Homemade dog treats are really easy to make. Whether you have a dog with diabetes, gluten sensitivity, or one who just loves to eat, making homemade dog food treats at home can save you time, money and stress.
If you’re looking for something quick and easy or if you’re just getting started baking for your dog, we’ve put together 4 simple, easy dog treat and dog biscuit recipes that you can make at home.
The best part—each one only uses 3 ingredients. They’re all quick and easy and we made sure to find a good variety for you, too. From sweet to savory and cookies to frozen treats, your dog is sure to love what we’ve come up with.
1. Gluten-Free Vegan Dog Biscuits
Just like people, dogs can suffer from food allergies. Dairy and wheat are two of the most common food allergies for dogs. It’s not always easy to find a selection of homemade dog food treats in the store that are both gluten- and dairy-free and what you do find is often a little pricey.
Making your own gluten-free vegan dog biscuits is the perfect solution! And guess what—they’re safe for you to eat, too!
Ingredients:
- 2 cups oat flour
- 4 peeled, mashed ripe bananas
- ½ cup smooth peanut butter
How many treats you’ll get out of this recipe depends on how large you make the treats. Use larger cookie cutters for big dogs, smaller ones for little dogs.
Instructions:
- Mix bananas with peanut butter until smooth.
- Add ¼ cup of flour at a time to banana and peanut butter mixture. Fold together until mixed well.
- Chill for 30 minutes.
- Remove from refrigerator and place on floured surface. While you’re doing this, preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Roll out dough until it’s about ½ inch thick.
- Use cookie cutters to cut out desired shapes.
- Transfer to non-stick or parchment lined baking sheet.
- Use a fork to poke holes in the treats to allow the steam to escape and to add a decorative touch.
- Bake for 25–30 min.
- Remove from pan and allow to cool completely.
If you want to add more to this recipe, it’s really versatile. You can mix in dried fruits, such as bananas, cranberries, or apples for an extra added bit of sweetness. Avoid raisins as they are toxic to dogs.
2. Fruit & Frozen Yogurt Ice Melts Homemade Dog Treat
On a hot summer’s day, there’s nothing more refreshing than frozen yogurt. Here’s a treat you can make your dog that you can actually eat, too.
Ingredients:
- Plain yogurt, with no added sugars or sweeteners
- Soft fruit
A word about fruit: First of all, they’re not all safe for dogs. Fruits such as grapes and cherries are off limits.
If you’re unsure, consult your vet. Some fruits that are great for dogs that will work well in this recipe are blueberries, bananas, mangoes, and peaches. That said, it’s important to never give your dog grapes as they are toxic to dogs.
Instructions
This is a pretty easy treat to make. Mash up the fruit and mix it into the yogurt. A mix of half yogurt and half fruit is a good place to start but you can change it to what suits your dog’s taste.
Alternately, you can put the yogurt and fruit in a blender and make a smoothie.
After you have you mix, pour into ice cube trays. You could even buy cute candy molds to use instead. Place in the freezer. Serve when frozen.
3. (Diabetic-Friendly) Meaty Bone Snacks
This is a great homemade dog treat recipe that any dog will love that just happens to also be safe for dogs with diabetes. Unlike the other treats on this list, you won’t be able to share this one with your pup if you choose to use fresh liver.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup whole wheat flour (You can also substitute a non wheat flour like coconut flour)
- 4 eggs
- 10 oz any meat variety baby food
You can find baby food in turkey, ham, meat, and chicken flavors. You can use jars or pouches, organic or generic. If you’d rather use fresh meat, you can use beef liver and puree it in a food processor.
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Mix all ingredients together in large bowl.
- Spread mixture onto large jelly pans or cookie sheets covered with parchment paper. Bake for about 15 minutes.
- Remove from oven and let cool. Cut into the desired shape.
You can use a simple knife or pizza cutter to make square shapes or you can get a little more creative and use a cookie cutter to make the size and shape perfect for your dog.
4. Spiced Apple Cinnamon Dog Cookies
If you want to give your dog a sweet treat, this is the perfect recipe.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups oatmeal
- 1 cup applesauce with cinnamon
- 2 large eggs
You don’t necessarily have to use cinnamon applesauce. You can find it in a lot of varieties and any of them will work. Try mango, strawberry, blueberry, or even Granny Smith’s apples for a different taste.
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Mix all ingredients together in large bowl.
- Scoop mixture onto a cookie sheet covered with parchment paper.
- Bake for about 20 minutes. Let cool before serving.
If you’re giving these as a gift or if you just want to make them look a little cuter, instead of using a cookie sheet you could spoon the mixture into mini pie pans or cookie molds.
So Much Goodness in Moderation
Your dog will love the fresh, homemade treats you make for him but it’s important to remember that they’re treats. They don’t take the place of a well-rounded diet. Depending on your dog’s size, about two treats a day is the perfect amount. Think of them as you would cookies for yourself. They’re the perfect reward, treat, or snack but having too many isn’t good for you.
