Dogs love care packages as much as humans! A Paw Prints Dog Care Package with homemade Paw Prints Peanut Butter Dog Cookies is a fantastic way to make the special canines in your life, and their dog lover humans, tail wagging happy.
Why you'll love this recipe
Pax the Sheltie is my buddy. He is loud, loyal, so smart, and my dedicated body guard. Where ever I am, Pax is.
On baking days, he is often powdered in flour as he lies at my feet while I bake. On writing days, he is under my desk in the winter or in the summer you’ll find him on top of the air conditioning vent right outside my office. I love him.
Pax was about 6 months old when he adopted me. For 6 long months he had lived in a cage at a puppy mill and later at a shelter.
When he finally got to his forever home, he was afraid of a lot of things. He was totally freaked out by wheels: car wheels, bike wheels, stroller wheels.
My puppy needed exercise, but there was no way he would walk on the sidewalk. Thankfully, we discovered a wonderful dog park not far from our house.
At the dog park, Pax met Tabby the Rat Terrier. She is super gentle with humans, a fierce huntress of all rabbits and rodents, and a “my way or the highway” sort of gal with other dogs.
Pax, the push over, fell instantly in love. The two dogs share an unusual bond. Because of their bond, I formed a friendship with Tabby’s human.
For five years, in all kinds of insane weather, we met at the dog park daily and talked as our dogs played. That was a lot of talking and a lot of playing.
Two years ago, Tabby’s human had surgery that required extensive recuperation time. You may have seen on Instagram that Tabby came to stay with us for the summer.
Then, this summer, Tabby’s human and my dear friend, had to ask me if I would be willing to be Tabby’s legal guardian. There was only one possible answer. Now there are two dogs barking at my husband, lying curled up on dog beds all over my house, and begging for Paw Prints Peanut Butter Dog Cookies.
I have baked a lot of dog biscuits: I bake Paw Prints Peanut Butter Dog Cookies for my own dogs, I bake them for our friends at the dog park, and I bake them for doggie care packages that I mail most often to two chocolate labs in Chicago.
Creating your own Paw Prints Dog Care Package is easy. Add few bags of Paw Prints Peanut Butter Dog Cookies, a dog toy or two, and a paw print bandana or pot holder. Both dogs and humans will be smiling when this imaginative pet care package is opened!
This is my favorite of all of the dog biscuit recipes I’ve tried and I’ve baked this recipe in many different shapes, such as dog bones and these adorable paw prints. The dough is easy to mix together by hand and is super easy to work with. Most importantly, the dogs love these cookies!
For my package, I made Paw Prints Peanut Butter cookies a silicone mold. My mini molds hold a rounded teaspoon of the dough in each paw print cavity. The little cookies pop right out of the mold with no greasing necessary.
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Dog treat shapes
These are some additional ways to shape this versatile dough:
- Roll out the dough to ¼” and use cookie cutters (paw print, heart, bone shapes, etc.)
- Roll out the dough to ¼” and slice into bite sized pieces
- Roll pieces of dough (small cookie- 1 teaspoon, large cookie- 1 tablespoon) into balls. Place on baking sheet and flatten into discs with your thumb.
Grain free variations
Looking for a grain free dog treat? Substitute these grain free flours for the wheat flour and oats.
- Chickpea (Garbanzo Bean) flour
- Almond flour
- Coconut flour
IMPORTANT: Keep in mind that different flours will produce slightly different results. More or less liquid may be required. Slightly different baking times might be needed.
For example, I found Chickpea flour produced a cookie my mostly grain free Sheltie loves, but it is a stickier dough to work with and that extra moisture required an extra 5-10 minutes baking. The chickpea flour dough worked well in the mold and as a drop cookie, but was too soft and sticky to roll out.
Flavor variations
Instead of applesauce you can use these flavorful ingredients:
- Pumpkin purée (plain)
- Baby food squash
- Mashed or baby food sweet potatoes
- Mashed banana
Peanut butter alternatives
Allergic to peanut butter? These dog safe nut butters can be used instead:
- Almond butter
- Cashew butter
- Soynut butter
Recommended for your Paw Prints Dog Care Package
Most of us don’t need an excuse to spoil our own dogs. They offer us so much unconditional love. A few cookies as a reward seems fair!
