Our rescue, Ginger, is an elder dog on a restricted diet, which she finds quite boring. Donald and I developed this recipe last year as an occasional treat, and it has been very well received. Read more about doggie health here: 7 Olive Oil Health Benefits for Dogs.
The ingredients are healthy, and "golden". We use EVOO commonly referred to as "liquid gold", and fresh turmeric known as the "golden spice". As far as Ginger is concerned, they're cookies. "Wanna cookie?" always evokes a jump (or jump and spin) a much wagging of tail.
Serving Suggestion for Dogs
easy does it; they're called treats for a reason. According to UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine "Treat Guidelines for Dogs", no more than 10% of your dog's calories should come from treats.
Serving Suggestion for People
rolled and cut into a plain shape would not be out of place on an appetizer tray. Because we use "human grade" fresh ingredients and because they are freshly baked, you'll find yourself nibbling on them, too. The mason jar on the kitchen counter never lasts as long as we think it will.
Preheat oven to 350ºF and take time to line a baking sheet with parchment, or use a silicone mat if you have one.
Mix brewer’s yeast in the hot water (it won’t dissolve), and then mix in all remaining wet ingredients — the olive oil, peanut butter, and egg.
Combine all dry ingredients in the bowl of your mixer—the flour, ground flax, brown sugar, and turmeric—and then add the wet mixture you’ve already prepared. This is thick so you’ll want to use the dough hook attachment.
Continue to scrape the sides of the bowl and mix the dough until it forms a smooth ball, just as you would for any dense dough.
Roll out the dough on a floured board to just shy of a ½” thick.
Cut into desired shapes, whether freeform squares or fanciful cookie cutter shapes, and place on your prepared baking sheet or sheets.
Bake for 35 to 40 minutes. We check after 20 minutes and turn the pans. Our oven, baking equipment, and altitude only require 35 minutes total. You’re looking for a hard and dry result as you would expect with a dog biscuit.
Recipe Note
Honestly, Ginger doesn't care what shape we make, so we often rely on a freeform grid of squares so the process goes quickly. If you're making these for a gift, special occasion, or just to please yourself, it is rather delightful to choose hearts and bones, or other themes. Keep in mind that with olive oil and peanut butter as ingredients, these should be limited consumption for your pup. They're not a substitute for regular food and all new foods should be checked with your veterinarian if your dog has special needs.
Here's yet another way to enjoy a simple Bianco Balsamic vinaigrette by softening and acidifying fresh cabbage for an instant version of a fermented favorite. Featuring Coratina EVOO.
