Tried and Tested: The BEST Horse Treat Recipe

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When is the last time you did something nice--really nice--for your four-legged partner?

Doesn't your horse deserve something special after carrying you around and doing what you ask (most of the time!) day after day? I think it's time to make your trusty steed some homemade horse cookies. Don't settle for the store-bought version and pay for horse treats that are often stale and expensive. 

I tried all the popular recipes I could find and quite a lot of experimenting have came up with the ultimate horse treat recipe. Let me know how your horse likes them!

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The Ultimate Horse Cookie Recipe

Ingredients

  • 1 carrot

  • 1 apple

  • 1/2 cup molasses (or honey)

  • 2 cups oats

  • 1/2-3/4 cup flour (or make oat flour by throwing some oats into a blender/food processor)

  • 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil or coconut oil

  • 1 tablespoon water (optional)

Directions

  • Preheat oven to 300-325 degrees

  • Grate the carrot and finely chop the apple

  • Mix together all of the ingredients. Please keep in mind that depending on variations such as: the size/type of apple, what kind of oats you use (rolled or steel-cut oats don't absorb as much moisture as quickly as quick oats), whether you use honey or molasses, etc. you may need to tweak the amounts of the ingredients. You should be able to squeeze a ball of dough in your hand and it shouldn't fall apart.)

  • Roll and press into balls with your hands and place on a greased baking sheet. If dough is too sticky add more flour and/or water

  • Bake for about 28-32 minutes on the middle rack, checking on them often, until golden brown

  • Cool and store in a sealed container and use within a week. They'll stay the freshest stored in the fridge

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Tip: Cut the batch in half for less cookies. A full batch makes about 24 cookies depending on the size you make them.

Bonus Tip: Some readers swear by blending all the ingredients together in a blender/food processor before cooking. I don't do this but if you try this let me know if you prefer this method in the comments below!

Bonus Bonus Tip: These treats can be enjoyed by humans and dogs too!

The Good Stuff

Now here's the fun part. Consider the above your base recipes, perfectly fine on their own but even better when you add one or more of the following:

  • Low sugar: Use cooked sweet potato instead of apples, and a little flaxseed and egg instead of molasses

  • Reader favorite: Peppermints - crushed and added to the dough or place a whole one on top (perfect for the holidays)

  • Raisins

  • Add chopped up dates in the dough

  • Add some bran

  • A few coconut flakes on top

  • Sugar cubes (go easy here - too much sugar isn't good for your horses health or figure!)

  • Blackberries

  • Banana can be used as a substitute for the apple

  • Reader favorite: Applesauce (try replacing part of the molasses with applesauce to lower the sugar, or if you can use in place of the apple)

If you think of any yummy additions I didn't list, leave a comment below. Now, time to get baking. Your horse will thank you.

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