Nourishing our Companions: Crafting these peanut butter canine confections is my heartfelt way of enveloping our cherished friends with familial love! This straightforward recipe, a peanut butter delight, is one I’m convinced our pals would eagerly petition for on a weekly basis if only they could articulate their desires.

Originating in 2022 as a labor of love for Bucky, my Rottie-Pyrenees puppy-child, it’s now a cherished ritual for our canine duo, having added Sydney, the Bernese Mountain Dog to the family last year. Every cherished pet merits the joy of a treat crafted by caring hands, and this recipe is the perfect gesture of affection.

For the Dog Cookies

• 2½ cups whole wheat flour
  I prefer to use whole wheat flour for dog biscuits for the extra nutritional value. Other types of flour are fine to use, as long as you know your pup isn’t allergic.
• 1 cup Peanut Butter
  This thickens the mixture into a dough, and adds tasty peanut butter flavor! Use a natural peanut butter and check the ingredients list–do not use anything with Xylitol (an artificial sweetener), which is not safe for dogs.
• 1 Large Egg
  Binds the ingredients together to form a pet-friendly cookie dough.
• 1 cup Water
  Adds a bit of moisture to help make the dough pliable.
• 2 tablespoons of Honey
  This naturally sweetens the flavor just a little bit.

For the Frosting

• 2 tablespoons of Peanut Butter
• 1 tablespoon of honey
• ⅓ cup cornstarch
• 3-4 tablespoons hot water

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
• In a large bowl, combine flour and the egg. Add the peanut butter, water, and honey, and stir until you have a stiff dough. The dough becomes very firm and sticky. You may need to use your hands, or the paddle attachment on your mixer.
• On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough about half-inch thick and use a cookie cutter to make fun shapes. The treats barely spread and rise, so get creative with your shapes.
• Bake for 18-20 minutes, until golden. Once done, set aside to cool. (If you have smaller cookies, use less time, otherwise the bottom might burn.)
• To make the frosting, combine the peanut butter and honey in a microwavable bowl, and heat in the microwave in 15 second increments, stirring in between, until melted.
• Add the melted peanut butter mixture to the cornstarch and stir until just combined.
• Slowly add in the water 1 tablespoon at a time until you have reached the consistency that you would like. For a thinner frosting, add more water.
• Add the frosting to a piping bag and pipe designs on top of each dog treat.
• Frost the treats with the peanut butter/honey mixture for an even more tempting cookie.

Preserving the Goodness: Post-cooling, these homemade peanut butter dog biscuits find sanctuary in a sealed container, tucked away in the cool confines of the refrigerator, preserving their goodness for as long as a month. Yielding two dozen medium-sized treats, there’s ample bounty to distribute for those moments when your pooch deserves a wholesome nibble.

Stashing for the Long Haul: For those who plan ahead, these canine treats are amenable to an extended freezer stay, remaining fresh for up to eight months. My tip: arrange them on a tray in the freezer for a brief hour before relocating them to a container impervious to frost. This ensures they remain individual delights, ready to be fetched one by one, while the rest await their turn in frosty repose. When it’s time to thaw, simply transition them to the refrigerator.

Note: Dogs can have allergies and intolerances just like people, so while these ingredients are all considered safe for dogs in general, make sure you check with a certified veterinarian and inform yourself on what your canine friend can and cannot eat.