Making homemade snacks for your four-legged friend is a breeze with this simple peanut butter dog treat recipe. Pups will love the peanut butter flavor!
Did you know that homemade dog treats are crazy easy to make? Yup! I actually just found out myself a few weeks ago. I got inspired after reading the ingredient list on a few natural treats that I bought for Olive and decided it couldn’t be that hard to make them myself.
And it’s not! The dough can be whipped up in a flash with everyday ingredients you probably have sitting in your pantry right now.
The only time consuming part is using a cookie cutter to cut out whatever shape you want, but I didn’t mind because it’s kind of relaxing. Plus all I could think about the entire time is how tiny and cute these mini bones are.
Seriously, how cute are they?
I used this mini bone cookie cutter so the bones are about 1 1/2 inches — just Olive’s size!
I’m actually worried I might be quickly becoming a crazy dog lady because I’ve already made THREE batches!! Some are for Olive, but we’ll definitely be gifting some to Olive’s friends over the holidays as well.
I’ve given homemade baked goods for holiday gifts, but never thought to do the same with homemade pet treats. I’m not sure why because homemade dog treats are perfect for dog-lovers. Your friends and family will love that you thought of their furry four-legged friend and the treats will keep their pets happy for days!
The recipe I used is really straight-forward with only four simple ingredients:
- The base is whole wheat flour (all-purpose works but whole wheat is more nutritious). You can also use a gluten-free option like sorghum, oat or garbanzo bean flour.
- Peanut butter for some healthy fat and flavor.
- Apple sauce or mashed banana for a little sweetness.
- Veggie or chicken stock to moisten the dough and add flavor.
Once mixed together the dough is really easy to work with. Simply roll it out on parchment paper, cut the dough into desired shape and bake. That’s it!
The great part about this recipe is that you know exactly what’s in the treats and you can feel good about the fact that there’s no preservatives, additives or funky ingredients.
The treats have been taste-tested by at least three dogs (and a few humans) — two paws up all around! We don’t really feed Olive people food so I wasn’t sure if she liked peanut butter, but after having her taste-test these treats there’s no denying that she’s a fan. I guess she takes after her parents considering both Isaac and I are peanut butter fanatics.
Homemade Peanut Butter Dog Treats
Ingredients
- 1 cup whole wheat flour
- 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1/4 cup unsweetened apple sauce or mashed banana
- 1/4 cup vegetable, chicken or beef stock
- bone shaped cookie cutter
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°.
- Combine flour, peanut butter and apple sauce in a large mixing bowl. Add stock and stir until well-combined. The dough will be thick. Once combined use your hands to press the dough into a ball. Place dough ball on a flat service (with a sprinkle of flour if needed) and roll out evenly with a rolling pin. Dough should be about ¼ inch thick. Use a cookie cutter to cut the dough into desired shape and place on ungreased baking sheet.
- Bake for 18 minutes or until golden brown. Store in an airtight container.
I used a mini bone shaped cookie cutter because Olive is small (6 pounds), but you could use a bigger cookie cutter to make treats for larger dogs. I think I might actually buy this little set so I have a few different sizes and shapes.
Do you give your pets gifts for the holidays?
Such a cute idea!! One of my dogs has bad allergies (literally, his test said he was allergic to people), so it’s great when I can control what ingredients are in his treat! I know my fur babies will love these.
How long do you think they would stay good?
They’re dry so I think they should last about a week when stored at room temperature in a sealed container. Since a week is a short time to eat a large amount of treats you could also freeze any extras. They should last for a few months in the freezer. If your dog likes cold stuff (like ice) he/she might be fine eating them straight from the freezer. If not, you can take them a few minutes early.
We make our dog treats too! I actually just use a pizza cutter to cut the rolled out dough into little squares.
That’s a great idea!
I’m so excited to make these! I’m going to order my cookie cutter now and I plan to make some for family and friends over the holidays. And my dog’s gift was the first gift I bought this year.. I had to put it away so I wouldn’t be tempted to give it to her early!
This is such a great idea! I’m hoping to find the time to make a batch to give as gifts, but if not, I know I’ll make some for my own dogs after the holidays. Thanks for the idea! 🙂
Do these bake up real dry like a hard cookie?
Yes they do. The texture is very similar to most dog treats you’d buy at a pet store.
I doubled the recipe and baked them today. They came out perfec – dry and very firm. I baked these as Xmas gifts for 4 dogs. Thankyou for sharing this very simple recipe.
could i give these to my cat?
I’ve never owned a cat so I’m not 100% sure if peanut butter is something they should have. Maybe check out this article.
Very important to make sure you do NOT use peanut butter containing Xylitol. It is poisonous to pets!
Thanks for the tip Lauren — I didn’t even realize that some peanut butter brands include Xylitol!
If you don’t have chicken stock would water be fine?
Yes!
I just made these for the first time. Mine are larger than the ones shown. I used a hydrant, dog and bone cookie cutter. Mine are still a bit soft out of the oven, will they harden up like a dog biscuit as they cool? Or do I need to bake them longer?
I made these for my oldest son’s newly adopted dog and can’t wait to ship them off.
Thank you for the recipe!
They should harden a tiny bit as they cool, but I’d probably bake them a bit longer if they’re still pretty soft.
Hey Brittany,
Just found your blog through this recipe. I just did the dough and I felt that it is a bit too soft. I feel that I need to use a bit of flour to be able to roll it. Is that normal? If not, should I add more flour? I used oat flour instead of wheat flour if that makes a difference..
Hi Myriam. Yes, if the dough seems soft I would definitely add a bit more flour. It was probably because you used oat flour instead of whole wheat. I realize you wrote this comment earlier today. I hope the treats turned out well and your pup(s) are enjoying them!
