Frozen Pupcakes [Duke’s 4th Birthday!]

These straightforward frozen dog treats can be made in minutes and your dog will love them!

Can you believe that this handsome little guy turned FOUR last week?!

It seems like just yesterday that we brought him home to our previous house, to a waiting Einstein, and crossed our fingers that the two of them would get along. Duke was enamored with Einstein from the get-go and they certainly had complementary personalities. Duke is a little crazy, a bit anxious, and more dependent, while Einstein was as laid back as they come and Mr. Independent.

Last fall, within a matter of weeks, Duke lost his best friend and then welcomed a new baby brother, and he managed to adjust so much better than we ever thought he would. He’s a little bit more mellow now, and he’s much more relaxed with the boys. He has also become a beggar, which he never was before Einstein passed away… we think Einy must have left that little piece of himself with Duke ;-) So needless to say, he absolutely devoured these little treats!

It wouldn’t be a birthday without a bunch of old photos! :)

A speedy note on these frozen pupcakes; we've posted frozen dog treats before and have received some comments from folks that they are too messy and made a mess on their carpet. These get gobbled up quickly by Duke, so they don’t melt or get messy at all, but if your dog is a slow eater, you may want to make it an outside treat.

Happy Birthday, Duke! Here’s to another fun and fabulous year!

One year ago: Soft-centered Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Glaze
Five years ago: Zucchini Cornbread

Frozen Pupcakes

Yield: 6 large or 12 small These straightforward frozen dog treats can be made in minutes and your dog will love them!

• ⅓ cup (83.33 g) almond butter
• ½ cup (122.5 ml) plain yogurt
• 1 banana
• Water, as needed

• Spray a regular or mini muffin tin with non-stick cooking spray (or use silicone muffin pans).
• Place the almond butter, yogurt, and banana in a blender and puree until smooth. Add water a teaspoon at a time, if needed, to create a smooth consistency.
• Divide the mixture into the muffin tins and freeze until firm, about 1 hour. Run a thin knife around the edges and pop out the treats, then store in a freezer ziploc bag for up to 2 months.

Notes

• Any kind of nut butter can be used in place of almond butter - most dogs love peanut butter!
• If you have a dog who is a slow eater, you may want to give them the treat outside to avoid a mess on the floor.

Nutritional values based on one large treat

• Yield: 6 large or 12 small
• Prep: 5 minutes
• Total: 1 hour 5 minutes

Ingredients

• ⅓ cup ( 83.33 g ) almond butter
• ½ cup ( 122.5 ml ) plain yogurt
• 1 banana
• Water, as needed

Method

1. Spray a regular or mini muffin tin with non-stick cooking spray (or use silicone muffin pans).
2. Place the almond butter, yogurt, and banana in a blender and puree until smooth. Add water a teaspoon at a time, if needed, to create a smooth consistency.
3. Divide the mixture into the muffin tins and freeze until firm, about 1 hour. Run a thin knife around the edges and pop out the treats, then store in a freezer ziploc bag for up to 2 months.

Notes

Any kind of nut butter can be used in place of almond butter - most dogs love peanut butter!

If you have a dog who is a slow eater, you may want to give them the treat outside to avoid a mess on the floor.