i'd rather be baking

I spend a lot of time with my dogs. They have two of the sweetest personalities I’ve ever encountered (canine or human) and provide a wonderful amount of company, especially when Ryan has to work late. Last week Ryan’s team was finishing up a big project and putting in a lot of hours, and I guess I spent too much time alone with the puppies because I felt compelled to bake something for them! I suppose they deserve it; they’re part of the family, too.

I’ve thought of baking them treats before, but never found a recipe simple enough for my liking. In my mind, if I’m going to bake for my dogs, I want it to be easy and to use nothing I don’t already have on hand! This recipe fits the bill perfectly and seems pretty healthy, too. Do you have some sweet puppies in your life? They need a gift, too!

These would look more like dog treats if they were perhaps bone-shaped, but the only cookie cutters I have are Christmas-related. So in the spirit of the holiday season, I offer you Christmas cookies, for dogs.

Pumpkin Dog Treats
Adapted from Second Floor Walkup

1 15-oz can pumpkin puree
2 cups whole wheat flour, plus more for rolling out
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1/2 cup water
1 tablespoon peanut butter
1 teaspoon cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350°F. Mix all ingredients together, adding more water if necessary.

Roll out on a counter or cutting board to about 1/4-inch thick. Cut using a cookie cutter or knife and place on parchment-lined cookie sheets.

Bake for 30-40 minutes – biscuits will still be soft (like cookies!), so you can bake a bit longer if you want them to be drier like traditional dog treats. My dogs love them in cookie form!