If you’re like me, you love ice cream.

And while you sit there enjoying it, your dogs are sitting there looking at you, hoping you will share.

But should you share your ice cream with them?

If not, what can you give them instead?

A bowl of frozen dog treats shaped like paw prints, made with banana and peanut butter, sits on a countertop alongside a textured cloth. A text overlay reads no dairy ice cream for dogs: 2 ingredients.

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Is Ice Cream Bad for Dogs?

Unfortunately for our dogs, the human ice cream that we buy at the grocery store is not good for them.

It’s too high in lactose and added sugar for them.

Too much sugar can lead to obesity in dogs, and too much lactose can cause them to get an upset stomach and have diarrhea.

And no one wants to cause that in their dog.

How to Make Non-Dairy Ice Cream for Dogs

This dog ice cream recipe is simple to make and has no dairy products in it.

Ingredients

Mashed banana and peanut butter in separate white bowls on a counter.

2 overripe bananas
1/4 cup natural peanut butter (make sure to choose one that does not contain xylitol)

Directions

First, mash the bananas in a bowl.

Mashed banana and peanut butter in a mixing bowl.

Then, add the peanut butter.

Banana and peanut butter mixed together.

Mix until well combined.

Paw shaped silicone molds filled, ready for the freezer.

Spoon the mixture into silicone molds, like these small paw and bone-shaped molds or these larger paw shaped molds.

Place in the freezer and let freeze for at least 4 hours. I prefer to leave mine overnight if possible.

A bowl of frozen dog treats shaped like paw prints, made with banana and peanut butter, sits on a countertop alongside a textured cloth.

Once they are frozen solid, remove them from the molds.

A white dog biting a paw shaped frozen dog treat.

Give one to your dog.

A German Shepherd about to bite a paw shaped frozen peanut butter banana dog treat.

The rest can be stored in the freezer in a freezer bag or another airtight container.

Tips

You can freeze overripe bananas to use later for this recipe. Just peel the bananas and cut them into chunks. Then place on a cookie sheet or plate and freeze for a couple of hours. Once frozen, put them in a freezer-safe container.

To make moving the silicone trays easier, place them on a cookie sheet before filling.

If you don’t have silicone molds, an ice cube tray works just as well. Or use small paper cups.

Adjust the size of the treats by using larger or smaller molds or filling the molds less full for smaller treats.

Make smaller treats for smaller dogs.

Always consult your vet before giving your dog any new foods, especially if they have any allergies or other health problems.

Taste Test

Both Luna and Morgan love dairy-free ice cream for dogs.

They eat it as fast as they can and then look at me, asking for more.

They agree that these treats are a great way to give your dog ice cream that isn’t nearly as unhealthy as the store-bought stuff we humans eat.