How to Make “Bunker Dog Biscuits” While in Quarantine

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A dog treat especially during this time could be a good way to get your pet happy. With walks no longer in the picture, dog owners are feeling the strain that comes with a stay at home pet. Baking however provides an excellent alternative for both you and your dog to spend quality time. Not only are the recipes healthy, but also custom made to suit your dog’s taste buds. The best thing about homemade treats is that they are fast and easy to prepare, not to mention cheaper. Dog biscuits use simple ingredients common to most kitchens. The recipe is also flexible enough to accommodate new different flavors that your dog will love or conversely do away with what doesn’t work.

Ingredients you will require

According to Bon Temp, a prominent pastry chef, the following ingredients are needed:

• 400 grams of all purpose flour
• 170 grams of rolled oats
• 110 grams of powdered milk
• 540 grams of peanut butter
• 1 tea spoon kosher salt
• 20 grams of flat leaf parsley, roughly chopped
• 4 eggs, (large size)
• Peanut butter is at the heart of any dog recipe therefore use generous amounts at all times.

Equipment needed

For your baking collection you will need a baking pan for laying out the pastry before going into the oven. Add a parchment paper for the lining to protect the metal and make cleaning easier. Use a mixer stand to beat the ingredients together into one. For the desired look, you will require cutters to shape the dough. Lastly, have a clean working surface for all the pastry work.

Baking Instructions

• First pre-heat the oven to 250 degrees.
• Pour in the dry ingredients into your mixer’s bowl, follow with the egg and peanut butter. Mix thoroughly into a thick paste.
• Steadily add 240 grams room temperature water into the mixture while it continues to beat at medium speed.
• Once blended, transfer the dough into a clean hard surface and roll it into a ball shape. Let it rest for one hour. (Make sure the surface is sprinkled with flour to prevent sticking).
• Roll out the rested dough to a 1/4 inch thickness. Use cutters to shape the dough, preferably those that come in 4 inch sizes.
• Arrange the cut out pieces onto the tray, one inch apart. By this time your baking sheet should have been prepared using a parchment paper.
• Bake for one hour before turning the biscuits. Continue to bake till they turn golden brown. This could take an extra 30 minutes.
• Transfer the biscuits to a cooling rack and let them sit for a while. Once completely cooled, serve your dog to a tasty delight!
• For a darker brown finish, you can incorporate some egg wash. Before placing the baking sheet into the oven, brush the biscuits over with egg wash and leave for about 10 min to dry. Go over the same process for a second time then bake.

Gluten Free Biscuits

For cautious dog owners who prefer healthier options, here is a gluten free recipe with substitute ingredients. The key items include: ½ a cup chicken stock, 2 cups oat flour, ¾ a cup brown rice flour, ½ a cup buck wheat flour, ½ cup of ground flax seed, ¾ cup chopped spinach, 1 table spoon chia seeds, ¼ cup sliced edible sea weed (nori), ½ a bunch of flat parsley leaves and 1 table spoon of honey for taste.

For the preparation process, according to Chef Cecilia Lung:

• Heat up the oven to 350 degrees. In the meantime line your baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Put in a separate bowl the chicken stock, olive oil, honey and two eggs. Mix until it all comes together.
• Take your stand mixer and into the bowl combine oat flour, bucket wheat flour, brown rice flour, flaxseed, nori, parsley, chia seeds and spinach. Ensure that the parsley is finely chopped and the flaxseed ground.
• Transfer the previous chicken stock mixture adding it into the mixer bowl. Whisk all the components under low speed.
• Follow in with ¾ cup of creamy peanut butter and keep whisking. Do this until the outcome is evenly mixed.
• Scrape the dough onto a parchment paper and cover it with an extra sheet on top. Use a roller to spread out the dough until it is ½ an inch thick.
• Remove the second sheet and cut out the dough using 3 inch shapers. Arrange the pieces onto your baking tray.
• Leave in the oven for 15 min before rotating the pan. Continue to bake for another 10 min till the biscuits turn brown.
• Let them cool off. After a while your gluten free biscuits are ready to be served

Takeaway

The following procedures however are not laid on stone but just a guide line. Different people bake differently and for that reason you are at liberty to make slight changes to your desire. If you prefer thicker sized biscuits for your dog, do not rush the baking step, this is because bigger biscuits may take longer to bake compared to thinner sizes. According to “Damn Delicious treats” pumpkin puree and bananas are also a great add to the treats that your dog will enjoy. You can really experiment with anything as long as your dog does not have allergies. Try different recipes and watch how your dog responds to each of them. This helps establish your dog’s favorite home snack.

It is advisable to bake just enough quantities that your dog can finish within a few days. Keeping the biscuits for very long causes them to lose taste and can even endanger your dog if they go bad. At the same time be careful not to overfeed. The new delicacy can easily have your pet asking for more within short intervals; stick to measured servings and do not overindulge. Rather than feeding your dog left over bones and over processed foods, you now have all the knowledge to bake a delicious treat for your dog!