Ever since I discovered that my friend Tori of Wear, Wag, Repeat makes her dog, Lucy, smoothies, I gave it a try with Sora. Dubiously. Sora can be a bit picky when it comes to her parents’ vegan foods. She is not a raw food dog and any attempts generally result in chewed up bits of vegetables strewn across the floor, left for us to pick up.
Sora, however, loves smoothies. From Green Monsters to ginger mango, she gets excited when I approach her with my Vitamix and pour a bit into her bowl. Yes, I’m now that dog mom who make a little extra smoothie for her pup. Don’t judge.
So I had an idea once summer arrived to the Pacific Northwest. What if I turned my smoothies into pupsicles? You know, a popsicle for dogs.
One of my very favorite smoothies is essentially a healthy chocolate shake that uses raw cacao, frozen bananas, and plant-based milk. Of course, dogs cannot have chocolate, but they can have carob. Carob does not contain theobromine, the toxin which makes chocolate a no no for dogs. It’s is the perfect swap to make a dog-friendly fudgsicle.
Carob comes from the pod of a tree with the same name, and is native to the Mediterranean. The sweet pulp from the pods is dried and then ground into a powder. Carob is often used as a substitute for those who cannot have chocolate and is perfectly suitable for dogs. While it doesn’t taste the same as chocolate, the matching color and similar-enough taste make it great in smoothies, baked goods, and sauces or stews.
Carob comes from a pod of a tree of the same name, which is native to the Mediterranean. The ripe pods contain a sweet pulp that is dried, roasted, and then ground into a powder. That powder is called carob powder and is sold as is or made into chocolate-like chips.
Further, it contains a lot of healthy vitamins and minerals for your pup like:
- A, B, B1, B2, B3, B6, and D
- Calcium
- Iron
- Magnesium
- Potassium
- Phosphorous
- Manganese
- Zinc
And if a medly of vitamins weren’t enough, Carob is also:
- High in fiber and pectin eliminate toxins
- Great for digestion and easing tummy issues, due to its unique tannins
- Caffeine-free
- Naturally sweet
As you can see, carob makes a pretty great substitute for chocolate and is healthy for your dog.
These pupsicles use just a few ingredients, are vegan and gluten free, and come together in minutes with a simple whirl of the blender (besides that whole freezing bit). The best part? You can share them with your dog!
Instead of using a traditional popsicle stick, I got creative and used a pupsicle stick with Zuke’s Treats Jerky Cords. They are a little delicate on the removal process, so be sure to thaw the pupsicle before trying to yank it out of the popsicle mold. It should also go without saying that if you plan to share them with your, stay with a regular popsicle stick.
If Sora is any indication, your dog will go crazy for these pupsicles!
Want to make these yourself? Here are the tools and ingredients we used. →
  Vitamix 5200 Blender |
  Bob’s Red Mill Carob Powder Toast |
  Zuke’s PureNZ Jerky Cords New Zealand Beef & Duck Dog Treats – 5 oz. Pouch |
  Prepworks by Progressive Freezer Pop Maker |
Carob Fudge Pupsicle for Dogs
When the summer heats up, make these frozen carob fudge pupsicles to enjoy with your dog. Carob is filled with all sorts of vitamins, minerals, and other health benefits, and unlike chocolate, is a-ok for your dog to consume.
- 2 frozen bananas
- 1 can full fat coconut milk
- 1/4 cup carob powder
- 1 T maple syrup
- 3 T peanut butter
- Put all of the ingredients into a high powered blender and blend until smooth.
-
Distribute evenly among 12 popsicle molds, insert pet treat or popsicle stick and place in the freezer for at least 4 hours, or overnight for best results.
- Allow to thaw for 5-10 minutes before removing from the mold.
PIN FOR LATER!
