Dog treats can be expensive and they are often full of chemicals and additives that our little buddies should not have. So what are we supposed to do when we want to reward their general adorableness? Bake them some healthy snacks, of course!
These carrot and turmeric snacks require only 5 ingredients and are full of only good things. Carrots are an excellent source of potassium, fiber, beta-carotene and a variety of different vitamins and the superfood turmeric is so beneficial for our dogs health and comfort! Turmeric helps to minimize pain associated with joint issues and arthritis, it boosts the immune system, can help to prevent blood clots and aids in digestion. It is definitely something that I want to include in my dogs diet.
Let’s start making our dogs some snacks!
All you need is 2 large carrots (or 3 medium ones), 1/2 cup of beef stock, 2 teaspoons of ground turmeric, 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon, 2 cups of old fashioned oats, a large egg and about a cup of flour. All of these ingredients should be the best quality and organic, if possible. You can use wheat, oat, brown rice, buckwheat or gluten free flour or any combination of, for this recipe. Be sure to check with your vet to discuss which flour is best for your dogs and their own allergies or sensitivities.
Begin by combining the carrots and 1/2 cup of beef stock into the food processor and puree until the carrots are very fine.
Add 2 cups of old fashioned oats, 2 teaspoons of ground turmeric, 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon and a large egg into the pureed carrots and blend on medium speed until everything is fine and fully incorporated.
Generously flour your counter top or a smooth cutting board and transfer the carrot mixture onto it. Liberally sprinkle the top of the carrot mixture and begin kneading with your hands.
Continue adding flour until a soft dough forms. You want the dough to be flexible enough that it will roll out easily, but no longer sticky to the touch.
Form the dough into a ball and roll the dough out to about 1/2 inch thickness. This thickness will create treats with a chewy texture. If your dog prefers something more crisp, roll the dough out a bit thinner.
Using a cookie cutter, cut out the shapes you prefer and transfer them onto a parchment lined baking sheet. If your dough wants to stick to the cutting surface, use a thin butter knife to lift them. It is fun to cut them into different shapes and dogs don’t seem to care if they are snacking on little circles or flowers or hearts or bones, so have fun with it and use whatever cookie cutters you have!
Twinkie is just going to wait here until his bones are finishes baking…
Once all of the dough has been cut out, transfer them onto a non-stick baking sheet and bake the treats on a middle set rack at 400 degrees for about 15 minutes or until they feel firm to the touch.
Allow the cookies to cool for 10 minutes while on the baking sheet and then transfer them directly onto the cooling rack to cool fully. Be sure that they are fully cooled before serving them to your canine companions.
Kuro and Twinkie absolutely love these treats. They smell great and I love knowing that they are snacking on something so good for them. This recipe makes a really big batch, so as soon as they are at room temperature, I put half of them into a zip lock bag and freeze them for later. My dogs love them frozen too!
They are great training rewards, motivation for good behavior, distraction during Amazon box drop offs and just general afternoon snacks.
My boys love these carrot and turmeric snacks and I know that your dogs will love them too!
Carrot & Turmeric Dog Snacks
Ingredients
- 3 medium carrots, chopped
- 1/2 cup of beef stock
- 2 teaspoons of ground turmeric
- 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
- 2 cups of old fashioned oats
- 1 cup of flour (wheat, oat, coconut or any combination)
- 1 large egg
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400 degrees
- Add the carrots and 1/2 cup of beef stock into the food processor and mix on high until pureed
- Add 2 cups of old fashioned oats, 2 teaspoons of turmeric, 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon and a large egg into the carrot puree and blend until fine and fully combined
- Transfer the carrot mixture onto a generously floured surface. Sprinkle with additional flour and knead until a soft, non-sticky dough forms. If necessary, add additional flour until the dough is no longer sticky
- Roll the dough out into a large circle or rectangle that is approximately 1/2 inch thick
- Using cookie cutters, cut out preferred shapes and transfer them onto a parchment lined baking sheet
- Bake on a middle rack at 400 degrees for about 15 minutes
- Transfer the baking sheet onto a cool rack and allow the treats to cool for 10 minutes on the baking sheet before transferring them directly onto the cooling rack
- Allow the treats to cool fully before serving
- Store treats in an air tight container at room temperature for 4-5 days or freeze them for up to 3 months
