Schleckmatten Rezepte: 14 Ideen, die dein Hund lieben wird - RudisRudel

Lick Mat Recipes: 21 Ideas + 12 Summer Dog Ice

Lick mat recipes for dogs – the best ideas to fill them with

You've got a lick mat — now what? Yoghurt on top, done? Sure, that works. But there's so much more! This guide gives you 21 lick mat recipes, including 12 frozen summer dog-ice ideas — from easy everyday fillings to homemade dog ice for hot summer days. Plus: which foods are safe and which are off-limits.

Still looking for the right lick mat? 🐾 Check out our handmade Lick Mat Collection — BOHO, MINI MAZE & WAFFLE, with a suction-cup base, in many colours. Ready to ship.

Contents

Why Lick Mats Are So Good for Your Dog

Before we get to the recipes, a quick reminder why a lick mat is more than just a bowl replacement:

  • Stress relief — the rhythmic licking releases endorphins and lowers cortisol. Perfect during thunderstorms, fireworks or alone-time.
  • Slower eating — your dog takes much longer for the same amount of food. Easier on the stomach and more satisfying.
  • Mental enrichment — your dog has to work for the food. Ten minutes of lick mat = a happy dog.
  • Gum massage — the nubs and ridges gently massage the gums while licking.
  • Distraction — ideal at the vet, during baths, while clipping claws or when guests arrive.
View our lick mats More enrichment toys

The Best Base Ingredients for Lick Mats

Not every food belongs on a lick mat. Here are the most reliable ingredients that most dogs love and tolerate well:

Dairy

  • Cottage cheese — protein-rich, mild, well tolerated by most dogs
  • Plain yoghurt — unsweetened! Greek yoghurt has extra protein
  • Quark (low-fat curd cheese) — the classic. Affordable, healthy, tasty
  • Goat yoghurt — especially gentle on sensitive stomachs

Fruit (always in moderation)

  • Banana — pureed makes the perfect base. Rich in potassium
  • Blueberries — antioxidant bombs, simply mash
  • Strawberries — a summer hit when pureed
  • Apple — grated or as unsweetened apple sauce. No seeds!
  • Watermelon — pureed and frozen in summer = absolute winner

Vegetables

  • Pumpkin — cooked and pureed. Great for digestion
  • Sweet potato — cooked and mashed. Nutrient-rich and tasty
  • Cucumber — pureed, fantastic on hot days. Low-calorie
  • Carrot — cooked and pureed or as baby food (no spices)

Other Favourites

  • Peanut butter — THE lick-mat star! But: ONLY without xylitol/birch sugar. Safest bet: our COMPLETELY NUTS peanut butter, made specifically for dogs
  • Liver pâté — in a thin layer. Dogs love it, but use sparingly (high fat)
  • Wet food — just serve your dog's normal wet food on the mat instead of in the bowl
  • Coconut oil — thin layer. Good for coat and skin
  • Honey — just a little dollop as topping. Not for puppies under 12 months

Rudi's tip: The secret ingredient for any lick-mat recipe? Layers! Start with a base (e.g. quark), add toppings (e.g. blueberries), then into the freezer. Twice as long fun.

5 Easy Everyday Recipes

No prep needed — spread, serve, watch. Perfect for in-between moments.

1. The Classic

Prep: 2 min · Difficulty: Beginner

  1. 2 tbsp low-fat quark on the mat
  2. 1 tsp COMPLETELY NUTS peanut butter in the middle
  3. Press a few blueberries on top
Tip: The classic everyone starts with. Most dogs go nuts for it.

2. Cottage Cheese & Carrot

Prep: 3 min · Difficulty: Beginner

  1. 3 tbsp cottage cheese on the mat
  2. Top with grated raw carrot
  3. Drizzle with 1 tsp olive oil
Tip: Protein + crunch + healthy fats. Especially good after a long walk.

3. Sweet Potato Mash

Prep: 10 min (incl. cooking) · Difficulty: Easy

  1. Cook 1 small sweet potato, mash
  2. Mix with 2 tbsp plain yoghurt
  3. Spread on the mat, garnish with mashed banana
Tip: Cook a whole sweet potato in advance and use over several days.

4. Apple-Yoghurt Mix

Prep: 3 min · Difficulty: Beginner

  1. Grate ½ apple (no seeds!)
  2. Mix with 2 tbsp natural yoghurt
  3. Spread on the mat
Tip: Apple aids digestion. Always remove the seeds — they contain trace cyanide.

5. Liver Pâté Power

Prep: 2 min · Difficulty: Beginner

  1. 1 tsp liver pâté on the mat
  2. Fill with 2 tbsp cottage cheese
  3. Mix gently with a fork
Tip: Pure power-fuel — great after vet visits to reduce stress.

