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Want to learn how to make healthy homemade dog treats from the comfort of your home? You’ll be able to choose each ingredient, save money, and cook specifically for your pup’s preferences. The best news is that dog treat recipes are typically simple and easy to follow.
Keep reading to find 10 homemade dog treat recipes that are vet-approved for dogs of all ages. Spoil your dog with healthy and delicious homemade dog treats! Whether you want to make a healthy dog treat, replace your pup's favorite brand of dog biscuits, or cook up a soft dog treat, we've got you covered.
Keeping your dog healthy is important, so you'll want to choose a healthy dog treat recipe. That means avoiding ingredients that aren't good for dogs. Scroll down to find our favorite healthy treat recipes:
The 10 Healthy Dog Treat Recipes
1. Oat and Apple Pretzel Dog Treat Recipe
Oat and Apple Dog Pretzels
Prep Time 20 mins Cook Time 30 mins Servings 15
Prep time
10 min
Cook time
20 min
Servings
15
Ingredients
1free range egg
1cup unsweetened applesauce
2 cupsBob's Red Mill Gluten Free Oat Flour
3/4 cupBob's Red Mill Gluten Free Old Fashioned Rolled Oats
Instructions
1Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
2Using a hand whisk, beat the egg and set it aside.
3Combine the applesauce, oat flour, and rolled oats in a large bowl. Pour all but 1 tablespoon of the egg over the mixture and set aside the remaining 1 tablespoon of egg.
4Using a wooden spoon, stir the mixture until a dough forms. The dough should be tacky but not overly sticky. Add a bit more or less flour if necessary.
5Take a 2-tablespoon-sized piece of dough (approximate) and roll it into a tube. It should be about 10 inches long and about the width of a pencil.
6Take each tube and make into a U shape, then twist the ends together and fold back to the top. This makes the pretzel shape. Pinch the ends in to make sure they’re secure.
7Place the pretzels onto the baking tray. Brush the top of each pretzel with the remaining egg.
8Bake for approximately 25-30 minutes, until they're slightly browned and become crispy. The pretzels should be pretty hard, just like pups love them!
9Remove from the oven and allow to cool before serving.
10Store in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.
Whether or not it’s a special Day, your pup will appreciate these delicious and healthy cranberry dog treats. Made with gluten-free oats, flaxseed, and antioxidant-rich cranberries, these dog-friendly cookies come together in minutes.
Ingredients
1 cup cranberries fresh or frozen
1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/4 cup ground flax seed (optional)
2/3 cup oats
1/4 cup oats separated
1 Tablespoon honey
3 Tablespoons water as needed
Steps
Preheat oven to 350º.
Put 2/3 cup oatmeal in a food processor and grind until fine in texture, similar to flour. Add to medium sized mixing bowl.
In the same food processor, puree cranberries. If you are using fresh or defrosted berries, it will likely be a liquid. If they are frozen, it will typically look like a coarse meal (see pictures). Add cranberries to the bowl.
Add the flour, 1/4 oats, ground flax seed (optional), honey, and yogurt to the bowl. Mix the ingredients together until incorporated and the dough holds together. The water content in the berries can affect the moisture in the dough. If it is too wet, add a little flour at a time. If it is too stiff or not combining, add a little water at a time.
Lightly flour a large cutting board or clean counter. Flip dough out onto surface and roll to 1/4 inch thickness.
Cut out cookies in the size and shape you want and place on a sil pad or parchment lined baking sheet. The cookies can go close together as they will not grow much in size.
For soft cookies: Bake for 15-18 minutes. Remove from oven and cool on rack. Store in refrigerator for up to two weeks.
For hard cookies: Bake for 15 minutes then flip cookies. Bake an additional 15 minutes. Turn off the oven and leave the cookies in the hot oven for approximately two hours. Cookies will be hard and crunchy. Let cool completely before storing or else the heat will cause them to turn soft again. Store in air tight container for up to one month.
Help your pup celebrate fall with these tasty treats! While you sip on a PSL, your dog can enjoy treats made with pumpkin and peanut butter. The best news? These treats are a lot like cookies, so you’ll have no trouble throwing them together quickly.
Ingredients
Whole Wheat Flour - using whole wheat instead of all-purpose flour adds extra fiber and protein to the treats.
Pumpkin Puree - NOT pumpkin pie filling (not dog safe)
Peanut Butter - make sure it doesn't contain xylitol (toxic for dogs), I like to use natural peanut butter that is just peanuts only
Eggs
Steps
Prep - This dough doesn't need to be chilled like some 'cookie doughs', so you can get the oven preheating right away. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
Make the dough. Using a stand mixer with the paddle attachment or a hand mixer and a large bowl, beat the wet ingredients until combined. Reduce speed and slowly add the flour, mixing until just incorporated. If needed, add additional flour until the dough is not sticky and the texture of cookie dough (this depends on the moisture level of your peanut butter and pumpkin).
