It's National Peanut Butter Day!

Peanut butter is a common ingredient in many homemade dog treats, so I thought it might be fun to share a few recipes! As always, please be careful about ingredients as xylitol is found in several brands and is poisonous to dogs.

Peanut Butter Dog Treats 1-Basic Peanut Butter

INGREDIENTS

• 2 cups flour preferably whole wheat flour or white whole wheat flour

• 1/2 cup natural peanut butter Make sure to use peanut butter that does not contain XYLITOL

• 2 eggs

• 1/4 cup water

INSTRUCTIONS

• Preheat the oven to 350 F.

• Combine flour, eggs, and peanut butter in a large bowl to make a thick crumbly dough. Add water, one tablespoon at a time, until you can form the dough into a large ball.

• On a clean floured surface, roll out the dough to about 1/4 inch thick. Use cookie cutters or a knife to cut into individual treats. Place the treats on a baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes. Let cool before feeding!

• NOTES You may need slightly more water than stated, depending on the type of flour you use. Whole wheat flour tends to create a drier mix than all-purpose. Recipe can be cut in half, or doubled. Store tightly covered. If treats will not be consumed within a few days, I recommend freezing extras to keep them fresh. Just thaw them at room temp prior to sharing with your pup.

Peanut Butter Dog Treats 2-Peanut Butter Pumpkin Ingredients

• 2/3 cup pumpkin puree

• 1/4 cup peanut butter

• 2 large eggs

• 2 1/2 – 3 cups whole wheat flour

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat; set aside.

2. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat pumpkin puree, peanut butter and eggs on medium-high until well combined, about 1-2 minutes. Gradually add 2 1/2 cups flour at low speed, beating just until incorporated. Add an additional 1/4 cup flour at a time just until the dough is no longer sticky.

3. Working on a lightly floured surface, knead the dough 3-4 times until it comes together. Using a rolling pin, roll the dough to 1/4-inch thickness. Using cookie cutters, cut out desired shapes and place onto the prepared baking sheet.

4. Place into oven and bake until the edges are golden brown, about 20-25 minutes.*

5. Let cool completely.

Peanut Butter Dog Treats 3-Peanut Butter Bacon

Ingredients

• 1 cup (255g) natural creamy peanut butter

• 3/4 cup (180ml) nonfat milk

• 1 large egg or 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce

• 2 cups (244g) whole wheat flour* (spoon & leveled)

• 1 Tablespoon baking powder

• 1/3 cup (30g) oats*

• 2–3 strips cooked bacon, chopped

Directions-

1. Preheat oven to 325°F (163°C). Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. Set aside.

2. In a large bowl, gently mix the peanut butter, milk, and egg together with a wooden spoon or rubber spatula. Add the flour and baking powder. You may need to turn the dough out onto a floured work surface and use your hands to work in the flour. Mix in the oats and bacon. The dough is extremely thick and heavy.

3. Using a floured rolling pin, cut into shapes using cookie cutters or a knife. Arrange on the baking sheets. Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until very lightly browned on the bottom. Remove from the oven, and flip the treats to bake the other side for 10-12 more minutes.

4. Allow to cool completely before serving to your pup. Cover and store leftovers at room temperature for up to 1 week or in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

Freezing Instructions: If your puppers won't be eating all of the treats in 1-2 weeks, these can easily be frozen for up to 2 months.

Flour: Whole wheat or unbleached all-purpose is fine.

Oats: Either whole-rolled or quick oats are fine.

Do you have a favorite peanut butter dog treat recipe? Share it in the comments!