How to Make Dog Ice Cream — The Quick 3-Step Guide

Making dog ice cream at home is easier than you think — and much healthier than anything from the supermarket. You don't need an ice-cream maker, no special moulds, no exotic ingredients. A lick mat (or a silicone ice-cube tray, if you don't have one) and 5 minutes of prep are enough.

The reason homemade dog ice cream is so valuable for your dog: you control every single ingredient. No sugar, no xylitol, no artificial flavours, no hidden dairy issues — nothing that triggers tummy aches, diarrhoea or worse. Instead: water-rich fruit, healthy fats, probiotics from plain yoghurt — and 20–45 minutes of enrichment as a bonus.

What You'll Need

  • A lick mat (for long-lasting licking) or a silicone ice-cube tray (for snack-sized ice cubes)
  • 2–3 base ingredients (plain yoghurt + fruit + optional topping — see list below)
  • A freezer with space for the lick mat (lay it flat!)
  • 3 hours of patience — the actual prep takes only 5 minutes

The 3-Step Formula for Any Dog Ice Cream

  1. Fill: Spread 2–4 tablespoons of your favourite base (e.g. plain yoghurt, cottage cheese, mashed banana or unsalted bone broth) onto the lick mat. Optional: work in a topping like blueberries, peanut butter (xylitol-free!) or carrot pieces.
  2. Freeze: Place flat in the freezer. 3 hours are enough for most recipes. For extra-firm ice layers, go for 4–6 hours.
  3. Thaw briefly: Before serving, let it thaw for 5 minutes. Otherwise it gets too cold for your dog's teeth — especially with puppies and seniors.

The 5 Best Base Ingredients for Dog Ice Cream

  1. Plain yoghurt (unsweetened) — the all-rounder. Creamy, mild, well tolerated by most dogs.
  2. Cottage cheese — protein-rich, low-calorie, perfect after exercise.
  3. Pureed watermelon (seedless!) — 95 % water = the heatwave secret weapon.
  4. Mashed banana — natural sweetness + potassium. Perfect with peanut butter.
  5. Unsalted bone broth — savoury flavour, great for joints and gut.

The 3 Most Common Dog-Ice-Cream Mistakes

  • Sugar or xylitol: both are off-limits. Xylitol (often in "sugar-free" peanut butter, gum, baked goods) is deadly for dogs even in tiny amounts. Always read the label.
  • Serving straight from the freezer: cold teeth are no fun. Let it thaw 5 minutes, done.
  • Portions too big: even though the ice is healthy — calories count. A full lick mat is a treat, not a meal. Rule of thumb: max 10 % of the daily ration as "fun calories".

Which lick mat is best for homemade dog ice cream? For ice recipes we recommend mats with a fine structure like our MINI MAZE or BLOSSOM — they hold thin ice layers well and melt slowly. For really long ice sessions the larger WAFFLE is ideal.

Now to the 12 concrete recipes for homemade dog ice cream — from watermelon to peanut-butter-banana popsicle:

12 Frozen Summer Recipes: Dog Ice & Cool Down

In summer, frozen lick mats are a game-changer. Prep takes minutes — the freezer does the rest. Your dog gets a cool refreshment and stays busy way longer.

How: Fill the mat, freeze 2–4 hours, take out, serve. A frozen mat keeps a dog occupied 20–45 minutes instead of the usual 5–10.

6. Watermelon Ice

Prep: 5 min + 3 h freezing · Difficulty: Easy

  1. Puree 1 cup of seedless watermelon
  2. Mix with 2 tbsp plain yoghurt
  3. Pour onto the mat, freeze 3 hours
Tip: Hot-day favourite. Watermelon adds extra hydration.

7. Peanut Butter & Banana Popsicle

Prep: 5 min + 3 h freezing · Difficulty: Easy

  1. Mash ½ banana, spread on the mat
  2. Drizzle 1 tbsp COMPLETELY NUTS peanut butter on top
  3. Top up with plain yoghurt, freeze 3 hours
Tip: Peanut butter + banana = the dog classic. Frozen it's 10× better.

8. Berry-Yoghurt Frozen

Prep: 5 min + 3 h freezing · Difficulty: Easy

  1. Puree a handful of blueberries and strawberries
  2. Mix with 3 tbsp Greek yoghurt
  3. Spread on the mat and freeze
Tip: Frozen berries work great — just thaw briefly and puree.

9. Bone Broth Ice

Prep: 5 min + 4 h freezing · Difficulty: Easy

  1. Pour unsalted bone broth onto the mat (about 3 tbsp)
  2. Place small treats inside
  3. Freeze 4 hours
Tip: Bone broth is great for joints and gut health. Use unsalted, onion-free broth — or cook your own.

