As National Baking Week approaches (14th–20th October) and the Great British Bake Off hits our screens, you might be feeling inspired to don your apron and whip up a batch of sweet and savoury delights.
So, why not bake some treats for your furry friend while you’re at it? As well as being fun for both you and your pooch, this is a great way to use up any leftover ingredients from dinner or dessert, too. To give you some inspiration, the pet food experts from Webbox have shared four dog-friendly bakes to try.
Peanut butter and banana pupcakes
If you have an overripe banana to hand, making a batch of these peanut butter and banana pupcakes is the perfect way to use them up. Simply mix one banana with one egg. Add four tablespoons of xylitol-free peanut butter, ½ teaspoon of baking powder, and 170g of plain flour. Combine everything and add a splash of water to loosen the mixture slightly. Spoon the mixture into cake cases and bake at 180°C for 10–15 minutes. You can make your own icing from peanut butter, banana, and cream cheese if you like. Alternatively, you can use a peanut butter flavoured creamy dog treat to decorate your pupcakes.
Pumpkin and carrot bites
Add a seasonal twist to your dog-friendly bake by including autumn flavours like pumpkin and carrot. For this bake, you’ll need pumpkin puree, which you can buy or make at home. To make your own pumpkin puree, simply roast or boil chunks of pumpkin until they’re soft then add them to a blender. Gradually add water to the mixture until it forms a smooth paste.
Combine 250g of your pumpkin puree with 125g of shredded carrot and two eggs. Mix everything together before adding 750g of oats. Roll your mixture into bite-sized balls and bake at 180° for 20–30 minutes.
Again, you can add an extra special twist by decorating your bake with creamy treats and small pieces of dog biscuits or chews. Look out for complementary seasonal flavours such as beef and sweet potato to match your pumpkin and carrot bites.
Cheesy dog biscuits
No dog can resist a cheesy snack and any four-legged friend will love these cheesy dog biscuits. They’re incredibly easy to make, too. Simply mix 150g of your dog’s favourite cheese with 475g of whole wheat flour, two eggs, and 160ml of water until it forms a dough. You can also chop up pieces of bacon-flavoured treats and add these to the dough, although this isn’t essential. Flour your surface and roll out your dough until it’s around half an inch thick, then use a cookie cutter to cut out your shapes. Place your biscuits on a baking sheet and bake at 180°C for 20–25 minutes.
Leftover chicken bites
If you’ve got any leftover chicken that needs to be used up, why not bake it into tasty treats for your dog? Mix 250g of shredded cooked chicken with 120g of whole wheat flour. In a separate bowl, combine 60ml of unsalted or low-salt chicken broth and one egg. Add your broth and egg mixture to your chicken and mix until it forms a dough. Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface until it’s half an inch thick. Use cookie cutters to cut out your biscuit shapes and bake them in the oven at 180°C for 15–20 minutes. Again, for extra flavour, you can chop up small pieces of meaty dog treats, such as chicken sticks, to add to the mixture.
Lisa Melvin from Webbox comments”Making your own dog treats isn’t just great fun, it can give you total peace of mind that you know exactly what’s going into your dog’s food — especially if your pet has any food intolerances. Just be sure to limit your dog’s treat intake to keep them fit and healthy. Treats should make up no more than 10% of their daily calories.
“Even when shopping for treats, it’s important to know what kinds of ingredients you’re giving to your beloved pooch. Always buy pet food and treats from a well-trusted brand with no artificial preservatives or colours and no added sugar.”