Send a “good dog” message to the cherished pups of friends and relatives with a Paw Prints Dog Care Package full of home baked Paw Prints Peanut Butter Dog Cookies. I bet you will get a lick and a snuggle in return.
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Peanut Butter Dog Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 ¼ cups whole wheat flour all purpose flour can also be used
- 1 cup oat flour or finely ground old fashioned oats
- 3 tablespoons creamy peanut butter Be sure it doesn’t contain xylitol
- ½ cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1 large egg
- ¼ cup hot water approximately
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375° F.
- In a large mixing bowl whisk together the whole wheat flour and oat flour.
- Add the peanut butter, apple sauce, and egg, and stir to combine.
- Add the hot water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until a pliable (not sticky), stiff dough is achieved. If the dough becomes sticky, mix in a small amount of additional flour.
- Scoop one slightly rounded teaspoon of dough**, roll into a ball, then press into a paw print cavity to fill. Repeat until all of the mold cavities are filled. **Paw print molds come in different sizes, holding different amounts of dough in each cavity. However, the method for filling is the same once the volume of each cavity is determined. The mini paw print mold I used held one slightly rounded teaspoon of dough in each cavity. **
- Place the silicone mold on a baking sheet and bake in the preheated oven for 12-15 minutes, then lower the oven temperature to 250° F and bake for an additional 20 minutes or until very firm and golden brown. The dryer and firmer the cookie, the longer its shelf life will be.
- Remove from the oven. Remove the mold from the baking sheet and allow to cool on a wire rack before unmolding.
- Bake or freeze the remaining dough.
- Store homemade treats in an airtight container at room temperature. If baked until crunchy, Paw Print Peanut Butter Dog Cookies will stay fresh for at least one week. If baked a little softer, store in the refrigerator to prevent molding.
Notes
- Roll out the dough to ¼” and use favorite seasonal or dog cookie cutters (such as paw print, Christmas tree, heart, or bone cookie cutters ) to make cute shapes.
- Roll out the dough to ¼” and slice into bite sized pieces using a knife or pizza cutter.
- Roll pieces of dough (small cookie- 1 teaspoon, large cookie- 1 tablespoon) into balls. Place on a parchment paper lined baking sheet and flatten into discs with your thumb or the tines of a fork.
- Chickpea (Garbanzo Bean) flour
- Almond flour
- Coconut flour
- Place about 12 homemade dog biscuits in each individual zip lock or gift bag.
- Pack in a Dog Care Package with paw print themed items such as a doggie ball or doggie chew toy, doggie shampoo and a doggie washing mitt.
Nutrition
First Published: August 28, 2018. Last Updated: March 20, 2024. Updated for better reader experience.
Mandy
How long should I bake these in a dog bone baking tray?
Wendy Sondov
I would still follow the instructions (#6) to bake at 375 F for 12 minutes, then lower the oven temperature to 250 F and bake for 20 minutes. If the cookies aren't very firm, bake longer. If you think they are done and after they cool you feel they are not firm enough, you can put them back in the oven to bake a little longer. Different shapes and thicknesses require a little experimenting on the first batch.
Mary
I made these for my8 lb Chinese Crested Yorkie and she went crazy! My concern now is the amount of kcal per cookie. When you state 23 kcal is that per cookie?
Wendy Sondov
Yes, Mary, the calorie count is for one cookie in a batch of 60. If you make more than 60 cookies (smaller or thinner than mine) the calorie count would be less per cookie. I'm glad your pup enjoyed them. 🙂
Lana
I wonder, what if when mixing up batch we put some of it in freezer and just bake part of it so it doesn’t go bad or go to waste?
Wendy Sondov
That would definitely work. You can do this several ways. Bake the cookies and freeze the ones you won't be using right away (you can also keep them in the fridge for longer shelf life). Make the dough and only bake the amount you need and freeze the rest of the dough. Roll out the dough and cut out cookies with a knife or cookie cutter, then bake the ones you need.Put the rest on a baking sheet in the freezer until frozen. Once frozen they can be stored in a plastic freezer bag and won't stick to each other.
Barbara
Almond and almond butter are not good for dogs period.
