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So. . .our family has recently grown by one and I'm so excited to formally introduce you to her today! When Josh and I first got married we purchased a golden retriever and we named her Allie Roo. Allie was our baby and we took her everywhere. She was such a pampered pooch and so important to our family. When she passed almost two years ago we were so saddened. It took us this long to make the decision to bring another pup into our lives. But now. . .she's here.
Meet Belle. . .
Isn't she the cutest? She's a 4-month old English Cream Golden Retriever and was born in North Carolina. Her mother is from England and was pregnant with her when she was brought to the states. We've all been through a lot in the past couple weeks. Josh and I drove her home - 17 hours straight in the car with several potty and gas station stops along the way. She got super car sick through the Smoky Mountains but it was clear sailing after that. We just wanted to get her home. I have no idea how my husband pushed through and got us all home safe and sound. We all were SO tired. I'm so thankful to have her here with us and part of the family. The kids are in love. . .we all are.
You'll be seeing lots of Belle around here, in fact, she's going to be getting her own section on the blog. I'm going to be sharing some training tips as well as recipes of some of Belle's favorite homemade treats. Don't forget to follow Bitz & Giggles on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for more sneak peeks at this little doll. Today, I'm sharing a recipe for Chewy Cheddar Puppy Puffs. These treats have such a fun texture for pups and your dog will gobble them right up!
These treats are super simple to make and trust me, your dog will thank you for the effort! Isn't it nice to know what you're feeding your pets? I steer clear of so many packaged treats out there because the list of ingredients is super long and I have no idea what half of them even are! Not cool.
After about 10-12 minutes in the oven, these puffs turn a pretty golden color and can be stored in an airtight container. I got about 24 treats out of the recipe. You can always make them smaller or larger depending on the size of your dog. Splitting them in half is also an option and that's what I've been doing for Belle.
As you can see, she's very serious about her treats. Very focused. . .even for a puppy. We don't give her a ton of treats so when she does get them it's pretty special. She'll drop everything when she hears me open the container. Isn't it crazy on how pups pick up on some things so fast and others. . .not so quickly? I'm not going to lie. It's almost like having a baby in the house. Right now we watch her like a hawk and follow her around constantly teaching her the house rules and giving her the lay of the land. She's attempted jumping up on the furniture already and has "made her mark" on one of our rugs in the basement.
Oh, a day in the life of a puppy. It's funny how all of those memories of Allie Roo have come rushing back. I'm looking forward to great years ahead with Belle. Welcome to the family little fur ball. We're so very glad you're here!
Chewy Cheddar Puppy Puffs
Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup shredded cheddar cheese
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ cup evaporated lowfat milk
- 1 large egg
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Mix all of the ingredients together until well combined.
- Drop the dough by teaspoons full onto a greased cookie sheet.
- Bake for 9-12 minutes or until golden.
- Remove from the oven, cool and store in an airtight container.
Notes
- Cheese Selection: Choose high-quality cheddar and Parmesan cheese for maximum flavor in your Chewy Cheddar Puppy Puffs. Opt for sharp cheddar cheese for a stronger cheese flavor, or use mild cheddar if you prefer a milder taste. Freshly grated Parmesan cheese adds a nutty and savory flavor to the puffs, enhancing their overall taste.
- Texture and Consistency: To achieve the desired chewy texture, ensure that the dough is well mixed but not overworked. Overmixing the dough can lead to tough and dense puffs. Mix the ingredients until just combined to prevent overworking the dough. Drop the dough onto the greased cookie sheet using teaspoons, leaving some space between each puff to allow for spreading during baking.
- Baking Time and Storage: Bake the Chewy Cheddar Puppy Puffs in a preheated oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 9-12 minutes or until golden brown. Keep an eye on them towards the end of the baking time to prevent over-browning. Once baked, allow the puffs to cool completely before storing them in an airtight container. Storing them properly helps maintain their chewy texture and prevents them from becoming stale. Enjoy them as a tasty snack or treat for your furry friend!
