West Coast Canine Life
DOG MUFFINS FOR DUMMIES

Dog muffins cooling on rack.

Baking meaty muffins for your dog is not rocket science.

 

You really don't have to be a good cook to produce a delicious and nutritious complete meal for your dog!

 

 

Getting Ready to Make Meaty Muffins for your Dog

Once you have made the decision to make West Coast Canine Life muffins, patties or squares for your very lucky dog,  there are a few tricks that will make it easier for you:

  • Make sure you always have the necessary ingredients on hand - fresh or frozen ground meat, and a variety of fresh or frozen orange and green vegetables, red apples, eggs, oil and proper freezer bags or air tight containers.
  • When using frozen meat and veggies,  they are best thawed in the fridge,  however if you forget to pull them out of the freezer they can easily be defrosted in the microwave.
  • Pre-heat oven to 350F, then choose one of the two simple preparation methods below. 

Mixing your Dog's Meaty Muffins

Please refer to the recipe sheet in your bag of WCCL Pre-Mix for the appopriate quantities of ingredients, or view our muffin recipe online.

Hint: Make a double batch  - you're making a mess anyway!

You choose one of two mixing methods (blender or food processor):

Method 1 - Blender

  • In a blender, add veggies, apple, egg, oil, filtered water and pure cranberry juice. Whirl together - it should resemble a smoothie!
  • Dump the smoothie in a large stock pot or big mixing bowl
  • Add the raw meat  and  5 cups of the WCCL Pre-Mix.
  • You can use a wooden spoon or your hands to mix it. Your choice. The mixture should resemble cookie batter. The batter consistency will depend on what type of meat you are using, due to the water content in the meat.

Method 2 - Food Processor

  • Whirl the veggies, apple, egg, oil, filtered water and pure cranberry juice together and  include the raw ground meat.  Mixture should resemble baby food!
  • Pour the mixture into a large pot or mixing bowl and mix in 5 cups of WCCL Pre-Mix.

 

Baking Meaty Muffins for your Dog

You choose one of three baking methods: muffins, patties or squares:

Muffin Method

  • Meaty Dog Muffins with cranberry on tGrease the muffin tins.
  • Spoon in batter. The mix should be up to the top of each muffin tin. There is no rising ingredient in the mix so they will not rise over the edge of the tins.  You should get  approximately 24  muffins per batch depending on the size of your muffin tins.
  • Bake muffins for approximately 20 minutes in a 350F oven. Muffins should be moist, not dry, so don't overbake them. Muffins often look underbaked when they first come out of the oven, but by the time they have cooled they are perfect!
  • Cool muffins before turning them out onto the cooling racks. If  the muffins don't fall out of their tins easily, they could still be too warm.
  • Cool completely before bagging and freezing and you will eliminate most of the ice crystals that sometimes form inside the bags.

Freeze enough in each freezer bag to last about three days in the fridge. Example: if your dog eats 4 patties a day (2 per meal) store them in bags of 12.

 

Pattie Method

  • For an even quicker method, line 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper
  • Form the batter into 24 balls, or use an icecream scoop. Place the balls on the cookie sheets and press down lightly with your hand or the top or a flat potato masher dipped in water (for a cute grid pattern on your patties).
  • Bake patties for approximately 20 minutes at 350F. They should be moist, not dry, so don't overbake them.
  • Cool patties before turning them out onto the cooling racks.
  • Cool completely before bagging and freezing and you will eliminate most of the ice crystals that sometimes form inside the bags.

Freeze enough in each freezer bag to last about three days in the fridge. Example: if your dog eats 4 patties a day (2 per meal) store them in bags of 12.

 

Squares Method

  • Grease a 9 x 12 cake pan or line with parchment paper.
  • Spread batter evenly in cake pan.
  • This method takes longer to bake. Bake for approximately 40 minutes at 350F degrees.
  • Cool thoroughly, remove from pan, and cut into 24 equal pieces.
  • Freeze enough in each freezer bag to last about three days in the fridge. Example: if your dog eats 4 patties a day (2 per meal) store them in bags of 12.

Other Baking Ideas for your Dog

Dog Biscuits or Cookies

While your are in the baking mood, whip up a batch of biscuits / cookies using our Pre-Mix and the recipes included in the bag. They're so simple to make.

Special Occasion Cakes

You can make a special occasion cake for your dog too! Use a cake pan (using the Squares Method above). Ice it with low fat cream cheese and decorate it with crumbled cookies. You'll be your dog's best friend!