Dog Halloween Treats

Maple-Pumpkin Cookies

2 cups organic brown rice flour
1/2 cup buckwheat flour
3 tsp wheat-free baking powder
2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp powdered ginger
1/4 cup olive oil
1/2 cup honey or maple syrup
2 eggs beaten
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups organic canned pumpkin (without spice)
1/2 cup water or apple juice (reserved)
Combine the dry ingredients and mix well. In a separate bowl, combine all the wet ingredients, except for the water or juice, blending well. Mix the dry ingredients into the wet very slowly. The batter should be thick but pourable. Slowly mix in the water or juice until you have a nice consistency.

Expert Tip: Place the bowl of batter in the freezer for 10-15 minutes. It will make the spooning of the cookies on to the cookie sheet much easier.

Preheat the oven to 400°F. Take about 1/2 Tbsp size drops and place them on a well-oiled cookie sheet. Swirl the batter around as you drop it so that you create nicely shaped cookies, ending in a peak.

Bake at 400°F for 10 minutes. Cookies should be firm, but still soft and chewy, just like you like your own cookies! This recipe makes its fair share of medium-sized cookies. Store in an air-tight container.

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Making Party Favors or Treat Bags?

You can get party favors already made, with gourmet peanut butter cookies inside.

Or just get the cellophane bags and create your own party favors with small toys and treats.

Here's a cute idea for a party favor bag that looks like a pumpkin:

Fill a solid orange treat bag with dog treats.
Gather the top and fasten with a rubber band.
Cover the rubber band with green florist tape, or green seam binding.
Voila! Looks like a pumpkin, and keeps treat bag closed until guests get home!

Stenciled Cakes

This one comes from Martha Stewart, with our twist for dogs thrown in for good measure.

Create matching party trays for people and guests by using stencils.

Make gingerbread squares and brownies for the people, and make some dog-safe cake snacks for the dogs (recipe below). Cut the finished baked goods into circles (using a drinking glass) and squares.

Place a stencil (found at craft stores) in the center of each. For the people snacks, sift colored sugar on top, all the way to the edge, then carefully remove the stencil to reveal the design. For doggie snacks, use a sugar substitute such as meringue powder, which is made from egg whites, or soy flour.

Be sure to use different stencils or different colored topping so that guests can tell the difference between the people snacks and the dog snacks. Put table tents by each tray, as well. Make the dog snacks small enough to eat in one gulp; a dog that has to drop the cake to eat it might get into a fight if another dog decides to take it away.

Liver Brownies

2 lbs chicken livers
2 c corn meal
2 c wheat germ
2 eggs
2 1/2 tsp. granulated garlic (not salt)
1/2 c dried parsley

Liquefy livers in food processor, pour into mixing bowl and add other ingredients. Mix until smooth like a brownie batter. Spread on a cookie sheet (1/2 sheet cake size) until it's evenly spread about 1/3 inch thick. Bake at 350 F for about 35 minutes. When cool cut into squares, or whatever shapes you prefer.

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