Recipe: Bandit’s Butternut Squash & Apple Muffin Balls

Office dog Bandit loves Autumn more than any other season. There is a crisp chill in the air, plenty of leaves to sniff and maybe most importantly for Bandit, it means one of her favourite seasonal recipes. Although Bandit is now an elderly dog (recently celebrating her 15th birthday!) and her eyes can’t see as well as they used to, her nose will always lead her to the smell of treats baking in the oven!

Her butternut squash and apple muffins make the perfect Thanksgiving treat for your four legged friend. They have a very soft texture, which is perfect for elderly or smaller dogs that may have a little trouble chewing harder or crunchier treats.

These treats are also packed full of nutrients, with butternut squash providing plenty of vitamins and minerals known to help improve eyesight as dogs age, and apples providing high levels of fibre and vitamins C and A that encourage healthy digestion and help strengthen your dog’s immune system. Plus, they’re also full of tasty flavour!

Ingredients:

• 600g butternut squash, peeled and diced
• 1 coarsely grated apple (ensure no apple pips are present)
• 120g of rolled oats
• 150g of rice flour
• 1 tbsp of rapeseed oil
• 1 tbsp of ginger
• 1 tbsp of ground cinnamon
• 120ml milk
• 1 egg

 

Method:

1.Preheat your oven to 190C

2. Peel your butternut squash, slice into small cubes and place on a baking tray lined with a baking sheet. Bake for 15 mins then remove from the oven and allow to fully cool.

3. Mix the flour, oats, cinnamon, ginger and grated apple in a bowl.

4. Once the butternut squash has cooled, add the squash, oil, milk and egg into a blender and blend until it forms a smooth consistency. (If you don’t have a blender, you can mash the butternut squash with a fork and then stir the other wet
ingredients in).

5. Make a small circular well in the middle of the dry mix and pour in the wet mixture from the blender. Stir to form a soft dough.

6. Once a dough is formed, gently roll small amounts in your hands to create little ball shapes. Place the balls on a baking tray lined with fresh baking paper. Add a little extra flour to help any excess stickiness.

7. Bake in the oven for 15 mins.

Note: Make sure to allow enough time for the muffin balls to cool before feeding to your dog.

These treats can be refrigerated for about two weeks, or alternatively you can also freeze them for up to six months. As with all treats, we recommend that they are given in moderation to maintain a healthy balanced diet.

 

 

 

It’s important to add that whilst cooked butternut squash is nutritious for dogs, raw
butternut squash can be difficult for dogs to digest. Similarly it’s also crucial to remember to peel and remove any seeds from the squash before serving to your pooch.

 

 

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