Vicky
My 4 legged babies just love these, this is the second time I have made therm for them. I even freeze them because I usually make a double batch. Thank you
Sara
I love the idea of freezing them! So convenient!
Vanessa
These look great! Do they keep long?
Sara
They last longer if you refrigerate them, Vanessa!
Kerenza
How long can these be stored for? I recently adopted a new dog who is EXTREMELY picky about what he eats, so i am trying all sorts of treats.
Sara
Make sure you refrigerate them. Belle usually goes through her treats within about a week.
Tina
OMGOODNESS ! These are people good, too ! HA HA ! Going to try and freeze some, since we don't do many treats, per day ! THANK YOU, so much !
Sara
Does this mean you tasted one, Tina?! LOL That's too funny. So glad you like them! Thanks for making me giggle today! 🙂
Jessica
Just curious about how long shelf life is for these snacks? If air tight container stored?
Sara
Jessica, I've been able to keep these up to two weeks in an airtight container stored in the fridge. Make sure to refrigerate the treats or they will mold quickly.
Kel
Do they freeze. I d like to make them for Xmas gifts..ahead of time..
Sara
I've never tried freezing them so I'm not sure. I would think they would do okay. Maybe make a batch ahead of time to test it out. Please let me know what you find out and good luck!
Linda
I was looking at the nutritional info since my dog is a bit on the chubby side. Is that info for the entire batch? Surely not for one treat?
Sara
Yes, that's for the whole batch, Linda! No worries. Your pup should just be fine with these treats. Everything in moderation, right?!
Maggie
I am making these for a doggie bake sale. Will these be okay if they're not refrigerated?
Also, I got regular evaporated milk, I didn't realize they made low fat, or is it naturally low fat?
Sara
You can use regular evaporated milk. These will be fine to take to the bake sale unrefrigerated. I would suggest that you let anyone that buys them to put them in the fridge when they get home, though so they won't mold for them.
Kris
Is evaporated milk really ok for dogs? I've read it's not, but want to make these!
Sara
Kris, the amount used in the treats should be just fine. Some breeders actually use evaporated milk as the base for milk replacer for their litters. I've never heard that it was harmful especially in amounts as small as this.
Helen liebke
Could you add some peanut butter to this or is that not so good for dogs?
Sara
Dogs can have peanut butter. You certainly can try it! I'm actually making some treats right now with pumpkin and peanut butter. Stay tuned next week when the post goes live!
susan
For more nutrition, I use whole wheat flour, and add 2 Tbl each of brewers' yeast, wheat germ, and flaxseed meal. And after they are baked, I turn off the heat, wait a few minutes, and put pan back in for a hour, to make crunchier treats ! Enjoy!
Sara
What great additions, Susan!
Sadie
Woof, thanks for sharing! I am sending my two-leggers out to get the ingredients so we can make this tonight!
Sara
LOL. I hope your two-leggers get on this! And tell them to check out my post on DIY dog shampoo too so they keep you smelling fresh all summer!
Jacqui
My Sadie Girl would love these! Thank you for linking up to Party Time and we hope to see you again next week!
Bridget/The Recipe Wench
Congratulations on your new puppy. She's beautiful! We just got a new puppy too (Thor) and he is so adorable he deserves these treats! Thanks for sharing your recipe on Inspire Me Mondays. Have a fantastic weekend and we'll see you back again at the next link-up!
Sara
Puppies are the best aren't they? Hope Thor loves the treats as much as Belle did. Just a quick note, ours kept without refrigeration a couple days - you may get a longer life out of them by keeping them in the refrigerator!
Tara Siudy
These puffs look so good! my dog Dexter will love these!!!!!!! So excited to try these sometime in the near future! Pinning!!!
Marlene Schlegel
She is so precious and we are happy to have her in the family!