Dog Treat Mix Gift Jar

Dog Treat Mix Gift Jar

Crafts, For Dogs

This easy DIY dog lover gift is perfect for holiday and birthday gift-giving.

Giving a homemade dog treat mix gift jar is a great way to show your family and friends that you also care about their furry companion. And don’t worry! The recipe is so simple that even someone who claims they can’t cook can make these treats.

Dog Treat Mix Gift Jar

Four Simple Ingredients

Minimal ingredients are ideal for any pet treat. Fewer ingredients reduce the chances of allergic reactions, plus being made at home adds that special ingredient no creature is allergic to and that just can’t be quantified: love.

This peanut & apple dog treat mix recipe has only four ingredients, including crushed peanuts, for that yummy peanut butter flavor. All the dog lover needs to add to bake up flavorful treats is some unsweetened applesauce.

Easily Customizable

The recipe can be tailored to fit different taste buds or dietary restrictions.

If Fido can’t have peanuts, replace them with dehydrated apples, freeze-dried strawberries, or other thoroughly dried, crispy fruit. It’ll just need to be chopped up finely when adding to the treat mix.

If you don’t have any unsalted peanuts at home, but you have peanut butter powder, you can swap with that.

If oats are off the list, replace them with whole wheat or buckwheat flour.

Just keep in mind that the liquid needed to bring the dough together might need to be increased or decreased depending on what was changed or added.

What You Need

Gather the ingredients for the peanut & apple dog treat mix along with the following supplies:

  • Mason jar or small treat jar. The container can serve as the cookie jar once the treats are made!
  • Index card for the details and baking instructions. 
  • Twine to tie the recipe card/tag to the jar.
  • Hole punch to make the hole in the card or tag.

Assembling the Dog Treat Gift Jar

  • Gently layer the ingredients one at a time into the jar, starting with the oat flour or the ingredient you have the most of.
  • Seal the jar and affix the tag. You can either write your own or use the one we created for this recipe (below).

This dog treat gift jar recipe is simple yet versatile. It can make cut-out cookies or hand-rolled nuggets.

Dog Treat Gift Jar
Dog Treat Mix Gift Jar
Dog Treat Mix Gift Jar
Dog Treat Mix Gift Jar

Gift Tag Details

You can either write these details on your own index card/gift tag, or print out the one we created for this recipe (below).

What You’ll Need

  • ½ cup applesauce, unsweetened
  • 2 tablespoons water

Directions for Baking

  1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Line cookie sheet with parchment paper or silicone baking mat.
  2. In medium bowl, empty contents of jar.
  3. Add wet ingredients and combine until dough comes together.
  4. If you’re making cut-outs:
    • Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and let sit for 2-3 minutes
    • Roll dough to ¼-inch thick
  5. If rolling by hand:
    • Roll into balls and flatten using a fork
  6. Place on lined cookie sheet.
  7. Bake 25-35 minutes or until treats look very dry. (Note: For softer treats, bake for less time.)
  8. Transfer to wire rack and cool completely.

Shelf-life & Storage

Crunchy: Keep stored in an airtight container in a cool, dry place. These treats will last 3-4 weeks. Refrigerate for longer shelf-life.

Soft: Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. These can also be frozen for up to 3 months.

Click on the image below to open the gift tag and print it. (NOTE: This tag doesn’t include the Shelf-life & Storage details, but you can write them on the back if you wish.

Dog Treat Mix Gift Jar Tag
Dog Treat Mix Gift Jar

Dog Treat Mix Gift Jar

Woof & Purr Logo
Giving a homemade dog treat mix gift jar is a great way to show your family and friends that you also care about their furry companion. And don’t worry! The recipe is so simple, even someone who claims they can’t cook can make these treats.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes
Assembly 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Course Crafts, Special Occasions
Cuisine Dog Treats
Servings 42 2" treats

Equipment/Supplies

  • 1 Mason jar or small treat jar
  • Index card for recipe (or use our printable tag)
  • Twine
  • Hole punch
  • 1 Cookie cutter (optional)

Ingredients
  

Ingredients for the Gift Jar

  • 1.5 cups oat flour
  • 1/4 cup peanuts (unsalted), crushed
  • 1/4 cup rolled oats
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon optional

Instructions
 

Gift Jar Instructions

  • Layer the dry ingredients into the jar and seal it.
  • Write the recipe details (Ingredients, What You’ll Need, Directions for Baking, and Storage) onto an index card or print out our tag.
  • Punch a hole in the recipe index card/tag and affix to the jar with twine, along with the cookie cutter, if using.

Notes

Shelf-life & Storage

  • Crunchy: Keep stored in an airtight container in a cool, dry place. These treats will last 3-4 weeks. Refrigerate for longer shelf-life.
  • Soft: Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. These can also be frozen for up to 3 months.
Keyword Christmas, dog birthday, dog gift, holiday
Tried this recipe?Please leave us a comment! Or share a photo on Instagram with hashtags #woofpurr #woofpurrpettreatrecipebook Thank you!
Also published on Vitacost’s blog. Check it out!
Paw Print Christmas Tree Ornaments

Paw Print Christmas Tree Ornaments

Crafts, For Cats, For Dogs

Creating paw print ornaments is a fun and easy way to include your beloved pets in your holiday decorating.

With a few simple ingredients you probably already have in your pantry and some craft supplies, you can create festive keepsakes you’ll use year after year.

