How to Make Frozen Dog Treats (4 Easy Base Recipes)

TL;DR: Making frozen dog treats is easy. You need silicone molds (or ice cube trays), one dog-safe base ingredient (yogurt, broth, peanut butter, or pumpkin), and 2 to 3 hours of freezer time. The four base recipes below cover everything: yogurt + berry, broth + meat, peanut butter + banana, and pumpkin + oats. All take about 5 minutes of active work. Store in freezer bags for up to 2 months. Skip xylitol, chocolate, grapes, onions, and garlic. Watch your dog's calorie budget, even healthy frozen treats add up.

Frozen dog treats are one of the easiest wins for dog owners. They're cheap (most recipes cost under $2 per batch), they're cooling on hot days, they take 5 to 20 times longer to eat than room-temp treats, and they double as calming enrichment. The only thing that stops most people from making them regularly is figuring out the basics: which molds to use, what ingredients are safe, and how long to freeze.

This guide walks through the equipment, the four base recipes everyone should know, storage rules, and a few advanced ideas (layered treats, recipe combos) once you've got the basics.

What You Need

Silicone Molds

The single best investment for frozen dog treats. Silicone is flexible (so you can pop treats out without breaking them), freezer-safe, dishwasher-safe, and food-grade. Look for molds in fun shapes (paws, bones, dog faces, hearts) sized for your dog.

Good size guide: small molds (1 to 2 tablespoons per cavity) for small dogs and high-frequency treats. Medium molds (2 to 4 tablespoons) for medium and large dogs. Large molds (1/4 cup+) for "main event" treats or Kong substitutes.

Our paw and bone silicone molds are sized right for most dogs and hold up well to repeated freezer use.

Ice Cube Trays (Backup Option)

A standard ice cube tray works fine. Most slots hold about 1 ounce per cube, which is a good portion for small to medium dogs. The cubes don't look as cute as molded shapes, but they freeze just as well.

Mixing Bowl and Spoon

That's it. No special equipment needed for any base recipe.

Freezer Bags for Storage

Pop the frozen treats out of the mold and transfer to a labeled freezer bag. Saves freezer real estate and keeps the mold free for the next batch.

Base Recipe 1: Yogurt and Berry

The default. Simple, dog-friendly, low-calorie, hard to mess up.

Ingredients

• 1 cup plain Greek yogurt (full fat, low fat, or nonfat)
• 1/4 cup fresh or frozen blueberries (or sliced strawberries)

Steps

1. Spoon a teaspoon to a tablespoon of yogurt into each mold cavity (depending on cavity size).
2. Drop a single blueberry or piece of strawberry into the top of each.
3. Smooth the top with a spoon if needed.
4. Freeze for at least 2 hours (3 hours is safer).
5. Pop out by gently pushing from underneath the mold. Transfer to a freezer bag.

Notes

Yields: 12 to 16 small treats, ~15 to 20 calories each.

Plain Greek yogurt is best, lower lactose and higher protein than regular yogurt. See our full yogurt guide for safe brands and the xylitol warning.

For dogs with dairy sensitivity, swap the Greek yogurt for plain unsweetened coconut yogurt (check for xylitol).

Variations

• Mash a quarter banana into the yogurt for a sweeter version.
• Swirl in a teaspoon of natural peanut butter (xylitol-free, see our peanuts guide).
• Use raspberries, sliced strawberries, or diced apple instead of blueberries.
• Drop a small piece of cooked chicken in instead of fruit for a savory version.

Base Recipe 2: Broth and Meat

The savory option. Most dogs are even more excited about this than yogurt-based treats. Higher protein, lower calorie.

Ingredients

• 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth (must contain NO onion, NO garlic, check the label)
• 1/2 cup cooked chicken (plain, shredded into small pieces), OR an equivalent of cooked turkey, beef, or fish

Steps

1. Drop a teaspoon of shredded meat into each mold cavity.
2. Pour broth over the top, filling each cavity to about 90 percent full.
3. Tap the mold gently on the counter to release any air bubbles.
4. Freeze for 2 to 3 hours.
5. Pop out and transfer to a freezer bag.

