Easy Dog Treat Recipes: Smores

A reader asked for easy dog treat recipes so that the dog can share in summertime celebrations. 

How about smores? 

This well-known campfire favorite is typically made with chocolate and marshmallows. That suggests a big uh-oh when talking about homemade dog treats. Dogs should not have chocolate! 

We are in luck! You can achieve the look of chocolate with carob dog treat frosting. White Fido's Frosting brand Royal Icing for Dogs will simulate the marshmallow ingredient. 

The Pup-town Bakery in Fairhaven, Massachusetts makes gorgeous smores for dogs:

Easy dog treat recipes: Smores

These instructions are a variation on the bakery's own recipe. 

• Take two dog biscuits. 
• Using Fido's Frosting brand Royal Icing, swipe one biscuit with plain white. 
• Swipe the other with Fido's Frosting Carob Flavor. 
• Put the two together.
• Drizzle royal icing over the top colored with brown icing coloring to give it a "chocolate" look.

Do you have an original dog treat idea? Please share it with us on the K9Cakery Facebook page and we will blog about you too!

Gluten Free Dog Treats Recipe

Gluten free dog treats are very popular! We offer another of the easy dog treat recipes that our bakers in the Facebook group Homemade Dog Treats are excited about. This gluten free and wheat free dog treat recipe is offered by Cristina's Dog Treats based in Tillamook, Oregon.

This photo shows Nanqu, the dog bakery's expert taste tester, presiding over a basket of just-baked Cheesy Pawz. These turn out as soft dog treats.

Gluten free dog treats

Cheesy Pawz

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup tapioca
• 1 cup grated cheese
• 1 tablespoon flax seed meal
• 1/2 cup water
• 2 cups garbanzo bean flour

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
• Grate cheese (can be done in a food processor)
• Mix the water and the flax seed together.
• Mix in the cheese
• Let the mixture sit for a little bit
• Mix in the tapioca flour
• Slowly add in the garbanzo bean flour
• Knead into a dough
• Roll out 1/4 inch thick
• Cut with cookie cutters into desired shapes
• Bake for 15 minutes
• Yields 16 dog biscuits as seen in the photo

Cristina (and Nanqu) note: Tillamook Smoked Cheddar Cheese provides a pleasing aroma and flavor. Working with cheese while it is cold makes it easier to create a nice consistency.

They also want you to know that arrowroot can be used for tapioca flour. Potato flour can be substituted, but it may make the dog treats a little bit sticky.

By the way, Nanqu says he would love for you to visit him on Facebook. 

Simple Valentine Cookies For Dogs

You love your dog! Your dog loves you! What better Valentine can you have....

Share your love with Valentine cookies for dogs. All you need is a heart shaped cookie cutter and a basic, easy dog treat recipe. These are peanut butter dog treats baked and decorated by Cathy Mags.

Valentine cookies for dogs by Cathy Mags

Add your own ingredients for different flavors. You can find various recipes on this blog. Feel free to leave a comment about any recipes you are looking for and we will post them! 

When all finished, wrap the dog cookies in clear cellophane so that they are easy to see. Treats this beautiful will make a gorgeous package just by themselves. 

Tie it up with a dog-themed ribbon, such as one with paw prints or bones stamped on, and you will have a cute little Valentine treat package. If you do not have dog-themed ribbon, red, pink, purple, or any combination of those colors suggests Valentine's Day.

If you have young children, this would be the perfect little appreciation gift for them to give to the family dog.

If you have clients who are dog lovers, do the same for them. Dog lovers always appreciate it when someone remembers the dog.

Fido's Frosting Royal Icing for Dogs is used to decorate these Valentine dog treats. It is an all natural yogurt icing that is sugar free, dries hard and shiny, and needs no refrigeration.

Gluten Free Treats For Dogs

Here's another one of our easy dog treat recipes for gluten free treats for dogs! This dog treat recipe comes from Zelda's K-9 Treats & Things, LLC, located in Sheboygan, Wisconsin.

Gluten free treats for dogs
Courtesy Zelda's K-9 Treats & Things, LLC

Gluten Free Rosemary Cheddar Dog Treats

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 2 tablespoon grated parmesan cheese
• 1/2 tablespoon dried rosemary, crushed
• 3/4 cup water
• 1 1/2 cup gluten free oat flour
• 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon xanthum gum

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit 
• Line a baking pan with either parchment paper or silicone baking mat
• Add all ingredients together and mix well in a large bowl
• Knead dough into ball
• Roll out on a floured surface to approximately 1/4 inch thick (Note: it is important to keep the dough moist to prevent crumbling in the next step)
• Cut out shapes with desired cookie cutters
• Place on prepared baking sheet 
• Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until browned
• Cool and refrigerate

Makes 2 dozen round gluten free dog treats.

If you prefer to order fresh homemade dog treats, please let us know! 

Making Dog Treats

Want to learn about making dog treats? You are invited for dog treat recipes, business tips, networking, making new friends who share your interests, and more! Click "Homemade Dog Treats Facebook Group" now to become a member! It's free and carries no obligations.

Making homemade dog treats is always a fun activity! Plus...you are guaranteed that someone will enjoy everything you bake!

Making dog treats

The "Homemade Dog Treats Facebook Group" was started in August, 2012, as a networking and gathering place for those who share the passion or the interest of baking for dogs. As of this post we have over 200 members from around the world, and more join every day. 

The group is moderated by Frosting Fran from K9Cakery.com, and an expert crafter, Theresa The Scrapbooking Queen. But don't let the group name dissuade you. You do not have to make dog treats at home to join! We also share craft making ideas and how to make cat treats too! 

We share dog treat recipes, information about dog nutrition, craft ideas, dog treat business tips for beginners and those already in the business, strategy for marketing dog treats, pricing, selling and more. The group is comprised of those starting out in business, veteran business people, expert cake decorators, people who have never decorated before, and others who are just curious. 

If you need motivation, you will definitely find it here. If you need interesting recipe ideas, you will definitely find them here. If you want to "meet" like-minded people who do not think that baking dog treats and cakes for dogs is strange behavior, this is the right place to be.

All you have to do is request an invite by clicking the red link above. We hope you will join us!

If you would prefer to stay in touch but not be in a group, simply sign up to follow this blog. I regularly post easy dog treat recipes, photos, and other interesting information that comes from the group with due credit given. 

Dog Snack Recipe For "Pup"tato Chips

We bring you this easy dog snack recipe courtesy of GZ Pet Treats.

Popular dog snacks currently popping up on dog treat menus is what dog treat businesses lovingly call "pup"tato chips, which is a play on potato chips for dogs. This dog treat is easy to make and your dog will love it. It makes a chewy dog snack, and is much healthier and safer than rawhide.

Potato chips for dogs

Make them by the bagful and share with your dog lover friends.

What you need:

• White sweet potatoes - you can use white potatoes, orange sweet potatoes, or yams in the same recipe. This post is written at Thanksgiving time and white sweet potatoes are in abundance in the grocery stores.

Directions:

• Cut the potatoes into round slices
• Coat in bacon grease - this helps to preserve them
• Dehydrate for 4 hours

If you do not have a dehydrator, all you have to do is set your oven to 200 degrees F - and simply bake at this low heat setting for 4 hours or more, depending on how dry you want them. A dehydrator will take out all of the moisture and  make them crispy. If you leave a little moisture in, they will be crunchy on the outside and chewy on the inside. 

See Sweet Potato Chews For Dogs for another easy dog treat recipe using potatoes. Dogs love the chewiness!