Bacon and Cheese Dog Muffin Recipe
Now, don’t you wish these treats were for you? Sorry human – these are Bacon and Cheese Dog Muffins, which means you can’t lay your paws on them! Crispy bacon and sharp cheddar cheese combine perfectly in a muffin that smells so good, you’ll be enviously eyeing up your pooch has he gets his nom on!
Makes 15 muffins
Ingredients:
2 cups grated cheddar cheese
4 slices bacon, crisply cooked and crumbled
1 tablespoon baking powder
2 eggs
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 cup water
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray muffin tin molds with non-stick oil.
- In a large bowl, mix flour and baking powder.
- Once well mixed, add the grated cheddar cheese and bacon pieces and fold into the dough.
- In a second bowl, beat eggs, then whisk in water and vegetable oil.
- Pour wet mixture into flour mix and fold into dough until well combined.
- Fill muffin tins about 1/2 full and bake for 20 to 25 minutes. Before you take them out, stick a toothpick in the middle of a muffin. If it comes out clean, the muffins are ready to come out.
- Remove from oven and allow to cool on a wire rack before serving.
Whether your dog has a gluten intolerance, or you are simply out of whole wheat flour, you may find yourself on the search for a good substitution for your next baking day. There are many factors to consider when substituting flour including the texture, density, and absorbency. Accommodating these differences may mean adjust not only the ingredient, but also the measurement. The good news is that there are some great options available.
In place of the 2 cups of whole wheat flour in the recipe, you could also use:
- 3 cups oat flour
- 1 ½ cups brown rice flour
- 2/3 cup coconut flour
- 1 2/3 cups garbanzo bean flour
- 2 cups almond flour
If you saw cheese included in the ingredients and found yourself wondering whether cheese is safe for your dog, you’re not alone. The answer, however, isn’t as simple as yes or no. Cheese is high in fat which means that eating too much of it could lead to obesity or pancreatitis. At the same time, this delicious treat does offer some benefits for your pup. Cheese is a source of calcium, protein, vitamin A, B-complex vitamins, and essential fatty acids. Coming back to our original question – Is cheese safe for your dog? Yes, it can even be beneficial, but should only be given in moderation.
A type of salt-cured meat, bacon should only ever be given to your dog in small amounts like those included in this recipe. This crispy snack is a favorite of many pups, both for its mouth-watering taste and its enticing smell. However, eating high amounts of salt and fat (both of which are abundant in bacon) can lead to health complications including obesity and heart disease.
If you notice that your dog is acting irregularly or getting sick after eating bacon, he may have an overly sensitive stomach that is unable to handle fatty foods. Anytime that your dog reacts negatively to an ingredient like this, you should avoid feeding it moving forward. But that doesn’t have to mean the end of your dog’s delicious treats!
Try swapping out the bacon pieces in this recipe for lean protein such as chicken or fish. Some owners find that switching traditional bacon for turkey bacon is better received by their dog’s sensitive stomach. The uncured version of this bacon treat is low-sodium and lower in fat than the original pork variety. Some other dog-friendly options that your dog may enjoy in place of bacon pieces include crunchy vegetables like green beans, carrots, or asparagus, or even standard dog biscuits broken up and included in your baking.
Amy Tokic, Editor of PetGuide.com, is a passionate animal lover and proud pet parent of Oscar, a Shih Tzu/Chihuahua cross, and Zed, a Japanese Chin. Her love of animals began in kindergarten, when she brought her stuffed dog Snoopy into class with her every day. Now, she writes about her adventures in pet ownership and tirelessly researches products, news and health related issues she can share with other animal enthusiasts. In her free time, Amy loves perusing used book and record stores, obsessing over the latest pet products available and chasing squirrels with wild abandon (a habit attributed to spending too much time with her pooches).
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