Make Your Own Spent Grain Dog Biscuits

Just like us, our dogs deserve a treat now again (remember, it’s Fit Bottomed Pets Week over on FBG!) and it doesn’t always have to be for a job well done. Sometimes it’s simply to celebrate the joy those furry angles bring into our lives.
It is estimated that people spend between $20 to $60 bucks a month to feed their canine companions, so why not cut some of that cost by making your own spent grain dog biscuits?
Spent grain is literally what’s left after a brewer has removed the sugar from the grain — the first step in making beer. Lucky for us, most brewers struggle to find a sustainable use for this byproduct and are more than happy to pass them along for free. And lucky for our pooches, spent grains (especially barley) have a high fiber and protein content.
Ask your local brewer for the lighter grains and make sure they do not contain hops, which can be toxic to dogs. Just remember to deduct any treats from their overall food intake to keep Fido happy and healthy.

Spent Grain Dog Biscuits Recipe

Here is what you’ll need for your spent grain dog biscuits:

• 4 cups spent grain
• 2 cups flour (whole-wheat or unbleached all-purpose)
• 2 eggs
• ½ cup dried cranberries, finely chopped OR ½ cup pumpkin OR ¼ cup peanut butter
• Parchment or wax paper
• cookie cutters — optional
• a good dog — mandatory

Spent grains can be sticky, so if you plan to cut the biscuits into shapes it is wise to process about ½ of the grain to a finer consistency. This makes them easier to cut. If you forego the cutouts and use the alternate method, this step is optional.
In the bowl of your mixer, use the paddle attachment and mix together the spent grains, flour, eggs and either the cranberries, pumpkin or peanut butter until combined. The dough should resemble thick cookie dough; if it seems too sticky add a little more flour.


Divide dough in two, form into flat disks and wrap with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour.

Roll out dough between two sheets of parchment or wax paper to a thickness of 1/8 of an inch. (Thicker is easier to deal with, but takes longer to bake and dry out.) Cut into shapes and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
Bake in a 350-degree oven for 30 minutes, reduce the heat to 225 degrees and continue to bake for another 2 to 3 hours until completely dry.
Alternate Method: Roll dough between two pieces of parchment into a rectangle shape, peel off the top piece of parchment and slide the parchment and dough rectangle directly onto a baking sheet. For a more uniform treat, after 30 minutes, cut into long strips with a pizza cutter or knife and break into bite size pieces when finished.


Allow to completely cool and store in an airtight container for up to two weeks.
How do you spoil your dog? —Karen