Notes

Yields: 16 to 24 small treats, ~5 to 15 calories each (very low calorie).

Critical: commercial broth often contains onion, garlic, and high sodium. Read the label. Onion and garlic are toxic to dogs. Better: make your own broth by simmering chicken bones with carrots and celery (no onion, no garlic, no salt) for 4 hours, then strain.

Variations

• Use beef broth and small pieces of cooked lean beef.
• Use fish broth (made from cooked salmon scraps) for a high-omega-3 version.
• Drop a single blueberry or small piece of carrot in instead of meat for a lower-protein savory option.
• Add a small piece of plain cooked sweet potato for added fiber and natural sweetness.

Base Recipe 3: Peanut Butter and Banana

The crowd-pleaser. Higher calorie, but most dogs lose their minds for this combination.

Ingredients

• 1 ripe banana
• 2 tablespoons natural peanut butter (CHECK for xylitol)
• 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt (optional, makes it creamier)

Steps

1. Mash the banana in a bowl until mostly smooth.
2. Add peanut butter and yogurt (if using). Stir until smooth.
3. Spoon into mold cavities.
4. Freeze for 2 to 3 hours.
5. Pop out and store in a freezer bag.

Notes

Yields: 8 to 12 medium treats, ~30 to 50 calories each (depending on size and ingredients).

Critical: ALWAYS verify peanut butter is xylitol-free. It's deadly to dogs. Safe brands typically list only peanuts (and sometimes salt).

Variations

• Skip the yogurt for a denser, more peanut-butter-forward treat.
• Add a teaspoon of plain pumpkin for extra fiber.
• Sub almond butter or sunflower butter (xylitol-free) if your dog has a peanut allergy.
• Mix in a tablespoon of plain rolled oats for added texture.

Base Recipe 4: Pumpkin and Oats

The digestive-friendly option. Gentle on sensitive stomachs, low calorie, easy to portion.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup plain canned pumpkin (NOT pumpkin pie filling)
• 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
• 2 tablespoons plain rolled oats (uncooked is fine)

Steps

1. Mix pumpkin, yogurt, and oats in a bowl until smooth.
2. Spoon into mold cavities.
3. Freeze 2 to 3 hours.
4. Pop out and store in a freezer bag.

Notes

Yields: 10 to 14 small treats, ~20 to 30 calories each.

Pumpkin is good for digestion and can help with both mild diarrhea and mild constipation. A great base for dogs with sensitive stomachs.

Variations

• Skip the yogurt for a dairy-free version (use a splash of water instead).
• Add a tablespoon of natural peanut butter for richness.
• Sub mashed sweet potato for the pumpkin.
• Add a few small pieces of cooked chicken for a savory pumpkin version.

Freezing and Storage Rules

Freezer Time

• Small treats (1 to 2 tablespoons per cavity): 1.5 to 2 hours.
• Medium treats (2 to 4 tablespoons per cavity): 2 to 3 hours.
• Large treats (1/4 cup or more): 4 hours or overnight.
• Kong fillings: 3 to 4 hours minimum.

Storage

• Once fully frozen, pop treats out of the mold and transfer to a labeled freezer bag.
• Most homemade frozen treats keep for 2 months in the freezer.
• Don't refreeze a thawed treat. If your dog doesn't finish one and it melts, toss it.

Serving

• Serve outside or on a hard floor for easy clean-up. Frozen yogurt drips on carpet are a nightmare.
• Don't give rock-hard frozen treats to dogs with dental issues. Thaw 5 to 10 minutes first, or use softer base recipes (yogurt-based).
• Small dogs may struggle with bigger frozen treats. Either use smaller molds or break larger treats into pieces before serving.

