Cinnamon Carob Ice Cream Recipe for Dogs

I love ice cream. So much so that I eat a small bowl almost every night of the year. One of my favorite ice creams is Cinnamon Chocolate Ice Cream by Private Selection which is sold exclusively at Kroger. It's only available in the fall months so I stock up when it hits the store. CHOCOLATE IS TOXIC FOR DOGS so I needed a substitute. Carob looks like, smells like, and tastes similar to chocolate but doesn't contain theobromine, the part of chocolate that is toxic to dogs. I remembered seeing a pin on Pinterest where someone made ice cream with just one ingredient - frozen bananas. A light bulb went off and I knew I could make a dog friendly version so Kirby could indulge in this yummy but unusual concoction of flavors. And truly, it just doesn't get any easier than this! The riper the banana is, the sweeter it is so choose according to your dog's preference. Kirby prefers savory over sweetness so I used the least ripe, but not green, bananas.

Here is the recipe for our dog friendly Cinnamon Carob Ice Cream:

Cinnamon Carob Ice Cream Recipe (makes 4 cups)
Prep Time: Freeze time + 10 minutes
Cook Time: None

Ingredients:

• 4 medium bananas
• 3 tablespoons carob powder
• 2 teaspoons cinamon

Preparation Instructions:

1. Slice the bananas into disks and freeze. It probably only takes 2 to 4 hours but I just toss them in the freezer and pull out a bag when I need some.
2. Once frozen, mince the bananas in your food processor or chopper. It doesn't look like ice cream yet so don't worry.
3. Move the minced bananas to the mixer and add carob powder and cinnamon. Whip until it is the consistency of a soft serve ice cream.
4. Serve immediately or transfer to a freezer safe container and freeze. For individual servings use small plastic cups and try a bully stick or dog biscuit for the "handle".

You can add any dog friendly flavors to the frozen banana or keep it simple and add nothing. The options are endless! This recipe has been carefully researched and tested by Kirby the Dorkie and his furiends. It is essential to seek the advice of your Veterinarian before changing your dog's diet or adding any ingredients to your dog's food especially if your dog has any underlying health issues. Debby, pawrent to Kirby the Dorkie, creates and develops recipes for dog treats and dog meals.