If you’re like me, your dog is family, and only the best, safest things should go into their mouths. I used to stress every time I baked around the holidays, worrying about accidental chocolate sneaks. Thatโs why I developed these amazing Carob Mint Dog Tree Cookies! They look festive and fun, just like those classic decorated treats, but we swap out all the risky stuff.
Carob is our secret weapon hereโit gives that rich, deep color dogs love without any of the toxins found in chocolate. Plus, adding fresh mint and parsley? It gives them a little breath-freshening boost, which is a major win for everyone!

I wanted a totally transparent recipe where I controlled every ingredient. Trust me, once your pup tries these, you’ll want to bake them all the time. If you’re looking for more fantastic, easy dog cookie ideas, check out these seven best easy dog cookies recipes!
Why These Carob Mint Dog Tree Cookies Are a Must-Make Treat
Honestly, making these treats feels incredibly rewarding because you know they are 100% safe for your fuzzy best friend. No more reading labels and worrying about hidden nasties! These Carob Mint Dog Tree Cookies are packed with goodness.
Hereโs why they jumped straight to the top of my dog-approved list:
- They give you that festive, tree shape without any chocolate danger. Carob is the perfect substituteโrich flavor, zero toxicity!
- That addition of fresh mint and parsley? Itโs like a little spa treatment for their breath while they crunch. Seriously, they smell so refreshing when they come out of the oven.
- The simple rolled oat base means youโre getting wholesome fiber, not sugary fillers.
It’s a win-win recipe, offering flavor, fun, and total peace of mind. If you want even more great recipes like this, you absolutely have to peek at these fourteen easy homemade dog treats!
Gathering Supplies for Your Carob Mint Dog Tree Cookies
Before we dive into mixing up those beautifully shaped treats, we need to make sure our kitchen battle station is ready! Part of clean living, whether for us or our dogs, is having the right tools so the process is smooth and nothing splatters when youโre working fast.
If you’re stocked up, you can whip these up in a flash. For more amazing foundational recipes, take a look at these fifteen easy homemade dog treats!
Essential Equipment for Perfect Carob Mint Dog Tree Cookies
You don’t need a whole bakery setup for these, which I love! Most of this stuff you probably already have rolling around.
- You absolutely need a blender or food processor on handโthis is key because we turn those oats into a nice, coarse flour!
- A standard baking sheet is required, of course.
- Don’t forget the parchment paper to line that sheet; it makes cleanup virtually nonexistent!
- Grab a good-sized mixing bowl for combining all the dough goodness.
- Finally, youโll need your favorite cookie cutter. I use a little tree shape, naturally, but any cookie cutter works great for your pup!
Ingredient Breakdown for Safe Carob Mint Dog Tree Cookies
Okay, let’s talk about what goes into these amazing, safe little snacks. When I focus on clean living for myself, that naturally extends to my dog, Charlie. The quality of the ingredients matters so much, and these Carob Mint Dog Tree Cookies really shine because we use whole foods!
The star here is definitely the carob. If youโre used to baking with chocolate, stop right there! Carob is a wonderful, safe substitute that gives that deep, rich color and flavor pups adore, but it contains none of the theobromine thatโs toxic to dogs. Itโs a game-changer!

