Strawberry Yogurt Frozen Dog Treats (2-Ingredient Summer Snack)

I started making these for my sister's dog, Bruno, when he visited during a heat wave last summer. She'd bought those store-bought frozen dog treats from Walmart and he wouldn't touch them — but the second I blended some leftover strawberries with yogurt and froze them in an ice cube tray, he went absolutely wild. I've made a double batch every time she's visited since.

This is genuinely a two-ingredient recipe. Plain yogurt, strawberries, done. I know recipes that call themselves "two-ingredient" and then sneak in five more things — this one actually isn't like that. You blend them together, pour into molds, freeze, and that's it. The hardest part is waiting the four to six hours for them to set.

My kids think making these is the most fun thing we do in the kitchen together. Zainab especially loves pressing the mixture into the silicone bone-shaped molds I picked up for about $8 at a dollar-type store. We make them in big batches and they last in the freezer for weeks — though Bruno usually finishes them faster than that.

One thing worth knowing upfront: the yogurt you use matters. It has to be plain, unsweetened yogurt with no xylitol — that's a sweetener that's toxic to dogs and shows up in more products than you'd expect. Check the label before you buy. I usually grab the plain Chobani or the store-brand plain yogurt from Aldi, both are totally fine. If you want something dairy-free, coconut yogurt works too. And if you're in the mood to make something for the humans in your house while you're at it, my Oreo Dump Cake takes about the same amount of effort and goes over just as well.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

• Only two real ingredients: I've seen dog treat recipes that require six things including weird protein powders and supplements. This one is just yogurt and strawberries. If you have those two things in your fridge right now, you can make these today. No special trip to the pet store required.

• No baking, no cooking, no mess: You blend the mixture, pour it into molds, and freeze. The blender takes about two minutes to rinse out. On the list of kitchen projects I've done with my kids, this is genuinely one of the least chaotic.

• You know exactly what's in them: Commercial dog treats have ingredient lists that go on forever — preservatives, fillers, things I can't pronounce. With these, I know it's strawberries and yogurt. That's it. For dogs with sensitive stomachs or food sensitivities, that kind of control matters.

• They keep for a whole month in the freezer: I make a big batch at the start of summer and pull them out whenever Bruno visits or whenever a neighbor's dog stops by. Store them in a zip-lock freezer bag and they hold up well for four weeks without any freezer burn issues.

• Kids can help with the whole thing: Zainab pours the mixture, Saad presses the molds flat. There's nothing hot, nothing sharp. It's one of those rare kitchen activities that genuinely works as something to do together on a slow afternoon.

Ingredients

• 1 cup fresh strawberries, hulled and chopped (frozen works too — no need to thaw)
• ½ cup plain unsweetened yogurt — no xylitol, no added sugar (I use plain Chobani or Aldi store-brand)
• 1 tablespoon water, only if the mixture is too thick to blend smoothly
• Optional: 1 tablespoon honey — only for dogs over one year old

Directions

• Step 1: Prep the strawberries. Wash them well and pull off the stems. Chop them into rough pieces — they don't need to be small since they're going into a blender anyway. If you're using frozen strawberries, just toss them in straight from the bag.
• Step 2: Blend everything together. Add the chopped strawberries and yogurt to a blender or food processor. Blend until smooth, about 30 to 45 seconds. If the mixture is too thick to move around in the blender, add a tablespoon of water and blend again. Add honey here if you're using it.
• Step 3: Fill your molds. Pour or spoon the blended mixture into silicone molds or a standard ice cube tray. Silicone bone or paw-shaped molds are fun and pop out cleanly — but a regular ice cube tray works exactly as well. Don't fill them all the way to the top; leave a tiny bit of space since the mixture expands slightly as it freezes.
• Step 4: Freeze for at least 4 to 6 hours. I usually put them in before lunch and they're ready by evening. If you can leave them overnight, even better — they'll be fully solid and pop out cleanly without breaking.
• Step 5: Pop out and serve. Press from the bottom of the silicone mold and they should release easily. If they're sticking, let them sit at room temperature for 60 seconds. Always watch your dog while they're eating a frozen treat.

Tips for Success

• Read the yogurt label every single time: I cannot stress this enough — xylitol is toxic to dogs, and it shows up in some plain-seeming yogurts as a sweetener. It might also be listed as "birch sugar" on some labels. Before you use any yogurt for this recipe, flip it over and scan the ingredients. Plain Chobani, plain Fage, and most store-brand plain yogurts are fine, but check anyway.

• Use small molds for smaller dogs: The first time I made these I used a regular muffin tin, which made treats the size of a hockey puck. That's too much for a smaller dog. Ice cube tray portions are about right for a medium dog. For small breeds, look for mini ice cube trays or silicone molds made for chocolate — those are usually a good bite-sized portion.

• Let them freeze fully before serving: If you try to pop them out after two hours they'll still be slushy in the middle and will fall apart or melt fast. The four to six hour freeze time is real — don't rush it. I set a reminder on my phone so I don't try to serve them too early.

• Introduce slowly if your dog hasn't had dairy before: Start with half a treat the first time and see how your dog's stomach handles it. Some dogs do fine with yogurt, others don't. If there are any signs of digestive upset, switch to coconut yogurt next time — it's dairy-free and blends just as smoothly.

