This guide has everything you need to host a successful treat baking event in your community - from downloadable recipe cards, to links on where to purchase supplies!
Did you know that baking dog treats is quite simple and requires only a few ingredients?! Hosting a resident baking event is a great way to bring the community together in a really fun and productive way (especially as we get closer to the holiday season). So lets get started...
First, a little background on baking dog treats.
We love baking our own dog treats because it's a whole lot simpler than baking human cookies, and much more affordable than buying them! Unlike human cookies, dog treats aren't too scientific. Your residents will certainly have to measure out ingredients but it's truly hard to go wrong. Our favorite thing about baking treats is you can very easily modify almost any recipe to add in your dog's favorite foods, like bacon bits or chicken!
The Basics
First and foremost, while we love dogs and love baking for them, this should be a humans-only event. To maintain a safe (and not too chaotic), please make sure all messaging for the event indicates that dogs should stay home awaiting their treats. That being said, it's a very family-friendly event so children are certainly welcome.
Hosting a baking event does require a bit more space than an average resident event, as each person (or family) will need a baking work station. We recommend utilizing an indoor amenity space like a clubhouse or lounge. There must be a sink within or near the space, as residents will need to wash their hands or clean off supplies. You'll need a good amount of countertop space (approximately 2' x 2' per participant) but standard folding tables covered in kraft paper work great. We highly recommend requiring residents to sign up for the event in advance so that you can better anticipate the space and supply needs!
While the prepping/mixing portion of the recipe will be done together as a group, residents should be encouraged to take their treats home for baking.
Baking Supplies
While the ingredients you provide will depend on the recipe you choose, there are kitchen supplies that you'll need for this event no matter the recipe. We've compiled this list and links for easy ordering!
Kraft paper for work surfaces
Baking trays (1-2 per person)
Parchment paper sheets (1-2 per person)
Mixing spoons (1 per person)
Measuring cups / spoons (shared)
Rolling pins (shared)
Cookie cutters (1 per person, or shared)
Large bowls (to hold ingredients)
Paper towels
Printed recipe cards - can be printed in-house or as postcards at your local staples
Supplies residents will need to provide: Mixing Bowl
If encouraging residents to BYOB, we also recommend supplying plastic cups and napkins. Dog Treat Recipes & Ingredients
There are so many great recipes that are also simple for this community activity. We’ve provided you with complimentary printable recipe cards to our 3 favorite tried & true recipes!
If you are requiring residents to RSVP in advance for your event (highly recommended), you should be able to estimate your quantities in advance - though we recommend getting some extra in case more people join!
Notes on ingredients:
There are some key ingredients that you'll see in the bulk of homemade dog treats - flour, bananas, peanut butter, oats, eggs, cheese, and broth.
Eggs: if you want to avoid anything that has to be refrigerated, you can opt for ground flax seeds instead of eggs. In place of 1 egg, use 1 tbsp of ground flax + 3 tbsp water, mix and let sit for 5 minutes before using.
Bananas: while we recommend fresh extra ripe bananas, you can also substitute banana baby food (1 jar per banana) in place of them if there are no ripe bananas available. We recommend providing forks to help with mashing if your recipe calls for banana.
Peanut Butter: if you want to make this event and work spaces allergen free, peanut butter can always be substituted for sunflower seed butter.
Event Flow
Allot your team an hour for setup!
Step 1: Cover all work areas with kraft paper to keep the area clean.
Step 2: Set up an ingredients table. We recommend clustering the ingredients in their own area (or 2 separate areas if you're anticipating a big crowd) that is easily accessible to all residents.
Step 3: Prep the work stations. Each individual station should include foil baking tray(s) with parchment paper, mixing spoon, recipe card/printout, and a fork if your recipe calls for bananas.
Step 4: Set up the shared supplies - cookie cutters and rolling pins - in the center of the tables.
Step 5: Use the large bowls to hold ingredients. Some items, like a jar of peanut butter or broth container, will be kept in individual packaging. Place the measuring cups + spoons on the ingredient table(s)!
You're ready for your event! Keep paper towels nearby, and be prepared to point out the nearest sink (if one is not available within the space) as it will certainly be busy.
While it's not necessary for everyone to start baking together, this can be very fun as a group activity. If you or someone on your team is a great speaker, or extra skilled in the kitchen, we encourage you to assign them as a lead for this event and have them take residents through the recipe all together! If you'd rather have it be a self-guided event, we still recommend having a couple team members stick around and circulate the room to assist where needed - even if it just means pouring someone a new glass of wine when their hands are covered in dough!
Once they get home and throw their treats in the oven, your residents (and their dogs) will certainly be thanking you as their home fills with the delicious smell of freshly baked treats.
We hope your event is a huge success and we can't wait to hear about it. Tag us in your photos and posts @barkbuildings!
Want more great ideas for unique pet-friendly events in your community? Sign up for our newsletter. Or better yet, sign up for the Bark Buildings Pet Amenity Program and let us take care of it for you!
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