We are using rolled oats, which we process ourselves into a coarse flourโthis adds wonderful texture and fiber. And don’t forget the herbs! The combination of fresh mint and parsley isn’t just hippie nonsense; it actually contributes a nice, clean aroma as your dog chomps down. For more ideas on incorporating seasonal, healthy ingredients, you should definitely look at these eight easy pumpkin dog treats recipes.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
Pay close attention to how you handle these components, because detail makes the difference between a crumbly mess and a perfect cookie!
- Remember, those rolled oats canโt just be dumped in. They need to be pulsed until they are coarse flour, which helps bind the whole thing together.
- The carob flour is non-negotiable as a chocolate stand-in. Itโs naturally sweet enough that we donโt need to add any extra sugar for the dogs.
- The mint and parsley must be finely chopped, so you get the benefit without big leafy chunks in the final cookie.
- If, for some reason, you don’t have whole wheat flour or want to keep it strictly gluten-free for your pup, you can totally swap that out for more oat flourโjust blend up a fresh batch of oats until it’s finer than the coarse flour we made earlier! The dough might need just a tiny bit more water.
Step-by-Step Instructions for Carob Mint Dog Tree Cookies
Alright, time to get those hands dusty and make some magic happen! Getting the process right means you get 24 perfect, safe treats instead of a blob of dough. Don’t worry, itโs super straightforward, but pacing is key, just like any good baking project.
First thingโalways preheat! Get that oven going to 325ยฐF (163ยฐC). While itโs warming up, line a baking sheet with parchment paper. I learned the hard way that skipping the parchment leads to sticking, and nobody wants to wrestle a misshapen tree cookie off the pan!
Now, grab that blender! We need to turn those two cups of rolled oats into a nice, coarse flour. It shouldn’t be powder; aim for something slightly chunky. Once thatโs done, in your big mixing bowl, whisk together your oat flour, the carob flour, the finely chopped fresh mint, and the parsley until everything is evenly distributed. That smells amazing already, right?
Next come the wet ingredients! Dump in the applesauce, the egg, and that melted coconut oil. Start mixing that all up. Itโs going to look shaggy at first, but keep going until a proper dough starts to pull together. Patience here is important!
If you find itโs too dryโand this depends on how the oats absorbed the moistureโslowly add water, tablespoon by tablespoon. Seriously, watch the dough. You want it firm enough that you can handle it without it crumbling everywhere. If you look at these ten easy peanut butter dog treats, youโll see they rely on firm doughs, too!
Mixing and Shaping Your Carob Mint Dog Tree Cookies
Once the dough feels just rightโmalleable, not sticky, not dryโitโs time for the fun part! Lightly flour your counter space. Roll that dough out gently until itโs a nice, even 1/4-inch thickness. This thickness is important; too thin and they burn, too thick and the center stays doughy.

Grab your cookie cutterโthe tree shape, or whatever makes your dog happyโand start pressing them out! If you have scrap dough left over, just mush it back together, roll it flat again, and cut more shapes. Donโt waste a single bit of this goodness!
Place all your beautifully shaped cookies onto that prepared baking sheet. They won’t spread much, so you can nestle them fairly close together. Soon, these will be ready for their quick bake!
Tips for Baking Perfect Carob Mint Dog Tree Cookies
Baking these cookies is usually smooth sailing, but knowing these little tricks keeps your results top-notch every single time. Since weโre dealing with natural ingredients like applesauce, oven consistency is everything!
Make sure your oven is truly preheated before you slide that pan in. Because these are meant to be wholesome snacks, not crispy crackers, we want a quick bake. I usually pull mine out right around the 20-minute mark. Any longer, and I find the edges get too hard, and we lose some of that wonderful softness.
I remember my very first batchโI forgot to chill the dough scraps after re-rolling them. When I cut the second batch, the shapes looked totally melted and sloppy on the sheet. Total disaster! Now, I always chill any dough Iโve re-worked for about ten minutes in the fridge before cutting. It keeps those cute tree edges nice and sharp!

