Homemade Dog Biscuits...and cooking with your kids

I have always wanted to try making homemade dog biscuits and finally got my chance when Harley was home for a visit. Jack and I picked up a dog bone shaped cookie cutter on our last trip to King Arthur Flour, and Jack has been BEGGING (ha ha) to make dog biscuits ever since. The only problem is that all the recipes I found contained either peanut butter or egg, both of which Jack is allergic too and would prevent him from helping to make them. After searching for a while I found a low fat recipe for homemade dog biscuits for dogs on a restrictive diet. And all the ingredients were safe for my little cook to touch. Cooking with your kids is such a great activity, and a perfect way to teach them new skills. Jack really loves to be in the kitchen with me and it is quality time we get to spend together.

Harley loved these biscuits and we enjoyed giving them to her while she was visiting.

And this cute boy also liked eating the dog biscuits. And I really couldn't stop him from eating them. There was nothing non-edible so I let him. Could you say no to this face?

Homemade Dog Biscuits

Ingredients:
1 medium ripe banana
1 cup shredded carrots
1/4 cup applesauce, unsweetened
1/8 cup water (you may need to add an additional 1/8 cup water)
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1 cup rolled oats
additional flour for Rolling

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

First, mash your banana. This is a perfect job for the little cook.

Add your carrots, applesauce, and water and mix well.

In another bowl, mix your flour and oats.

Make a well in the middle of the dry ingredient mixture and add the carrot mixture.

Stir together. If it is too dry, add a little more water.

Knead together in the bowl and then roll out to 1/2 inch thickness on a well floured surface. Your little cook will really enjoy doing this step.

My little cook has his own special rolling pin, compliments of Nanny.

Cut out your biscuits, and resist the urge to wiggle the cutter, just use one forceful cut down on the dough and lift up.

Place your cut-out biscuits on a greased or lined baking sheet and bake for 25 minutes.

Let cool completely on baking sheet or cooling rack. This recipe makes about 24 biscuits.

And there you have it...homemade dog biscuits.

Your dog will love you for it.

And if you don't have a dog share with the dogs in your neighborhood or family. My brother and sister in law's dog Buddy enjoyed getting this doggie bag of biscuits.

Cook with your kids as often as you can. Find ways to incorporate them into your daily kitchen time and teach them the joy of cooking. You will create memories that you both cherish.

All pictures in this post were taken by Travis. He's the best.