4-Ingredient Bacon Cheese Dog Treats make about 30 small baked treats with whole wheat flour, egg, cheddar, and bacon. You add water as needed to bring the dough together, then cut and bake the treats until golden.
Ingredients
- 2 cups whole wheat flour
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 cup shredded low-fat cheddar
- 2 slices low-sodium bacon, cooked crisp, blotted, and finely crumbled
- 1/2 cup water, as needed
Yield: About 30 small treats. Prep: 20 minutes. Bake: 20 to 25 minutes at 350°F. Cool: 30 minutes.
Instructions
1. Cook and Blot the Bacon
Cook the 2 slices of low-sodium bacon until they are crisp all the way through. Set them on paper towels and blot both sides to remove surface grease.
Once the slices are cool enough to handle, crumble them finely. You should have small, dry-looking bacon bits that will spread through the dough without leaving large pieces.
2. Preheat the Oven and Line a Baking Sheet
Preheat your oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper while the oven heats.
Spread the parchment flat so the small treats will sit evenly on the sheet. When the oven reaches 350°F and the paper lies smooth against the pan, your baking sheet is ready for the cut dough.
3. Mix the Flour, Egg and Cheese
Place the 2 cups of whole wheat flour in a mixing bowl. Add the 1 large egg and 1/2 cup of shredded low-fat cheddar.
Stir until the egg is worked through the flour and the cheese is evenly spread. At this stage, the mixture should look crumbly, with visible shreds of cheese and no large pockets of egg.
4. Add the Bacon and Water
Stir the finely crumbled bacon from the 2 cooked slices into the flour mixture. Add water gradually from the measured 1/2 cup, mixing after each addition until the crumbs gather into a firm dough.
Stop adding water when you can press the dough together and it holds its shape without leaving wet streaks in the bowl.
5. Roll the Dough
Turn the dough onto a lightly floured work surface and press it into a flat round. Roll it into an even sheet, turning the dough as you work so it keeps moving across the surface.
Aim for a thickness that stays consistent from edge to center. The rolled dough should look smooth enough to cut, with small bacon bits visible throughout.
6. Cut Small Shapes
Cut small shapes from the rolled dough and place them on the parchment-lined baking sheet. Gather the scraps, press them together, and roll them out again to cut the remaining dough.
Space the shapes apart so their edges do not touch. You should have about 30 small treats, each holding a clean outline when lifted onto the sheet.
7. Bake Until Golden
Bake the small treats at 350°F for 20 to 25 minutes. Watch for golden edges and tops that look dry and set, with no pale, soft-looking patches in the center.
Remove the baking sheet from the oven once the treats have reached that color. Keep the shapes on the sheet as you move it to a cooling spot.
8. Cool Completely
Let the baked treats cool for 30 minutes before you move them into a container or give one to your dog. Lift a treat and check its underside as well as its top; both should feel cool to the touch.
The edges should feel firm, and the cheese and bacon bits should remain set within the baked dough.
How Many Bacon Cheese Treats to Give
Give your dog these rich bacon-and-cheese treats in small amounts that fit their normal food routine. Their small size makes them easy to portion during dog training.
Use Them as Training Rewards
You can break a small treat into smaller pieces for repeated rewards. The bacon scent still comes through when you use a tiny piece, so you do not need a whole shape for every cue.
Account for the treats when you portion your dog’s regular food. If your dog is on a feeding plan, follow the treat amount your veterinarian has recommended.
Storing Treats With Meat and Cheese
Keep your cooled treats in a sealed container in the refrigerator because the recipe contains bacon and cheese. The firm texture makes them easy to stack once they have cooled completely.
Freeze any extras you will not use soon, and thaw what you need in the refrigerator. Keeping a small portion handy also makes it easier to track how many treats you give.
Tips for the Best Results
For dough that rolls cleanly, add the measured water a little at a time and stop when the crumbs hold together. If the dough sticks to your rolling pin, use a light dusting of flour on the pin and work surface.
Finely crumbled, well-blotted bacon spreads more evenly through small shapes. Keep the cutouts similar in size so their edges turn golden at about the same point in the bake.
Substitutions and Safety
Check that your dog can eat wheat, egg, dairy, and pork before serving these treats. If your dog has a known food allergy, use a recipe built for their diet; changing this dough’s main ingredients will change how it bakes.
Use plain low-fat cheddar and low-sodium bacon without onion or garlic seasoning. If dairy upsets your dog’s stomach, skip this recipe and choose a dairy-free treat. You can read more about dogs and cheese when deciding whether cheddar fits your dog’s diet.
