Looking for a last minute gift idea for a dog or dog owner? Want to make something really special as a gift for your canine companion? These homemade apple and mint Christmas dog treats will make any pup happy! They also make for a very thoughtful and inexpensive present for the dog or dog owner on your list.
Giving the gift of homemade dog treats shows that you care. Instead of purchasing a generic gift, such as a new toy or a cute Christmas dog sweater, you’re making something all on your own. You’re creating something from scratch – taking your time and energy to make a gift that you know the recipient will appreciate.
If you are planning to give these (or any) treats to a dog that is not yours, be sure that you check with the owner to make sure the pooch doesn’t have any food allergies. If you want the gift to be a surprise, simply attach a note with the list of ingredients to the treats so the owner can check for themselves.
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Apple and Mint Christmas Dog Treats Recipe
Ingredients
- 1.5 cup whole wheat flour
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 1/2 cup old fashioned oats
- 1/3 cup oat bran
- 2 tbsp. dry milk powder
- 1.5 tsp. yeast
- 1/2 cup applesauce
- 1/2 cup spinach powder
- 7/8 cup water
- 2 tbsp. mint (I used store bought, but you can use chopped fresh mint leaves if you have them)
Directions
Preheat your oven to 250°.
The easiest way to make the dough for these dog treats is to use a bread machine. If you don't have a bread machine, you can just mix it by hand.
If you're using a bread machine, add the ingredients according to the instructions of your machine. Mine requires me to add all of the dry ingredients first and then the wet ingredients on top.
If you're going to be mixing this dough by hand, add all of the dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Combine them thoroughly before adding all of the wet ingredients. Work the dough with your hands until it's completely combined.
If you have a bread machine, simply run it on the dough cycle and the dough will rise while in the machine. If you're mixing by hand. Cover the dough with a clean, dry towel and allow it to sit in a warm, dry place for about 1 hour or until it doubles in size.
Once the dough is finished, roll it out on a floured surface. As you'll see in my video review, I use cookie cutters to make cute shapes. You could just use a butter knife or a pizza cutter to cut the dough into small squares. It doesn't really matter, because the don't won't care what shape they're in.
Place the shapes on a well greased cookie sheet and bake in your 250° oven for about 60 minutes. Now, turn off the oven, but leave the cookies inside. Allow them to dry in the oven while cools. This should take 1-2 hours.
Store the leftovers in an airtight container or zippered storage bag for up to two weeks. If you’re giving these treats as a gift, make sure you tell the dog owner that these treats do not have preservatives, so they won’t last nearly as long as commercial dog treats.
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