If you want to check out some other foundational recipes that follow this same clean-ingredient philosophy, you should browse these ten easy homemade dog food recipes. A well-fed pup is a happy pup!
Storing Your Homemade Carob Mint Dog Tree Cookies
You want these amazing little snacks to last, right? Since these Carob Mint Dog Tree Cookies donโt have any questionable preservatives, storage is easy but important. I always let mine cool completelyโand I mean completely, down to room temperatureโbefore tucking them away.
Keep them in a truly airtight container. At room temperature, theyโll be perfectly good for about a week. If youโre worried about the weather being too humid, or if you just baked a double batch, pop the container in the fridge! They stay fresh for nearly two weeks that way.
Quick tip: If they seem a little less exciting after a few days, just pop one on a plate for about ten seconds in the microwave. It brings back that just-baked softness! For more inspiration on keeping your dogโs meals simple and fresh, check out these ten quick and easy homemade dog food ideas!
Frequently Asked Questions About Carob Mint Dog Tree Cookies
I get so many questions when I share recipes that are specifically dog-friendly, especially when they look as fun as these! People are always worried about what they are feeding their pups, and thatโs exactly why I created these Carob Mint Dog Tree Cookies in the first placeโmaximum safety and joy!
Itโs important to know exactly why we chose these ingredients. If youโre looking for more general tips and guides on clean habits for yourself, you can always browse my full blog archive!
Are Carob Mint Dog Tree Cookies Safe If My Dog Accidentally Eats Chocolate?
This is my number one safety question, and I totally get it! Yes, these cookies are completely safe because we use carob, not chocolate. Chocolate contains theobromine, which dogs canโt process well, and it can actually make them very sick. Carob, however, is totally non-toxic for dogs! It gives that dark, rich color and sweetness without any of the danger. You can breathe easy while your pup enjoys these.
Can I make these Carob Mint Dog Tree Cookies without mint?
You certainly can, but I really love that fresh mint in there! The mint, along with the parsley, is added specifically because it helps give your dog a little bit of natural breath freshening as they chew down on the cookies. If you just don’t have fresh mint available, you can skip it. If you want to keep that fresh component, sometimes I substitute a tiny pinch of dried parsley (if I’m out of fresh) and nothing else, but honestly, the mint is worth tracking down if you can!
Nutritional Estimate for Carob Mint Dog Tree Cookies
When Iโm making my own food, whether for me or for Charlie, I always want to know the breakdown. Itโs part of that clean-living mindsetโknowing what fuel youโre giving yourself (or your pet!). These Carob Mint Dog Tree Cookies are made with whole ingredients, so they score well in the nutrition department compared to highly processed store-bought chews.
Since these are homemade using wholesome ingredients like oats, whole wheat flour, and applesauce, they provide good fiber and solid energy for your active pup!
Here is the nutritional breakdown, remember this is an estimate based on standard ingredient measures:
- Calories: Approximately 120 per cookie
- Total Carbohydrates: About 18g
- Protein: Around 4g
- Fat: Roughly 4g
- Saturated Fat: About 2g
- Cholesterol: Around 15mg
- Sodium: Very low at about 5mg
- Fiber: Nearly 2g
- Sugar: Just 1g (naturally occurring from applesauce!)
Itโs important to remember that these are estimates! How much your oats absorb water or the specific brand of carob you use can shift these numbers slightly. These treats are meant to be supplements to a balanced diet, not the main course. If you are focused on meal planning for your dog, you might find these ten homemade diet dog food recipes helpful later on!
Share Your Dog’s Treat Time
Now I want to hear from you! I pour my heart and soul into making sure these recipes meet my own high standards for clean, functional wellness, and I really want to know if they pass the ultimate test: your dogโs taste buds!
Seriously, if your pup enjoyed these festive, safe Carob Mint Dog Tree Cookies, please let me know! Did they gobble them up? Did they seem excited by the minty smell?
Drop a star rating right below this section! And if you managed to get a cute photo of your dog posing next to their perfectly cut tree cookies, I would absolutely love to see it. Tag me on social mediaโthereโs nothing better than seeing my recipes bringing joy (and safe snacking) to your furry family members! For more simple, whole-ingredient recipes that your dog will adore, check out these nine homemade diet dog food ideas!
By EMILIA, the founder of MeltItClean.com โ your digital space for natural weight loss, real wellness habits, and clean-living inspiration that actually fits your life.
For years, I struggled with the ups and downs of dieting. I tried everything โ juice cleanses, low-carb crazes, fitness challenges โ but I always ended up back where I started: tired, bloated, and frustrated. I didnโt just want to โlose weightโ โ I wanted energy, mental clarity, glowing skin, and confidence without sacrificing my joy or sanity.
After years of experimenting, learning, and unlearning, I discovered a simple truth: your body is already powerful โ it just needs support, not restriction. Thatโs when I created Melt It Clean โ a site dedicated to real transformation through clean, intentional, and nourishing daily habits that anyone can follow.
My goal was simple: build a place where people could feel informed, supported, and empowered without being overwhelmed by wellness fads.

Carob Mint Dog Tree Cookies
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Preheat your oven to 325ยฐF (163ยฐC). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Place the rolled oats into a blender or food processor. Process them until they resemble coarse flour.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the blended oats, whole wheat flour, chopped mint, and parsley. Stir these dry ingredients together.
- Add the applesauce, egg, and melted coconut oil to the bowl. Mix the ingredients until a dough starts to form.
- If the dough seems too dry, add water slowly, one tablespoon at a time, until you reach a consistency that you can roll easily.
- Lightly flour a clean work surface. Roll the dough out to about 1/4-inch thickness. Cut the dough into shapes using a cookie cutter or slice it into squares.








