We celebrated Elvis’s first adoption anniversary with this Fat Elvis Lickimat Recipe. Many of your dog’s favorite snacks tie together with this tasty enrichment recipe.
It’s hard to believe that we made an eleven-hour round-trip to pick Elvis up from Hoosier Bulldog Rescue one year ago. You can check out our one-year celebratory Instagram post here. But what’s most important is that we celebrated this fantastic dog with a Fat Elvis Lickimat Recipe.
Elvis Presley had a favorite sandwich that is now referred to as The Fat Elvis. It included bread, bananas, peanut butter, and bacon. There is some debate that it had other items like honey, but everyone seems to agree on those base ingredients.
Those ingredients happen to also be perfect for a Lickimat! Of course, I had to amp this up, so I added some dog-safe strawberry chia seed jam. The best snacks are both healthy and a little bit indulgent.
*Always consult with your vet before introducing new foods to your dog. Be mindful of food sensitivities and introduce new foods slowly. This recipe is simply just a treat for your dog and not meant to replace a full balanced meal or diet.
*This blog may contain affiliate links that allow me to make a small commission if you make a purchase by clicking the links – including Amazon. This is at no additional cost to you and any money I may receive is put right back into this blog. Thank you all so much for your support! As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
What is a Lickimat, and why are they important?
I have a few blog posts with more information about the benefits of canine enrichment using Lickimats. You can find those blog posts and Lickimat and enrichment recipes here.
- Fall-Inspired Lickimat Recipe
- Smoothie Inspired Lickimat Recipe
- Easy Toppl Recipes for Dog Enrichment
- Sushi Inspired Toppl Recipe
In general, Lickimats are a great enrichment activity that can help to soothe anxiety and provides an engaging activity for your dog. This Fat Elvis Lickimat recipe not only has healthy ingredients and a small amount of tasty bacon, but it’s also an overall positive activity for your dog.
The real question- Can Dogs Eat Bacon?
The short answer that I want to give you and your vet would likely agree – Bacon is not a healthy treat and, generally, isn’t a good option to feed dogs. However, it is NOT toxic, but bacon isn’t a healthy snack for dogs OR humans.
If you’ve visited the blog before, you know I am passionate about healthy dog treats. However, every Sunday, I split a piece of bacon with my dogs; they LOVE it!
It’s essential to keep in mind your specific dog’s health before letting them indulge in a small piece of bacon. It should also never be an everyday snack. However, Turkey bacon can be a good option when starting to let your dog indulge a bit.
For this recipe, I used a small amount of uncured bacon, which I know my dogs are used to because that is what I let them nibble on during our Sunday breakfasts. If you’re concerned about using bacon – omit it from this Fat Elvis Lickimat Recipe. Your dog will enjoy this Lickimat just the same without it!
What you’ll need for this Fat Elvis Lickimat Recipe
This recipe is simple, but you’ll also need a few tools. First, you will want to have a clean Lickimat ready to go. You will also need a food processor, spatula, and measuring spoons.
Keep in mind that I made four Lickimats with my recipe. Feel free to adjust the amount of ingredients or freeze any leftovers into frozen. The food items you’ll need include
- Your chosen bacon – turkey or pork. I crumbled two slices and split them between four mats. Please read the notes above about bacon; if you doubt it, you can omit it from the recipe.
- Chia seeds
- Fresh strawberries
- Fresh Banana
- Peanut Butter. I prefer using a single peanut butter ingredient for dogs like Crazy Richard’s Peanut Butter. Otherwise, make sure your peanut butter does not contain Xylitol which is toxic to dogs.
Does the Fat Elvis Lickimat Recipe have any nutritional qualities?
Of course! I always keep my dog’s health in mind when creating recipes for them. The only thing I wouldn’t consider healthy is the bacon. However, we use such a small amount that I don’t mind letting them indulge a little.
- Chia Seeds: These little seeds are considered a superfood! Chia seeds are high in protein and fiber, may help reduce inflammation, aid brain function, and are a great source of Omega-3 fatty acids.
- Banana: Low-calorie, high in biotin, potassium, and fiber.
- Peanut Butter: (single-ingredient): Source of protein, healthy fats, Vitamin B, and Vitamin E. [Single-ingredient peanut butter is best, but always ensure the peanut butter you’re serving your pup does NOT contain Xylitol.]
- Strawberries: This fruit can help to strengthen the immune system, contains Folic Acid, Vitamins B6 and K, and also contains potassium.
Fat Elvis Lickimat Recipe for Dogs
Course: Enrichment, Recipes30
minutes40
minutes1
hour10
minutesA healthy and a little bit induldent Lickimat recipe for your dog. Bananas, peanut butter, strawberries, chia seeds, and a little bit of bacon ties it all together.
Ingredients
1 banana ( you can set a few slices aside if you want to add a fresh slice or two to each Lickimat.)
3 TBSP of peanut butter
1 Cup of Fresh Strawberries
1 TBSP of Chia Seeds
1-2 slices of cooked bacon *See recipe note
1/4 Cup of cold water
Directions
- Prepare the bacon with your chosen method, ensuring that it is fully cooked. Once it is cool, crumble the bacon into small pieces and set aside.
- Blend banana, peanut butter, and 1/4 cup of cold water until smooth. Set aside.
- Puree one cup of strawberries and set aside in a bowl. Add your chia seeds to your strawberry jam. Allow this mixture to sit for 10+ minutes. This will allow the jam to thicken and the seeds to soften.
- Spread your mixes to your Lickmat. I added about 2 TBPS of each mix to the Lickimat. I then added less than one tbsp of crumbled bacon per lickmat. I also cut a couple pieces of freshly sliced bananas into flower shapes and added them to each lickmat. See photos in the blog for reference.
Notes
- This recipe was split between four lickimats. Adjust the ingredients accordingly or freeze leftover banana and strawberry mix into frozen dog treats.
- *Always consult with your vet before introducing new foods to your dog. Be mindful of food sensitivities and introduce new foods slowly. This recipe is simply just a treat for your dog and not meant to replace a full balanced meal or diet.
- Review additional information listed in this blog post for information on feeding bacon. Each Lickimat had less than 1 TBSP of crumbled bacon each.
- If feeding any ingredients for the first time, please test and feed very small amounts to your dog a few days prior just to see how they do with it. All foods in this recipe are considered non toxic but each dog may react to new foods differently. My dogs have never had a reaction to any of the foods in this recipe.
*Always consult with your vet before introducing new foods to your dog. Be mindful of food sensitivities and introduce new foods slowly. This recipe is simply just a treat for your dog and not meant to replace a full balanced meal or diet.
*This blog may contain affiliate links that allow me to make a small commission if you make a purchase by clicking the links – including Amazon. This is at no additional cost to you and any money I may receive is put right back into this blog. Thank you all so much for your support! As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
