The market is saturated with dog treats and to be honest, there are plenty of brands that are reputable and good quality. However, there are also many treats that are loaded with sugar, fat and a whole load of unnecessary extras.
So, have you ever thought of making your own treats for your dog? Not only will you know exactly what they contain but you can also ensure that they are fresh, delicious and packed with goodness.
In fact, this superfood dog biscuit recipe includes a bunch of nutrition that our dogs can really benefit from.
Superfoods are a group of food types which are nutrient dense and pack a huge punch of vitamins, minerals and beneficial properties.
There are a whole host of superfoods that our dogs can benefit from including salmon, kale and even turmeric!
Dog treats recipe with superfoods!
This recipe contains just 6 ingredients, 4 of which are superfoods. In fact, you could say that this dog biscuit recipe is super easy, super quick and… well, packed with fantastic nutrition!
Let’s have a look at why these superfoods are so beneficial for our pooches.
- Eggs
Eggs are a brilliant addition to a dogs diet. They are high in protein, helping to support muscle growth as well as looking after their skin and promoting healthy digestion.
Eggs are packed full of Vitamin A and B12, along with high levels of iron and folate. These help our dogs’ bodies to function correctly.
- Sweet Potato
Offering high levels of fiber, sweet potatoes help to support our dogs’ digestion.
They provide our dogs with Vitamins C, B6 and A, as well as minerals like calcium, potassium and iron.
Sweet potatoes are also a powerful antioxidant, helping to protect the cells in our dogs bodies from diseases such as cancer!
- Chia seeds
The power of these little black seeds are immense. You may have had them on your porridge, but did you know that your dog can have them too?
Chia seeds are loaded with goodness that can help with constipation, can reduce inflammation and can support their digestion.
- Honey
Honey should be given to dogs in moderation. Whilst it is high in natural sugar, it can support a variety of bodily functions whilst also helping with ailments such as allergies.
Some scientists even say that offering your dog locally produced honey can help with environmental allergies!
Baking your own dog treats
Homemade dog biscuits may not last as long as shop bought treats, but they are healthier, more nutritious and tastier. These dog biscuits are even safe for human consumption too, so if you’re feeling peckish, feel free to have a nibble!
Just be sure not to eat a store bought treat by mistake. I can’t guarantee they will be as tasty!
Once you have made your dog treats, they can last for a couple of months in the freezer – just remember to defrost them before giving them to your dog.
They might not be as crisp as freshly baked, but let’s be honest – most dogs will eat anything and they really will not mind! If you’re not wanting to freeze the biscuits, they will last a few weeks in an airtight jar or plastic container.
The aim is to make these biscuits quick and easy to prepare. When cooking the sweet potato, you can peel it, cut it into chunks and then boil it until soft.
However, if you’re lazy or just want to save yourself some time, stab a few holes in the sweet potato and whack it in the microwave for 10 minutes on high. You can leave the skin on and just remove the flesh once it is cooked.
Want to make your life EVEN easier? Have a look to see if you can find canned sweet potato at the grocery store. Just ensure that it does not have any additives, such as excess salt.
You can get really creative with your toppings for the biscuits. For this recipe, I’ve just used a bit of watered down honey and dipped the biscuits in Chia seeds to give them a bit more textural interest. However, there are loads of extras that you could top the biscuits with.
Peanut butter will always be a win with most dogs, but fresh apple, banana or even fish I’m sure, would also be appreciated by our canine friends.
Sometimes, this dog biscuit recipe may not produce a hard and crunchy texture. That’s okay though – don’t worry if they come out of the oven and they’re still a bit soft.
The chia seeds will add an extra crunchy dimension to your biscuits. You can leave the biscuits in the oven to dry out for longer – just make sure to watch them like a hawk so that they don’t burn!
Some animals can have food allergies, so if they have not eaten these ingredients before, ensure that you monitor your dog after consumption.
Always be careful to not give your dog too many treats – bare in mind the 10% rule, whereby treats and additional foods make up no more than 10% of their daily food intake, and the majority comes from good quality main meals.
Suggested reading: How many treats can my dog have in a day?