10. Pumpkin Coconut Dream

Prep: 5 min + 3 h freezing · Difficulty: Easy

  1. Spread 3 tbsp pumpkin puree (cooked, pureed) on the mat
  2. Drizzle with 1 tsp coconut oil
  3. Sprinkle with cinnamon (yes, cinnamon is safe for dogs!) and freeze
Tip: Perfect in autumn when pumpkins are in season. Hokkaido works best.

11. Cucumber-Mint Cooler

Prep: 5 min + 3 h freezing · Difficulty: Easy

  1. Peel and puree ½ cucumber
  2. Stir in 2 tbsp plain yoghurt and 2–3 fresh mint leaves (chopped)
  3. Spread on the mat and freeze 3 hours
Tip: Cucumber is 95 % water — the heatwave secret weapon on 90 °F days. Mint in small amounts is safe and supports digestion.

12. Mango Lassi Ice

Prep: 5 min + 3 h freezing · Difficulty: Easy

  1. Puree ½ ripe mango (peeled, pitted)
  2. Mix with 3 tbsp plain yoghurt
  3. Pour on the mat and freeze
Tip: Mango delivers beta-carotene and tastes wonderfully exotic. Ripe mangoes are softer and puree better.

13. Apple-Carrot Sorbet

Prep: 8 min + 3 h freezing · Difficulty: Easy

  1. Puree 1 small apple (seeded!) and 1 small carrot
  2. Add 2 tbsp water or unsalted bone broth
  3. Spread on the mat and freeze
Tip: Crisp-sweet and full of vitamins. Important: always remove apple seeds — they contain trace cyanide.

14. Banana-Strawberry Layer Cake

Prep: 15 min + 6 h freezing · Difficulty: Medium

  1. Layer 1: mash ½ banana, spread on the mat, freeze 2 h
  2. Layer 2: spread 2 tbsp plain yoghurt on top, freeze 2 h
  3. Layer 3: puree 3 strawberries, spread on top, freeze 2 h more
Tip: Three layers = three flavour reveals + up to 60 minutes of fun. Perfect for hot summer afternoons in the shade.

15. Cottage Cheese & Blueberry

Prep: 5 min + 3 h freezing · Difficulty: Easy

  1. Spread 3 tbsp cottage cheese on the mat
  2. Gently press a small handful of blueberries in
  3. Freeze 3 hours
Tip: Cottage cheese is protein-rich and low-calorie — ideal after long walks. Blueberries add antioxidants.

16. Pear-Yoghurt with Pumpkin Seeds

Prep: 5 min + 3 h freezing · Difficulty: Easy

  1. Puree ½ ripe pear (seeded) and mix with 2 tbsp plain yoghurt
  2. Spread on the mat
  3. Sprinkle with 1 tsp unsalted, unseasoned pumpkin seeds, then freeze
Tip: Pumpkin seeds are great for skin, coat and gut. Always remove pear seeds (like apple).

17. Ice-Cube Bomb (no lick mat — for the garden)

Prep: 5 min + 6 h freezing · Difficulty: Easy

  1. Place small treats or pieces of banana / apple / carrot into a freezer bag
  2. Top up with water or unsalted broth
  3. Freeze 6 hours and offer the "ice bomb" in the garden
Tip: The slow-melting ice bomb keeps a dog busy for 30–60 minutes and adds hydration. Ideal outdoors in the shade — wipe the spot afterwards.

Safety & Tips for Summer Ice Recipes

  • Not straight from the freezer: let it thaw 5 minutes — otherwise cold teeth and stomach cramps can occur, especially with puppies or seniors.
  • Offer water on the side: frozen lick mats don't replace a water bowl. Always keep fresh water available.
  • Shade while licking: sun + ice = ice melts fast + your dog pants harder. Better in the shade or indoors.
  • Sensitive seniors: for older dogs or dogs with sensitive teeth, serve semi-frozen (1 h instead of 3 h).
  • Mind portion size: even homemade ice counts calories. A frozen mini-maze mat is a treat, not a meal.
  • Storage: prepped ice mats keep up to 2 weeks in the freezer — perfect for portioning ahead for a hot week.

Which lick mat is best for ice? Our MINI MAZE and BLOSSOM have fine textures that hold ice beautifully. The WAFFLE is the largest — ideal for long ice sessions on hot days.

Special Recipes for Special Moments

Calming Mat (thunderstorm / fireworks / alone-time)

Calming Lavender Yoghurt

  1. 3 tbsp plain yoghurt with a tiny pinch of dried, food-grade lavender
  2. Mix with 1 tsp coconut oil
  3. Spread, freeze 2 hours for extra-long calming effect
Tip: Lavender has a soothing effect. Use very sparingly — a pinch is enough.

Gentle Stomach Mat (after illness / for diarrhoea)

Healing Bowl

  1. 1 tbsp cooked, mashed white rice
  2. 1 tbsp boiled, mashed chicken (no spices)
  3. 1 tbsp pumpkin puree mixed in
Tip: The classic "diarrhoea diet" served slowly through the lick mat. Stops gulping and stays gentle.

