These chew sticks do exactly what they’re supposed to do: they keep busy, provide a satisfying chew, and bring a certain level of calm into everyday life.
At least in theory.
Because while Tobyas is fully focused on chewing, the occasional question tends to come up in the kitchen whether they were really intended exclusively for dogs. The ingredients wouldn’t necessarily argue against it.
Sweet potato, oats and chickpea flour come together into a simple, well-tolerated dough that turns into a firm, long-lasting chew with a bit of time in the oven and air – no additives, no complications.
At a glance
🕒 Prep time: 30 minutes
⏳ Soaking time: 10 minutes
⏳Oven: 2-3 hours
⏳Air drying: several days (optional, for extra hardness)
👩🏼🍳 Difficulty: easy
Ingredients (about 10 chew sticks for a 25-30 kg dog)
- about 400 g sweet potatoe (pre-cooked & mashed)
- 120 g oat flour (or blend oats into flour)
- 120 g chickpea flour
- 2 tbsp coconut oil
- 20 g ground flaxseeds
- 6 tbsp water (for soaking)
- 1 tsp turmeric
Instructions
- The cooked sweet potatoes should be well steamed off and cooled beforehand. Otherwise, the dough may become too soft and difficult to shape.
- Mix the ground flaxseeds with water and let them soak for 10 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 160°C fan (or 180°C top/bottom heat).
- Add all ingredients to a bowl and mix well until you get a thick, shapeable dough.
If the dough is too dry, add a little water. If it’s too soft, add a bit more chickpea flour.
- Shape the dough into thick sticks (about 1.5–2 cm in diameter and 12–15 cm long) and place them on a baking tray lined with baking paper.
- For a bit more resistance and longer chewing time, you can twist them: roll a thicker piece (about 2 cm), cut it lengthwise, then twist both strands together and press the ends lightly.
- Bake for 60 minutes.
- Then reduce the oven temperature to 100°C and let them dry for another 1–2 hours. Leave the oven door slightly open (e.g. with a wooden spoon) to allow moisture to escape.
Notes
- Depending on oven and thickness, drying time may vary – the sticks should be completely dry in the end.
- Let the chew sticks cool before serving.
- Optionally, let them air-dry for 2–3 days for extra hardness.
- If properly dried and stored, the chew sticks will keep for several weeks.