Let’s Bake Homemade dog treats!
Cooking is fun, so let’s not get overwhelmed by the task at hand. Dogs don’t care whether your food is overcooked, undercooked, or not pretty. It will taste all the same to them!
Gather your ingredients and measure them all out before you start so that you are ready to crack on with the cooking. There’s nothing worse than going backwards and forwards to different cupboards throughout the cooking process to try and find all of the ingredients!
Before you start making your dog biscuits, preheat the oven to 350 degrees fahrenheit.
You can get really creative with your toppings for the biscuits. For this recipe, I’ve just used a bit of watered down honey and dipped the biscuits in Chia seeds to give them a bit more textural interest.
However, there are loads of extras that you could top the biscuits with.
Peanut butter will always be a win with most dogs, but fresh apple, banana or even fish I’m sure, would also be appreciated by our canine friends.
There are also an abundance of herbs and spices that dogs can enjoy like curly parsley, cilantro, basil, and ginger which you can try adding to your recipe for variation.
Sometimes, this dog biscuit recipe may not produce a hard and crunchy texture. That’s okay though – don’t worry if they come out of the oven and they’re still a bit soft.
The chia seeds will add an extra crunchy dimension to your biscuits. You can leave the biscuits in the oven to dry out for longer – just make sure to watch them like a hawk so that they don’t burn!
Some animals can have food allergies, so if they have not eaten these ingredients before, ensure that you monitor your dog after consumption.
Always be careful to not give your dog too many treats – bare in mind the 10% rule, whereby treats and additional foods make up no more than 10% of their daily food intake, and the majority comes from good quality main meals.
Suggested reading: How many treats can my dog have in a day?
Let’s Bake Homemade dog treats!
Cooking is fun, so let’s not get overwhelmed by the task at hand. Dogs don’t care whether your food is overcooked, undercooked, or not pretty. It will taste all the same to them!
Gather your ingredients and measure them all out before you start so that you are ready to crack on with the cooking. There’s nothing worse than going backwards and forwards to different cupboards throughout the cooking process to try and find all of the ingredients!
Before you start making your dog biscuits, preheat the oven to 350 degrees fahrenheit.
Super Easy Superfood Biscuits
Equipment
- Large Mixing Bowl
- Potato Masher or Fork
- Measuring Cups
- Measuring Spoons
- Baking Tray
- Rolling Pin
Ingredients
- 3 cups Flour
- 1/2 cup Water
- 2 Eggs
- 1 Sweet Potato
- Honey (raw, local)
- Chia Seeds
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to gas mark 4 or 180°C/350°F (160°C fan oven)
- Give your sweet potato a quick rinse under the tap if it’s dirty and then prick a few holes through the skin with a knife or fork.
- Place the sweet potato into a microwave oven and cook on the highest setting for around 10 minutes or until completely soft. Once cooked, leave the potato on the side until it cools down completely.
- Mix the flour and eggs together in a bowl until smooth. Then add the water and mix well.
- Slice the sweet potato in half and use a spoon to scoop out the flesh. Mash the potato with a fork and add around 1 cup of the mashed sweet potato to the flour, water and egg mixture.
- Form the mixture into a dough and then roll out with a rolling pin onto a floured surface.
- If you have a bone shaped cookie cutter, use this to make as many bone treats as you can. If you don’t have a cutter, use a knife to cut out any shape that you like.
- Place the biscuits onto an oven tray lined with baking paper. If you don’t have any baking paper, grease the tray with a small amount of olive oil. Bake for 30 - 40 minutes or until brown. Once cooked, place the biscuits onto a wire rack to cool completely.
- Measure out the honey into a small bowl and add a splash of water to loosen it slightly. Dip the biscuits into the honey and then into the chia seeds straight after. The seeds will stick to the biscuits. Offer to your pooch and watch them enjoy!
Notes
These biscuits are bound to make your dog excited for a snack. They are a fantastic alternative to shop bought treats that are not only healthier, but will benefit your dog in many different ways.
Batch cook these biscuits and give them to your family and friends who also have canine companions – feel free to spread the superfood goodness!
