Dog Treat Recipes

TL;DR: Eight homemade dog treat recipes that actually work: peanut butter biscuits, pumpkin biscuits, three-ingredient peanut butter cookies, frozen yogurt pops, sweet potato chews, frozen pumpkin yogurt bites, peanut butter banana frozen Kongs, and chicken jerky. All recipes use safe ingredients, can be scaled up or down, and most store for 2-4 weeks. Skip the xylitol, chocolate, raisins, garlic, onions, and macadamia nuts. Test any new recipe with a small amount first.

Here at Cooper's Treats, we spend a lot of time working out treat recipes. We have a willing taste-tester in our golden retriever Maple, who has yet to turn down anything we've put in front of her. Even the ones that didn't work out (the salmon-and-sweet-potato experiment will not be returning).

Below are eight homemade dog treat recipes we actually use, the ones that survived multiple rounds of testing and got the Maple seal of approval. Each one has its own ingredients, steps, and notes. You don't need any specialty equipment, just an oven, a baking sheet, some basic kitchen tools, and a few ingredients you probably already have.

Why Homemade Dog Treats?

A few real reasons to bake your own:

• Ingredient control. You know exactly what's in them, no mystery preservatives, no "natural flavors," no fillers.
• Cost. Homemade treats are usually a fraction of the price of equivalent quality store-bought.
• Customization. You can adjust for your dog's allergies, weight, age, or preferences.
• Freshness. Store-bought treats might be months old by the time they reach your dog. Homemade are fresh.
• It's fun. Baking with your dog watching expectantly from the doorway is genuinely one of life's small pleasures.

You don't need to be a baker. Most dog treat recipes are simpler than human cookies, and dogs don't care about presentation. If it's edible and smells good, they're sold.

What You Need (Basic Kitchen Setup)

For most of the recipes below, you'll want:

• Mixing bowls (one large, one medium)
• Measuring cups and spoons
• A wooden spoon or silicone spatula
• Baking sheets
• Parchment paper or a silicone baking mat
• A rolling pin (optional but helpful)
• Cookie cutters (optional, just for looks)
• An ice cube tray or silicone mold (for frozen treats)
• An airtight container for storage

That's it. No food processor required for any of the recipes below (though it speeds some up).

Recipe 1: Three-Ingredient Peanut Butter Banana Biscuits

The easiest baked dog treat you'll ever make. Three ingredients, one bowl, ready in under 30 minutes.

Ingredients:

• 1 ripe banana (the riper the better)
• 1/2 cup natural peanut butter (xylitol-free, low or no salt)
• 1 1/4 cups oat flour (or rolled oats blended in a food processor)

Steps:

1. Preheat oven to 350F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Mash the banana thoroughly in a medium bowl.
3. Add the peanut butter and mix until smooth.
4. Add the oat flour and mix until you get a dough. Too sticky? Add a little more oat flour. Too dry? A splash of water.
5. Roll the dough into small balls (about 1 tablespoon each) and flatten with your palm onto the baking sheet. Or roll out to about 1/4 inch thick and cut with cookie cutters.
6. Bake for 18-20 minutes until firm and lightly browned.
7. Cool completely before serving.

Yields: About 20-25 small biscuits

Storage: Airtight container, room temp 5-7 days, refrigerated up to 2 weeks, frozen up to 3 months.

Recipe 2: Pumpkin Peanut Butter Biscuits

A step up in complexity but still very easy. Pumpkin adds fiber and a great color.

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup canned pure pumpkin (NOT pumpkin pie filling)
• 1/2 cup natural peanut butter (xylitol-free)
• 1 egg
• 2 cups whole wheat flour (or oat flour for grain-sensitive dogs)
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

Steps:

1. Preheat oven to 375F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together pumpkin, peanut butter, and egg until smooth.
3. In a separate bowl, mix the flour and baking powder.
4. Gradually add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients, stirring until a stiff dough forms. Add a splash of water if too dry.
5. Roll out the dough to about 1/4 inch thick on a lightly floured surface. Cut with cookie cutters (bone shapes if you're feeling festive) or just into squares with a knife.
6. Place on baking sheet and bake for 20-25 minutes until firm and golden.
7. Cool completely before serving.

Yields: About 30 medium biscuits

Storage: Airtight container at room temp for up to 1 week, refrigerated up to 3 weeks, frozen up to 3 months.

