Recipes

Dogs are family, and that’s why we don’t feed them anything we wouldn’t eat ourselves. Our dogs love us unconditionally, and that’s why we don’t compromise in making treats that are both healthy and delicious. We believe dogs deserve the same quality foods that we do.

When I was a kid, we fed our dog the same meal every day at the same time—a bowl of beef scraps. Mom said that’s what dogs liked because they were carnivores.

But now we all know that dogs are omnivores and can process animal and plant proteins. They can eat a variety of vegetables, grains, herbs and spices. The list of foods that dogs cannot eat seems long (dairy, chocolate, etc) but there are plenty of yummy foods that we can share. Some dog-friendly favorites are peanut butter, cinnamon, apples, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, and molasses. And dogs need variety in their diets to get all the vitamins and minerals they need to stay healthy and vibrant.

You can’t always rely on commercially prepared dog treats and dog food to be made from quality ingredients. Often they contain GMO’s and harmful pesticides. The manufacturers cut corners and add cheap fillers to their products. I can recall several dog food recalls lately including an FDA warning that 16 dog food brands may cause heart disease in pets and recalls for salmonella and possible euthanasia drugs.

Treat Your Pup Like Family

Start out by making treats with these human grade ingredients and enjoy a healthier dog and a clean conscience.

Healthy Pumpkin Dog Treats

I found this recipe for homemade dog treats from Food with Feeling, and it uses only healthy, human-grade ingredients. It’s perfect for all the good dogs in your life.

INGREDIENTS

• · 1/2 cup of pureed pumpkin (canned or fresh)
• · 2 tablespoons of coconut oil, softened
• · 4 tablespoons of water, plus more if needed
• · 2 cups of whole wheat flour
• · 1 teaspoon of cinnamon
• · 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• · 1/4 teaspoon of baking powder
• · 1 egg

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degree F.
2. Mix the pumpkin, softened coconut oil, and water together in a large bowl.
3. Then mix in the flour, cinnamon, baking soda, and baking powder
4. Mix it a bit and then stir in the egg.
5. Continue to stir until it’s ALL combined. This might take a good minutes and feel free to add a touch more water in order to get all of the mixture into one solid, slightly sticky ball.
6. Once done, roll the dough out on a floured surface to ~1/4 inch thick.
7. Using a cookie cutter, cut out treats. These can be as small or as large as you want them (depending on the size of your dogs. I realize not everyone has giant dogs like me)
8. Place prepared dough treats on a lined/ greased baking sheet and bake for ~30 minutes (depending on size) or until dough has hardened.

Let cool and enjoy your pups excitement!

Chicken Jerky

I give my pup these chicken jerky treats as an alternative to the store-bought raw hides. The jerky is tough and chewy, so it keeps my dog occupied for a while, and the chicken has a good amount of protein, which is good for a dog’s muscle structure.

INGREDIENTS

• · 2 to 4 chicken breasts

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Remove any excess fat from the chicken. Turn the chicken breast on its side and use a paring knife to slice the chicken breast into 1/8 inch thick strips.
3. Set the strips on a baking sheet. Bake for 2 hours.
4. Check the chicken before removing from the oven. It should be dry and hard, not soft or chewy. Allow the chicken to cool completely before serving.
5. Store the jerky in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two weeks.

Pro Tip: You can substitute sweet potatoes for the chicken in this recipe. Sweet potatoes make a healthy, vegetarian alternative.

Peanut Butter and Yogurt Treats (No Bake) 

Dogs love the taste of peanut butter, and the yogurt in this no-bake recipe adds an extra dose of vitamins and minerals. Just make sure the peanut butter you’re using doesn’t have xylitol listed as an ingredient. This sweetener is toxic for dogs.

INGREDIENTS

• · 1 cup of your favorite organic peanut butter
• · 32-ounce container of organic, unflavored yogurt (do not use sweetened yogurt)

Yield: Approx 1-2 dozen medium sized treats

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Melt the peanut butter slowly on the stove top or in the microwave.
2. Mix the softened peanut butter with the yogurt in a bowl and pour the mixture into cupcake papers. Place these homemade cupcakes in the freezer until hardened and cooled.

I don’t have time to cook for my kids let alone my dog!

Ok, I hear ya. If your busy schedule keeps you out of the kitchen but you still want to give your dog healthy treats, then just order Riley’s Organic dog treats on Amazon or pick them up at Whole Foods. 

