It doesn’t have to be Cinco de Mayo to bake up a batch of anise dog treats, a canine twist on a traditional Mexican cookie! Dogs love anise (much like some cats love catnip), and it’s sometimes used to entice dogs to play with toys or to make the treats more appealing.
I’ve modified this recipe for Bizcochitos, a traditional Mexican Christmas cookie, to transform it into a special occasion dog treat. The human version also has sugar, salt, and brandy and doesn’t include the molasses we’ve used for the dog treat!
What is Anise?
Anise, also known as Pimpinella anisum, is a flowering plant native to the eastern Mediterranean region and Southwest Asia. Its seeds are used as a spice, either ground or whole, and have a sweet, aromatic flavor that is similar to licorice or fennel. The anise plant belongs to the Apiaceae family, which also includes carrots, celery, and parsley.
What You’ll Need to Make These Treats
You’ll need your favorite flour, butter, molasses (blackstrap is best), an egg, baking powder, and anise seed for this easy recipe.
Blackstrap molasses is derived from the third boiling of sugar syrup and is the darkest molasses available. It’s rich in vitamins and minerals such as iron, calcium, magnesium, vitamin B6, and selenium.
Along with the ingredients, you’ll just need the typical baking supplies you probably already have on hand: two cookie sheets and a large mixing bowl.
Anise Treat Recipe
This recipe is quick and easy to prepare. Start by preheating your oven to 350 degrees F, greasing two cookie sheets, and gathering the ingredients together.
I’d never purchased anise seed before but the smell is wonderful…
Mix all the ingredients together; the result is a heavy, slightly sticky dough.
Since the dough’s a little sticky for rolling out and cutting into shapes, I just pinched off small pieces about the size of a large marble, rolled each one in my palms and slightly flattened it before putting it on the cookie sheet. Quick and easy!
Pop the cookie sheets in the preheated oven; these cook quickly so they’ll be ready in about 15 minutes. Let them cool completely before refrigerating (and your kitchen will smell wonderful in the meantime!)
Our dogs loved this special canine version of Bizcochitos, a fun treat to make if you’ll be hosting a Cinco de Mayo party with some dog guests this week!
And in the photo of the finished treats at the top of this post is a little copy of a statue of two dancing Xolos, the Mexican hairless dog, that stands in Colima, Mexico. Here’s our photo of the real thing!
Anise Dog Treats
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup butter softened to room temperature
- 1/4 cup molasses
- 1 egg
- 2 teaspoons anise seed
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and grease two cookie sheets.
- Mix all the ingredients together; the result is a heavy, slightly sticky dough.
- Pinch small pieces about the size of a large marble, roll between your palms and slightly flatten with a fork before putting it on the cookie sheet.
- Bake in the preheated oven; these cook quickly so they’ll be ready in about 15 minutes.
- Let the dog treats cool completely before refrigerating (and your kitchen will smell wonderful in the meantime!)
- Refrigerate for a week or freeze for longer storage.
More Dog Treat Recipes You Might Like
We have many homemade treat recipes here on DogTipper; here are a few other sweet recipes your dog might like:
Pumpkin Dog Treats – 10 Easy Recipes!
Easy Peanut Butter Dog Treats Recipe
Cooks: Don’t miss our My Dog Says I’m a Great Cook™ cookbook with over 100 dog treat recipes from the publishers, readers and fans of DogTipper! This paperback book is available in our YUCKY PUPPY gift store!
First published on DogTipper in 2010.