Roll and cut treats. On a lightly floured surface, gently knead and press the dough together a few times until it comes together. Roll the dough to ~¼ inch thickness. Cut into desired shapes and place on prepared baking sheet.
Bake. Bake until the edges are golden brown and fully set. I've found that my dog prefers treats to be crunchy and hard vs chewy. So you will bake these treats longer than you would 'human cookies'. When done, they should look well past set, but not burnt. But bake them according to your dog's preference.
Allow to cool. Allow to fully cool - the treats will crisp up once they cool.
1 tablespoon activated charcoal or 12 capsules cut open
1 tablespoon diatomaceous earth
2 tablespoons Brewers Yeast
1/2 teaspoon grass fed gelatin
3 tablespoons Organic Coconut Oil, for Pets melted
1 tablespoon Ghee melted
1/2 cup bone broth or filtered water, warmed
1 tablespoon liquid chlorophyll or freshly juiced wheat grass, optional
4 +/- cups garbanzo bean flour aka chickpea flour
Steps
In your food processor, combine mint, parsley, charcoal, diatomaceous earth, brewers yeast, gelatin and egg. Process until smooth.
Add melted coconut oil, ghee, bone broth and chlorophyll, process until well combined.
Add garbanzo bean flour 1/2 cup at a time, pulsing to combine until the mixture resembles a dough or will press together into your hand making a dough – similar to play dough. It should not be dry, add a few drops of water if it’s too dry or additional flour if too wet until it will hold together.
Roll out on parchment paper to roughly 1/4 inch thick and cut into desired shapes.
Bake at 400 degrees for 10-15 minutes.
Transfer to a cooling rack to cool before storing in an airtight container.
Peanut Butter Dog Biscuit Recipes:
If you're looking for traditional dog biscuit recipes, you're in the right place! These easy recipes will help you make crunchy biscuits with all kinds of shapes and flavors!
With the help of a fun cookie cutter, you can whip up peanut butter biscuits pretty enough to give as a gift! Throw these simple biscuits in the oven and you’ll have crispy treats in about 20 minutes.
Ingredients
For the Dog Treats
2½ cups whole wheat flour 300 grams
1 large egg 50 grams
1 cup peanut butter 270 grams
1 cup water 227 grams
2 tablespoons honey 43 grams
For the Frosting
2 tablespoons peanut butter 34 grams
1 tablespoon honey 21 grams
⅓ cup cornstarch 37 grams (can also use potato starch or arrowroot powder)
3-4 tablespoons hot water
Steps
Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
In a large bowl, combine flour and the egg. Add the peanut butter, water, and honey, and stir until you have a stiff dough. The dough becomes very firm and sticky. You may need to use your hands, or the paddle attachment on your mixer. 2½ cups whole wheat flour, 1 large egg, 1 cup peanut butter, 1 cup water, 2 tablespoons honey
On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough about ½-inch thick and use a cookie cutter to make fun shapes. The treats barely spread and rise, so get creative with your shapes.
Bake for 18-20 minutes, until golden. Once done, set aside to cool. (If you have smaller cookies, use less time, otherwise the bottom might burn.)
To make the frosting, combine the peanut butter and honey in a microwavable bowl, and heat in the microwave in 15 second increments, stirring in between, until melted. 2 tablespoons peanut butter, 1 tablespoon honey
Add the melted peanut butter mixture to the cornstarch and stir until just combined. ⅓ cup cornstarch
Slowly add in the water 1 tablespoon at a time until you have reached the consistency that you would like. For a thinner frosting, add more water. 3-4 tablespoons hot water
Add the frosting to a piping bag and pipe designs on top of each dog treat.
Frost the treats with the peanut butter/honey mixture for an even more tempting cookie.
These biscuits are pretty, full of great ingredients, and easy to make. But what puts them over the top is the glaze, a mixture of peanut butter and bacon fat. What dog could resist that?
Ingredients
Dog biscuits:
1 cup pumpkin
1/2 cup peanut butter
2 eggs
1/4 cup oil
2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
Glaze:
2 tablespoons bacon grease, coconut oil, chicken fat, or any other fat that will solidify at room temperature, melted
1/4 cup smooth peanut butter
Steps
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Combine pumpkin, peanut butter, eggs, and oil in a bowl. Add in baking soda and whole wheat flour. Stir until a stiff dough forms.
Knead dough or mix just until flour is incorporated.
Roll out dough with a rolling pin and use a cookie cutter to cut out dog bone shapes, or just bake into little circles like cookies. Bake for 15 minutes.
Whisk the bacon grease and peanut butter until very smooth. Drizzle over the treats and cool till glaze hardens (it does best in the fridge or freezer).
If you’re looking for something a little more veggie-heavy, you might want to try this recipe. It incorporates carrots, spinach, and zucchini, plus pumpkin, peanut butter, and oats, into a classic-looking dog biscuit!
