Homemade Frosted Dog Treats

Written by: Sarah C.

Published on July 8, 2025

Time to read 7 min

Does your furry best friend deserve something extra special? Nothing says "I love you" like homemade frosted dog treats that are both delicious and safe for your canine companion. In this comprehensive guide, you'll discover 7 amazing recipes, essential safety tips, and professional decorating techniques that will make your dog's tail wag with excitement!

Table of contents

Why Make Dog Treats Frosted? 2 Easy Dog Treats Frosted Recipes 1. Peanut Butter Yogurt Frosting 2. Pumpkin Cream Cheese Frosting Problem-Solving with Dog Treats Frosted Important Warning Storage & Serving Tips Closing Thoughts ❓ FAQ – Dog Treats Frosted

Why Choose Homemade Frosted Dog Treats?

The Benefits of DIY Dog Treats

Making your own frosted dog treats offers incredible advantages over store-bought alternatives:

🐕 Complete Control Over Ingredients: You know exactly what goes into every bite, avoiding harmful preservatives, artificial colors, and questionable additives that plague commercial treats.

💰 Cost-Effective: Homemade treats cost approximately 60% less than premium store-bought options, and you can make large batches for multiple occasions.

🎯 Customization: Tailor recipes to your dog's specific dietary needs, allergies, and taste preferences.

❤️ Bonding Experience: The process of baking for your pet strengthens your relationship and provides a fun activity for the whole family.

🎉 Special Occasions: Perfect for birthdays, holidays, training rewards, or just because your pup deserves something special.

Popular Frosting Types for Dog (Safety Comparison Chart)

Frosting Type	Safety Level	Main Ingredients	Best For
Peanut Butter	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	Natural peanut butter, honey	All dogs (⚠️ only with xylitol-free PB)
Cream Cheese	⭐⭐⭐⭐	Cream cheese, yogurt	Dogs tolerant of dairy
Yogurt-Based	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	Plain Greek yogurt, honey	Excellent for all dogs (probiotic boost)
Sweet Potato	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	Sweet potato purée	Great for sensitive stomachs, fiber support
Carob	⭐⭐⭐⭐	Carob powder, coconut oil	Dogs that love chocolate flavor (safe swap)

Essential Safety Guidelines Before You Start

Ingredients to NEVER Use in Dog Treats

⚠️ DANGEROUS INGREDIENTS - AVOID AT ALL COSTS:

Chocolate (contains theobromine - toxic to dogs)
Xylitol (artificial sweetener - can cause liver failure)
Grapes/Raisins (can cause kidney failure)
Onions/Garlic (can damage red blood cells)
Macadamia Nuts (cause weakness and hyperthermia)
High amounts of sugar (leads to obesity and dental issues)

Safe Ingredient Alternatives

✅ DOG-SAFE SUBSTITUTIONS:

Instead of chocolate → Use carob powder
Instead of regular sugar → Use honey or mashed banana
Instead of artificial colors → Use natural options like beet juice or turmeric
Instead of regular flour → Try oat flour or whole wheat flour

7 Frosted Dog Treat Recipes

1. Classic Peanut Butter Pupcakes with Cream Frosting

These pupcakes are a bakery-style treat made with peanut butter and applesauce, topped with a creamy frosting — perfect for birthdays or everyday spoiling.

Prep Time: 20 minutes | Bake Time: 15 minutes | Yield: 12 pupcakes

Cupcakes:

1 cup whole wheat flour
½ cup natural peanut butter (xylitol-free)
¼ cup honey
½ cup unsweetened applesauce
1 egg
½ cup water
1 tsp baking soda

Frosting:

4 oz cream cheese (softened)
2 tbsp natural peanut butter
1 tbsp honey

Step-by-Step Intro:

Preheat oven and line muffin tin.
Whisk dry and wet ingredients separately, then combine into batter.
Spoon into liners and bake until golden.
Cool completely before frosting.
Beat frosting ingredients until smooth, then pipe or spread onto pupcakes.

2. Sweet Potato Birthday Cake Bites

A festive recipe that bakes into soft, golden bites with a naturally sweet, spiced flavor — ideal for special celebrations.

Prep Time: 15 minutes | Bake Time: 20 minutes | Yield: 16 mini bites

Base:

1 cup mashed sweet potato
½ cup oat flour
2 eggs
¼ cup melted coconut oil
1 tsp cinnamon

Frosting:

½ cup plain Greek yogurt
2 tbsp honey
1 tbsp coconut flour

Step-by-Step Intro:

Preheat oven and prep mini muffin tin.
Mix sweet potato, eggs, and coconut oil until smooth.
Fold in oat flour and cinnamon.
Scoop into muffin wells and bake until golden.
Cool completely before adding yogurt-honey frosting.

3. Banana Oat Cookies with Carob Frosting

These chewy cookies are made with banana and oats, then topped with a carob frosting for pups who love a safe “chocolatey” flavor.

Prep Time: 15 minutes | Bake Time: 12 minutes | Yield: 18 cookies

Cookies:

2 ripe bananas (mashed)
1 cup rolled oats
½ cup whole wheat flour
1 egg
2 tbsp coconut oil

Carob Frosting:

3 tbsp carob powder
3 tbsp coconut oil (softened)
2 tbsp honey
2 tbsp plain yogurt

Step-by-Step Intro:

Preheat oven and line baking sheet.
Mash bananas, then mix in oats, flour, egg, and oil.
Shape into cookies and flatten slightly.
Bake until edges set, then cool.
Whisk carob frosting until smooth and spread on cooled cookies.

