Love is in the air, and at CARE, that means wagging tails, happy barks, and homemade treats!
This Valentine’s Day, I’m spreading the love with our sweet shelter dogs with a batch of heart-shaped, dog-friendly treats. Want to make some for your own furry Valentine? Keep reading for a super easy-to-make recipe that’s sure to make your pup’s heart (and stomach) happy.
Step 1: Gather Your Ingredients
To make these delicious treats, you just need a handful of simple ingredients: beets, bananas, oat flour, and a splash of water — plus some fun cookie cutters to shape them! If you’re using canned beets like I did, be sure to check the label and pick a brand with clean, dog-safe ingredients.
Step 2: Make Your Dough
For the pink biscuits, start by mashing about six slices of canned beets (or 1 whole beets, boiled and peeled) with 2 tablespoons of water until you have a smooth puree. Then, stir in about 1 cup of oat flour, adjusting with a little more flour or water until you reach the perfect dough-like consistency.
For the white biscuits, it's the same simple process — just swap the beets for a ripe banana! Mash it up with two tablespoons of water, then stir in a cup of oat flour. Tweak the texture as needed, and soon you’ll have two beautiful doughs ready to be rolled out and cut!
Step 3: Cut Out Shapes
Now for the fun part… let’s get a little messy! Lightly dust your surface with oat flour and knead your dough into a smooth ball. Roll it out to about ¼ inch thick, then grab your cookie cutters and start stamping out some adorable shapes! Once you’ve cut out your treats, carefully transfer them to a parchment-lined baking sheet.
Now, your pup approved treats are almost ready for the oven!
Step 4: Baking and Cooling
Preheat your oven to 350°F and let the magic begin! Bake the biscuits for 30-35 minutes, or until they are firm and crisp. Patience is key — let them cool completely before treating your furry Valentine to a taste test. Store any extras in an airtight container to keep them fresh for future sweet treats.
Whether you’re spoiling your own pup or sharing the love with shelter dogs still waiting on their forever homes, these homemade treats are a simple way to show just how much they mean to us. Every dog deserves a little extra love this Valentine’s Day, whether it be some extra treats, a surprise doggy date, or finally finding their forever home!
This recipe was inspired by With the Grains. The original recipe can be found here.