Frozen Fruit and Veggie Treats

Here we go for our first recipe in our Enrichment Recipe Project. If you missed our project launch, you can read a little more about what inspired it and our goals in our last blog post here. I wanted to start with an easy recipe that everyone can make straight away. This week is a “Stay Fresh” recipe that is designed to use up those fresh food items before they go bad. It helps reduce how much food you are throwing in the trash and give it a new purpose!

This week, we are going to talk about fruit and veggie frozen treats (recipe card at the bottom)! I usually make these once to twice a month. In addition to their ability to reduce food waste, I like them because they are quick and easy to make, I can make them in bulk and freeze big batches, and they are easily added into my other recipes for color (so pretty!), flavor, and added nutrients.

I use silicone non-stick molds. They are food grade and come in a variety of fun shapes. They are also dishwasher, freezer, and oven safe, which makes them versatile and easy to use for these snacks and baked goods! My last molds I bought back in 2020, and they are still kicking! Best low-cost investment for sure. For this recipe, you will also need a blender. Any will do, but if you are in the market and looking for a recommendation, I use a NutriBullet. I love how easy it is to use and clean for myself (smoothies, sauces, and soups) and for the dogs! When I make these fruit and veggie treats, I tend to prepare them in bulk, so being able to quickly rinse and reuse the cup is convenient for me to make multiple batches with different flavors.

These treats can be made single ingredient (like only carrots) or you can throw a few flavors into one batch (like spinach, snow peas, and broccoli). I do try to keep colors consistent as well as build appealing flavor profiles. And I know some can relate to this ridiculous statement but - I never mix my fruits and veggies Hah! To get started, grab your fresh fruits or veggies. I typically tend to use them when they are on their last leg. Disclaimer: This does not mean we are feeding spoiled or rotten food! These are still produce items that are safe to eat, but will likely go bad before I can use them all up. So in addition to using them for my meal that day, and maybe another fun enrichment recipe, I will finish them off here!

Place them into the blender and add some water. You won’t need a ton of added liquid because fruits and vegetables have a high moisture content and will release some liquid as you blend. Blend until you create a smooth puree. Overblending will often create some froth; this is okay, but it can make it more difficult to pour. And if you feel it is too thin, you can add some more fruits or vegetables into it, or even some ice to thicken the consistency.

Pour the puree into the silicone molds and stack the molds on a flat and lined shelf in the freezer. The trays will freeze in about 1-2 hours and then they are ready to go. Pop all the fruit and veggie cubes loose and stack them in a glass jar for storage. These colorful cubes can last 6 to 8 months in your freezer!

Sometimes I will feed them as treats in the summer, they make a great recall reward and can help cool your dog off! They can also be added to your dog’s food bowl as a special treat. But, I mostly use these to garnish another frozen food toy like Kongs and Toppls. Call me extra, but they look so fancy and bring me happiness haha! They help add some color, texture and intrigue for your dog. And will let you lean into a good food theme with style! If you have a picky eater, you can try exchanging the water with broth before blending. Most bone and meat broths have a fairly neutral color to them, so they won’t negatively impact the appearance of the cubes. But the broths do pack a flavor punch! So, adding them in can help positively mask the fruit and veggie flavors, piquing the interest of our picky canines so they can still get those fresh antioxidants and vitamins.