Donna Erickson's Easy Dog Treats
Bake a batch of these crunchy dog biscuits with your kids for doggie gifts. This simple recipe goes together in minutes, and young kids will have an easy and satisfying time rolling out or patting down the pliable dough to create shapes with cute cookie cutters.
Ingredients:
2 cups whole-wheat flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 cup peanut butter at room temperature
1 cup whole milk
1/2 teaspoon salt
All-purpose flour for rolling the dough
Set the oven to 375 degrees.
Let one child measure and combine the flour, baking powder and salt in a large mixing bowl.
Another child may measure and stir the peanut butter and milk together in a smaller mixing bowl. It will take a minute or two until the mixture is smooth. Slowly pour it into the dry ingredients and stir until well-combined.
Sprinkle flour on the counter. Knead the dough a few times until it is easy to roll out into a 1/4-inch rectangle with a lightly floured rolling pin. Cut with cookie cutters in fun shapes such as a fire hydrant, bone, kitty, heart or X's and O's, and transfer to greased (or parchment-paper-covered) cookie sheets.
Bake 20 minutes, or until edges are lightly browned. Let cool.
Note: A 1-1/2-inch, heart-shaped cookie cutter makes six dozen Valentine biscuits. Grandparent tip: If you have preschool grandkids, make the dough in advance of their arrival. When it's time to shape and bake, sprinkle flour on the counter, give each child a chunk of dough, and show them how to pat the portions flat with their clean hands. Cut out shapes with cookie cutters and set on cookie sheets for you to bake.