SmartPak Recipe: Puppy Smoothie Treats
Summertime may be winding down, but the weather is still hot and very humid! When it’s hot outside, I like to make myself a cool (no pun intended) treat to snack on. Of course, every time I go to the kitchen and start making food, my two sidekicks are underfoot waiting to see what they might get. I have two miniature Australian shepherds named Theodore and Baxter. Theodore is a blue merle and just turned 7 in July, and Baxter is a red merle who will be 4 in December.
While making myself cool treats this summer, I decided to come up with my own version of puppy smoothie cubes. You can add any type of doggy-safe fruit that your pup enjoys, but for this recipe I decided to use strawberries and blueberries. (If you’re uncertain about which fruits are safe for dogs, always check with your veterinarian.) I love the idea of using fresh fruit, because it’s a great way to add antioxidants and vitamins to your dog’s diet!
Supplies You'll Need
- Measuring cups
- Paper towels
- Food processor or blender
- Knife and spoon
- Strainer
- Piping/pastry bag or zip-close bag (optional)
- Scissors (if using piping or zip-close bag)
- Silicone freezer mold
Ingredients You'll Need:
- 1/4 - 1/3 cup strawberries
- 1/4 - 1/3 cup blueberries
- 1 cup plain Greek yogurt (Avoid yogurt with added sugar or artificial sweeteners, especially xylitol, which can be extremely toxic for dogs.)
Directions
The process of making these smoothie cubes is super easy! You’ll first want to measure out your fruit into the strainer and then wash it really well. After patting the fruit dry with a paper towel, slice off the tops of the strawberries.
Then, measure out the Greek yogurt and pour it into the blender or food processor. Next, add the fruit and blend until you reach a consistency that you’re pleased with. I like to blend until the fruit is incorporated into the yogurt, but I can still see fruit pieces within the smoothie mixture.
Then, pour the mixture into your piping bag. (If you don’t have a piping bag, you can use a small zip-close bag instead.) Snip the end of the piping or zip-close bag and portion the contents into your freezer-safe silicone mold.
If you choose not to use a piping or zip-close bag, you can just use a spoon to scoop the smoothie mixture into your freezer-safe silicone mold. Place the filled mold(s) into your freezer and wait for the cubes to freeze.
Once they’re frozen, pop your smoothie treats out and give them to your pup! These healthy, tasty cubes make the perfect hot-weather snack for you and your dog, and I love that they’re so easy to make and can be adapted to your dog’s likings.