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/nutrition/can-dogs-eat-almonds/
Wendy Sondov
I am not a veterinarian and can not provide medical advice. Every human must research and make decisions about what is best for their dog. The article you reference is specifically about the dangers of feeding whole almonds to dogs. There are no whole almonds in the recipe. This recipe contains 3 tablespoons of nut butter and makes over 60 dog biscuits ( approximately .15 teaspoon of nut butter in each cookie). The amount of fat in each biscuit is unlikely to cause pancreatitis in most dogs. Almond butter contains only slightly more fat than peanut butter. Almond butter is not toxic for dogs, however, some dogs don't digest it well. In that case, use a different nut butter or a recipe that doesn't call for nut butter at all.
Stacey Price
Made a batch today. Used molds and they came out great. My mini dachshund loved them. Substituted banana for applesauce. Definitely making her treats moving forward.
Wendy Sondov
I'm so glad your pup enjoyed these! I have two dogs and one is VERY picky. Even she loves these. 🙂
Anna
My dog loved them some much I thing I am going to have to make a lot for christmas!!
Dawn
These treats are so good for my two puppies, who are extremely picky eaters. Now, whenever they hear the fridge open, the rush over, sit down, and act like starving puppies, even if I’m just taking out milk or last nights leftovers. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe with all of us!
Wendy Sondov
Awesome, Dawn! I'm delighted that these cookies were puppy approved by your two picky eaters! I have one that will eat ANYTHING that doesn't bite him first, and another who seems to be waiting for caviar! These cookies were devoured by both. 🙂 Wishing your lucky dogs continued spoiling!
Rachel
Are these hard and crunchy or soft and chewy? I’m making them for a friend whose dog has no teeth and have been having trouble finding a good recipe.
Wendy Sondov
Hi, Rachel. I am not sure quite how soft your dog friend needs, but these cookies can be baked longer for a crunchy cookie or (in your case ) a few minutes shorter for a softer, more easy to crumble cookie. They do firm up a bit as they cool. I would try taking them out at ten minutes and seeing what you think! This recipe can also be used without a mold. Just roll out the dough and cut with a knife or cookie cutters. The thinner the cookie, the less time you need to bake them, especially if you want them to remain softer. Good luck!
Callie
Excellent recipe! I used the recommended substitution of one banana instead of the apple sauce (it worked out nicely that 1 mashed banana made just what I needed). I had to extend the second-phase cook time by about ten minutes but it is raining here so maybe that’s playing a role. (I had the window open all morning.) The biscuits got nice and crunchy but didn’t scorch, and I love that I didn’t have to make a run to the grocery store for ingredients. I whipped up my own oat flour in the food processor, got to work, and my dog is happy as a clam! This made about 50 medium-sized dog-bone shaped biscuits, three of which have been wholeheartedly devoured already 🙂 Thank you for a wholesome, quick, and easy recipe!
Wendy Sondov
Hi, Callie! I am so glad you and your dog enjoyed this recipe! As you experienced, I love that the recie is so versatile and easy to make. My dog loves that the biscuits are (apparently) delicious! Thank you for taking the time to write about your experience with this recipe.
Elisa M Gomez
How should these be stored? Mine went bad and molded within a few days.
My dogs loved them though!
Wendy Sondov
Hi, Elisa. I have found that the softer the dog cookie (less time in the oven) the faster they mold due to more moisture left in the cookies. Crunchier cookies can stay on the counter at least for a week. However, even when I give a bunch to friends, this recipe makes a LOT of cookies, more than we go through in a week. Store them in the fridge and they should be great for 2-3 weeks. I'm glad your dogs loved them! I made a batch this week using only oat flour and they have been a hit as well.
Kathy Schumacher
I stopped buying other treats when I tried your recipe. My corgi becomes "circus dog" when someone offers her one! Mixing is a cinch using powdered peanut butter, and no need for an egg if none on hand. Thanks for sharing!
The Monday Box
Thanks so much for letting me know, Kathy! I am delighted that your corgi loves these cookies as much as my two spoiled puppies. 🙂 The first time I gave my rat terrier a store bought cookie (after some weeks of these homemade ones) she spit it out! 🙂
saltandserenity
Wendy, you’re like an onion. With each post you reveal a new layer and I discover something else about you, that makes me like and admire you just a little bit more.
What a beautiful story about friendship, both the human and animal types.
Tabby is very lucky to have you in her life.