All dogs love treats. They are an essential tool for training or just showing your pup some love. Like us though, dogs can have likes and dislikes, preferences when it comes to their favorite dog treats. While there’s plenty of dog treats available on the market, you can make your own at home, too. Homemade dog treats are the healthiest option for your pup because you know every ingredient in them, plus they’re a lot cheaper than commercially-made dog treats. Here are our nine favorite homemade dog treats.
Classic Dog Treats
This classic dog treat recipe takes 15 minutes of preparation and 30 minutes of baking time, making approximately 30 cookies.
Ingredients
- 1 large egg
- 2 cups whole wheat flour
- 1 cup toasted wheat germ
- ¾ cup water
- ¼ cup creamy peanut butter
- 2 tablespoons canola oil
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Combine the flour, wheat germ, and cinnamon together well, then mix in the rest of the ingredients until you have a sticky dough.
- On a floured surface, roll the dough out to ¼-inch thickness. If you have one, use a 3-inch cookie cutter to create your preferred cookie shape.
- Place the shapes 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet and place them in the oven. Bake 30 to 35 minutes, until the bottoms are light brown. Remove from the oven and cool on a wire rack. Store in an airtight container.
Peanut Butter & Coconut Oil Dog Treats
These frozen treats don’t involve any baking and only require 3 ingredients. If you’re looking for an easy dog treat your pup will love on a hot day, try these!
Ingredients
- 1 cup peanut butter
- 1 teaspoon unprocessed coconut oil
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- Silicone tray (we love this pawprint one!)
Instructions
- If your coconut oil isn’t already in liquid form, place it in a small skillet on the stove and heat on low until melted completely. Alternatively, place it in a bowl in the microwave for about 10 seconds or so.
- Add peanut butter and cinnamon to the coconut oil in a mixing bowl. Stir until the mixture is thoroughly combined.
- Pour the mixture into a silicone ice tray and freeze until they are set. Carefully remove the dog treats from the tray and place them in an airtight container in the freezer.
Pumpkin & Ginger Biscuits
These yummy biscuits are simple and easy to make. Preparation only takes a few minutes but baking time is over 2 hours.
Ingredients
- 3 cups whole wheat flour
- 1 large egg, beaten
- ½ cup pumpkin
- ¼ to ½ cup water
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil, melted
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 275 degrees Fahrenheit. Combine the flour and ginger in a bowl and set aside. In a large mixing bowl, combine the pumpkin, egg, and coconut oil.
- Next, take the flour mixture and slowly add it into the large bowl until it becomes crumbly. Using an electric mixer on low, slowly add water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until the mixture becomes doughy. You do not want the mix to become sticky, however.
- On a floured surface, roll the dough out to ¼-inch thickness, then cut with a 3-inch cookie cutter.
- Place them 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake until the bottoms are light brown and the dog treats feel firm when pressed, usually about 2.5 hours.
Frozen Watermelon Dog Treats
These frozen dog treats are a perfect way for your pup to cool down in the hot summer weather. They take about 20 minutes to make and produce 24 dog treats.
Ingredients
- 2 cups seedless watermelon
- ½ cup Greek yogurt, plain
- 1 tablespoon parsley, chopped (optional)
Instructions
- Puree the watermelon in a blender or food processor. Chop the parsley.
- Place your silicone mold on a baking tray and place a small piece of parsley in each mold. Pour plain Greek yogurt in a thin layer covering the bottom of each mold too. Freeze for one hour.
- Next, pour in the watermelon puree and freeze the dog treats for another 4 hours.
- Keep frozen in an airtight container until ready to serve to your doggos.
Pumpkin “Puppuccinos”
Be honest, have you ever gone through the Starbucks drive-through just to get your dog a puppuccino? Don’t worry, you’re in good company. Starbucks can get expensive, however, so here’s a 5-minute homemade alternative.
Ingredients
- 1 cup goat milk (can use coconut milk instead)
- 1 cup pumpkin, pureed
- Pinch of ground cinnamon
- Pinch of ground ginger
- Whipped cream (optional)
Instructions
- Place milk, pumpkin, cinnamon, and ginger in a blender and mix for about a minute.
- Pour into a cup and top with a small amount of whipped cream.
- Place any extra in an airtight container in the refrigerator and it will stay good for about a week.
Peanut Butter & Bacon Doggie Donuts
What dogs don’t like peanut butter or bacon? Well, here’s a dog treat that gives your pooch both!
Ingredients
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup oats
- 1 cup flour
- ½ cup peanut butter
- ⅓ cup coconut oil
- Greek yogurt and bacon bits for topping
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Spray a donut pan with cooking spray and set aside.
- In a large bowl combine all the ingredients (except for the toppings) and mix well with a spoon until a dough forms.
- Press the dough into the greased donut pan, pressing firmly to ensure it sticks together.
- Place the pan in the oven for 14 minutes, until they are cooked completely through.
- Allow the pan to cool then carefully remove the donuts from the pan.
- Once cool, carefully dip each donut into a bowl of Greek yogurt then sprinkle them with bacon bits.
- Lastly, place the donuts in the freezer for a few minutes to harden the yogurt. Store the finished dog treats in the freezer.
Homemade Dog Treats For Your Best Friend
Whether you use dog treats for training or just because homemade dog treats are an incredible alternative to commercially bought treats. Not only are they cheaper to make, but they’re healthier too. If your dog doesn’t like one of these 6 dog treat recipes (which we’re sure they will!) there are plenty of other easy recipes available online.