion.

Looking for a keepsake to go with the celebration? A Birth Flower Dog Tag features the flower for your pet's birth month, engraved on solid stainless steel with their name on the front.

Capture the brain-freeze face

That first-lick expression is pure joy. Snap a clear, well-lit photo and you have the start of a custom pet portrait, printed on canvas and framed in solid dark walnut in Maryland.

Summer adventures need dependable gear

Summer means more time outside, more backyard gatherings, and more open gates. Before the season gets busy, make sure your dog's ID is current and their collar can handle drippy treats and splash days.

QR Code Dog Tags

Solid stainless steel with 3-tone laser engraving on the front and a QR code on the back. Anyone who finds your dog can scan it with a smartphone camera, no app needed, to reach your contact profile. It's a calm, simple way to help a finder reach you and help bring them home.

Shop QR Tags

Waterproof Biothane Dog Collars

Frozen treats get drippy, and summer gets wet. Biothane doesn't absorb water or trap odor, and it wipes clean with a damp cloth. Made in the USA in Maryland with solid brass and nickel-plated hardware, in sizes Small to X-Large. Waterproof, not buoyant, so add a life jacket for deep-water swims.

Shop Collars

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources and Further Reading

• American Veterinary Medical Association: Warm Weather Pet Safety
• U.S. Food and Drug Administration: Paws Off Xylitol; It's Dangerous for Dogs
• ASPCA Animal Poison Control: People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets
• Association for Pet Obesity Prevention: 2022 Survey and Data

This article is for general information and is not a substitute for advice from your veterinarian.