4. Pumpkin Spice Treats

A cozy, fall-inspired snack made with pumpkin and warm cinnamon, finished with a simple creamy frosting.

Prep Time: 10 minutes | Bake Time: 18 minutes | Yield: 20 small treats

Base:

1 cup pumpkin purée (not pie filling)
1½ cups oat flour
1 egg
¼ cup water
½ tsp cinnamon

Frosting:

Cream cheese or plain yogurt blend

Step-by-Step Intro:

Preheat oven and prep baking tray or molds.
Mix pumpkin, flour, egg, water, and cinnamon into dough.
Shape into small treats and bake until firm.
Cool completely, then spread with cream cheese or yogurt frosting.

5. Apple Cinnamon Delights

A wholesome cookie packed with crisp apple and cinnamon, frosted with a light yogurt-honey topping.

Prep Time: 15 minutes | Bake Time: 18 minutes | Yield: 18 cookies

Base:

1 cup finely chopped apple (seeds removed)
1 cup whole wheat flour
½ cup unsweetened applesauce
1 egg
½ tsp cinnamon

Frosting:

Yogurt-honey blend with a sprinkle of cinnamon

Step-by-Step Intro:

Preheat oven and line baking sheet.
Mix chopped apple, flour, applesauce, egg, and cinnamon into dough.
Shape into cookies and bake until set.
Cool completely before frosting with yogurt-honey blend.

6. Carrot Cake Bites with Honey Frosting

These mini cakes are loaded with fresh carrots for a vitamin-rich, fiber-friendly treat topped with a drizzle of sweet honey frosting.

Prep Time: 10 minutes | Bake Time: 15 minutes | Yield: 12 mini bites

Base:

1 cup grated carrot
1 cup oat flour
¼ cup applesauce
1 egg

Frosting:

Yogurt + honey drizzle

Step-by-Step Intro:

Preheat oven and prepare muffin tin.
Mix carrots, flour, applesauce, and egg into batter.
Spoon into wells and bake until golden.
Cool fully before drizzling yogurt-honey frosting.

7. Blueberry Muffin Treats

These mini muffins are antioxidant-packed with juicy blueberries, topped with a swirl of whipped Greek yogurt for a fresh, fruity finish.

Prep Time: 12 minutes | Bake Time: 15 minutes | Yield: 10 mini muffins

Base:

1 cup oat flour
1 mashed banana
½ cup fresh blueberries

Frosting:

Whipped Greek yogurt

Step-by-Step Intro:

Preheat oven and prep mini muffin tray.
Mash banana and mix with oat flour.
Gently fold in blueberries.
Spoon batter into muffin wells and bake until domed.
Cool fully before adding whipped Greek yogurt.

Simple Frosting & Decorating Tips

Basic Tools You’ll Need:

Piping bags (or ziplock bags with a snipped corner)
Round tips for smooth dollops & outlines
Star tips for swirls & rosettes
Offset spatula for easy spreading

Ideas by Skill Level:

Beginner: Swirl frosting on top, drizzle across cookies, add dog-safe sprinkles (like coconut or carrot dust).
Intermediate: Rosettes with a star tip, two-tone frosting bags, clean borders for cakes.
Advanced: Multi-layer pupcakes, paw-print piping, themed designs for holidays.

👉 Remember: your dog doesn’t care if it looks perfect — but cute decorations make them fun for birthdays and photos!

Storage & Shelf Life

Unfrosted Treats: 3–4 days room temp, 1 week fridge, 3 months freezer
Frosted Treats: 3–5 days fridge, 1 month freezer (frosting texture may change)

Signs of spoilage: mold, sour smell, discoloration, or odd texture.

Nutritional Benefits by Ingredient

Ingredient	Benefits	Vitamins & Minerals
Sweet Potato	Fiber, digestive health	A, C, B6
Pumpkin	Gentle, low-calorie fiber	A, potassium
Oats	Heart health, slow energy	B vitamins, fiber
Peanut Butter	Protein, healthy fats	Niacin, E
Greek Yogurt	Probiotics, protein	Calcium, B12
Blueberries	Antioxidants, brain health	C, K
Carrots	Eye & skin health	Beta-carotene, A
Apples	Low-calorie sweetness	C, Fiber
Carob	Safe chocolate alternative	Calcium, Iron

Troubleshooting

Frosting Issues and Solutions

Problem: Frosting too runny

Solution: Add more powdered ingredients or chill mixture

Problem: Frosting too thick

Solution: Add small amounts of liquid gradually

Problem: Treats crumbling

Solution: Ensure proper cooling time, check ingredient ratios

Problem: Dog doesn't like the flavor

Solution: Try different base flavors, reduce strong ingredients

Seasonal Variations

Spring: Carrot & parsley bites with strawberry yogurt frosting
Summer: Frozen yogurt frosting with watermelon mint treats
Fall: Pumpkin spice cookies, apple cinnamon pupcakes
Winter: Cranberry-sweet potato cookies with festive yogurt drizzle

Closing Thoughts

Creating homemade frosted dog treats is one of the most rewarding ways to show your furry family member how much they mean to you. With these 7 recipes, safety guidelines, and professional techniques, you're equipped to create bakery-quality treats that are infinitely safer and more delicious than anything you can buy in stores.

Remember, the joy isn't just in the final product—it's in the love you put into every batch and the happiness you see in your dog's eyes with every bite. Start with simple recipes and work your way up to more elaborate creations as you build confidence.

Your dog's health and happiness are worth the extra effort, and the savings you'll enjoy make this hobby both practical and heartwarming. Get ready for some serious tail wagging!