It’s February 23. Happy International Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day!
The holiday inspired me to share a few homemade dog biscuit recipes with everyone who enjoys cooking and baking, especially for their four-legged loved ones. It’s always fun to experiment with new recipes in the kitchen, and your dog will most certainly appreciate your efforts.
If you’re short for time, you can always swing by All Pets Club and pick up your pet’s favorite delectable dog biscuits. Either way, today’s a good reason to celebrate with some special treats.
When you’re making homemade biscuits, get creative using different shapes and sizes of cookie cutters. And also keep in mind your dog’s allergies or special diet needs.
For all dogs, be careful about certain ingredients such as garlic, onions and raisins that can be harmful in large quantities. Some recipes (like the first one below) call for a pinch for flavoring. You might want to consult with your veterinarian before including these ingredients, or just skip them altogether.
OK, let’s get started!
Over at the Gourmet Sleuth, we found a highly rated bacon treat recipe submitted by the Santa Clara County (Calif.) Humane Society. This one yields 40 treats.
Bacon-Flavored Dog Biscuits
Ingredients
5 cups whole wheat flour
1 cup milk
2 eggs
10 tablespoons bacon fat or vegetable oil
1 pinch onion or garlic powder
1 teaspoon salt
½ cup cold water
1 tablespoon vegetable oil to grease the pan
Instructions
Mix all ingredients well. Pinch off pieces of the dough and roll them into two-inch balls. Bake biscuits at 350 degrees for 35 to 40 minutes. Let them cool, then store in an airtight container.
Bodeen’s Peanut Butter Dog Biscuits
It’s difficult to argue with Food Network star Paula Deen and the vittles that come out of her kitchen. Here’s an easy-to-do recipe that she created for Bodeen, her Shih Tzu. Her website says the serving sizes vary with this one.
Ingredients
¾ cup non-fat milk
1 egg
1 cup peanut butter, smooth
2 ¼ to 2 ½ cups whole wheat flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
Instructions
1. Pre-heat oven to 325 degrees.
2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the milk, egg and peanut butter. Add in the flour and baking powder to make a very stiff dough, using your hands to work in the last of the flour if necessary. (Paula’s note: as a general rule, most homemade dog biscuits do well with 1 part liquid to 3 parts dry. You can customize the recipe by adding and subtracting ingredients your dog likes.)
3. Flour a work surface and roll out dough to a 1/4” thickness. Cut into desired sizes depending on the size of your dog. Bake on a parchment lined baking tray for approximately 20 minutes. Turn biscuits over and bake for an additional 15 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely before storing in an airtight container. Bodeen’s Dog Biscuits can also be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Martha Stewart’s Homemade Dog Biscuits
If you’re looking for a chicken-flavored treat, Martha Stewart shares this recipe that yields five dozen biscuits.
Ingredients
1 cup all-purpose flour
¼ cup wheat germ
¼ cup brewer’s yeast
1 teaspoon salt
1 ½ tablespoons canola oil
½ cup low-sodium canned chicken stock, plus more for brushing
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, wheat germ, yeast, and salt; set aside.
2. Place oil in a large bowl. Add stock and flour mixture in three alternating batches, beginning and ending with stock. Mix well.
3. On a lightly floured work surface, roll out dough to about 3/8-inch thick. Shape biscuits using a dog-bone-shaped cookie cutter or by cutting around a store-bought dog bone with a butter knife. (Make biscuits that are appropriate for your dog's size.)
4. If desired, you can spell out your dog's name or a holiday message in the dough with a toothpick (wet the toothpick first so it won't stick).
5. Transfer to parchment-lined baking sheets. Repeat with remaining dough.
6. Bake biscuits 10 minutes. Brush with stock; rotate baking sheets, and bake 10 minutes more. Turn off oven, leaving door closed. Let dog biscuits stand in oven to dry completely, about 1 1/2 hours. Wrap as a gift, or store in an airtight container at room temperature.