Category Archives: Pets

Grain Free Dog Biscuits

IMG_7194

This recipe yields :72 biscuits

These are homemade grain free dog biscuits for your furry friends. I made this dog treat recipe  for a furry friend who follows a grain free diet. These cookies are high in protein and every ingredient listed below you can pronounce. Can you say that about the dog treats you buy at the store? I am not so sure.

What does grain free mean? It is more than just gluten free, and just because a product is label gluten free does not mean it is grain free. Grain free eliminates all grains including wheat, rice, corn, barley, and oats.

What are the benefits to grain free treats? They generally are higher in protein and lower in carbohydrates which can help your pet stay fuller longer. Grain free may also help eliminate any side effects if your pet has any allergies to grain.

Ingredients: 

2 cups  Coconut Flour Bob’s Red Mill

1/2 cup  plus 1 Tablespoon Trader Joe’s Almond Meal

1 cup of Jif’s Natural Crunchy Peanut Butter

3/4 cup Chicken Broth

1   Egg

3/4 cup low fat 1-2% milk

1   Egg for glaze

 Directions:

In stand mixer mix together flour, almond meal, egg, milk, peanut butter and broth.  Mix well until a firm dough is formed.  Let dough rest for 15 minutes.  

On a pastry mat roll dough to 1/8 to 1/4 inch thickness.  Cut shapes with cookie cutters. The biscuits can be placed close to each other on a baking sheet, they will not rise.  Brush with beaten egg for a shiny glaze and bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes depending on the size.  Move the biscuits to a drying rack and allow to cool completely before storing in an airtight container.

For optimal results let biscuits dry on racks overnight.

Lucy’s Dog Bisuits


Lucy is my 17 week old English Blockhead Lab. Before I ventured back to Pa my boss in NC made Lucy treats for the road trip. She loved them! My boss was kind enough to share her recipes with me. I believe this is a combination of Gunther’s Blend, her Schnauzer.

I compiled a few recipes into one. Once these are devoured I will make another batch and post.

These have to sit overnight in the oven and Lucy girl knew it and wouldn’t stop barking at the oven. 


I did let her sneak one. After all she is a good girl!


This recipe yield 123 mini dog bone biscuits (1 1/2 inch)

Recipe:

3 cups of whole wheat flour

1 cup Oat brand

1 1/3 cup Corn Meal

1 cup natural crunchy peanut butter

1 cup chicken stock

1/2 cup skim milk

3 eggs, separated (one is for the egg wash)

Canola oil (optional for soften up the dough)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Parchment paper line two half sheet cookie sheets. Set aside. 

2. In a large bowl mix together first three ingredients (all the grains). Set aside.

3. Place the peanut butter in a medium bowl microwave for 30 seconds stir and repeat once more. Add the milk and chicken stock to the melted peanut butter.  Lightly beat two of the eggs in small dish and add to the liquid ingredients and whisk together.  

4. Pour the liquid ingredients into the dry using a spatula mix until no dry residue remains. Cover with bowl with plastic wrap.  Let the dough rest for 15 minutes. 

5. Once the dough has rested lay a few hand fills of the dough on pastry mat or lightly floured surface. Using a rolling pin, roll out the dough into 1/4 inch thickeness and cut the biscuits out. Now I did add a teaspoon or two of the oil on my hands and worked it into the dough. The dough is dry. I added it to prevent cracking. 

6: Place the cut outs on the prepared baking dish. I was able to fit 45 per sheet pan using a 1 1/2 inch mini bone cut out. You can use any shape you want. The local dog bakery here in town uses circles. I found one antique cut-out  in the shape of a bunny I’ll use next time. 

7. Before placing in the oven brush with egg wash. The thicker you cut them the longer they need to bake. I went on the thicker side and baked mine for 20-23 minutes. 

8. Let the cookies dry on a drying rack. Once completely cooled and oven cooled as well place the biscuits back on the baking sheet and let dry out over night in oven. 

9. Next day place in airtight container and share with fur friends. 

George’s Best Man-Dog Cake

img_1931

We attendee a very special wedding earlier in the month of our dear friends. It was a lot of fun. We had the honor of preparing their wedding cake for this memorable event.

Their adorable 4-pawed son aka chocolate lab, George was in the wedding party! In honor of this families special day we also baked a dog best man’s cake to go along with their wedding cake. George was able to share his cake with his fellow wedding attendee pups.

If you like the dog biscuits you can find the recipe here. 

This recipe yields one 6 inch round cake

Peanut Butter & Carrot Cake

Ingredients: 
1/8 cup natural peanut butter

1/8 cup canola oil

1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract

1/8 cup honey

2 egg whites (1/4 cup egg substitute)

1/2 cup whole wheat flour

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/2 cup shredded carrots (about 1 large carrot)

Directions: 

  1. Preheat oven to 325 degree & parchment paper line a 6 inch round cake pan & spray with flour canola oil spray (like bakers joy or the pam variety).
  2. In a medium mixing bowl mix together vegetable oil, egg, honey and vanilla extract. Set aside
  3. In a large bowl mix together the flour, baking soda and cinnamon.  Pour the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients. Mix until no dry residue remains. Fold in carrots.
  4. Once batter is combined, pour into the prepared 6 inch baking pan and bake for 40 to 45 minutes. Use toothpick method to check the readiness of the cake. Once toothpick comes out clean out of the center of the cake with no wet residue removed the cake from the oven and allow to cool on wire rack for 5 minutes in the pan. Once time has elapsed remove from the pan and allow to cool the remainder of the time on wire rack.

Peanut Butter Frosting

Ingredients: 

Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Frosting:
4 oz. cream cheese, room temperature
½ cup creamy peanut butter

Directions: 

  1. In a medium mixing bowl with a hand mixer, combine the cream cheese and the peanut butter, beat together until creamy and spreadable.
  2. Once the cake has cooled.  Frost the cake and decorate as you wish. If you like the biscuit idea make sure to add the biscuits while the frosting is still wet and has not firmed up.

George’s Dog Biscuits

We attendee a very special wedding yesterday of our dear friends. It was a lot of fun. We had the honor of preparing their wedding cake.

Their adorable 4-pawed son aka chocolate lab was in the wedding party! In honor of this families special day we also baked a dog best man’s cake to go along with their wedding cake. To top off the cake, we made George LC Brown savory dog biscuits. 

This recipe was adapted from all recipes.  

Ingredients: 

1 teaspoon of penzey’s beef base

3/4 cup boiling water

2 1/2 cup whole wheat flour, plus scant for kneading.

3/4 cup dry powdered milk

1/4 cup egg white

1/2 cup canola oil

2 TABLESPOONs of brown sugar (not packed)

Yields: 2 half sheet pans of mini dog bones; aka enough to fill a 24 ounce mason jar

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Paperline a half sheet baking pan. 

2. Dissolve the beef base in the boiling water. Set aside.

3. In a medium to large bowl whisk together flour, dry milk, egg whites, brown sugar, and oil. Add in the broth liquid and incorporate into the batter. 

4. Place the dough onto lightly floured surface and knead the dough 4-5 times. Roll out the dough with a rolling pin to about 1/4 inch thickness. Cut the dough into desired shapes. 

5. Place the cutouts closely on prepared baking pan. Bake for 20 minutes at 300 degrees.

6. Remove from oven and allow to cool on pan on wire rack. Once cooled store in mason jar.