Since we can't spoil our dogs with a bouquet of flowers or a big box of chocolates this heart-filled holiday, I created these canine-approved Pup Cups! They're basically a spinoff of the oh-so-popular Reese's Peanut Butter Cup, but instead of using chocolate, I used carob! Get the full dog treat recipe.

Carob Pup Cups: The Perfect Valentine’s Day Dog Treat

With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, love is in the air. More specifically, my dogs’ love for their newest tasty treat. Since we can’t spoil our dogs with a bouquet of flowers or a big box of chocolates this heart-filled holiday, I created these Pup Cups! They’re basically a spinoff of the oh-so-popular Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup, but instead of using chocolate (which is toxic to canines because of the caffeine and theobromine), I used carob!

*Find out more about carob here – where it comes from and why it’s safe for dogs.


What You’ll Need

  1. A saucepan to boil water.
  2. A heat-proof bowl that fits perfectly on top of your pot.
  3. Piping bags. I love the Wilton brand because they’re thick and high-quality. 
  4. To shape these Valentine’s Day Pup Cups into something festive, you will need a mini silicone mold. If you don’t have one on hand you can either pick one up at your local craft store or right here on Amazon.

Some Things You Need To Know

  • I only make these as special occasion treats. Just like we shouldn’t eat candy every day, our dogs shouldn’t either! Limit to one Pup Cup a day and share the batch with your pooch (trust me, they’re delicious)! *If you’re looking for a healthier treat to feed on a more regular basis, try these Grain-Free Turkey Loaf Muffins!
  • Store leftover Pup Cups in the refrigerator or freezer. If they are left on the counter, the peanut butter center will melt and the treats will start to lose their shape.
  • When selecting your peanut butter for this homemade dog treat recipe, make sure to read the ingredient label carefully. Some brands add the sweetener Xylitol, which is incredibly toxic to dogs. In general, look for a peanut butter that simply uses peanuts! 

Full Dog Treat Recipe

Carob Pup Cups

Ingredients
  

  • 1 tablespoons carob chips, divided in half
  • 2 teaspoons coconut oil, divided in half
  • 2 tablespoons natural peanut butter

Instructions
 

  • Fill a saucepan 1/3 way full with water and bring to a boil.
  • Once water reaches a rolling boil, turn it down to a simmer.
  • Place a heatproof bowl on top of saucepan. It should fit tightly on top of the saucepan and shouldn’t touch the water. Make sure no steam gets into the bowl – it will ruin your melt.
  • Put first half of carob chips and coconut oil into the bowl. After a couple of minutes start to mix them around. Continue mixing until ingredients reach a smooth consistency and there are no more lumps.
  • Pour melted carob into an icing bag and add a thin layer into a heart-shaped mold.
  • Freeze for 5 minutes to set.
  • In the meantime, lightly melt peanut butter until it’s a thinner consistency. You can either do this in a double boiler or the microwave.
  • Pour peanut butter into an icing bag and add a thin layer into heart-shaped mold.
  • Freeze for 10 minutes to set.
  • Repeat the carob melting process with second half of carob chips and coconut oil.
  • Pour melted carob into an icing bag and add a final layer of carob into a heart-shaped mold.
  • Freeze for 2 hours, or until completely set.