Holiday Pet Treats You Can Make!

Winter holidays bring with them traditions which, for most families, include baking treats with sweet potato, pumpkin, and other festive ingredients. Did you know you can make some of these for your pets too?

Homemade dog treats can include peanut butter, carrots, and bananas which you can make into dog biscuits or cookies. If your dog has allergies, then baking your own treats will allow you to customize the recipe and avoid trigger foods. Most recipes include common ingredients already in your pantry – oats or oatmeal, flour, eggs, and broths. You can also add pureed vegetables or fruits like pumpkin, apples or applesauce, carrots, sweet potato, and cheese.

Added benefits: they’re budget-friendly and you can customize for picky eaters. If you have children, they might like to bake with you, turning this into a new family holiday tradition for everyone to enjoy. Look for silicone baking trays or candy molds (check to ensure oven safety) to make your treats in different shapes. Also, for smaller breed dogs, use smaller molds to avoid choking hazards.

Here is a recipe we found for easy dog biscuits:

Homemade Peanut Butter Dog Treats

2/3 cup pumpkin puree
¼ cup peanut butter
2 large eggs
2 ½ to 3 cups whole wheat flour

Directions:
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees, and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
Using your electric mixer, beat pumpkin puree, peanut butter, and eggs on a medium-high speed until well combined (approximately 2 minutes). Reduce the speed to low, and gradually add the flour in increments, beating until just combined. If the dough is sticky, add an additional ¼ cup of flour at a time until it reaches the right consistency.
On a lightly floured surface, knead the dough 3 to 4 times until it comes together. With your rolling pin, roll the dough to about a ¼ inch thickness, then use cookie cutters to cut the shapes. Place onto the baking sheet. Alternately, press dough into silicone molds and remove excess dough.
Bake in the oven until the edges are golden brown. Your baking time will vary based on the thickness of your treats.

Try substituting the pumpkin for unsweetened applesauce, mashed sweet potato, or pureed carrots to vary the flavor. Makes a unique holiday gift for your friend’s dog too!

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