Showing posts with label Pet Treats. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pet Treats. Show all posts

Sweet Potato & Peanut Butter Dog Treats


Somewhere between here and there I've lost my mind. How do I know this you ask? Because, I made homemade dog treats for our dog Henry who I only kinda-sorta-maybe just a little bit like.  Henry's birthday is on New Year's Eve so in addition to the holiday festivities, the kids also like to do a little something special to celebrate.  We usually get him a few presents and have some cupcakes for ourselves. However, this year the kids wanted to make him a homemade treat.  We tossed around the idea of a cake, but thought it would go to waste since there wouldn't be other furry friends in attendance, so we settled on these dog treats. Henry did love these treats, but I'm not sure that says a lot seeing as he lives on a steady diet of socks, paper towels and Popsicle sticks.

There are countless dog treat recipes on the internet but this one matched the ingredients I had on hand.  Actually, the original recipe called for pumpkin, but I substituted sweet potatoes and added a little honey too.  This recipe does use wheat flour, so if your dog has wheat allergies, you may can use rice flour instead.

Ingredients
16 oz can of cut sweet potatoes drained and mashed
2 1/2 cups of wheat flour
2 eggs
1 Tablespoon of honey
2 Tablespoons of peanut butter
1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon of salt

Directions
  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • Mix together mashed sweet potatoes, wheat flour, eggs, honey, peanut butter, cinnamon and salt. Work the dough with your hands until firm. If you have a stand mixer using the dough hook attachment will make this step easier. 
  • Add water or flour to the dough as needed to help make the dough workable.  It should have the consistency of Play-Dough.
  • Roll the dough with a rolling pin on a floured surface about a 1/4 inch thick and cut with cookie cutters.
  • Place on baking sheet and bake in preheated 350 degree oven for about 25 minutes or until hard.  Cooking times will vary on the thickness and size of your treats.
  • Store in a airtight container for 1 week or freeze up to 6 months.

Servings
24 to 36 treats depending on the size and thickness of the treats.

A Broken Oven Tip
If you're insane like me and want to frost the dog treats mix 2 Tablespoons of wheat or rice flour with 8 oz. of cream cheese. Spread or pipe onto treats as desired. Store frosted treats in refrigerator up to one week.
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Carrot & Banana Dog Biscuits


Our dog Henry turned 6-years old this year!  I was not always a fan of the big lug, but he's definitely grown on me.  I love him dearly and I can't imagine our family without him.  He is a sweet dog, great with the kids and is a constant companion to Lila -- his favorite human.  This year for his birthday Lila and I made these cookies as a special treat for him and his furry little brother Cosmo.  Lila is allergic to peanut butter, so it was important to find a peanut free snack that she could help make.  

These biscuits are a healthy alternative to most store bought biscuits, freeze well, and are delicious enough for humans to eat.  Well, at least that's what Lila tells me.

Ingredients
2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1/2 cup cornmeal
1 bunch fresh carrots, grated or chopped in a food processor2-3 fresh bananas, peeled and mashed1 egg1/3 cup vegetable oil1 tablespoon brown sugar1/2 cup cold water

Directions
  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees
  • Combine the wheat flour, cornmeal and brown sugar in a bowl.
  • Next, add the mashed banana, grated carrot, egg, vegetable oil and cold water to the dry mixture to make a semi-wet dough. 
  • Drop approximately 1 1/2 table spoons of dough onto a greased cookie sheet and press with the back of the spoon to flatten to approximately a 1/2 inch thickness. 
  • Place biscuits in the oven and bake for 35 minutes.  After they are done baking, shut the oven off, leaving the biscuits in the over to crisp up and dry another 45 minutes.
  • Store in an air tight container or freeze for future use.

Servings 
Approximately 40 biscuits

A Broken Oven Tip
If you're good with cookie cutters, you call roll out the dough on a floured surface and cut into fun shapes.