My pups love these treats. Super easy to make. I added a heaping tablespoon of organic coconut oil, only had banana and needed a little more moisture and did not want to use more broth. Thanks for sharing.
Yay!! I’m so glad that your doggies like the treats!! I love the addition of coconut oil too. It’s awesome for their coat! 🙂
I do not see any measurements for the peanut butter cookies.
Hi Gerry. Are you talking about the peanut butter dog treats? If so, the measurements are listed here.
My two pups love these treat! I did make one change to mine, I added a Tablespoon of coconut oil. I have made them three batches, Bentley actually goes to the cabinet and “asks” for them. 🐾❤️
Hello so is the coconut replacing any ingredient or is it in addition to
Thanks 😊
Hi Janice. I think most folks are just adding an additional tablespoon of coconut oil to the mixture, but you could probably cut back on the peanut butter by a tablespoon if you wanted. 🙂
Could I make this in a stand mixer or by hand?
My pup has some dental issues so I took them out a bit sooner. They are firm but not real crunchy. She loves them! Great recipe. I have also substituted pumpkin purée for the peanut butter. They came out great too.
Hi Deb! I’m so glad that you were able to make the treats a little softer for your pup! I’m going to try making them with pumpkin next time. Great idea.
My dogs LOVE these treats and they are SO EASY to make!! This recipe is a keeper!
I also add a touch of honey to the mixture…
can u add fish oil instead of the coconut? my dog has dry skin and i was told fish oil would help that.
Yes! You can definitely add a little fish oil.
I have baked peanut butter cookies, never thought to put in applesauce and bananas. I have 3 Border Collies and they loved them. Thanks for the recipe!
I LOVE this recipe! I have 5 pups – 2 labs, a Weimie mix, an American Bulldog/Lab mix, and a Beagle – so we go through A LOT is treats! This is less expensive, and more healthy, than the treats I get at the store. My question is this: I have to have surgery on a ruptured tendon on my right hand this week and wanted to make up dough in advance. Can I make the dough and freeze it for later use? Also, have you ever made the treats by just dropping them by the spoonful on a cookie sheet (like cookie dough)? I won’t be able to use my hand for 4-8 weeks, so rolling and cutting might be difficult.
My dog loves these! Thanks for the recipe Brittany 🙂
Of course! So glad your pup likes them. 🙂
Easy to make and my dog loves them!
I AM SO HAPPY HOW THESE TURNED OUT! i even gave some to my neighbors dog! they loved them! I love these! Thank You Brittany!
Yay!! So glad you and your pups enjoyed this recipe. 🙂
My dog and friends dog love these! Thanks for the recipe. 🐶
Yay!! Glad they love them! 🙂
I don’t have any unsweetened appkesauce on hand. Is is safe for the pups to have sweetened applesauce?
Yes, regular applesauce should be fine!
Could I use chicken broth instead of stock?
Definitely!
would regular flour work
Sure! Whole wheat is more nutritious, but regular works too!
I followed this recipe to the exact. But for some reason when I cut the mixture with the cookie cutter, It crumbles and falls apart. Any idea what I’m doing wrong?
It seems like your batter is too dry. Maybe try adding some additional broth!
How long do these last for? Hoping to give them to a friend.
There aren’t any preservatives in the treats so they won’t last the way store-bought treats will. To be safe, I’d say 2-3 days in an air-tight container at room temp, 2-3 weeks in the fridge or a few months in the freezer. Hope this helps!
I followed the recipe to the letter, using whole wheat flour, and it’s really sticky. I’m having to add flour to stiffen it up. Hope it turns out ok! I’m really excited to try this and will also be trying it with bananas in the next batch, then steamed carrots in the next one We’re having a baking day since it’s cold. 🙂
hmm… I’m wondering if your peanut butter was a bit looser than mine? I hope adding the extra flour helps! Let me know how they turn out!! And please let me know how the carrot and bananas work too!! Enjoy your baking day.
Hi! I have never made dog treats before.. I’m a new dog owner! Is it okay to use regular flour in them or is that terrible for dogs? Just wondering because that’s what I have at home already..
Hi Chelsea. All-purpose flour will definitely work! Whole wheat is just more nutritious.
I’m getting a collie puppy next week and I’m going a bit crazy with dog stuff! Can’t wait to make these, hoping my current 13yo collie likes them too (he’s picky)!! I’m gonna use banana, fingers crossed it goes well because I suck at baking!!!!!
Let me know how they turn out!!
Hello,
I just tried your recipe and my dough came out super greasy and would stick and split when I tried to roll it out. I did try more flour but it did nothing.
The only thing I can think of is that I used rice flour and that my Kraft peanut butter was soft and slightly liquidy. I could use some pointers 🙁
Yes, it’s the rice flour. We have people with celiac in our family, so we know a lot about how different flours bake up. Rice flour doesn’t contain any gluten, which is what holds things together when baking. When we use rice flour for my sister, we have to add other ingredients to compensate. If you don’t want to use wheat flour for your dog, you may have a hard time finding a baked recipe. Also, my dough got softer the more I handled it, so I popped it into the fridge to firm up before finishing the last few cut outs.
These treats look so cute. I know my pup is going to love them. I feel guilty if I give him store bought treats with all those nasty ingredients. Thanks for sharing the recipe.
I just made a batch of these for my border collie. She loves peanut butter and bananas, so these went over great! I was afraid they would spread as they cooked, but they held their shape fine. I used a 1-inch heart shaped cookie cutter, they ended up the perfect size for a snack! Thank you for the recipe!
Do you think it would work to substitute sunflower seed butter for the peanut butter?
Hi Kelly. Sunflower seed butter should work well and is fine for dogs! Let me know how they turn out.