[UPDATED FEBRUARY 2024]
For many of us, Easter is a time of joy, celebration (and indulgence). And our furry companions deserve to get in on the act too.
This fabulously easy recipe for peanut butter-based dog treats only takes 35 minutes from start to finish and is a fun holiday activity to do with the children or grandchildren.
Let’s get started…
Take four store cupboard ingredients
- 250g wholemeal flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 275g unsalted natural Xylitol-free peanut butter
- 225ml goats milk
The peanut butter must be free of Xylitol, an artificial sweetener that’s highly toxic to dogs. So do check the label.
Foods that are toxic for dogs
While we’re on the subject, here’s a list of common foods that can make your dog very unwell indeed. It includes chocolate and raisins, so that means you need to keep Easter eggs and hot cross buns well out of paw’s reach.
- Chocolate
- Cinnamon
- Almonds
- Garlic, onions and chives
- Macadamia nuts
- Avocado
- Xylitol (artificial sweetener)
- Grapes and raisins
On your marks. Get set… Bake!
- Start by preheating the oven to 190 C or gas mark 5 and greasing some baking trays. In one bowl, stir together the flour and baking powder.
- In another bowl, mix together the peanut butter and milk.
- Add the flour mixture to the peanut butter and milk and stir until it’s all blended together well.
- Assess the interest of your canine sous chef. Have they retreated to their bed or are they glued to your feet? If it’s the latter, you know that the irresistible scent of peanut butter is having the desired effect.
- Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth. Roll out to 1cm thickness and cut into shapes using biscuit cutters. Bone shapes are a popular choice.
- Your dog may want to help out at this point. Gently inform them that, sadly, they can’t get involved as they don’t have opposable thumbs.
- Place the biscuits 2cm apart onto the prepared baking trays.
- Bake for 20 minutes in the preheated oven, or until light brown. Remove from the baking trays and allow to cool on wire racks.
- Explain the concept of “allowing the biscuits to cool” to your pup.
- Once cooled, submit the final product to your canine controller for taste testing. As before, close observation of tails and paws will let you know if this batch reaches the desired standard.
Remember to feed your dog treats in moderation and help keep their digestive health in tip-top shape with our fabulous Digestive Care range.
