Making homemade dog treats for Valentine's Day is a thoughtful way to show your furry friend some love. You can make a batch of sweet potato and peanut butter treats that are not only delicious but also healthy.
These treats are easy to make and require just a few ingredients, including mashed sweet potatoes, peanut butter, and honey. According to our recipe, you'll need 1 large sweet potato, 1/4 cup of peanut butter, and 1 tablespoon of honey.
By using sweet potatoes as the main ingredient, you're providing your dog with a rich source of fiber and vitamins.
Valentine's Day Dog Treats
Valentine's Day is just around the corner, and you want to shower your furry friend with love and treats. You can make homemade dog treats that are not only delicious but also safe for your pup to enjoy.
For a tasty and fragrant treat, try using a simple apple cinnamon dough, like the one used for Valentine dog treats. This dough is an adaptation of the same recipe used for Christmas plunger cutter dog treats, which the boys loved.
If you're short on time or prefer a different type of treat, you can also make gummies or frozen treats with the same scents. Just remember to use Ceylon cinnamon, which is recommended for dogs.
Here are the basic ingredients you'll need for a simple dog treat recipe:
- 1 egg
- 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1/4 cup room temperature low-sodium stock or other dog-friendly liquid
- Optional: sprinkle of Ceylon cinnamon
- Optional: 2 tbsp trim (low fat) milk powder
- Approximately 1 + 1/4 to 1 + 1/2 cups of brown rice flour, plus extra for rolling
To make the treats, preheat your oven to 180C and combine the egg, applesauce, liquid, and any optional ingredients in a mixing bowl. Then, incrementally add flour, mixing into a cohesive workable dough.
Recipe Ingredients
For our Valentine's Day dog treats recipe, you'll need to gather some simple ingredients.
You'll need 1 egg, 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce, and 1/4 cup room temperature low-sodium stock or other dog-friendly liquid.
If you want to get fancy, you can add a sprinkle of Ceylon cinnamon or 2 tbsp trim (low fat) milk powder.
The base of our recipe also uses approximately 1 + 1/4 to 1 + 1/2 cups of brown rice flour, plus extra for rolling.
You can also make colored heart treats by tinting with natural add-ins or dog-safe food coloring. Beetroot powder makes a great natural pink.
Alternatively, if you're in a chocolatey mood, you can swap some of the flour for dog-friendly carob powder.
Here are the ingredients you'll need for our second recipe:
- Peanut butter
- Carob powder
- Coconut oil
Note that this recipe doesn't require any baking, and you can also add a little bit of real maple syrup if you prefer a sweeter treat.
Making the Treats
To make these Valentine's Day dog treats, you'll need to combine the egg, applesauce, liquid, and any optional ingredients in a mixing bowl.
Preheat your oven to 180C (or local equivalent) and gather together your baking ingredients and materials. The exact temperature might vary depending on your oven, so be sure to check your user manual.
Combine egg, applesauce, liquid and any optional ingredients in a mixing bowl. This is where the magic happens, and your treats start to take shape.
Incrementally add flour, mixing into a cohesive workable dough. The amount of flour required will vary depending on your individual ingredients (especially the applesauce) and any optional add-ins or substitutions.
Roll, cut into desired shapes (see below), and place on a prepared baking pan. You can get creative with the shapes, but be sure to use a pan that's safe for baking.
Here's a rough guide to help you gauge the right amount of flour:
Bake for approximately 10-15 minutes. Cooking time will vary with shape/size, so keep an eye on the oven and adjust the baking time as needed.
Homemade Treats
Making homemade treats for your furry friend is a great way to show them love and care on Valentine's Day. You can make a variety of treats using different ingredients and recipes.
One simple recipe is the Homemade Apple Cinnamon Dog Treats, which use a fragrant apple cinnamon roll-and-cut treat dough. These treats are easy to make and can be cut into different shapes using a plunger cutter or other cookie cutters.
You can also use the same dough to make gummies or frozen treats, such as the spiced apple gelatin gummy dog treats or the apple pie pupsicle dog treats. Just remember to use Ceylon cinnamon, which is recommended for dogs.
Here are the basic ingredients for the Homemade Apple Cinnamon Dog Treats recipe:
- 1 egg
- 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1/4 cup room temperature low-sodium stock or other dog-friendly liquid
- Optional: Sprinkle of Ceylon cinnamon
- Optional: 2 tbsp trim (low fat) milk powder
- Approximately 1 + 1/4 to 1 + 1/2 cups of brown rice flour, plus extra for rolling
To make the treats, preheat your oven to 180C (or local equivalent) and combine the egg, applesauce, liquid, and any optional ingredients in a mixing bowl. Incrementally add the flour, mixing until a cohesive workable dough forms. Rest the dough (if desired) and then roll, cut, and bake the treats.
If you prefer a savory treat, you can try the Chicken Bacon Dog Biscuits recipe, which features a can of chicken, sweet potato puree, and crispy bacon. These treats are easy to whip up and are perfect for dogs who prefer a savory snack.
Remember to always check with your vet before introducing new treats to your dog's diet, especially if they have food allergies or sensitivities.
Planning and Preparation
Planning and Preparation is key to making a delicious and festive Valentine's Day dog treats recipe. I started by thinking about past recipes I've made, including my favorite homemade training treats that use chicken and cheese as a base.
To add moisture and texture, I decided to use canned pumpkin and oats. Flour is also a crucial ingredient to ensure everything combines nicely. I felt really good about my plan, but I knew I had to figure out how to decorate the cookies to make them scream Valentine's Day.
Freeze-dried berries are a great way to add a pop of color and make the treats look festive. I crushed them to use as sprinkles, and they turned out really well. To make the icing, I wanted to avoid using confectioners sugar and other typical sweeteners, so I opted for yogurt instead.
Yogurt is a healthy and soft texture that most dogs love, and it's perfect for coating the dog treats. To get the right consistency, I added water to the yogurt and thought that cornstarch could act as a thickening agent to help it set.
Sources
- https://www.dalmatiandiy.com/recipe-apple-cinnamon-valentine-dog-treats/
- https://thedinkdogmom.com/easy-carob-peanut-butter-dog-treats/
- https://leashandlearnnyc.com/the-best-homemade-valentines-day-dog-treats-recipe/
- https://www.dailypaws.com/dogs-puppies/dog-nutrition/homemade-dog-food/homemade-valentines-day-dog-treats
- https://withthegrains.com/2023/02/17/valentines-dog-treats/
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