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There are some flavours that just embody the holidays for me.

Spicy, fragrant gingerbread. Cinnamon sugar. Starbucks Caramel Brulee Latte and After 8 Mints. There’s something about the smell of mint and chocolate that makes me just feel festive and I would love to share it with my dogs, but chocolate is very dangerous for dogs. Even a small amount of good chocolate can make your dog very sick. (If your pet ever eats chocolate, you should check out this toxicity calculator and consult your vet for advice.)

Luckily, there is a dog friendly chocolate alternative: carob.

I hate carob. I think it tastes like unhappiness feels: bad. It’s just so bitter and it lingers on your tongue like you’ve licked a toad or something. It’s awful. My dogs absolutely, 110% adore carob dog treats though. They love them. Just the scent of a carob treat makes Koly move it! move it! like a monkey. You know what they say, “There’s no accounting for taste.”

Our newest dog treat recipe brings two great things together: Koly’s favourite carob and my festive mint.

Since I can’t share an After 8 chocolate with my pups, these dog friendly carob & mint minimature cake bones are totally the next best thing. This easy dog treat recipe was mixed up in less than 5 minutes, baked in less than 20 and cooled, then decorated in under an hour. Easy peasy and fancy enough that these would make a lovely gift for the dog lover in your life. Nothing says “I get you” like remembering to bring a gift for the dog, amirite?

Carob Mint Bones Dog Treat Recipe

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Even a small amount of good chocolate can make your dog very sick. Luckily, there is a dog-friendly alternative: Carob!

Materials

• BONES
• 1/2 c. flour or Gluten Free Baking Mix
• 3 tbsp. carob powder
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1 egg
• 1/4 c. coconut oil
• 1/2 c. finely mashed, overripe banana
• 1 - 2 tbsp. fresh peppermint leaves, finely chopped*
• ICING
• 1/2 c. plain, unsweetened greek yogurt
• 1 tsp. alcohol free vanilla extract (I used clear to get a bright white colour)
• several tbsp. tapioca starch (I used just over 4 tbsp)

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350F.

Prep Silicone dog treat pans. These don't need to be oiled or floured, they're perfectly non-stick, just as they are.

Sift together flour, carob & baking powder.

Over low heat, melt the coconut oil. Remove from heat and whisk in finely mashed banana, chopped peppermint and egg.

Stir together the wet and dry ingredients. I find it easiest to put the batter in a piping bag and fill the dog bones that way, but if you've got a steady hand, you could absolutely spoon the batter in.

Fill each bone 2/3 full. You should have enough batter to make 24 bones using the Hugs Silicone Dog Treat Pans. I love these pans because the edges are braced with wire, making it really easy to move them around and get them in the oven without spilling batter everywhere.

Place trays in the oven and bake for 15 - 18 minutes, until a tooth pick comes out clean. Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely.

Mix together the yogurt and vanilla. Add tapioca starch, 1 tbsp. at a time until a thick "frosting" consistency is reached.

Spread or pipe icing onto treats. If desired, you can use a serrated knife to cut the dog bone treats in half and fill the centers with icing, whoopie pie style.

Notes

*Please ensure you use fresh dog-friendly mint such as peppermint leaves or spearmint leave and not a peppermint oil or another type of mint.

Store covered, in the fridge for up to a week. Store in an airtight container in the freezer for 60 - 90 days.