What a better way to start off National Peanut Day than to whip up some tasty peanut butter treats in the kitchen for our furry, four-legged friends! I don’t know about you, but my dog is the biggest peanut butter fanatic, and surprisingly my cat doesn’t turn it away either. Whether it is straight out of the jar or baked inside of a delicious treat, they are sure to sniff it out and inhale it in one bite.

Besides its irresistible taste to canines, peanut butter is healthy and safe for your pets to eat. It contains healthy fats, vitamin B and E, and niacin, and is also an excellent source of protein according to akc.org. They say the unsalted peanut butter is the healthiest option for dogs. You do however want to make sure it does NOT contain xylitol, which is a sugar substitute found in some peanut butter that is extremely toxic to dogs.

Make sure to give peanut butter to your pets in moderation because we would not want them to get too overweight. But, of course, every good dog deserves a nice treat!

Here are some recipes that your pets will be sure to love!

 

Yogurt Peanut Butter Banana Frozen Dog Treats

Prep time: 5 minutes

Cook time: 2 hours

Yield: 30 servings

 

Ingredients:

32 oz. plain yogurt

3 tbsp. peanut butter

1 large banana

1 tbsp. honey

 

Instructions:

1. Put all ingredients into a food processor or blender. Blend until creamy.

2. Pour mixture into a silicone mold or an ice cube tray.

3. Freeze for at least 2 hours.

4. Pop out of molds and serve to your furry friend. Keep leftovers in an airtight container in freezer.

For more information about the recipe, click here.

 

Apple Peanut Butter Dog-nuts

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cook time: 10 minutes

Yield: 15 servings

 

Ingredients:

Dognut

3 tbsp. vegetable oil

½ cup smooth peanut butter

1 cup unsweetened applesauce

2 tbsp. honey

1 tsp. baking powder

2 cups whole wheat flour

 

Drizzle

2 tbsp smooth peanut butter

 

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray your donut pan with non-stick cooking spray. The donuts will stick slightly but can be removed with a skewer. If you don’t want to mess with that, lightly flour the donut pan with the whole wheat flour. Tap off any excess. Set aside.

2. In a large mixing bowl, add in the vegetable oil, peanut butter, apple sauce and honey. Stir with a spatula until the peanut butter is incorporated. It will look slightly broken because of all of the applesauce.

3. Add in the whole wheat flour and baking powder and stir until combined.

4. Place the batter into a disposable piping bag or large storage bag. Cut the tip or corner of the bag.

5. Pipe the batter into the donut pans. Don’t overfill your pans.

6. Place into the preheated oven and bake for 10 minutes or until done. The edges will be slightly golden and the donuts will feel firm when you press down on them.

7. Remove from the oven and place them on a paper towel. Let cool for about 10 minutes.

8. Let cool completely and prepare your peanut butter drizzle using the next two instructions.

9. Place the 2 tablespoons of peanut butter in a sandwich bag and microwave for 20 seconds. This will slightly soften the peanut butter so it’s easier to pipe. Cut a very small hole into the sandwich bag.

10. Move your hand back and forth over top of each dognut using even pressure. Remove any extra peanut butter hanging in the center of your dognut with the skewer or your finger will work too. The drizzle will not harden, so it can be a little messy depending on how you store them.

For more information about this recipe, click here.

 

Pumpkin Peanut Butter No-Bake Dog Balls

Prep time: 20 minutes

Cook time: 0

Yield: 30 servings

 

Ingredients:

½ cup peanut butter, natural organic

1 cup pumpkin, organic (no pie filling)

1 tsp. cinnamon

3 tbsp. honey

2 ½ cups oats

 

Instructions:

1. Add parchment paper to a baking sheet; set aside.

2. In a bowl, add peanut butter, pumpkin, cinnamon, and honey; mix until incorporated. Add the oats; mix well. If the consistency seems too wet, add a pinch more oats.

3. Grab a chunk of the batter and roll into balls (golf ball size) and place on prepared baking sheet. Do the same until no more batter remains.

4. Place the baking sheet in the fridge to let the balls harden a bit, then store in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 3 weeks or place in the freezer for up to 3 months.

For more information about this recipe, click here.

If you are looking for that special little one to spoil, please visit us at Wayside Waifs during our adoption hours!

* Monday: CLOSED

* Tuesday: Noon-8pm

* Wednesday: Noon-8pm

* Thursday: Noon-8pm

* Friday: Noon-8pm

* Saturday: 10am-5pm

* Sunday: 10am-5pm

Written by Cierra H.