Gelatin Peanut Butter Dog Treats – A Dog’s Way Home
A HUGE thank you to A Dog’s Way Home for sponsoring this blog post!
To celebrate the release of A DOG’S WAY HOME on Blu-ray and DVD on April 9th, I came up with an easy new homemade dog treat recipe featuring gelatin–an ingredient I have not previously used for dog treats!
A Dog’s Way Home is the story of a sweet rescue dog–Bella (she could totally be Caesar’s cousin!) and her epic 400-mile journey back to the family she was separated from. It’s a heart-warming movie for the entire family with a special connection to the veteran community, which I loved. Not gonna lie, I may have cried.
As many of you know, our family has spent the last 10 years moving back and forth across the country due to John’s job in the military. Since Caesar joined our family as a tiny puppy off the mean streets of Miami, he has been along for this crazy ride with us. From days-long road trips in a cramped SUV, to spending hours crated in a plane across the Pacific, we’ve been lucky to always have our companion alongside us. He’s absolutely become part of the family, with us often referring to him as my son, or the girls’ brother.
Given our love for dogs, A Dog’s Way Home was an absolute treat for family movie night. The girls loved just how darling Bella was! Between Bella’s little bits of mischief and adventure, the girls were HOOKED on the movie! I was just so tickled by the fact that I could completely see Caesar pulling the same stunt! Sweet boy would be pining for his mama! The bonds formed between pets and pet parents are truly incredible!
Y’all know how much I love spoiling Caesar by making and sharing my dog treat recipes! Earlier this year, I set out with a mission to explore new ingredients and combine different flavors in the homemade dog treats that I share.
I recently learned about the benefits of including gelatin in a dog’s diets. Gelatin can be especially helpful for older dogs (the groomers labeled Caesar as a senior 😭) or those prone to joint issues, as it helps reduce joint inflammation. Quite possibly helpful if you’re tackling a 400-mile journey on foot! Additional perks of supplementing gelatin in your dog’s diet include:
- healthier nails
- it supports the growth and development of cartilage
- it supports a healthy skin and coat
Now, there are two important things to note when making homemade treats for your dog. You’ll want to triple check the ingredients that you’re going to use. In this case, you’ll want to use a peanut butter that does not contain xylitol, as well as a broth that does not contain onion or garlic. Also, make sure you’re using unsweetened and unflavored gelatin. Just plain old regular gelatin, NOT the fruity flavored stuff.
The recipe for gelatin peanut butter dog treats is below
Gelatin Peanut Butter Dog Treats
Ingredients
- 1 cup chicken broth*, divided
- 2 packets unflavored gelatin
- 1/4 cup peanut butter**
Instructions
- Pour 1/2 cup of cold chicken broth into a large measuring cup. Sprinkle the unflavored gelatin over the cold chicken broth and allow it to bloom for about 5 minutes.
- While the gelatin blooms, combine the other 1/2 cup of chicken broth and peanut butter in a microwave safe bowl or measuring cup. Microwave at 15 second intervals, stirring in between, until the peanut butter melts and combines smoothly with the chicken broth (about 60 seconds total). The peanut butter/broth mixture should be hot.
- Pour the peanut butter mixture into the gelatin mixture and whisk until completely combined and no chunks of gelatin remain.
- Pour the mixture into shaped silicon molds and allow to cool slightly, before transferring to the refrigerator. Refrigerate for at least 3 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.
Notes
This recipe nearly fills a large silicon mold with 15 cavities. I've made a half-batch that perfectly filled this smaller mold set.
*Verify that chicken broth does not contain onion or garlic
**Peanut butter MUST be xylitol free
I’ll admit, Caesar wasn’t too sure what to think of the jiggly texture at first, but once he got over that, he scarfed down 5 or 6 treats in a row! Definitely a hit!
For a family friendly movie with a touching connection to the military community, be sure to pick up A Dog’s Way Home, available on DVD on April 9!
