In the Kitchen with The Anxious Enthusiast
Best Pumpkin Dog Treats — “Pitbull Biscotti”
Recipes for Anxious Chefs #13
My recipe for Best Pumpkin Dog Treats is close to my heart. It is one I created and perfected over a number of years because I just love animals with sensitive bellies like mine. At least, that’s what I ended up with. They love me a lot and I’d give them the world in return if I could. Well, I can’t do that, but I can make them the best treats.
Let’s get in the kitchen.
The Recipe, Makes 5 Dozen Plus
What you need for Best Dog Treats:
Oat Flour or Ground Oats, 2 1/2 cups
Ground Cinnamon, 1/2 tablespoon
Organic Pumpkin Puree, 15 ounces
Coconut Oil, 1/2 cup melted
Whole Wheat Flour, 1 1/2–2 cups
One Large Bowl: for mixing.
One Spatula: or spoon, for stirring.
Pumpkin Cookie Cutter: and other assorted shapes if you are looking to have some fun and take your time doing it. Otherwise, feel free to cut the rolled dough into squares or triangles with a knife.
Rolling Pin: or wine bottle.
Cookie Sheets: or baking trays. I like to use half-sheet pans lined with silicon baking mats for baking cookies and dog treats alike.
Ground Oats: I rarely can find oat flour and so I grind my own in a small food processor.
Ground Cinnamon: the same stuff you use for baking.
Pumpkin Puree: one can of pure pumpkin puree without additives, or boiled from fresh if you have pie pumpkins around.
Coconut Oil: bought in a glass jar so that you can easily melt it in the jar via the microwave or a small pan of hot water.
Whole Wheat Flour: is tummy-friendly for most dogs. Do not use regular white or self-raising flour.
Step 1: Mixed Dough
Using a spatula or wooden spoon, mix oat flour, cinnamon, pumpkin puree, and melted coconut oil in a large bowl. Let rest for 3–5 minutes to rehydrate the oats.
Add 1 1/2 cups of whole wheat flour and knead the resulting dough in the bowl or on a clean countertop dusted with whole wheat flour for 3–5 minutes or until it is no longer sticky and holds its shape, adding more whole wheat flour if necessary.
Step 2: Cold-Fermented Dough
Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and then in a clean kitchen towel and store in the fridge for 24–72 hours. This develops mega flavor. Your dogs will thank you.
Step 3: Cookie Cutting
Roll your dog treat dough out on a clean, whole-wheat-floured surface and cut into shapes like sweet little doggo cookies. I bought a tiny dog cookie cutter that I use to imprint the tops of their cookies, but that is not necessary. In fact, it’s OTT (over the top) and I love it.
Step 4: Bake & Serve
Bake in a 350-degree oven for 35 minutes or until golden brown. I flip all of the treats 20 minutes in and bake them a touch longer because my pups like their treats snappy. Serve all day, every day. Bone Appetit!
Serving Options:
Serve it As a Sweet, Mason Jar Gift: for Christmas, for friends, for family pets and fur-siblings, for your lover’s pup, or for your church group or book club members, the options are unlimited. People love getting shit for their dogs. Jussayin’.
Serve it Organic: using all organic ingredients, which are widely available in classic baking ingredients like these.
Serve it For Your Smaller Dog: making tiny buttons by rolling bits of dough into baby balls and imprinting with your thumb or the back of a cheese knife like I do.
Serve it As a Donation to Your Local Dog Rescue: all dog rescues need a little love and they LOVE getting donations of treats. Give a little love to pups in need, yeah?
Serve it Like The Anxious Enthusiast: as a saving grace for her sensitive pups’ bellies and a little side hustle during the C.O.V.I.D.
Please feel free to check out my profile: Brett Jenae Tomlin. Comment below if we have something in common, if you have anxiety or if you like what you’ve read. Do you have any questions for me?
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A Few More Articles for the Anxious Reader
On Cookies for Humans: Tips for Ooey Gooey Chocolate Chip Cookies
On Fall Recipes: Easy Spaghetti Squash
On Comfort Food: Weekend Ratatouille
On Autumn: Equinox Love: A List of Mindful Ways to Feel Fall
On Wine: Ways I Wine Tour Like a Bossb*itch
On Sassy Self-Pleasure: When I Say “It’s My Pleasure” I Don’t Really Mean It
On Sex: I Learned Everything I Know About Safe Sex From BDSM