Ingredients
1 cup pumpkin puree
¼ cup peanut butter
2 large eggs
½ cup old fashioned oats
3 cups whole wheat flour, or more, as needed
1 carrot, peeled and shredded
1 zucchini, shredded
1 cup baby spinach, chopped
Steps
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat; set aside.
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat pumpkin puree, peanut butter and eggs on medium-high until well combined, about 1-2 minutes.
Gradually add old fashioned oats and 2 1/2 cups flour at low speed, beating just until incorporated. Add an additional 1/4 cup flour at a time just until the dough is no longer sticky. Add carrot, zucchini and spinach, beating just until incorporated.
Working on a lightly floured surface, knead the dough 3-4 times until it comes together. Using a rolling pin, roll the dough to 1/4-inch thickness. Using cookie cutters, cut out desired shapes and place onto the prepared baking sheet.
Place into oven and bake until the edges are golden brown, about 20-25 minutes.
Let cool completely
Soft Dog Treat Recipes:
Does your dog prefer soft treats? Here are some of the best soft dog treat recipes, including donuts and cupcakes!
If you and your dog are celebrating, why not roll out the pupcakes? These soft, dog-friendly cupcakes have a tasty peanut butter yogurt frosting—and you can top them with homemade dog biscuits for extra flair!
Ingredients
For Peanut Butter Pupcakes:
¼ cup peanut butter
¼ cup applesauce
¼ cup plain yogurt
½ cup carrots finely shredded
1 egg
½ teaspoon baking soda
¾ cup whole wheat flour
Honey optional and to taste
For Peanut Butter Yogurt Frosting:
½ cup peanut butter
1 cup plain greek yogurt See notes
2 tablespoons honey adjust to taste
Bone shaped Dog biscuits (optional) for decoration
Steps
Preheat the oven to 350°F and line the standard muffin tin with cupcake liners and keep aside.
In a medium mixing bowl, add the peanut butter, applesauce, and yogurt. Whisk until well combined.
Now add one egg and whisk until smooth followed by shredded carrots. Mix until well combined.
Sift the wheat flour and baking soda and mix using a spatula until the batter is just mixed. Do not over mix the batter.
Divide the batter equally into 6 or 7 pupcakes.
Bake at 350°F for 25-30 mins or until a toothpick inserted at the center of the cupcake comes out clean.
Let them rest in the pan for 10 mins then transfer them to a cooling rack. Once they have completely cooled down they are ready to be frosted.
To make the frosting, whisk honey, yogurt (see notes), and peanut butter until well combined.
Transfer to a piping bag fitted with a nozzle of choice and frost the pupcakes. You can even skip the piping bag and directly spread the frosting over the pupcakes using a spoon or spatula.
Finally, top with their favorite treat. I topped mine with mini bone-shaped dog biscuits
Yummy and healthy Carrot Peanut Butter Pupcakes are ready. Serve with lots of love and hugs
These doggie donuts look sweet and good enough to eat—but don’t be fooled! They’re savory treats made with oats, peanut butter, and a sprinkling of bacon bits. Guaranteed to be a hit!
Ingredients
1 Cup Flour
1 Cup Oats
1/3 Cup Coconut Oil
1/2 Cup Peanut Butter
2 Eggs
For the topping:
Greek Yogurt
Bacon Bits
Steps
Preheat your oven to 375 degrees. Spray a donut pan with cooking spray and set aside.
In a large bowl, combine all ingredients (except yogurt and bacon bits). You can mix with a spoon or use your hands (super fun for kids!). Mix until a dough forms.
Use your hands to press the dough into the donut pan. Fill each donut cavity and press firmly to ensure everything sticks together (it won't rise, so you should make sure each space is tightly packed).
Bake in your preheated oven at 375 degrees for approximately 14 mins or until cooked completely.
Allow to cool, then carefully remove the donuts from the pan. Now you're ready to decorate them!
Place your finished donuts in the freezer for a few moments to harden the yogurt. My dogs like to eat them straight from the freezer, but you can also store in the refrigerator. Just keep in mind that the yogurt may get a little sticky.
Homemade Dog Treats: Conclusion
Now you know how to make homemade dog treats with these 10 delicious recipes! Whether you’re looking for soft dog treats or homemade dog biscuits, these recipes will turn you into a doggie chef before you know it. What you feed your dog is important, and this way you can control every ingredient.
Just remember these are still treats and as such, they should only be fed in moderation since they are not a complete and balanced diet and they do add up the calories. Gone are the days of having to buy expensive dog treats!
Nicole is a lover of animals of all sizes but is especially fascinated with the feline variety. She’s the proud mom of Baby, a Burmese, and works every day so he can relax in the sunshine or by the fire. She’s always had a cat in her home and has spent countless days with others, observing behaviors and softening up even the grouchiest of the lot. Nicole wants to share her kitty expertise with you so you and your cat can live happy, healthy, and care-free.
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