Strawberry Puppuccino

When you order your dog a Puppuccino at Starbucks, they'll get a cup of plain whipped cream. When you make your dog a homemade Strawberry Puppuccino, they'll get a delicious strawberry smoothie topped with fresh whipped cream. If your dog could talk, they'd definitely say thank you (but instead, you'll get lots of kisses)!

If you're wondering who the luckiest dog in the world is, I'm pretty sure my dog wins that prize. She gets special treats, often homemade, ALL THE TIME.

And on her birthday, not only does she get a special homemade treat, but she gets a ridiculous amount of presents. And nothing makes me happier than seeing her tear into everything.

A couple years ago during the holidays, I made Winnie a Gingerbread Puppuccino and she absolutely loved it. For her birthday this year, I decided to make her a new Puppuccino flavor.... This time strawberry!

What is a Puppuccino?

If you go to Starbucks and ask for a "puppuccino," they'll know exactly what you're asking for. You'll get a cup of plain whipped cream.

Of course, I wasn't going to write an entire blog post about a cup of whipped cream, so I jazzed up my Puppuccinos in a major way.

My version of a Puppuccino is more of a fancy Starbucks drink, like a Frappuccino (though not as icy), but for dogs. But it does still involve a whipped cream topping!

Can Dogs Eat Whipped Cream?

This is a question I get a lot and there's really no one size fits all answer. Yes, occasional whipped cream in small quantities is OK for most dogs.

However, some dogs are more sensitive to dairy than others (just like people!) and some are intolerant all together, so make sure you know your dog before giving them dairy. Also, check with your vet before feeding your dog anything new.

It should go without saying, but this Puppuccino is meant as a special treat for your dog and shouldn't become a part of their everyday diet.

Ingredients Needed

Many of the ingredients in this treat are easy to swap out depending on what you want to give your dog. The Frappuccino base is basically a strawberry smoothie made with a dairy or nondairy alternative, Greek yogurt, fresh strawberries and a little honey for sweetness.

And the topping is just whipped cream with a couple crushed freeze-dried strawberries for visual appeal.

Here are the ingredients I used:

• Unsweetened coconut milk or almond milk (the kind in the carton)
• Greek yogurt (I use 2%, but any kind is fine)
• Strawberries
• Honey (optional)
• Heavy cream

How to Make a Strawberry Puppuccino

Making this dog drink is incredibly easy! Simply add milk, Greek yogurt, and strawberries to a blender.

I also add in a little honey to make the Puppuccino a touch sweeter. If you don't want your dog to have any additional sugar, you can leave this out.

Blend well to combine.

Can I Use Frozen Strawberries?

Yes, you can! Using frozen strawberries will give this drink more of a frozen drink feel. Which may be great for a hot summer day.

Some dogs aren't as interested in frozen treats, so I used fresh strawberries for my version. The milk and yogurt are cold, but the drink doesn't end up being icy and is more of a strawberry milk.

Pour the strawberry drink into a cup.

Note that in these photos, I made a double batch of strawberry Puppuccino (for visual appeal). If you follow my recipe below, you won't get a whole grande Starbucks cup full.

Now make the whipped cream topping!

In a large bowl with a hand mixer or whisk, beat heavy cream just until stiff peaks form.

And top the strawberry Puppuccino with it. You can also add on some crushed freeze-dried strawberries if you want or a fresh strawberry garnish.

Whatever you do, do not take a sip of this drink! Because you may end up liking it so much that you forget it's a Puppuccino that you made for your dog.

Not that that happened to me. Honestly, if I were making this for myself, I'd want it a whole lot sweeter! But for pups, it's perfect!

So, you're probably wondering if Winnie liked it?

I would say she loved it!

Don't worry, I didn't let her drink this entire Puppuccino; I took it away before she even had half of it. But it made me so happy to see how she was enjoying it.

For real though, Winnie really loves whipped cream! I'm sure she'd be perfectly content if I took her to Starbucks and just got her a regular cup of whipped cream Puppuccino...

But adding in a fun strawberry drink makes it even more delicious for her!

Can Humans Drink This?

All the ingredients in these strawberry Puppiccinos are human-grade, so yes anyone can drink this! But like I mentioned earlier, if I was making this for myself, I'd want it to be sweeter.

I'd add in more honey or another sweetener or maybe even some vanilla ice cream.

If you're looking for similar strawberry drinks actually meant for humans, check out my Fresh Strawberry Milk... Or this other Starbucks copycat recipe for a homemade Starbucks Pink Drink!

Can I Make Other Flavors of Puppuccino?

Of course! If your dog isn't a fan of strawberries, you can substitute with any fruit. Other fruits that would be delicious include:

• Blueberry
• Raspberry
• Banana
• Mango
• Pineapple

More Dog Treat Recipes

If you're like me and love making homemade dog treats for your pup, I've got plenty of ideas for you! Here are some of my (and Winnie's) favorite dog treats to make at home:

• Peanut Butter Banana Pupcakes
• Chicken Dog Treats
• Berry Egg Oatmeal for Dogs
• Beet Cookies for Dogs
• Egg, Apple, and Banana Pancakes
• Banana Doughnuts for Dogs
• Chicken Sausage Kale Quiche
• Carob and Coconut Oil Dog Treats (from Dalmatian DIY)
• Chicken Jerky for Dogs (from Fake Ginger)

But seriously, when your dog has a face like this one, you'll want to make him or her homemade dog treats all the time!

I'm so happy Winnie loved her birthday Strawberry Puppuccino and I can't wait to start thinking about next year's treat.

Just kidding; you know it won't be a year until I make her something new! I'll probably have a new dog-friendly recipe for you next month!

Have you ever made your dog a treat from scratch or ordered them a Starbucks Puppuccino?