Baking Holiday Treats for Your Dog

Christmas is right around the corner! Make sure you include your pup in the festivities by backing these safe and delicious holiday treats.

Noel Nibbles

• 2 tablespoons honey
• 3 cups whole-wheat flour
• 1 cup white flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1 tablespoon cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon nutmeg
• 2 3/4 cups water
• 1/4 cup unsweetened chunky applesauce
• 1 egg, slightly beaten
• 1/2 cup coarsely chopped peanuts

Preheat oven to 350-degree Fahrenheit.

In a bowl, mix together honey, flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Add water, applesauce, and egg and stir, mixing well. Add nuts. Spoon into a greased muffin tin, filling each cup two-thirds full.

Bake for 30 to 35 minutes until lightly browned. Cool on a rack and store in sealed container. Makes 16 muffins.

Festive Holiday Cookies

• 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 1 egg, slightly beaten
• 1/2 cup chunky peanut butter (xylitol-free)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 1/4 cups water
• 3 cups whole-wheat flour
• 1 cup white flour
• 1/2 cup cornmeal
• 1/2 cup quick-cooking oats
• 1/4 cup chopped peanuts

Preheat oven to 350-degrees Fahrenheit.

In a large mixing bowl, combine applesauce, egg, peanut butter, vanilla, and water. Mix well. Add various types of flour, corn meal, oats, and peanuts and mix well to form a dough. Turn dough onto a floured surface and knead until thoroughly mixed together. Roll out dough to 1/4 inch thick and cut out shapes.

Place on greased baking sheet and bake for 45 minutes until lightly browned. Cool on rack. Makes 30 cookies.

New Year Delights

• 2 tablespoons honey
• 2 3/4 cups water
• 1/4 cup unsweetened chunky applesauce
• 1/8 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 egg, slightly beaten
• 3 cups whole-wheat flour
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup dried apple chips
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1 tablespoon cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon nutmeg

Preheat oven to 350-degrees Fahrenheit. In a bowl, mix together honey, water, applesauce, vanilla, and egg. Add flour, apple chips, baking powder, cinnamon, and nutmeg and mix thoroughly, scraping sides and bottom of bowl to be sure no dry mixture is left.

Spoon into greased muffin pans so that each cup is three-quarters full and bake for approximately 1 hour until lightly browned. Cool and store in an airtight container. Makes 12 muffins.