These DIY puppermint patty carob and mint frozen yogurt dog treats are a cool and refreshing homemade summer snack. Yummy yogurt pupsicles, happy dogs, and minty fresh breath? Yes, please! Here’s the carob and mint pupsicle dog treat recipe and how to make them.
Frozen Fun with Homemade Pupsicles
Happy official first week of summer to our northern furfriends! It’s winter here (brrr…) but this is one of our very pre-prepped and schedule posts for during our current moving chaos. These carob and mint frozen yogurt dog treats were enjoyed during our sizzling summer. Our boys love frozen treats, especially as a cool snack during warm weather. Of course, every dog is different. Just like people, some dogs don’t like cold treats. If you dog doesn’t enjoy frozen goodies, there are plenty of other yummy options. Other dogs might love them a little too much. Aggressive chewers or dogs with dental issues may be better with softer options to avoid accidently damaging their teeth.
Puppermint Patty Carob and Mint Frozen Yogurt Dog Treats
This is kind of a recipe, but really it’s more of an inspiration. There are no right or wrong measurements with pupsicles. You simply mix the ingredients to suit your and your dog’s preferences. If your dog isn’t a mint fan or you’re not in a minty mood, these are just as yummy with a plain middle or as a simple all-carob frozen treat. Pupsicle dog treats are some of the easiest homemade treats to make. Nothing needs to bake, set, rise, or gel. The cold does all the work, making it very simple to customise your own treat recipes.
Homemade Layered Puppermint Patty Pupsicle Dog Treats
The pictured carob and mint frozen yogurt dog treats were layered in three steps, sandwiching the mint between the carob like a puppermint patty. You could marble the mixtures or mix everything into one blend for faster preparation, if you prefer. Ingredients can be easily scaled to suit your own mould, and you can adjust the mixture measurements in any way you’d like. When the post was originally shared many years ago, I actually didn’t even specify any measurements. I’ve since added rough figures to help in case some readers aren’t comfortable with making estimates. The measurements are indicative only for the treats as pictured. Customise to suit your pup and preferences.
Treat Ingredients:
- 1.5 cups plain yogurt, kefir, or suitable dog-friendly alternative (see Tips) divided into thirds
- 2 tbsp carob powder
- Sprinkle of dried mint or finely chopped fresh mint
Using a really thick yogurt? You can dilute it for easier mixing or pouring, if you wish. Diluting with water also makes treats less rich (shhh don’t tell the dogs). If your mixtures are thick, you can tap the tray or mould gently on the countertop before freezing to reduce any airgaps.
Making the Treats:
- Divide your yogurt into rough thirds (1/3 for mint and 2/3 for carob)
- Add the carob powder to 2/3 of your yogurt. Spoon approximately 1/2 of the carob mixture (1/3 of the total yogurt) into your mould. Save the rest for after the mint layer. Freeze until firm
- Mix the mint with the 1/3 plain yogurt. Layer on top of your frozen carob layer. Freeze until firm.
- Layer the remaining carob yogurt mixture on top of your frozen carob and mint layers.
- Freeze thoroughly before removing from the moulds. Transfer the completed treats to a suitable container and return to the freezer for frozen storage until use.
It takes a little extra time to incrementally freeze for a layered puppermint patty look, but the dogs don’t care about looks. You can skip that time by carefully layering thick mixtures and/or marbling. Or just mix it all together, as noted above. It all tastes the same in the end!
Pupsicle Dog Treat Making Tips and Tricks
- See our comprehensive post on making and storing frozen dog treats for additional info on frozen and chilled homemade treats.
- Flexible silicone moulds (affiliate link) or ice-cube trays work great for making shaped treats or single serving sizes. To measure capacity, you can do a test pour from a measuring cup of water to measure the volume required to fill your mould or tray. Ingredients in pupsicle treats are very easily scaled, and you can customise the type and amount of flavour add-ins to suit your pet.
- Store and serve straight from the freezer. Frozen treats melt quickly, especially in warm temperatures and can be messy while your pup is licking merrily, so these are best enjoyed from a bowl or outside.
Recipe and Ingredient Tips and Tricks
- Go natural or take care when shopping to avoid artificial sweeteners in ingredients like yogurt for your dogs. Xylitol (also identified as sweetener E967) is particularly dangerous for dogs.
- Not keen on dairy? Swap it for another ingredient that gets a tick of approval from you and your pup. Coconut milk, pureed dog-friendly fruit or veggies, or anything pet-safe, including simple water, can be used to create your own custom combo.
- Most varieties of edible culinary mints are safe for dogs in small quantities; however, don’t use mint oils or flavourings as they might contain unsuitable additives. Keep the quantities small to avoid an overpowering scent and flavour (and for tummy safety). Mint is a herb that some dogs love, some dogs hate. If your dog is the latter, you can leave it out or swap it for something they enjoy more.
Hungry for more tasty treats? There are all sorts of different DIY dog treats here on the blog. Woofs! Remember, treats (bought or homemade) are for spoiling your pup in moderation. We share ideas here from treats that we make ourselves for our pets, but different animals will have different preferences (likes or dislikes) and dietary needs. Some pets may have special dietary requirements and/or food allergies or intolerances. If you are ever in doubt or have questions about what’s suitable for your pet, have a chat with your trusted vet.
