Looking for a simple dog biscuit recipe to whip up for your canine companion this Valentine’s Day? Well, you’ve come to the right place! With just 5-ingredients, these treats are bound to make your pup feel loved. So, let’s preheat the oven and get cookin’!
Watch the recipe video above for a step-by-step guide to making these holiday-worthy biscuit treats.
A Look at the Ingredients
- Brown Rice and Oat Flour – These treats use a blend of brown rice flour and oat flour as the base. These gluten-free flours work well together to create a delicious taste and pleasant texture. I’ve had a few people ask why I typically blend two types of flour when baking gluten or grain-free dog biscuits. After a lot of trial and error, I find it creates more balance. For example, while rice flour is commonly used in baked goods (for people and dogs), it can be gritty on its own. Blending it with a touch of oat flour helps to balance that. Since each flour absorbs liquid differently and has its own unique characteristics, we don’t suggest altering the flour ratio.
- All-Natural Applesauce – You know what they say: An apple a day keeps the doctor away! Apples are chock-full of goodness for our pups. When searching for the perfect applesauce to serve your pooch, though, make sure to look for an unsweetened option that only includes apples on the ingredient list.
- Egg – While the egg acts as a binder in this recipe, it also provides protein, vitamin D, and other beneficial nutrients.
- Strawberry – Strawberries are rich in a variety of immune-boosting vitamins and minerals. Plus, they’re high in a variety of antioxidants that help fight against free radicals in the body. Check out our Food Facts feature on the many benefits of strawberries for dogs HERE.
The Tools
- Dry measuring cups
- Mixing bowl
- Whisk
- Spoon
- Knife
- Parchment paper
- Rolling pin
- Heart-shaped cookie cutter (When shopping for cookie cutters, I like the brand Ann Clark)
- Baking sheet
A Note on Measuring Flour
When measuring flour, a lot of people have the urge to take their measuring cup, stick it in the flour bag, and scoop. Does that sound familiar? While it may be the easiest way to gather a cup of flour, it won’t leave you with the most accurate measurement. Rather, scooping leaves you with too much flour. Instead, you want to use the “spoon and level” method.
- Take a spoon and fluffy up the flour so it is no longer compacted in the bag or canister.
- Spoon the flour into a dry measuring cup until it reaches the top.
- Use the back of a knife to level off the flour.
- Do not compact it, tap it, or press it down. Just leave it fluffy.
Valentine’s Day Dog Biscuit Recipe
Ingredients
Method
- Pre-heat oven to 350ºF. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
- In a mixing bowl, whisk together brown rice and oat flours.
- Make a well in the center of your dry ingredients. Add applesauce and egg.
- Stir together with a spoon until you're left with a bunch of crumbly bits. Then, knead with your hands until you form a doughball.
- Sandwich doughball between two pieces of parchment paper and roll flat (about 1/4" thick) with a rolling pin.
- Stamp treats with a cookie cutter and place onto baking sheet.
- Thinly slice strawberries so they resemble a heart (refer to video attached to this article). Gently press one slice into the middle of each treat.
- Bake for 30 minutes.
- Transfer to a wire rack to cool.
Notes
- Measure flour using the spoon and level method. Don’t scoop or you’ll have too much flour.
- Store these treats in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week, or in the freezer for 3 months.
- To extend the refrigerated shelf life of these treats, ditch the strawberries!
