Soft and Chewy Baby Food Dog Cookies (Recipe)

I don’t have children, so I wasn't aware of just how many flavors baby food comes in. Until recently, that is.

When I marked down a couple of dog treat recipes that call for baby food (such as this one with just 2 ingredients), I finally found myself scouting that one aisle in the grocery store I’ve never ventured down before.

I hate to admit how long I stood there, debating what flavors my dog, Banjo, would most prefer, but for this particular recipe, I settled on apple, pear and banana.

Soft and Chewy Baby Food Dog Cookies

Ingredients

• 2 cups flour
• ¾ cup oatmeal
• ½ cup powdered milk
• 1 egg
• 5 tablespoons vegetable oil
• ½ cup water
• Two 4 oz. jars baby food*

*You may use whatever baby food flavor you’d like, but avoid any that contain onions, which are toxic to dogs. Look for natural, organic baby foods that include no gums, added sugars, preservatives or MSG.

Directions

1. Heat your oven to 350 F.
2. Combine all ingredients until it forms a thick batter.
3. Drop dough by the tablespoon onto a nonstick baking sheet.
4. Bake for 20–25 minutes.

After thoroughly mixing up all the ingredients, I was a little surprised at the consistency. I was expecting cookie dough consistency, but this recipe gave me something closer to reallythick pancake batter.

Fortunately, it held its shape as I began dropping dollops onto the baking sheet. And I was pleasantly surprised that they didn’t spread while baking. Instead, they poofed up into lovely pillows of dog treats.

These cookies are perfect little bites for Banjo. They’re soft and chewy, so no crunchy crumbs end up on my floor. And the versatility of flavors with baby food makes them a great recipe to revisit.

Adapted from: Top Dog Tips.

This pet treat recipe was reviewed by a veterinarian, Dr. Judy Morgan, DVM, CVA, CVCP, CVFT, and is safe for dogs in moderation, but is not a substitute for a complete balanced diet. This recipe was last reviewed and updated Feb. 28, 2019. Dr. Morgan comments: "Try different types of flour with these treats, depending on allergies or preferences of dog and family. Different flours might require playing with water content a bit." Dr. Morgan operates 2 award-winning veterinary hospitals in New Jersey that offer an integrative approach to pet care. With a passion for healing her patients with whole foods, she has written several books on holistic pet care — including Yin & Yang Nutrition for Dogs, a holistic cookbook for pets.