During the holiday season, many of us find ourselves spending more time in the kitchen, whipping up cookies and sweet treats. The smell of baked goods permeating your home fills your heart (and your house!) with holiday cheer.
In addition to cooking for your friends and family, we encourage you to bake for your four-legged companions as well. Check out these easy and festive horse treats that you can make in the comfort of your own kitchen. Not only will your horse love them, but they make fabulous gifts for fellow barn mates and your favorite lesson horses.
Peppermint Kiss Horse Treats
Makes about 24 bite-size cookies
Total Prep Time: 5 minutes; Cook Time: 10-12 minutes
Sweet, chewy, and delicious, these horse treats are made with human-grade ingredients (making it completely acceptable if your favorite short stirrup rider wants to taste test them!). They take less than 20 minutes from start to finish, making them a perfect last-minute gift. Try packaging them in groups of 3 or 4 in a decorative cellophane wrap, or drop off a full batch to the barn in a small bucket, such as the Duraflex 8-Quart Pail or GT Reid 6 Qt Heart Shaped Pail, for a tasty gift that will still be used beyond the holiday season.
Ingredients
- 1 cup old-fashioned oats (not quick-cooking)
- 1 cup whole wheat flour or all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup of shredded carrots or apples
- 1/3 cup of molasses
- 1 small, ripe banana (mashed) or ½ c. of applesauce (preferably sugar-free)
- Peppermints (or mini peppermint candy canes!)
Directions
- Begin by preheating your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Grease a cookie sheet or line with parchment paper.
- Combine the first five ingredients (oats, flour, carrots or apples, molasses, and mashed banana or applesauce) in a large bowl and mix well.
- Spoon the cookie batter into balls and place evenly on your prepared baking sheet.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes or until the cookies begin to dry on the top and crack.
- While the cookies are still warm and still on the cookie sheet, firmly push a peppermint into the center of each cookie.
- Allow the cookies to cool for several minutes on the cookie sheet, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Feed to your favorite equines and watch them enjoy your creations!
While many of us love spending time in the kitchen, sometimes our holiday to-do list can get a bit too extensive. If this happens to you, stay calm… we can help! Check out our full assortment of horse treats that we carry in the store, we promise that your horse will love them nearly as much as the homemade version! After all, it truly is the thought that counts.
At The Cheshire Horse, we love horse treats! Check out our additional horse treat recipes, including Horse Doughnuts and our Simple Horse Cookies.
The ingredients to make this dish are very simple and I think I can make it at home.