“Drive ‘em Nutty” Dog Treats

This may seem like a strange recipe to have here at the Primate, since we always do human food… but any regular reader will know how much we love our pooches. And like any good mother, you want to bake healthy and wholesome, yet delicious treats occasionally for your babies. I’ve posted a canid-human duel treat – the Copper Top Pupcakes – but here’s a treat solely for those of the Canis familiaris variety. I suppose, technically you could add a little nectar to sweeten it, and then enjoy them yourselves…but I can’t vouch for that variation. Kirsche has been gobbling these bad boys up, and apparently they were also a hit for Kirsche’s dog park buddies. This recipe makes quite a bit, I didn’t count, but perhaps 4 dozen 1-1.5 inch rounds, then maybe a dozen 2-2.5 inch rounds. Of course, you could cut them into any shape you like – or like me, whatever kind of cookie cutter you have around. This recipe was inspired by my gnome-girl, Nikki from VeganVerve, from a recipe she had sent me for dog treats – but I had to improvise since Jo’s kitchen wasn’t fully stocked on all the original ingredients!

Ingredients:

 

1.5 C spelt flour

1/2 C oat flour

1 C yellow cornmeal

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 C peanut butter (smooth or crunchy)

2 TBSP canola oil

1/2 C each walnuts and cashews – or 1 C total of any nuts you have around

1 C water

 

Directions:

1.  Preheat oven to 375°F. Mix together all flours, cornmeal, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl. In a plastic baggie, place nuts, and hammer until crushed but not completely turned to nutmeal. (Alternatively, you could pulse them in a food processor..but that’s less fun). Add crushed nuts to dry mix.

2. Add in peanut butter, canola oil, and water. Stir to blend. Roll out on a floured counter, and cut into shape of choice. Place on parchment-lined cookie sheet.

3. Bake at 375°F for 30-45 minutes, depending on how crunchy you want them for your furry companion (Check at 30 min and go from there). Store them in a cookie jar/canister or other container.

Additions: You could add in some some ground flaxseed, oats, nutritional yeast, pepitas, sunflower seeds, hemp seeds…just about anything you can think of to toss in!

Happy Baking!