Favorites Recipes--Homemade Canine Holiday Treats

A Guest Post from Finn the Cooking Assistant (aka the dog picker)

I'm back!   And I've been dreaming of dog biscuits.  I had a flash of inspiration this past long weekend:  wouldn't it be great for all our humans to meet-up for a canine cookie exchange?  Attention humans with dogs--no need to worry about ramping up your blood sugar or adding pounds with this treat exchange.  And what better way to unplug the constant consumer demand to spend, spend, spend this season?  

Why not bake, then get together and share for your canine friends.  Call me self-centered (and frankly I find that a compliment)  but I can't think of a better way to spend the holidays.

Before we started this weekend baking spree, Management had planning a trip to the beach. They talked it up too--the beach romps, the fireplace, the sound of the ocean. . . . But for some reason plans got waylaid.  Don't ask me why, I'm only along for the ride, but I do know when plans get rearranged, good things can happen.  

But wait--before the trip was cancelled, I spotted this celebrity memoir. 

Finally, a memoir I can relate to.  The book must have also impressed Management, because we spent some quality time watching The Artist, which starred Uggie as Jack the Dog.  And I mean quality time, on the sofa with extra blankets! The movie was almost entirely silent except for a few barks in the middle which woke me from my nap. 

No this isn't your place, I've been here all along, I'm just stretching out.

I love a good nap as much as the next lazy hound, but when the scents and sounds in the kitchen call my name, I'm there.   

This is the kind of Christmas dough I'm talking about!

We've been collecting links to blogs for dog treats for some time now, and since this is the season of sharing here's a link list for some cool treats:

Pupcakes--from Best Bully Sticks.  This is an adapted recipe from Three Dog Bakery

Sweet Potato Chews--From 17 Apart.  Who doesn't like sweet potato chews? This is awesome!

Peanut Butter-Banana treats--from Sweet Pea's Kitchen.  Wasn't that Elvis Presley's favorite flavor combination?  You can't go wrong here!

Parsley-Mint dog biscuits--from Epicurious.  Most reviews said dogs liked these better when peanut butter was substituted for the butter.  For canines peanut butter gets 4 paws up.  But honestly I can't think why you'd add so much brown sugar, we left it out.  

All these recipes from the Daily Drool, my favorite Internet dream site.  Find your fantasy biscuit here.

Management adds, "Make it local."   Fresh locally ground flours and local squash and yams make the best ingredients, and of course, you want the best because the time has come for the canine holiday cookie exchange. 

It's a puzzle--find the Christams wolf cookie cutter!

This is how we have tweaked this recipe that we posted not long ago:

Peanut Butter-Molasses-Pumpkin Dog Biscuits

(Makes 30 to 60 biscuits, depending on size)

2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

2 eggs (or use 1/2 cup mashed banana, or egg replacer)

1 cup cooked pumpkin

1/4 cup peanut butter

1/4 cup molasses

Preheat oven to 325F.  

Blend flour, cinnamon and baking soda together.   In a blender, combine eggs, pumpkin, peanut butter and molasses.  Blend until smooth.  Stir into the flour, adding enough flour for a stiff dough.  Refrigerate for 1 hour.

Flour a cutting board and pat dough out.  Roll dough 1/4-to 1/8-inch thick. (The thinner you cut these biscuits the less time for baking.) Cut with any kind of cookie cutters.  Place on a parchment lined sheet.

Bake for 25 to 40 minutes.  Turn off oven and allow biscuits to crisp.