Homemade Peanut Butter Dog Treats
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The easiest homemade dog treats ever – simply mix, roll and cut. Easy peasy, and so much healthier than store-bought!
Featured Comment
I know. Dog treats on Damn Delicious? I never thought I’d see the day. But I’ve been spending a lot of time and money shopping for good-quality dog treats for Butters here, but then I thought, why not just make them at home?
reasons to make homemade peanut butter dog treats
- So stinking easy to make
- Short 4 ingredient list, most of which you probably have on hand
- Healthier ingredients – no added preservatives, fats or chemicals
- Economical and cost-effective
- Freezer-friendly to extend shelf-life
- Guaranteed favorite with your pups
- Makes for great gifts for pup friends, birthdays and holidays
Ingredients
Pumpkin puree
Pumpkin puree is great for digestive health for your pup. Always use pure pumpkin puree with no added sugar, salt, fat or spices.
Peanut butter
A hero ingredient here! Always opt for natural, unsalted peanut butter without added sugar or artificial sweeteners such as xylitol.
Eggs
Not only are eggs a nutritious source of protein, healthy fats, vitamins and minerals, but they also serve as a binding agent to hold the dog treats together.
Whole wheat flour
We prefer whole wheat flour as it contains more nutritional value than all-purpose flour. Rice flour can also be used as a gluten-free option.
tips and tricks for success
- Use your favorite cookie cutters. Bone-shaped cookie cutters are so much fun to work with but you can really use any kind of cookie cutter on hand – hearts, stars, dog houses, paws, etc.
- Adjust baking time as needed. The longer they bake, the crunchier they are.
- Shorter shelf life. Homemade peanut butter dog treats have a shorter shelf life as they lack preservatives compared to store-bought treats, making them susceptible to spoil relatively quickly.
- Feed in moderation. As always, give treats in moderation to avoid potential health problems such as diabetes and obesity.
- Consult with a vet. Please consult with your pet’s veterinarian regarding possible allergies, dietary restrictions and health concerns your pup may have.
freezing and storage
Storage
Homemade dog treats can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 1-2 weeks.
Freeze after baking
Let the dog treats cool completely. Transfer the dog treats to an airtight, resealable freezer bag, thawing overnight. Label, date and freeze up to 3 months.
pro tip
Use dog safe peanut butter.
Use peanut butter without added sugar or artificial sweeteners such as xylitol. Xylitol is added to peanut butter as a low-calorie sweetener. While safe for humans, xylitol is toxic to dogs, causing hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), seizures, liver failure or even death.
more homemade dog food recipes
Homemade Peanut Butter Dog Treats: Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but all-purpose flour is high in carbs and does not offer much nutritional value.
Rice flour is often times used as a gluten-free option. It is easier to digest and can help with stomach issues.
These can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 1-2 weeks, or in the freezer for 2-3 months.
Homemade Peanut Butter Dog Treats
Ingredients
- ⅔ cup pumpkin puree
- ¼ cup peanut butter
- 2 large eggs
- 2 ½ cups whole wheat flour
Instructions
- 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 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.
- 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.
Notes
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I tried these using gluten free flour (Namaste Foods Perfect Flour Blend) and they turned out great. Just an fyi for those who were asking about alternatives to flour. No complicated measurements necessary, it measures the same as flour.
Thank you for the recipe. Can’t wait ti try it.
I have two dogs at home that wouldn’t eat store bought treats, so I tried to make these treats, and they couldn’t get enough of them!
Could I use 1 egg instead of two? What would happen?
The mixture may be too dry to roll out and to cut into shapes.
Can you refrigerate the dough if you don’t bake all the treats at once? I’m making these for a fundraiser and won’t be able to bake all the treats at one time, and will bake them over 2 days. Will the dough keep ok?
Unfortunately, I cannot answer this with certainty as I have not tried this myself. But you can also try halving the recipe and bake them in one sitting if that helps.
Is it possible to use a sweet potato puree instead of pumpkin?
Yes, absolutely! I have done the same when trying to mix things up for the pups 🙂
thanks, I need did this recipe because it is my dog’s birthday she is turning 5 years old. I thought it would be awesome if I could just give her something off the hook. So I invited lots of her friends to come to her party so that she could have the best birthday ever thanks again.
I made a double batch of these and used the large end of a cupcake icing tip to cut them for my two 8 lb dogs. I baked them for about 10 minutes and they were still a little chewy. I let them cool and bagged them up and put most of them in the freezer. I just pull out a bag for the week and it lasts the whole month! Great recipe! My boys love them!
Thanks!
can these cookies be frozen to prolong self life and approx. how many cookies does it make?
Yes, these can definitely be frozen. As for the amount of cookies, that’s really hard to say – it all depends on the size of the cookie cutters that you use.
Can I use almond flour? My 3 have Grain allergies.
Unfortunately, I cannot answer this with certainty without further recipe testing. Please use your best judgment.
I plan on making these and donating them to my local animal shelter. I hope that this will inspire you to double the recipe and donate them to good animals waiting for their furever homes.
I don’t have a stand mixer. What can I use in place?
You can try mixing it by hand, but it will take some elbow grease to do so!
Can I use white whole wheat flour? I have NEVER made dog treats, but really want to make these for my dog-sitting clients’ dogs!
Unfortunately, I have never tried using white whole wheat flour so I cannot answer with certainty if this will sit well with your dog-sitting clients’ dogs. It is best to consult a veterinarian regarding possible dog allergies and substitutions.
I just wanted to say that I used this recipe (I halved the recipe) and baked the biscuits in my Bow Wow Bistro dog treat maker. It worked very well. I baked the biscuits for 7 1/2 minutes. Thanks so much for the recipe!!!
Lol ok my dad makes some pretty good cookies was just wondering!!
I need an entree any suggestions?
Ethan, please feel free to browse through the recipe index for recipe inspiration: https://damndelicious.net/recipe-index/.
Thank you for the recipe. This was wonderful and I know that pumpkin puree is recommended for upset stomachs in dogs, especially if you are situated out of town and not near an animal clinic. I have used this myself for my own pooches. They really loved these cookies. I was a little strapped for time, so just rolled the mixture into a sausage and cut slices off and baked them.
My dog is not allergic to rice….so was wondering whether the rice flour (instead of wheat flour) would bake well ?
T, you can certainly try substituting rice flour but without further recipe testing, I cannot speak for how much this will change the overall taste/texture of the dish. Please use your best judgment to make the appropriate substitutions to fit your pet’s dietary restrictions.
Are these treats alright for people to eat? I have a school project and was going to make them if they were alright 🙂 Ty in advance for the reply!!! (because they sound really delicious!!!!)
Yes, they are people-friendly if that’s what you’re asking but this is really meant to be served to dogs as a treat.
Wow these look amazing! I know my dog will love them 🙂
Regarding allergies, I’ve made a similar recipe that called for rice flour, and my dog LOVED it. No tummy troubles at all.
I bet Butters absolutely loved these treats, too cute!