So if you read my peppermint pup treats recipe, you’ll know that I love baking for the pup. We’ve been reading that increasing the vegetable intake in dogs can reduce cancer and improve their health. Vegetables provide a lot of benefits for dogs and even though we buy the best kibble we can for the pup, we like to offer her some additional treats.
Carrots have always been a favourite for our pup. We try to limit her intake of them because our vets said they are high in sugar but she does get bits when we’re cooking. However, I wanted to create a recipe similar to my peppermint treats to give her a bit of a health boost.
Again, I’ve used porridge oats as they’re a good source of fibre and a great substitute for any pups who are allergic to wheat; peanut butter is a very popular treat for the pup, we often spread some on her kong to keep her busy for a while. However, before giving you dog peanut butter it’s VERY important you check if your brand of peanut butter contains xylitol as this can be poisonous to dogs; an egg to bind the mixture but also to boost the protein content; and finally a large (or two medium) carrots which have so many good vitamins and minerals for dogs.
So that’s it! After a LOT of testing (as you can imagine the pup didn’t complain!) here’s my recipe. It’s super simple, and really quick to make! I did try to make it totally vegan but found the treats kept crumbling. If you particularly wanted to make it vegan, you could switch out the egg for more peanut butter or 1/3 cup of coconut oil (again, check with your vet before giving coconut oil to your pup). One key thing is to make sure you bake the treats until they’re dry or they create mini ‘cakes’ which are tasty, but don’t last as long.
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 cups of porridge oats
- 1 large carrot or two medium carrots, grated
- 1/2 cup quality peanut butter
- 1 egg
Method:
- Pop the porridge oats in a food processor and blitz until fine. Then add the carrot to the food processor and blitz again.
- Pour the carrot and oat blend into a bowl. Add the egg, honey and melted coconut oil.
- Mix all the ingredients together well.
- Once all the ingredients are fully mixed, measure approximately a tablespoon and either roll it into a ball, or squish it into mini cupcake cases. I’ve found these silicone ones work really well as they’re just big enough as a treat for the pup and you can make about 15 small treats.
- Bake at 180degrees C/ gas mark 4/350degrees F for about 25-30minutes. I like the treats to be crispy but if you like more of a ‘cake’ for your pup, you could take them out a few minutes sooner. Take them out and allow to cool fully.
As with all treats, use as a compliment to a balanced diet. Store in an airtight container in the fridge. They last about 14 days (well, slightly less with our pup!)