Puppy Mat (from 8 weeks)

Soft Goat Yoghurt

  1. 2 tbsp goat yoghurt on the mat
  2. Optional: a tiny dollop of mashed banana
  3. Do NOT freeze — too cold for puppy teeth
Tip: Short 5-minute sessions, then take it away. Builds early self-soothing skills.

Party Mat (birthday / gotcha day)

Birthday Cake Mat

  1. Base of plain yoghurt + 1 tsp peanut butter mixed in
  2. Garnish with blueberries, banana slices and a few apple chunks
  3. Add a single dog-safe biscuit on top
Tip: Photo-friendly + delicious. Perfect for celebrations.

No-Go: What You Must NEVER Put on a Lick Mat

Important: Some foods are toxic for dogs — even in small amounts. Always keep this list in mind:

  • Xylitol (birch sugar) — toxic even in tiny amounts. Often hidden in "sugar-free" peanut butter, gum, baked goods. Always check the label.
  • Chocolate — contains theobromine, deadly for dogs. Dark chocolate is the worst.
  • Grapes and raisins — cause kidney failure even in small amounts. Strict no.
  • Onion, garlic, leek — destroy red blood cells. Avoid in any form.
  • Avocado — contains persin. Some dogs tolerate it, others react strongly. Better skip.
  • Macadamia nuts — cause weakness, vomiting, tremors.
  • Raw yeast dough — expands in the stomach, can cause life-threatening bloat.
  • Alcohol & caffeine — needless to say. No coffee, no tea, no beer "for fun".

Tips & Tricks for the Perfect Lick Mat

  • Freezing extends everything — non-frozen 5–10 min, frozen 20–45 min.
  • Layer for fun — base + topping freezes to 2-3 textures your dog has to work through.
  • Suction-cup side down — every lick mat from RudisRudel has suction cups so it sticks to tiles or windows.
  • Vary daily — dogs love variety. Rotate sweet (banana), savoury (cottage cheese), umami (liver pâté).
  • Watch portion sizes — even healthy foods add calories. Roughly: a full mat counts as a treat (not a meal).
  • Cleaning — dishwasher-safe, or rinse with warm water and a brush. Dry well.

Our Lick Mats

All RudisRudel lick mats are made from food-grade silicone, are dishwasher-safe and have a suction-cup base so they stay put.

View all lick mats

Frequently Asked Questions

How often can my dog have a lick mat?

Daily, no problem — as long as portion sizes fit overall calories. As a snack or as a stress-relief moment, that's perfectly fine.

Which peanut butter is safe for dogs?

Peanut butter WITHOUT xylitol (birch sugar), without added sugar, without salt. Safest: dedicated dog peanut butter like our COMPLETELY NUTS — you know everything in it is dog-safe.

Can I put a lick mat in the dishwasher?

Yes! Our BOHO and BLOSSOM lick mats are dishwasher-safe. Top rack. Alternative: warm water + soap + a brush.

How long does a frozen lick mat last?

Depending on size, recipe and dog: 20–45 minutes. Non-frozen mats typically 5–10 minutes. Pre-prepared mats keep in the freezer for up to 2 weeks.

My dog eats too fast — does a lick mat help?

Absolutely. Lick mats are one of the best anti-gulping tricks. Your dog has to lick the food out of the grooves rather than gulp it down. Same amount lasts 5–10× longer.

From what age can puppies use lick mats?

From around 8 weeks. Start with a thin layer of goat yoghurt or mild quark, do not freeze. Short 5-minute sessions, then take it away. Builds early self-soothing.

How do I make dog ice — the quick version?

Plain yoghurt + pureed banana or watermelon on the lick mat, 3 hours in the freezer, done. Let it thaw 5 minutes before serving. For variations see our 12 summer ice recipes above. Important: no xylitol, no chocolate, no grapes/raisins.

Which lick mat is best for frozen recipes?

For ice we recommend mats with a fine structure like our MINI MAZE or BLOSSOM — they hold thin ice layers and melt slowly. For really long ice sessions on hot days the larger WAFFLE is ideal.

Is frozen fruit bad for my dog's teeth?

For young, healthy dogs typically not — but let the ice mat thaw 5 minutes before serving. For senior dogs or dogs with known dental issues, serve semi-frozen (only 1 h instead of 3 h freezing).

What's best on a lick mat in summer?

Water-rich fruit like watermelon, cucumber, strawberries or mango, combined with plain yoghurt or cottage cheese, then frozen. Hydration is key in summer. Unsalted bone broth as a base also works wonderfully.

That's plenty of inspiration for weeks of lick-mat sessions. Mix, match, freeze, freestyle — find what your dog loves most. Rudi, by the way, lives for peanut-butter-banana frozen. Every. Single. Day. ♡

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