You can TRUST Riley’s Organic

Riley’s Organic treats have never been recalled. When you feed your dog Riley’s, you’re giving them food that is certifiably good—no mysteries, no hidden ingredients, no problems. In fact, each one of the ingredients is something you can eat yourself (not that you should—your dog might get jealous). Let’s give our dogs treats that are so good, we would eat them ourselves!

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Whether it’s a birthday party, after-school treat, or special dessert, it’s hard to go wrong with Rice Krispie treats. Kids (and adults, too!), love them for their marshmallowy goodness, and they have the added benefit of being super simple to make. There’s no oven involved, and it’s hard to mess up a recipe with only three ingredients. We all love Rice Krispies, but they’re not the only cereal in the aisle that can be transformed into a yummy treat. If you’re a bona-fide fan of the traditional Rice Krispie treats, you’ll love these marshmallow treats all inspired by that original sweet treat masterpiece.

1. Extra Marshmallowy Lucky Charms Treats

Double the marshmallow makes these sweet treats magically delicious. If your kids beg for Lucky Charms every time they enter the cereal aisle, this is a good way to satisfy their cravings without having to commit to the sugary cereal on a regular basis. They’ll be a special treat instead of a sugar-filled morning ritual. 

To make them, follow your normal Rice Krispie recipe. You’ll need some salted butter, mini marshmallows, and a big box of Lucky Charms. It’ll only take about 10 minutes to make the treats, but we recommend letting the tray sit and harden for at least an hour before cutting them up and doling them out. This will help keep the gooey mess to a minimum.

2. Peanut Butter, Chocolate, and Marshmallow Cereal Bars

Peanut butter and chocolate is an iconic pairing, and it gets even better when you add the smooth sweetness of melted marshmallow. For these cereal bars, you can use your favorite brand of peanut butter and chocolate cereal. Reese’s Puffs are probably the most popular, but there are plenty to choose from–there are even chocolate and peanut butter Cheerios. 

The rules are simple with this recipe: add as much marshmallow as you want and make sure you grease your pan. Cut them up, pull them apart, and watch the smiles spread.

3. Cap’n Crunch’s Crunch Berry Bars

You can’t exactly call Cap’n Crunch’s Crunch Berries a “fruity” cereal, but it is a nice flavor change if you want something besides chocolate or basic marshmallow. Sure, you could make marshmallow treats with the regular Cap’n Crunch, but the berry version will always be superior in our book. 

The crunch in all the Cap’n Crunch cereals means you’ll probably have to add more marshmallow to this recipe than you would with traditional Rice Krispie. The cereal pieces are a little bigger and bulkier, and the marshmallow will keep the gooey squares from turning into hard bricks in the tray. You can also crush up the cereal pieces a little to help them stay together.

4. Golden Graham S’mores

Golden Grahams + mini chocolate chips + marshmallow = s’mores for everyone!

Okay, so this Rice Krispie inspired recipe will cost you an extra ingredient, but trust me, those mini chocolate chips will be worth the three seconds it takes to open the bag and dump them in the bowl. These delicious little squares are all the best parts of a s’more without the hassle of a campfire.

5. Chex Mix Marshmallow Treats

If you’re a fan of homemade treats and like to experiment in the kitchen, you probably already know you can make your own Chex Mix with a few different kinds of Chex cereal, some pretzels, and even those little bagel chip things. But Chex Mix isn’t the only snack this cereal is good for. With a little marshmallow (okay, maybe a lot of marshmallow), you can get a little creative and make your own version of a Chex Mix cereal bar.

For this recipe, it’s all up to you. Feel free to experiment and add whatever you want. You can’t go wrong with adding a salt to your sweet, so we suggest adding pretzels to whatever you make. Chocolate chips are also a winning choice.

6. Fruity Pebbles Treats

These Fruity Pebble marshmallow treats are basically the rainbow version of regular Rice Krispie treats. They’re perfect for a unicorn-themed birthday party (you could even add edible glitter), or just a regular after-school treat. 

Whatever you do, make sure you use a fresh box of Fruity Pebbles. This is the type of cereal that seems to go stale seconds after you open the bag. You want all the crunch you can get, and even slightly stale cereal will make mixing a gloppy mess.

7. Pumpkin Spice Treats

Pumpkin spice is famous in fall, but if you’re a true fan, you’ll enjoy these marshmallow treats no matter the month. You have a couple of options for this recipe.

You can go the more traditional route (and also more involved) by adding the appropriate spices to your regular Rice Krispie treats, or you can skip the measuring and use a pumpkin spice flavored cereal—trust us, there are plenty of them these days. But you might have trouble finding them if it isn’t August through November. Mom Makes Joy has an easy-to-follow recipe for when you can’t find the cereal you want.