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Nothing says “I love my puppy” like cooking for your four-legged friend, and these homemade dog treats are full of love! Two yummy flavors, one simple recipe! Your dog won’t be able to choose between peanut butter and cheddar, so why not make both?
After much debate, Zach and I finally made the plunge and decided to get a puppy, and let me tell you, my little Luna is the light of my life! She is so little and sweet, I could just eat her up. And since I love to cook to it only makes sense that I cook for my little fur baby too. So I decided to make her two flavors of dog treats, and let me tell you, she LOVES them!
Peanut Butter Treats
I really wanted to make sure whatever I put in my treats was healthy for my little Luna. So the first flavor I made for my pup was peanut butter. Dogs LOVE peanut butter so why not start there?
These treats start with one cup of old fashioned oats. Oats are great for dogs who are sensitive to wheat or grains, and it is full of vitamin B, which is great for their coats. They also have 1 egg to bind them together, 1/2 cup of peanut butter and 1/2 cup of pumpkin puree.
Pumpkin is GREAT for dogs for half a dozen reasons, including that it is full of Vitamin A/beta carotene, which is great for doggies eyes. It is also rich in vitamin C and antioxidants. Hello strong immune system! And lots of fiber and amino acids to help keep your dog’s digestive system healthy and parasite free. And remember, canned pumpkin is more nutrient dense than fresh, so when you are out shopping for those fall recipes, grab an extra can for the pup.
Cheddar Carrot Treats
The second flavor I made was cheddar carrot. They start with the same 1 cup of old fashioned oats, 1/2 cup of pumpkin puree, and 1 egg. Instead of peanut butter, though, these have 1/2 cup of shredded cheddar and 1/4 cup of finely shredded carrot. I grated mine in the food processor, but a grater will work fine.
Carrots are also awesome for dogs. Like pumpkin puree, they are packed full of vitamin A/beta carotene, and fiber. But fun fact: dogs can’t actually absorb the nutrients in raw carrots, only cooked ones, so this recipe is perfect to get the most benefits for your dog.
Cooking the Treats
The recipe for both flavors is the same. Start by grinding the oats. Place them in a food processor and pulse until they texture is closer to a coarse flour. Mix in the rest of the ingredients until all of the oat “flour” is moist. The peanut butter dough will be a bit more moist than the cheddar treats, so add a tbsp or two additional pumpkin puree
Next press about a tsp each of the mix into an oven safe silicone mold. I used these super cute dog themed ones!
Bake them in a 350 degree oven for 20-30 minutes. The bake time will vary based on how large/deep the molds are and how crispy you want the treats, so make sure to check them.
Once they are done baking, pop the treats out of the molds and let them cool. Store them in an airtight container and feed them to your four-legged friend whenever you want!
My little Luna is totally addicted to both of these homemade dog treats, and it feels so good knowing exactly what is in them. Cooking for your fur baby is just as satisfying as cooking for your loved ones.
Homemade Dog Treats
Ingredients
Peanut Butter Treats
- 1 cup old fashioned oats
- ½ cup pumpkin puree not pumpkin pie filling
- ½ cup peanut butter with no xylitol or other artificial sweetener
- 1 egg
Cheddar Carrot Treats
- 1 cup old fashioned oats
- ½ cup pumpkin puree
- ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
- ¼ cup carrot finely grated
- 1 egg
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325°
- For both recipes, start by grinding the oats. Place them in a food processor or blender until they are closer to the consistency of a coarse flour.
- Mix in the remaining ingredients for the flavor treats you are making. The dough will be wet.
- Press the dough into oven safe silicone molds and bake for 20-30 minutes based on the size depth of the molds and how crispy you'd like them.
- Cool and store in an airtight container.
