3 Ingredient Berry Ice Cream for Dogs
If you ask me, there is no better summer snack than ice cream. The creamy, frozen treat is the perfect way to cool down on a hot summer day and for our furry friends, cooling down in the heat is a must! If your dog is in need of a frozen treat to stay cool this summer then this 3 ingredient berry ice cream recipe for dogs is the perfect solution.
Is Ice Cream Safe for Dogs?
Giving ice cream to dogs is not a new phenomenon. For years, local ice cream shops have been serving “pup cups” to furry customers and it’s a common summer activity for people with dogs. However, is ice cream really safe for your dog?
I’ve done a whole post deep diving into this topic already which I will link here. But, the short answer is that ice cream is okay for dogs to eat in moderation. Ice cream is made with whole milk and sugar, two ingredients that likely won’t make your dog sick but aren’t necessarily the greatest for them either. An occasional small scoop of vanilla ice cream is okay for dogs, but if you want to make ice cream a regular treat for your pooch, you’re better off going the dog friendly route.
I prefer to make ice cream for my dog from home with ingredients that I know won’t upset her tummy. Dogs are not designed to consume dairy, so large amounts of milk and cream can cause GI upset. Sugar isn’t great for dogs to eat regularly either. Dog friendly ice cream cuts out the processed white sugar completely. Instead, ingredients such as fruit, peanut butter, or honey are used to sweeten the dessert. And while dogs aren’t really meant to consume dairy, some dairy products are easier on their tummies than others. Replacing the whole milk or heavy cream with plain greek yogurt makes ice cream easier for dogs to digest.
How to Make Dog Friendly Ice Cream
When it comes to dog safe ice cream recipes, the options are endless. Using plain greek yogurt as your base, you can mix in just about any dog friendly ingredient to make a delicious frozen treat. My two favorite doggy ice cream recipes are a peanut butter and pumpkin ice cream and the berry ice cream recipe that I’m sharing today.
To make dog friendly ice cream, you’re going to combine your yogurt and other ingredients into a blender and blend until it’s well mixed. You then have the option to put the whole batch in the freezer, portion it into bowls and freeze, or even pour it into silicone molds and freeze for bite sized ice cream treats.
The best part about this treat is that it stays well in the freezer for several weeks, so you can make a large batch and keep it frozen until you’re ready to serve!
Benefits of Greek Yogurt for Your Dog
While dogs were not designed to consume dairy products, plain greek yogurt does have some benefits for your pup.
Yogurt is full of calcium, protein and probiotics. It’s often recommended to add to your dogs meals if they’re having diarrhea or other upset stomach symptoms. Greek yogurt is made with less sugar and more protein, making it the better choice for your dog compared to regular yogurt.
You should always give your dog plain yogurt rather than flavored yogurt as flavored yogurts are full of sugar that isn’t good them. Flavored yogurts can also contain xylitol, a sugar substitute that is toxic for your dog.
Benefits of Berries for Your Dog
Blueberries, strawberries, raspberries and blackberries are all healthy snacks for your dog. Berries are full of vitamins and minerals such as: vitamin C, fiber, vitamin K, and antioxidants. They are the perfect ingredient to sweeten doggy ice cream while being beneficial to your furry friends health.
How to Make Berry Ice Cream for Dogs
To make this berry ice cream for your dog, simply combine plain greek yogurt, frozen mixed berry medley, and peanut butter in a blender and blend. From there you can pour the mixture into silicone molds, portion it into bowls, or dump it into one big container and freeze for a few hours. Since the berries were already frozen, the ice cream will be mostly frozen already.
This ice cream can be stored in the freezer for weeks and is ready to serve on those super hot summer days!
If you make this ice cream for your dog, send me a picture over on Instagram @thatonedogmomblog!
Berry Ice Cream for Dogs
Equipment
- 1 blender
Ingredients
- 1 cup plain greek yogurt
- 1 cup frozen mixed berries
- 1/2 cup peanut butter
Instructions
- Combine yogurt, berries and peanut butter in a blender
- Blend until well mixed
- Pour into containers and freeze for several hours
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