Show your furry best friend some love with these incredibly simple and healthy homemade dog treats. This recipe uses just three ingredients, is free from common allergens, boasts high fiber content, and is significantly more budget-friendly than store-bought options, costing less than $1 to make a batch of 40-50 treats.
Why Homemade Treats?
Making your own dog treats is a fantastic way to control the ingredients, ensuring your dog receives nutritious, wholesome snacks without any unwanted additives or allergens. This recipe is perfect for a special occasion or just as an everyday way to say “I love you” to your canine companion.
The Simple Ingredients
The foundation of these delicious treats consists of:
- Cooked Sweet Potato: A great source of fiber, vitamins, and minerals.
- All-Natural Peanut Butter: Ensure it contains only peanuts, with no added sweeteners or salt, which can be harmful to dogs.
- Oat Flour: A healthy alternative to wheat, especially for dogs with sensitivities. You can easily make your own by grinding whole oats.
For an even quicker option, canned pumpkin puree (unsweetened, 100% pumpkin) can be substituted for sweet potato. Like peanut butter, ensure the pumpkin puree lists only pumpkin as its ingredient.
If your dog doesn’t have wheat sensitivities, you can also opt for whole wheat flour instead of oat flour.
Preparing the Dough
Creating the dough for these treats is straightforward:
- Combine Wet Ingredients: Mash the cooked sweet potato (or pumpkin puree) and mix it thoroughly with the natural peanut butter. If you’re starting with raw sweet potato, you can peel and boil it until tender, then mash. Alternatively, bake whole sweet potatoes at 425°F (218°C) for 40-55 minutes until soft, then cool, peel, and mash.
- Incorporate Flour: Gradually add the oat flour (or whole wheat flour) to the wet mixture. Stir with a spoon or use your hands until a cohesive dough forms. The dough might be slightly sticky, which is normal. If it seems too dry, add a splash of water or unsweetened oat milk. If it’s too sticky to handle, a little more flour will help firm it up.
Rolling and Cutting
Once the dough is ready, it’s time to shape the treats:
- Roll Out: Place the dough on a silicone mat or a piece of wax paper. Roll it out to a thickness of ¼ to ½ inch. Using wax paper on top can prevent sticking.
- Cut Shapes: Use your favorite dog-bone-shaped cookie cutters for a classic look. For larger dogs, use bigger cutters, and adjust thickness as needed. If you don’t have cookie cutters, simply slice the dough into small squares. Remember, the thickness at this stage determines the final biscuit thickness as there are no rising agents.
Baking the Treats
The baking process is as customizable as the shaping:
- Preheat Oven: Set your oven to 400°F (200°C) and prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Bake: Place the cut-out treats on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 10-15 minutes. For softer, chewier treats, aim for 10-12 minutes. For a crunchier biscuit that takes longer to enjoy, bake for the full 15 minutes.
- Cool Down: Allow the treats to cool completely before serving or storing.
Storage and Cost
These homemade treats can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week or frozen for up to two months. The approximate cost is just $0.83 CAD for a batch of 40-50 treats, a significant saving compared to store-bought options that can cost $10 or more per bag.
If you make these treats for your dog, share your experience and details about your pup in the comments below! You might also enjoy these other recipes: Sweet Potato Black Bean Tacos and Peanut Butter Chickpea Cookie Dough Bars.
Recipe Details
- Prep time: 15 minutes
- Cook time: 15 minutes
- Yields: 40-50 treats
- Category: Thrifty How-Tos
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American, Canadian
