Canine-Friendly Ice Creams For the Dog Days of Summer

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Photo: @mollymoonicecream via Instagram

If you’re like 44 percent of Americans — myself included — your dog is no mere furry companion, but rather a family member … and in many cases the favorite family member. So when it comes to summer snacking, why is it fair that some family members get to indulge in sweet frozen treats while others have to pine away under the table, panting through the heat of the dog days of summer (literally)? It’s not! Luckily for our four-legged friends, doggie ice cream is on the rise as more and more dog lovers demand an end to this dessert injustice. Here are the major dog-friendly frozen treats making it possible for your pup to get their warm weather fix — and a bonus recipe for you to make yourself.

More: Christina Tosi’s Pumpkin Dog Biscuit Recipe 

Frosty Paws

Photo: Nestle Frosty Paws via Facebook

Frosty Paws — the personal seasonal favorite of my family’s dogs, and spoiled dogs everywhere — is Purina’s canine-friendly frozen treat brand. These cool cups are “fortified with protein, vitamins, and minerals that dogs need with no added sugar, artificial flavors or colors,” so your canine can cool down while still getting a nutritional boost. Produced by Nestle under the Dreyer’s brand, Frosty Paws have a place on the brand’s website in the ice cream category, right along favorite human brands like Edy’s and Haagen-Dazs — so you know it’s as legit as doggie ice creams get. (However, note that the Paws aren’t technically “ice cream,” as they don’t contain any lactose, making them totally digestion-friendly for your dog.) Frosty Paws cups, which come in cartons of four, have two flavors: original (vanilla) and peanut butter. They’re available at Walmart, Target, and other nationwide grocery stores for a suggested retail price of $3.99.

Puppy Scoops

Photo: Puppy Cake Brand

The Puppy Scoops brand, which markets itself as an alternative to Frosty Paws, comes in whole pints, opposed to individually sized cups — which is good for when you dog’s just had a long day and needs to take a spoon straight to the pint (we’ve all been there, am I right?). As the brand points out, while Frosty Paws has approximately 30 ingredients listed on their label, Puppy Scoops has only five: lactose-free whole milk, peanuts, evaporated cane juice, gelatin and salt. “It’s smooth and creamy, just like ice cream, but with a fraction of the fat and calories and formulated for your dog’s digestion,” they say. Sold through Amazon and the Puppy Cake website, the Scoops actually arrive in powder from, rather than frozen. To create the frozen treat, mix in 2/3 cup of “very hot” tap water and put in the freezer for 5 hours or more. After that, your furry friend will be able to enjoy ice cream in such flavors as Peanut Butter, Maple Bacon, Carob (as an alternative to chocolate), or Vanilla for $6.99 a pint.

Puppy Chillerz

Your dogz will love these frozen treatz, appropriately named “Puppy Chillerz” for their cooling effect. Distributed by the makers of Puppy Scoops and Puppy Cake Mix (a company which surely deserves the praise of sweet-toothed pups everywhere), these grain-free, gelatin-based desserts are naturally sweetened with evaporated cane juice and peanut butter. To create these make-it-yourself Chillerz, simply add hot tap water to the mix and place in the fridge for 20 minutes. You can use their bone-shaped silicone pan or any other cupcake or glass baking dish — but, c’mon, you know those lil’ bone-shaped treats would be pretty darn cute. Puppy Chillerz are available on Amazon and the Puppy Cake site for $4.99 a pack.

Make-It-Yourself PupCream

Of course, if you want to show your pup some real homemade love, canine-friendly ice cream is actually incredibly easy to make. Follow the recipe below for a cool treat that will have your dog barking for seconds.

2 ripe bananas
16 ounces plain yogurt (Or low-fat if Fido’s on a doggie diet)
½ cup peanut butter (Organic is best)

Mix all ingredients in a blender until they reach a smooth consistency. Pour mix into ice cube trays or cupcake liners. Freeze overnight, and get ready for some puppy love in the morning. (And hey, we won’t tell if you sneak one of these for yourself while you’re at it.)

More ice cream stories to love on Yahoo Food:

How Much Does America Love Ice Cream? Yahoo Food Has the Scoop

10 Insanely Creative Ice Cream Sandwiches We Are Dying to Try

How to Make Ice Cream Cake at Home

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