My biggest joy on my homestead are my two dogs and I love to keep them happy and cool in the hot summer months here in Florida. I already make my own dog treats, but I needed a treat for the summer months that they could enjoy.
I put my creativity to the test and came up with a concoction that they both absolutely love… frozen berry pumpkin treats! These frozen treats are simple and healthy and provide for a nice cool treat on a hot day.
Frozen Berry Pumpkin Treats
The ingredients I used are not only simple but can be interchanged easily. After reading about different treats on Pinterest and Google, I came across a website just for canines called Kol’s Notes that had some wonderful recipes for treats for dogs. One of the posts they share was a chart about mixing and matching ingredients for homemade treats. You can see that chart here.
The chart shows you options for a base, a flavor, and a mix-in. You simply choose one from each, mix and freeze. How simple is that? I made my decision of ingredients based on what I already had on hand since grocery shopping is my least favorite thing to do.
Ingredients
My 3 ingredients were unsweetened coconut milk, pumpkin puree, and frozen fruit and berries. Coconut milk is very good for dogs and a lot of veterinarians use coconut milk for their dogs. Pumpkin is also very healthy for dogs. Just make sure when using pumpkin you use the puree.
The berries I use are from the local farm stand that I freeze for smoothies. Strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries are my personal favorites. Blueberries are a super food that provides antioxidants and prevent cell damage.
Strawberries are full of fiber and vitamin C. They also contain an enzyme that whitens your dog’s teeth and protects them. Raspberries are also filled with antioxidants and fiber, low in sugar and have anti-inflammatory properties which help with joints and muscles.
Directions to make Frozen Berry Pumpkin Treats
All you need to do is follow the simple instructions below and voila!
Combine one 15oz. can of Pumpkin puree, one 13.5oz. can of unsweetened coconut milk, and about 3/4 to 1 full cup of frozen or fresh fruit into a deep bowl.
With an immersion blender, whip the ingredients until it becomes the consistency of a smoothie.
Place some silicon molds on a cookie sheet.
Spoon the mixture into the molds.
Place the cookie sheet into the freezer til frozen.
Remove from freezer, pop the treats out of the molds.
Place your new treats in a freezer bag.
Special Notes
Even though the recipe is so simple, there are a few things I learned while making these that may help you.
First, I used fat-free, no preservative pumpkin puree from Baker’s Corner. I didn’t want any unhealthy additives in my treats. Second, I used unsweetened coconut milk that was all natural and gluten free. The brand of coconut milk I prefer is A Taste of Thai.
I used an immersion blender but you could use a food processor or a blender, I am sure there is no difference, I just like the easier cleanup. I also chopped up the frozen fruit as I froze it in whole pieces so the immersion blender didn’t have to work as hard.
Lastly, I used a toothpick to push the mixture into the corners of the silicone molds I used, then “patted” the molds while on the cookie sheet so the ingredients were level before placing in the freezer.
The moment of truth
My two dogs loved these! I made larger treats for the Hound and smaller treats for the Chihuahua. Both of them ate them happily and stayed around waiting for more!
Have you made any frozen treats for your canine buddies? Share your recipes with us!
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