Recipe 3: Frozen Peanut Butter Yogurt Pops

Perfect for hot summer days. Easy enough that you can make them in five minutes plus freezing time.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup plain Greek yogurt (no sugar, no flavor, no xylitol)
• 1/3 cup natural peanut butter (xylitol-free)
• Optional: 1 tablespoon honey
• Optional: small pieces of dog-safe fruit (banana, blueberries, strawberries)

Steps:

1. Whisk the yogurt and peanut butter together until smooth. If using honey, add it now.
2. Spoon into an ice cube tray or silicone mold. Add a small piece of fruit to each cube if desired.
3. Freeze for at least 4 hours, or overnight.
4. Pop out and serve. Store remaining in a freezer bag.

Yields: About 12-16 cubes (depending on tray size)

Storage: Frozen for up to 3 months. Serve frozen, not thawed.

Recipe 4: Sweet Potato Chews

A single-ingredient jerky-style treat that's surprisingly addictive. Dogs go wild for these.

Ingredients:

• 2-3 large sweet potatoes

Steps:

1. Preheat oven to 250F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. Wash sweet potatoes thoroughly. Leave the skin on (it has fiber and nutrients).
3. Slice lengthwise into long strips, about 1/4 inch thick. Thinner = chewier, thicker = more jerky-like.
4. Lay slices in a single layer on baking sheets, not touching.
5. Bake for 2.5-3 hours, flipping halfway through. The slices should be dried out and slightly leathery but still pliable.
6. Cool completely before serving.

Yields: Varies depending on potato size, usually 30-40 strips

Storage: Airtight container at room temp for 2-3 weeks, refrigerated for up to a month, or frozen for 3 months.

Note: Sweet potato is good for dogs in moderation but is high in calories and sugar, treat as a special treat, not a daily snack.

Recipe 5: Frozen Pumpkin Yogurt Bites

Two-ingredient frozen treats with probiotic benefits.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup canned pure pumpkin (NOT pie filling)
• 1 cup plain Greek yogurt

Steps:

1. Mix the pumpkin and yogurt until well combined.
2. Spoon into an ice cube tray, silicone mold, or onto a parchment-lined baking sheet in small dollops.
3. Freeze for at least 4 hours.
4. Pop out and store in a freezer bag.

Yields: About 15-20 cubes

Storage: Frozen, up to 3 months.

Recipe 6: Peanut Butter Banana Frozen Kongs

Long-lasting frozen treats that double as enrichment. Great for crate time or when you need your dog occupied for a while.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup natural peanut butter (xylitol-free)
• 1 ripe banana, mashed
• 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
• A few small pieces of kibble or treats (optional, for added engagement)

Steps:

1. Mix all ingredients in a bowl until smooth.
2. Plug the small end of a Kong with a piece of kibble or treat.
3. Spoon mixture into the Kong, leaving room for expansion.
4. Freeze upright (open end up) for at least 4 hours.
5. Hand to your dog and enjoy the silence.

Yields: Fills about 3-4 medium Kongs

Storage: Wrap filled frozen Kongs in plastic and store in freezer for up to 2 months.

Note: Always supervise a dog with a Kong, especially when frozen. Make sure the Kong is the right size for your dog.

Recipe 7: Homemade Chicken Jerky

A high-protein single-ingredient treat. Easy in the oven, even easier in a dehydrator if you have one.

Ingredients:

• 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

Steps:

1. Preheat oven to 200F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Trim any fat from the chicken. Slice the chicken as thinly as possible (1/8 to 1/4 inch). Pro tip: chicken slices easier when slightly frozen.
3. Lay slices on the baking sheet in a single layer, not touching.
4. Bake for 2 hours, then flip the slices and bake another 1-1.5 hours, until completely dry and brittle.
5. Cool completely before serving.

Yields: About 30 small strips

Storage: Airtight container in refrigerator for up to 2 weeks, freezer for up to 3 months. Because there's no preservative, don't leave at room temp for extended periods.

Note: Watch your dog for the first few servings, some dogs can choke on dried jerky if they don't chew well.

Recipe 8: Apple Cinnamon Oat Cookies

A slightly different flavor profile, mild apple and warm cinnamon, both safe for dogs in moderation.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup oat flour
• 1/2 cup rolled oats
• 1 apple, cored and finely grated (no seeds, the seeds contain trace cyanide)
• 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 1 egg
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon (NOT nutmeg, which is toxic)
• Splash of water if needed

Steps:

1. Preheat oven to 350F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a bowl, mix the oat flour, rolled oats, and cinnamon.
3. In a separate bowl, mix the grated apple, applesauce, and egg.
4. Combine wet and dry ingredients. Add a splash of water if too dry.
5. Spoon small mounds onto the baking sheet, flatten slightly.
6. Bake for 20-25 minutes until firm and golden.
7. Cool completely.

