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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First time making him they were really easy. We made small ones because our goldens on a diet. I would like to know how many calories is in the recipe. Thank you
Chase really love them
didn’t take long and everyone I gave them to for their dogs loved them! Will be making more for Christmas presents for some doggies! Thank you so much! was so easy to make <3
My 5 yo son gets to choose from a list of “homework” items weekly, and one of the choices is to complete a recipe and draw a picture of what you did. So this week we made these treats for our mini dachshund “Jello”. (We decided that since we always make yummy things for us, it would be nice to make something for him for a change.) My son excitedly dug out all his playdoh cookie cutters and tools and made all kinds of shapes for Jello- including hearts “because I love him!”. It was a wonderful activity and the dog went bonkers for them. In fact, I think sometimes he doesn’t actually have to go outside but does so only to receive one of these biscuits! Thanks so much for sharing this simple recipe- it made great treats and memories!
PS- we subbed sweet potato for lack of pumpkin and they turned out wonderfully!
PPS- I forgot one thing! We ran out of the ww flour and used a bit of rice flour to no ill effect. I feel like this recipe lends itself well to adaptation.
My dogs love this recipe. And it’s so easy to make. I ran out of pumpkin and used sweet potato. That worked really well.
I just made these tonight. My dogs loved them. The 2 1/2 cups of flour is just perfect. I also added about 2 Tbl of honey and about 1/2 tsp cinnamon. 20 min cooking time is just perfect with my oven. I will definitely make these again. I’m keeping a few in a small plastic bag and freezing the rest, since some people said they got moldy after sitting for about a week.
I find the longer you leave them in the Oven, the harder they are and they won’t go moldy. Once they’re cooked I turn the oven down to about 150C and leave them in there for a bit longer until they are very hard when you tap them (up to about 20mins extra). Then I turn oven off and leave them in there until the oven is cooled.
Thank you for this tip Sandra- I actually read your comment about doing this before making them for the first time and I think you’re on to something so I just did this step anyway. The treats are super hard and I don’t anticipate mold at all. Dropped a desiccant packet in the container for good measure!
Just finished these and all three puppies love them!
The dogs love them!
I have been making these for my doggies for over a year. So easy and they absolutely love them? I use ground up oatmeal for the flour and add a bit of cinnamon. When I don’t have pumpkin, I cook up sweet potatoes. Wonderful recipe!
Update to my last review: I have been using Bob’s Red Mill stone ground whole wheat flour which must be finer than regular whole wheat flour, because it now only takes about 1 1/2 cups. Not sure if it reduces calorie content but, they still love them.
Had no idea when I made these the first time that this would be the beginning of spoiling my dog for store bought treats. He will not even think of eating anything other than these. Spits the others right out. Moose says they are damn delicious!
Thank you for sharing your recipe for the dogs. My dogs love this cookie so much !
Simple to make, my Freakingese seems to like them. They are bland for a human but I guess that is the point! haha Thanks for the idea. She enjoyed them for her 9th. birthday.
Have made these a few times now. My old Boxer and young Mastiff pup both love them. Tried substituting pumpkin with sweet potato and have also added small pieces of meat which both also seemed to love. Thanks heaps for a great, easy recipe.
Easy to make, loved by the four-leggeds at the pawty we held… but BEWARE: they mold after only a couple days in a ziploc bag. Best to refrigerate.
After 8 days stored they are starting to get mould on them . Can i freeze them? They are cheap and dogs love them.
Put a piece of bread in jar with the treats it will absorb the moisture and they will last longer
My Pepe loved these! I’m so glad I found this easy recipe. No more store bought treats!!
Our 11 week old Bernedoodle absolutely loves them! I used smashed Bananas instead of pumpkin puree, it worked great. I love this recipe and so does our puppy
It’s pouring rain out and I’m babysitting my daughter’s pug who gets along famously with my pitbull. I decided to make your recipe. The dogs were asleep. As soon as the fragrance of the biscuits started to fill the room, they went nuts. Because I made 2 different sizes, I got around 80 treats out of the batch. To be honest, I’m tempted to try one myself. They love them! Christmas gifts for my friends with dogs .
My dog loves these..
I roll the batter into 3/4 to 1 inch diameter logs and bake. I slice them down and cool in the refrigerator. Put in freezer for a bit and then put pieces in snack bags. The snack bags in one big freezer bag. My Chihuahua likes them frozen. I did add a little honey and cinnamon. Thank you for your recipe.
My dog loves these! Thanks for sharing recipe! Btw, I substitute the pumpkin purée w sweet potatoes since I know my doggy is a fan. So y’all should give it a try!
Also I read comments on shelf like. My first batch got moldy after a week or 2 (don’t remember exactly) but after that I’ve been keeping extras in the fridge to last longer and sharing a few treats w another dog, too 🙂
I’ll definitely try freezing some per advice below