Calorie Math Reference

Frozen treats still count toward the 10 percent daily treat budget. Quick reference:

• Small dog (under 20 lbs, ~400 daily cal): 40 calorie treat budget. About 2 yogurt+berry treats OR 4 broth+meat treats OR 1 peanut butter banana treat.
• Medium dog (20 to 50 lbs, ~700 cal): 70 calorie budget. About 4 yogurt+berry OR 6 broth+meat OR 2 PB banana treats.
• Large dog (50+ lbs, ~1200 cal): 120 calorie budget. About 6 to 8 standard frozen treats.

What to Avoid in Frozen Treats

• Xylitol, in peanut butter, sugar-free yogurt, "lite" baked goods. Deadly to dogs.
• Chocolate, toxic.
• Grapes and raisins, toxic. See our grapes guide.
• Onion and garlic, in commercial broth especially. Read labels.
• Macadamia nuts, toxic.
• Excessive salt, no need for added salt in dog treats. Low-sodium broth is the move.
• Added sugar, sweetened yogurts, syrup, honey in large amounts. Unnecessary.
• "Sugar-free" anything, often contains xylitol.
• Cooked bones, splinter. Don't put bone pieces in frozen treats.
• Avocado pit, the flesh is fine in tiny amounts but skip the pit and skin.

Advanced: Layered Treats

Once you've got the basics, you can layer different bases for visual interest and flavor variety:

Three-Layer Pupsicle

1. Fill mold cavities 1/3 with mashed banana. Freeze 30 minutes.
2. Add a second layer of plain Greek yogurt to 2/3 full. Freeze 30 minutes.
3. Top off with pumpkin puree. Freeze 2 hours.

Looks impressive when popped out. About 30 calories each.

Hidden Surprise Pops

Fill mold halfway with yogurt, freeze 30 minutes, then place a piece of cooked chicken or a blueberry on top, fill the rest with yogurt, freeze another 2 hours. The dog gets a "prize" in the middle.

Smoothie Pops

Blend yogurt, mashed banana, peanut butter, and a splash of water until smooth. Pour into molds. Freeze. Smooth, creamy texture, great for licking.

Cooper's Treats Approach

For an even simpler workflow, our Pupsicle Starter Kit is built around this exact process. The mix is freeze-dried meat plus a small amount of binders, you add water, pour into our included silicone molds, and freeze. Total active work is about 60 seconds. Each Pupsicle is about 20 calories, no sugar, no dairy, real meat as the main ingredient.

For DIY versions where you want full ingredient control, the four base recipes above cover most needs. The kit just removes the sourcing and ingredient hunt.

Pro Tips

• Make bigger batches. If you're going to spend 5 minutes mixing and 2 hours freezing, you might as well make a month's worth.
• Label your freezer bags with the recipe and the date. Easy to lose track.
• Pre-stuff Kongs and freeze in bulk. Have 3 to 5 frozen Kongs ready at all times for impromptu enrichment.
• Use a piping bag for fancy shapes. A zip-top bag with a corner cut off works as a cheap piping bag for filling intricate molds neatly.
• Wash molds promptly after popping out treats. Soft food in silicone grooves gets sticky if left.
• Rotate flavors. Dogs get bored of the same treat. Make a yogurt batch one week, a broth batch the next.

The Short Version

Making frozen dog treats takes 5 minutes of active work plus freezer time. Pick one of four base recipes (yogurt+berry, broth+meat, peanut butter+banana, pumpkin+oats), spoon into silicone molds or ice cube trays, freeze 2 to 3 hours, store in freezer bags. Mind the calorie math, even healthy frozen treats add up. Check peanut butter for xylitol. Skip commercial broth with onion or garlic. Once you've got the basics, layer or combine bases for variety.

If your dog has sensitivities or allergies, start with single-ingredient base treats (plain broth cubes or plain yogurt drops) before mixing recipes. Easier to isolate any reactions.