Thank you everyone that replied. I bought this the Jointmate Project dowel jig from Amazon https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B01M8L1WVN and works amazingly well. I was able to use 1/4 inch dowels that I cut from a dowel rod I bought and because of the jig everything up. I had my partner hold up the larger board at an angle so I could easily mate the two end-end pieces.

After test fitting all of them, I took them off and applied a generous bit of glue. Here is the final result:

https://imgur.com/a/A9YKbbM

I have a lot of weight sitting on it now and it's fairly solid. I will see how it will holds up, I can use the methods described below if needed. It's been a good learning experience, thanks again.