Homemade Peanut Butter Dog Treats
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These homemade peanut butter dog treats are so easy and you only need four ingredients. Pups will love the peanut butter flavor!
Did you know that homemade dog treats are crazy easy to make? Yup, they are!!
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 (our 6 pound Yorkshire Terrier) and decided it couldn’t be that hard to make them myself.
And it’s not at all!
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 I’ll definitely be gifting some to Olive’s friends as well.
Ingredients Needed
The dough can be whipped up in a flash with everyday ingredients you probably have sitting in your pantry right now. Here’s what you need:
- whole wheat flour – I like using whole wheat because it’s more nutrient dense, but all-purpose works too. You can also use a gluten-free option like sorghum, oat or garbanzo bean flour if your dog has allergies.
- creamy peanut butter – this adds healthy fat and flavor. Make sure your peanut butter doesn’t have any added ingredients like artificial sweeteners as these can be toxic to dogs! Look for a brand with only two ingredients: peanuts and salt.
- unsweetened applesauce or mashed banana – You can use homemade applesauce or store-bought. This adds a little sweetness and helps the dough form together with the added liquid.
- bone shaped cookie cutter – I used this mini bone cookie cutter since Olive is small, but am eyeing this set with a variety of sizes!
- vegetable, chicken, or beef stock – this ingredient keeps the dough moist and adds a savory flavor dogs love. Be sure to choose a dog-friendly broth! Many human broths contain ingredients like onions, garlic, or excessive salt, which aren’t safe for pups. Check the label carefully or opt for broths labeled specifically for pets. You can often find dog-safe options in pet stores, or you can make your own using simple, dog-approved ingredients.
Pet Friendly Ingredients
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.
Peanut butter – Make sure your peanut butter doesn’t include the artificial sweetener xylitol as this is toxic to dogs. To be honest, most peanut butters do not include this ingredient, but always check the ingredient list.
Flour – Both all-purpose and whole wheat flour are safe for dogs! If your dog can’t tolerate wheat, you could try rice, sorghum, oat or garbanzo bean flour as well.
How Many Dog Treats Can I Give My Dog?
As with everything in life, moderation is key! I recommend starting by giving your dog a small treat to see if they have any adverse reactions. After determining your dog tolerates the treat well, you can give as often as you see fit.
How Long do Homemade Dog Treats Last?
After allowing these dog treats to cool completely, you can store them at room temp for 3-5 days, in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 months or freeze them for longer storage (up to 3 months).
The treats can be served straight from the fridge, but should be thawed for a bit if frozen.
The Perfect Gift!
Homemade dog treats are the perfect gift 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!
Everything You Need to Make Homemade Peanut Butter Dog Treats
Mini Dog Bone Cookie Cutter in Tinplated Steel, Silver
Buy Now →
Cuisinart Set of 3 BPA-free Mixing Bowls, White
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Williams Sonoma Goldtouch® Pro Nonstick Corrugated Cookie Sheet
Buy Now →More Dog Treat Recipes to Try:
If you make these peanut butter dog treats be sure to leave a comment and star rating below letting us know how they turned out for you and how your pup likes them! Your feedback is so helpful for the EBF team and our readers!
If you enjoyed this recipe, please consider leaving a ⭐ star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below.
Homemade Peanut Butter Dog Treats
Ingredients
- 1 cup whole wheat flour
- ½ cup creamy peanut butter
- ¼ cup unsweetened applesauce or mashed banana
- ¼ cup vegetable chicken or beef stock or broth (dog friendly)
- bone shaped cookie cutter
Instructions
- Preheat oven: Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Mix ingredients: Combine flour, peanut butter and applesauce 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.
- Roll: 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 1/4 inch thick. Use a cookie cutter to cut the dough into desired shape and place on baking sheet.
- Bake: Bake for 18 minutes or until golden brown and dry. Larger cookies may need to bake longer!
- Store: Store in an airtight container.
Video
Notes
- Peanut butter – Make sure your peanut butter doesn’t include the artificial sweetener xylitol as this is toxic to dogs. To be honest, most peanut butters do not include this, but always check the ingredient list.
- Flour – Both all-purpose and whole wheat flour are safe for dogs! If your dog doesn’t tolerate wheat, you could try rice, sorghum, oat or garbanzo bean flour as well.
- Broth – Be sure to choose a dog-friendly broth! Many human broths contain ingredients like onions, garlic, or excessive salt, which aren’t safe for pups. Check the label carefully or opt for broths labeled specifically for pets.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Like This Recipe? Rate & Comment Below!
sugar free peanut butter is a little different and not so creamy. Will it still work? I brought sugar free once and it was really stiff. Not sure any thing with sugar is good for dogs.
Hi Diane. Are you meaning natural peanut butter with no sugar added? That’s what I use and it’s perfectly fine. Just make sure it’s not a sugar-free peanut butter that has artificial sweeteners. Xylitol is one artificial sweetener (sugar alcohol) that can be deadly for dogs.
What could I use instead of applesauce or banana? I want to make these TODAY and I don’t have either of those on hand!
I haven’t tried them with anything other than applesauce or banana so I’m not 100% sure! Sorry about that.
I know this is over a year later, but in traditional cooking, I was told that in order to cut fats, like oil, out of the diet, you can substitute applesauce or mashed banana to make it healthier. The opposite is true, though I would stick with coconut oil if that’s the case.
Can I use white whole wheat flour?
Sure!!
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.
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!
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.
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.
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!!
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 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.