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!
Brittany Staley
I tried these and my dogs did love them but they didnt even last the week. By Thursday they were hard core moldy. I stored them at room temperature in an air tight container. Good treat just maybe for day of or 2 day consumption.
Sara
Yes! These are best stored in the fridge for longer lasting treats!
Tasha
What is the shelf life
Sara
Probably about a week if left at room temperature. If you refrigerate them, they will last longer.
Carol
My pups love these treats, making double and freeze half of them so always have them on hand. I can’t get my stubborn one from the end of the backyard by waving one at him.
Alex
These freeze very well just make sure to seal them well in a baggie getting all the air out to prevent freezer burn
Kathleen
Our guy, Mookie, is CRAZY about these!! They are easy and inexpensive to make. And I feel good about the type of treat he is getting.
Sara
Aww. Thank you for sharing! I'm so glad Mookie is loving his puppy puffs!
Judy
I'm going to make these and freeze them for Xmas gifts to give to dogs in our agility class. Can I use almond or cashew milk instead of evaporated milk?
Sara
I love that idea. They will love them!
Ginger Jarnagin
Why are there so many calories in these treats? They look great for my baby girl, but I watch her calories and these have so many.
Sara
Hi Ginger, I apologize about the calorie count. It is incorrect and I am trying to remove the nutritional information from my posts. Thank you for bringing this to my attention. I promise you the calorie count is much much lower than what the "nutritional calculator" was showing. I've removed the information from the post.
Dusty Jackson
I absolutely love this idea. We have a 5 month old Black Lab, Jupiter, and I would like to make these for her. How many Puffs would you say you get in a batch?
Sara
Hi Dusty! I get about two dozen treats out of the recipe. I hope Jupiter enjoys her treats!
Brandy
My dochound almost drowned in salivation. He hot a workout dancing oh please Mommy dance. He's old and has bad teeth so these were perfect thanks.
Anonymous
My dochound almost drowned in salivation. He hot a workout dancing oh please Mommy dance. He's old and has bad teeth so these were perfect thanks.
Lauren H.
Can I use regular milk if I don't have any evaporated milk?
Sara
Well, you can but you would have to boil it down. To produce 1 cup of evaporated milk, simmer 2 1/4 cups of regular milk down until it becomes 1 cup. Good luck!