Customize this Recipe for Homemade Dog Treats

The smell of freshly baked dog cookies is irresistable to our dogs - they sit by the oven, snouts in the air, sniffing and anxiously awaiting their happy moment. This recipe for homemade dog treats is their favorite. It's delicious (at least they seem to think so), and it's easy to modify the ingredients to "customize" it for your own dog's tastes. Check the bottom of the recipe for some pet treat variations.

Basic Recipe for Homemade Dog Treats

Dog and Bone Cookie Cutters
Ingredients:
1 cup quick-cooking rolled oats
1 cup boiling water
2 tsp. beef bouillon granules
1/3 cup melted margarine
1/2 cup cornmeal
1 tsp. granulated sugar
1 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup milk
1 whole egg, lightly beaten
3 cups (maybe a little more) whole wheat flour

Directions:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
Place oats in bowl and pour boiling water on top. Stir in bouillon granules. Mix and let stand 10 minutes.
To the oat mixture, add melted margarine, cornmeal, sugar, peanut butter, egg, and milk. Mix well.
Gradually add just enough flour to form a stiff dough.
Knead dough for several minutes until it is smooth and not sticky, adding flour as necessary.
Roll dough to 1/2" thickness & cut into shapes (slice into squares if you don't have cookie cutters).
Place cookies 1/2" to 1" apart on lightly greased cookie sheet.
Bake for 35 to 45 minutes until golden (check on cookies in 30 minutes to make sure that the bottoms aren't browning too much).
Let cookies cool, then serve. Store leftovers in an airtight container.

Recipe Variations:

Chicken-flavored dog biscuits: substitute chicken bouillon granules in place of the beef bouillon.

Cheesy pet treats: replace the peanut butter with 1 cup grated cheddar.

Flavor burst: substitute low-sodium beef or chicken broth in place of the milk.

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