Cantaloupe Pumpkin Frozen Dog Treats

These Cantaloupe & Pumpkin Frozen Dog Treats combine juicy cantaloupe with smooth pumpkin purée to create a refreshing treat that’s naturally hydrating and packed with beneficial nutrients.

With only two wholesome ingredients, this recipe takes just a few minutes to prepare. Simply blend, pour into silicone molds, and freeze. The result is a creamy, refreshing treat that’s perfect after walks, playtime, or simply as a cooling reward on a hot day.

Our dogs loved these frozen treats and the two dogs who are not the biggest fans of watermelon seemed to prefer the cantaloupe.

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Why Cantaloupe and Pumpkin Work Together

Cantaloupe is over 90% water, which is why it’s one of the better fruits for hydration, especially in hot weather or after exercise. It also carries vitamin C and beta-carotene, but on its own it’s fairly low in fiber.

Pumpkin purée fills that gap. A half-cup serving has roughly 3.5 grams of fiber, most of it the kind that feeds gut bacteria and helps keep digestion moving. Canned pumpkin (plain, unsweetened) works just as well as fresh — arguably better, since it’s already cooked down and blends smoother.

Put the two together and you get a treat that hydrates and supports digestion at the same time, instead of doing just one or the other.

Ingredients

Just 2 ingredients make this easy frozen dog treat recipe.

Cantaloupe – Ripe cantaloupe matters here. Underripe melon is watery in the wrong way — bland and starchy instead of sweet — and it’ll drag down the flavor of the whole batch. Press gently on the blossom end (opposite the stem); it should give slightly.

Pumpkin Puree – Double-check the can. Pumpkin purée and pumpkin pie filling sit next to each other on grocery shelves, but pie filling comes pre-sweetened and spiced, which throws off both the taste and the nutrition numbers here.

How To Make Cantaloupe Pumpkin Frozen Dog Treats

Making frozen treats is easy and they are great to store in the freezer for snacking emergencies. Or what Teddy calls 11am on a Tuesday!

Add cantaloupe pieces and pumpkin puree to a blender.

Puree until smooth.

Spoon into silicone molds and freeze for 3-4 hours until firm.

Pop out the treats and give as a snack.

Recipe Tips

• Blend thoroughly for the smoothest texture. Blenders don’t always catch small amounts well. If you’re just making this single batch, a mini blender or even a whisk with well-mashed ripe cantaloupe works better than a full-size blender struggling with 1.5 cups of liquid.
• Small silicone molds create perfect bite-sized treats for training rewards. Ice cube trays make more sense than popsicle molds for this. A cube or two is a reasonable treat size for a mid-size dog; a full popsicle-sized portion is a lot of fiber at once and can cause loose stool.
• Introduce new treats gradually if your dog hasn’t eaten cantaloupe before.

Variations

A few suggestions to change the flavor and texture.

• Greek Yogurt – Blend in ¼ cup plain Greek yogurt for an even creamier frozen treat.
• Goat’s Milk Version – Replace part of the pumpkin with unsweetened goat’s milk for extra creaminess.
• Add Blueberries – Blend in a handful of fresh blueberries for extra antioxidants and natural color.
• Minty Fresh – A few fresh mint leaves can add a refreshing flavor while freshening breath.

Storage Instructions

Serving Size

These treats are intended as an occasional snack and should not replace a balanced diet.

As with all treats, they should make up no more than 10% of your dog’s daily calorie intake.

More Frozen Dog Treat Recipes

Keep your dog cool with these other frozen dog treat recipes or check out our frozen treats for summer recipe collection.

Cantaloupe Blueberry Frozen Dog Treats

Frozen Watermelon Carrot Dog Treats

Frozen Watermelon Apple Dog Treats

Frozen Watermelon Cucumber Dog Treats