Pet Paw Christmas Yule Ornament

What You Need

From the pantry, you’ll need all-purpose flour and salt. This will probably be the only time I tell you that plain old bleached white flour is preferred! Only because the white flour will allow for brighter colors if you add food coloring to the paw print ornament dough. You could use whole wheat flour, but the dough will be a dingy beige color. But if you’re going for the kraft-rustic look, you might want that!

After you’ve decided how you want to color and decorate the ornaments, gather everything together on a work surface. I highly recommend covering your workspace with a tablecloth, parchment, or butcher paper–anything you don’t mind getting crusty. This little project could get messy.

Making The Paw Print Ornament

  • Mix together the flour, salt, hot water, and food coloring if using. (The recipe below details how to make two-colored dough.)
  • As the dough comes together, you’ll have to work it with your hands. Knead it until it’s a smooth consistency. If the dough is too sticky, add a little more flour.
  • Roll the dough out to 1/2″ thickness on your covered surface.
  • Cut out the desired shape bigger than your pet’s paw with a biscuit cutter or drinking glass.
  • Press the cut-out onto your pet’s paw pad.
    • Unless your pet is familiar with their feet being handled, this could be a strange event for them. The important thing is to avoid stress or discomfort. It might be easier to take the imprint when they’re lying down, where you’ll press the shape onto their paw rather than try to get them to stand on it. (I learned this the hard way. Trying to get Jax and Luna to stand on the shape was impossible.)
    • If the paw impression isn’t distinct enough, use your thumb or finger to deepen the imprint.
  • Place the cut-outs on a lined cookie sheet. Using a straw, poke a hole in the top of the shape.
    • If you plan to use lettering stamps to imprint the pet’s name and/or the date, this is the time to do it.
  • Bake until completely dry.

IMPORTANT

The paw print ornaments are not edible and could be toxic if ingested due to the high salt content. Please keep your pet from eating the dough while crafting, and clean their paws off thoroughly to remove as much salt residue as possible. Hang ornaments out of reach of pets and kids.

Pet Paw Christmas Yule Ornament

Decorating The Ornament

Once your paw print ornament is completely cooled, you can decorate it to your heart’s content. You’re only limited by your imagination. (And craft supplies budget! Hahaha.)

Embellishment Ideas

  • Add your pet’s name and/or the date using lettering stamps. Press into the dough before baking.
  • Use craft paint to color the toe beans a contrasting color.
  • Add sparkling jewels around the perimeter using a hot glue gun.
  • Once you’ve finished decorating and the paint has dried, coat the dough surface with a clear varnish. While the varnish is still wet, sprinkle a little glitter if desired.

When your ornaments are ready to hang, thread a pipe cleaner or holiday ribbon through the hole.

Pet Paw Christmas Yule Ornament

Paw Print Christmas Tree Ornaments

Woof & Purr Logo
With three simple ingredients and some craft supplies, you can create festive pet ornament keepsakes you’ll use year after year.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Cook Time 15 minutes
Baking Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 15 minutes
Course Crafts, Special Occasions
Cuisine Non-Edible
Servings 0 Varies depending on size

Equipment/Supplies

  • Craft paint brushes
  • Tablecloth, parchment, or butcher paper (anything to cover and protect your work surface)

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup salt fine, not coarse
  • 1/2 cup hot water

Embellishment OPTIONS

  • Red or green food coloring
  • Craft paint
  • Clear varnish
  • Festive pipe cleaners or holiday ribbon
  • Glitter
  • Letters for name imprinting
  • Small jewels

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 225°F. Line cookie sheet with parchment paper.
  • In medium bowl, combine flour, salt, and hot water and mix thoroughly. If dough is sticky, add more flour.
  • Knead until it becomes a smooth dough ball.
  • Roll dough out into 1/2” thickness.
  • Cut shapes larger than your pet’s paw using a cookie cutter or drinking glass.
  • Gently press your pet’s paw in the center of each shape. TIP: If the paw impression isn’t distinct enough, use your thumb or finger to deepen the imprint.
  • Place shapes onto cookie sheet. Using a straw, cut a hole in the top of the shape.
  • Bake for 2-3 hours or until they are solid and thoroughly dried.
  • Transfer onto a wire rack and let cool completely before decorating.

Two-Colored Dough

  • Divide the dough ball in half and use 15-20 drops of food coloring for a half. (The amount of food coloring will depend on how rich you wish the color.)
  • Knead dough until color is fully incorporated.
  • Combine both colors of dough then roll out.

Name or Date Imprinting

  • After the paw impression is taken, press lettering stamps into the dough before baking.

The Finishing Touches

  • After the ornaments are completely cooled, you can get creative! Use craft paint to color the paw print or add sparkling jewels around the perimeter using a hot glue gun.
  • Once you’ve finished decorating and the paint has dried, coat the dough surface with a clear varnish.
  • To apply glitter, sprinkle it onto the ornament while the varnish is still wet.
  • When your ornaments are ready to hang, thread a pipe cleaner or holiday ribbon through the hole.

Notes

IMPORTANT: The dough ornaments are not edible and could prove toxic if ingested by your pet. Hang high up to ensure they are out of reach.
Keyword Christmas, Holiday Decorating, Tree Ornament
Tried this recipe?Please leave us a comment! Or share a photo on Instagram with hashtags #woofpurr #woofpurrpettreatrecipebook Thank you!
Also published on Vitacost’s blog. Check it out!