Apple Mint Christmas Dog Bones

These Christmas dog treats are simple to mix and bake, and they make great gifts for the dogs in your life.

The cute little mint flavored mini bones are made with applesauce, and, in addition to being tasty, the mint aids digestion and helps to control bad dog breath.

Developed for the Christmas holidays, this homemade dog treat recipe is one of those favorites that you will want to make as a regular everyday dog treat, as well.

The holiday dog bones are low fat and low calorie, and they have a pleasant minty smell and taste.

If you object to using green food coloring, simply substitute spinach powder for the food coloring.

Add as much spinach powder as you need, to get the shade of green that you like. Or, just leave it out.

Your dog will like the mini dog bones (or big ones) whether they are green—or not!

Ingredients for Apple Mint Christmas Dog Bones

• 1½ cups whole wheat flour
• 1 cup unbleached flour
• 1/2 cup old fashioned rolled oats
• 1/3 cup oat bran
• 2 tablespoons dry milk
• 1 ½ teaspoons dry baking yeast
• 2 tablespoons  chopped spearmint leaves
• 1/2 cup applesauce
• 2 teaspoons green or red food coloring or spinach powder (to get the color desired)
• 7/8 cup water

Directions

1. With all of my recipes, you can use a heavy duty mixer with a dough hook. with a dough hook or a bread machine. I prefer the bread machine, as it’s so much easier. If you use a mixer, simply adjust the directions for making bread with your mixer. Place everything in the bread machine on the dough cycle.
2. When the dough is ready, roll it to1/4” thick with a non-stick rolling pin.
3. Using a mini bone cookie cutter, cut the dough into mini dog bone shapes.
4. Bake at 250 degrees F for about an hour. Check to make sure that they don’t get too brown.
5. Turn off the oven and let the mini dog bones dry completely in the oven—This works best overnight.
6. If you’d like to dress up your dog bones, why not try a little dog treat icing?

These Christmas dog treats will keep for several months, at room temperature, in your dog cookie jar, so you can make them well ahead of the holidays.