• Store in a sealed freezer bag: If you leave the treats loose in the mold tray they can pick up freezer smells and get icy on the outside. Once they're fully frozen, pop them all out and store them in a zip-lock freezer bag. They'll keep for up to a month this way without any change in texture.

Variations

• Banana and strawberry: Add half a ripe banana to the blender along with the strawberries. It makes the texture creamier and a little thicker, so the treats hold their shape better when popping out of the molds. Banana is one of the most dog-friendly fruits out there, and most dogs go completely crazy for the smell.

• Mixed berry: Swap out half the strawberries for blueberries or raspberries. Blueberries in particular are great for dogs — they're small, safe, and high in antioxidants. The color of the finished treats turns a deep purple which looks really pretty in the molds if you're making them to photograph or gift.

• Peanut butter swirl: Add a tablespoon of unsweetened peanut butter — but check the label for xylitol first, the same way you did with the yogurt. Some peanut butter brands use it as a sweetener. Brands like Jif Natural (original, not the reduced sugar version) are safe. The peanut butter adds a nutty richness and most dogs absolutely love it.

• Pumpkin yogurt treats: Replace the strawberries with ½ cup of plain canned pumpkin — not pumpkin pie filling, just plain pumpkin. This is a great variation for dogs with sensitive digestive systems since pumpkin is famously gentle on dog stomachs. The color is a warm orange and the texture blends smoothly with the yogurt.

• Dairy-free coconut version: Use coconut yogurt instead of regular yogurt. This works well for dogs who are lactose intolerant or just don't do well with dairy. The flavor ends up slightly tropical, and it blends just as smoothly as regular yogurt. I've also seen this version suggested for older dogs whose digestion has become more sensitive.

Serving and Storage

Serving

Serve one to two treats per day depending on your dog's size — an ice cube-sized portion is plenty for most medium dogs. These are best served right out of the freezer on a warm day, outside or on a surface you don't mind getting a little wet as they melt. Bruno gets his after his afternoon walk when he's the most overheated. Always supervise while your dog is eating a frozen treat — they can try to swallow large pieces whole.

Storage

Once the treats are fully frozen, remove them from the molds and transfer to a zip-lock freezer bag or an airtight freezer-safe container. They keep well for up to one month. Label the bag with the date so you remember when you made them. If you notice any ice crystals forming on the outside, they're still safe to eat — just a sign they've been in there a while.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Greek yogurt instead of regular yogurt?

Yes, Greek yogurt works well here as long as it's plain and unsweetened. It's thicker than regular yogurt, so the mixture will be a bit denser — you might need that tablespoon of water to help it blend smoothly. Just check the label for xylitol before using any yogurt brand, Greek or otherwise.

Are strawberries safe for dogs?

Strawberries are generally safe for dogs in moderate amounts. They're soft, easy to digest, and contain vitamin C. That said, every dog is different — if your dog has never had strawberries before, start with a small portion and see how they do before serving a full treat.

Can I use frozen strawberries instead of fresh?

Absolutely. Frozen strawberries blend just as well and you don't need to thaw them first. I actually use frozen more often than fresh because I keep a bag of them in the freezer year-round. Just make sure the bag has no added sugar or syrup — plain frozen strawberries only.

What if my dog is lactose intolerant?

Use coconut yogurt as a straight swap. It's dairy-free, blends smoothly, and most dogs like the flavor. Some dogs handle small amounts of regular yogurt fine because of the live cultures, but if you know your dog has a sensitive stomach around dairy, coconut yogurt is the safer choice from the start.

How many treats can I give my dog per day?

One to two treats per day is a reasonable amount for most medium-sized dogs. For smaller dogs, stick to one. Treats should generally make up no more than 10% of a dog's daily calories, so keep that in mind if you have a small or older dog watching their weight. When in doubt, ask your vet.

I keep coming back to this recipe because of how genuinely low-effort it is. I can blend a batch while the kettle boils, pour it into molds, slide the tray into the freezer, and completely forget about it until the next afternoon. There's no skill involved, no timing pressure, no chance of burning anything. For someone like me who's actively cooking something in her kitchen almost every day, it's nice to have one thing on the list that basically does itself.

The first time I made these I used a silicone muffin pan because I didn't have anything else, and the treats came out way too big for Bruno. He tried to eat one in two bites and ended up with yogurt on his nose for the rest of the afternoon. Lesson learned — use an ice cube tray or actual small molds. The bone-shaped silicone molds I found for $8 make the right size and they're just more fun to look at.

If you're making a batch of these for a dog you're visiting or gifting, they travel fine in a small cooler with an ice pack. And if you're in a baking mood for the humans in your life at the same time, my Cheesecake Crescent Rolls Casserole comes together in about the same amount of active prep time — both things can be sitting in the fridge and freezer ready to go by dinnertime. 🐾🍓❄️

If you made these and your dog approved, I'd love to hear about it in the comments. And if you're looking for more things to make while you wait for the freezer to do its thing, here are a few recipes I've been making lately:

• Oreo Dump Cake — four ingredients, no mixer, feeds a crowd
• Cheesecake Crescent Rolls Casserole — one of the easiest desserts I make
• 5-Ingredient Amaretto Truffles — when you need something to gift or bring to a party
• Spinach Mushroom Orzo — a proper weeknight dinner that comes together fast
• Buffalo Chicken Dip — creamy, tangy, and gone within minutes at any gathering