This Easy Dog Treats Recipe is Pup Approved!
Our dogs, Polly (a pug mix) and Chewie (a Yorkie), love treats. And, I have to admit, I’m a total sucker for their begging. I think I might give in to my pups more than I do to my own kiddos! What Polly and Chewie want, Polly and Chewie get! My fellow pet owners, I know you feel me on this. I mean they don’t call it puppy dog eyes for nothing. These pups know how to get their way!
This Easy Dog Treats Recipe is Pup Approved!Are these Homemade Dog Treats Healthy?Recipe Ingredients:Natural Peanut Butter is Best! How to Make Dog Treats from ScratchTips for the Best Dog TreatsHow to Store Dog TreatsWhat Size Cutters Do You Use?Will Bake Time Vary?Can You Flavor These Differently?Get the Recipe
Since I love spoiling my pups, I also love making them homemade dog treats! Nothing but the best for my fur babies. I’ve tried out a few doggy treats so far and these have turned out the best and are 100% pup approved.
Are these Homemade Dog Treats Healthy?
Yes these homemade dog biscuits are healthy! If you didn’t know already, let me be the first to tell you – pumpkin is like a super food for dogs. Pumpkin aids in doggy digestion and promotes urinary health! It can even be used if your dog has been put on a diet and needs to lose a few pounds. The pumpkin fills them up and helps them feel fuller with less actual calories. Additionally, the combo of whole wheat flour, quick oats, baking soda, and coconut oil is confirmed to be completely healthy for our fur friends. And don’t forget, peanut butter contains vitamins and healthy fats.
Recipe Ingredients:
Here’s everything you need for these crunchy doggie treats:
Pumpkin Puree. Make sure you’re not buying Pumpkin Pie filling. You can certainly roast your own pumpkin and blend it up, but that requires a fair amount of straining, as fresh pumpkin is pretty watery. Also, I just don’t find that it’s worth the trouble! Peanut butter Coconut oil Whole wheat flour. If I don’t have whole wheat flour on-hand I use all purpose flour. You need to use a little more all purpose, as whole wheat flour is dryer than all purpose. You could even use gluten-free flour if your pet has an allergy. Quick oats Baking soda
Natural Peanut Butter is Best!
All of us dog owners know that dogs just loooooove that PB. But not all peanut butters are equal in quality, taste, or nutritional value. It is always best to use natural peanut butter in dog treats. You also want to avoid any chemicals in the peanut butter, but especially Xylitol, which can be harmful for our pups.
How to Make Dog Treats from Scratch
Prep: Preheat your oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set it aside. Mix: In the bowl of your stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment combine the pumpkin, peanut butter, coconut oil, flour, oats, and baking soda on medium-low speed, until a crumbly dough forms. Knead: Remove the dough from the mixing bowl and knead it on a clean counter until the dough is combined and holds together. If you notice the dough is too dry a consistency to hold together add a teaspoon of water at a time until it holds together nicely. Roll out: Roll the dough out on a lightly floured surface until it’s 1/4-inch thick. Using a small cookie cutter, cut the dough into shapes. Bake: Place the shapes onto the prepared baking sheet 1- inch apart. The treats won’t spread much at all. Bake for 17 – 20 minutes, depending on the size of the treat. You want them to be completely set and firm. Cool and dry: Allow the treats to cool completely, and then let them sit out at room temperature overnight to dry out before storing in an airtight container.
Tips for the Best Dog Treats
Your dog will wag his or her tail like crazy for these yummy treats. Follow these tips to make sure your pup is pleased:
The dough will be crumbly but should hold together when kneaded. I have found that this texture of dough makes the crunchiest dog biscuits. If you’re having trouble rolling it out, knead in another tablespoon of pumpkin. You’ll bake your dog treats for longer than you would a cookie of the same size. We like our cookies to be ooey-gooey, but we want our dog treats to be set and firm. You can easily adjust the size of your treats based on the size of your dog. The bigger the dog, the bigger the treat.
How to Store Dog Treats
This recipe makes 60 perfect (1.5- inch) doggy biscuits so, unless you’re hosting all of the neighborhood dogs, you’ll be needing to store some of these treats. You can store them in an airtight container for up to a week. You can also freeze them. They will last in your freezer for up to 30 days. Make sure they are completely cooled before storing!
What Size Cutters Do You Use?
I like to use a 1.5- inch round cutter when making the treats. Mine comes from THIS set. But they make cute little dog bone shaped cutters that work great too! You can really make these as large or as small as you would like depending on the size of your dog.
Will Bake Time Vary?
Certainly if you use a large cutter the bake time will be longer. The recipe is written using a 1.5- inch round cutter. You want the dog treats to be crunchy, so make sure to give them enough time in the oven!
Can You Flavor These Differently?
Sure! My dogs love this recipe as-is, but you could play around with a few different seasonings if you want to get creative! Here are some ideas:
A pinch of cinnamon Finely chop up some bacon and mix that in. Use banana or applesauce in place of the pumpkin Shred some carrots and mix that into the dough. You could even use baby food mixed into this recipe in place of the pumpkin. They have some great flavors and I bet they could make the treats delicious to your dog! From chicken and sweet potato to apple spinach, the possibilities are endless!
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