Homemade Peanut Butter Dog Cookies

The award-winning team behind The Big Bakes are helping dog owners across the nation turn Barking to Baking with their new free online classes as part of a new miniseries helping owners make simple dog treats at home.

Ingredients:

⅔ cup or 85 grams fruit puree e.g. pumpkin, banana, apple

¼ cup or roughly 3 tablespoons natural peanut butter (Do not use peanut butter spread that contains sugar, or additives, this should be an all-natural whole nut butter suitable for animal consumption e.g. Meridian or Pip and Nut as Xylitol, the sweetener most often used in peanut butter with sugar is toxic to dogs).

2 large eggs

3 cups or 384 grams plain flour wholemeal or rye

Method:

1. Begin by preheating your oven to 180c degrees and line a large flat baking tray with baking parchment or a silicone baking mat.

2. Take your large mixing bowl and crack in your eggs and then add the peanut butter and fruit puree. Now mix the wet ingredients until combined using an electric whisk with the paddle attachment or with a wooden spoon. Remember to give it a good mix if you are using a spoon!

3. Once combined, gradually add your flour about a quarter at a time and fold into the wet mixture. If you are using an electric whisk then beat this slowly until just incorporated. Then repeat to add the rest of the flour quarter by quarter until the dough is no longer sticky.

4. Now, form your dough into a ball TIP: you may need to use your hands to do this, so dust them with some flour first.

5. Then, once your dough is bound together in a ball, dust a work surface with flour and then knead the cookie dough (use your knuckles to press firmly and turn the dough a few times) until it comes together. If you are finding the dough to be sticky just sprinkle on some more flour. Then, using a rolling pin, roll the dough until it is about the thickness of a £1 coin.

6. Once rolled, take your cookie cutters (you can also make these by choosing some stencil shapes online and printing and cutting these out using a piece of card) and cut out your desired shapes and place onto the prepared baking sheet leaving a little space between each cookie.

7. Place into the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes until they start to turn a golden brown and they are firm to touch. 

8. Once ready, leave to cool completely before treating your four-legged friend to a delicious peanut butter treat!