Yields: About 20 small cookies

Storage: Airtight container, room temp up to 1 week, refrigerated up to 3 weeks, frozen up to 3 months.

Storage and Shelf Life

General guidelines for homemade dog treats:

• Baked treats with no preservatives, 5-7 days at room temp in airtight container, 2-3 weeks refrigerated, 3 months frozen.
• Frozen treats, up to 3 months in the freezer. Don't thaw and refreeze.
• Jerky/chews, 2-4 weeks at room temp if fully dried, longer if refrigerated or frozen.
• Treats with fresh fruit, shorter shelf life. Use within a week even refrigerated.

Signs treats have gone bad: mold, off smell, soft when they should be crispy, oily film on the surface. When in doubt, toss it.

Common Substitutions

If your dog has allergies or you're missing an ingredient:

• Wheat flour, replace with oat flour, rice flour, chickpea flour, or coconut flour (use less, coconut flour absorbs more liquid)
• Peanut butter, replace with unsalted, plain sunflower seed butter or almond butter (always xylitol-free)
• Eggs, replace with 1/4 cup applesauce or 1 tablespoon ground flax + 3 tablespoons water
• Pumpkin, replace with mashed sweet potato or butternut squash
• Banana, replace with mashed sweet potato or unsweetened applesauce
• Yogurt, plain coconut yogurt (unsweetened, xylitol-free) for lactose-sensitive dogs

Ingredients to Avoid

Never include any of these in homemade dog treats:

• Chocolate or cocoa powder, toxic
• Xylitol (sometimes listed as birch sugar), extremely toxic. Common in "sugar-free" peanut butter, some baking products, gum.
• Raisins or grapes, toxic, can cause kidney failure
• Garlic, onions, chives, leeks, toxic in any meaningful amount
• Macadamia nuts, toxic
• Excessive salt, can cause sodium poisoning
• Excessive sugar, contributes to weight gain and dental issues
• Nutmeg, toxic in larger amounts
• Yeast dough (raw), dangerous, see our bread article
• Alcohol, toxic, including vanilla extract in large amounts (use alcohol-free vanilla)
• Cooked bones, can splinter

How to Test a New Recipe Safely

Whenever you try a new homemade treat, take it slow:

1. Check every ingredient against the safe-for-dogs list. Especially anything new.
2. Start with a small amount. One small piece for a first try, even for big dogs.
3. Wait 24 hours. Watch for vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, itching, or any unusual behavior.
4. If everything's fine, you can offer a normal serving next time.
5. If you see any reaction, stop the treat. Note what was in it so you can identify the trigger.

Even safe ingredients can cause individual reactions, especially for dogs with sensitive stomachs or allergies. Going slow protects everyone.

How to Scale Recipes Up or Down

Most dog treat recipes scale linearly. To double a recipe, double everything. To halve it, halve everything.

Two caveats:

• Baking time stays roughly the same. Adjust by a few minutes for larger or smaller batches, but don't double the baking time.
• Eggs don't always halve cleanly. If a recipe calls for 1 egg and you want to halve it, beat the egg first, then use half by volume.

How Many Treats Should I Give My Dog?

The 10% rule: treats should make up no more than 10% of your dog's daily calorie intake. The exact number depends on the dog and the treat, but as a rough guide:

• Small dog (under 15 lbs): 1-3 small treats per day
• Medium dog (25-50 lbs): 3-5 medium treats per day
• Large dog (60+ lbs): 5-7 medium treats per day

These numbers shift based on the treat's caloric density. Frozen yogurt pops are much lower-calorie than peanut butter biscuits. Sweet potato chews are dense and calorie-rich. Adjust accordingly.

The Short Version

Eight recipes, all using safe ingredients, all easy enough for a non-baker. Three-ingredient peanut butter banana biscuits are the easiest baked treat. Frozen yogurt pops are the easiest frozen treat. Sweet potato chews are addictive but take patience (long bake time). Always check ingredients for xylitol, chocolate, raisins, garlic, onions, and macadamia nuts. Store baked treats in airtight containers, frozen treats in the freezer. Test new recipes in small amounts first. Treats should stay under 10% of daily calories.

If you want to skip the recipe-comparing and ingredient shopping, our Baked Biscuit Starter Kit and Pupsicle Starter Kit are the easiest way to make fresh real-meat treats at home. Just add water.