Healthy Homemade Dog Treats You Need To Make

Here are some easy, healthy dog treats you can make at home! Whether you’re looking to give your pup extra TLC or you’re a DIY pro, try these home-made treats for your dog. Here at What The Pup, we’re ready to adopt some new healthy habits and you can bet our dogs are coming along for the ride! We’re stepping up our snacking game! Check out these easy and healthy treat recipes that you need to make for your dog this year…

Baked Sweet Potato Fries 

I’ve always been a sucker for a basket of warm sweet potato fries. But my pup Rigby has yet to even try a sweet potato in fry form and I’ve decided I can’t wait any longer for that day to come. He may not be able to dip his fries in chipotle mayo, but this recipe actually calls for a sweet honey drizzle instead… we’re drooling already. 

Ingredients

1. 1 giant sweet potato
2. 1 tablespoon organic honey (or coconut oil)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 425º.
2. Line one or two baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
3. Using a mandolin or knife, slice sweet potato into strips (about 1/4” – 1/2” thick).
4. Put sweet potato strips in a mixing bowl and coat with honey or olive oil.
5. With your hands, massage the oil evenly into the sweet potato strips.
6. Place coated sweet potatoes on a baking sheet – not touching.
7. Bake for 15 minutes.
8. Flip fries over and bake for another 10 minutes.
9. Remove from oven and let cool on baking sheet.

Proud Dog Mom

Carrot Apple Bars 

These carrot and apple treats are perfect to whip up on a chilly winter day. With only four ingredients, these bars are so easy to make (we did it in 20 minutes). Your dog will be rolling over and shaking a paw before these hearty treats are even out of the oven!

Ingredients

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1. 1 1/2 cups gluten-free flour
2. 1/2 cup carrots, shredded (*pat dry)
3. 1/2 cup red apple, shredded (*pat dry)
4. 1 cup dog-safe chicken or vegetable broth
5. cookie cutter of your choosing (I use this one!)

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 400°F.
2. Combine flour, carrots, apple, and chicken broth in a large mixing bowl.
3. Fold ingredients together.
4. Sprinkle countertop with about 1 tbsp. flour and roll mixture flat (about 1/2”) using a rolling pin.
5. Using your favorite cookie cutter, cut biscuits until the mixture is used entirely.
6. Bake 8-10 minutes, or until lightly browned.
7. After your dog gets one, refrigerate (or freeze) the rest of the biscuits.

Communikait

Dog Donuts

Yep. You read that right. They even have a dog-safe frosting… need we say more? 

Ingredients

• 1 Cup Flour
• 1 Cup Oats
• 1/3 Cup Coconut Oil
• 1/2 Cup Peanut Butter
• 2 Eggs

For the topping:

• Greek Yogurt
• Bacon Bits

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees. Spray a donut pan with cooking spray and set aside.
2. In a large bowl, combine all ingredients (except yogurt and bacon bits). You can mix with a spoon or use your hands (super fun for kids!). Mix until a dough forms.
3. Use your hands to press the dough into the donut pan. Fill each donut cavity and press firmly to ensure everything sticks together (it won’t rise, so you should make sure each space is tightly packed).
4. Bake in your preheated oven at 375 degrees for approximately 14 mins or until cooked completely.
5. Allow to cool, then carefully remove the donuts from the pan. Now you’re ready to decorate them!
6. Place your finished donuts in the freezer for a few moments to harden the yogurt. My dogs like to eat them straight from the freezer, but you can also store in the refrigerator. Just keep in mind that the yogurt may get a little sticky.

Sunny Day Family

Frozen Apple Treats

My dog seems to have a never-ending stomach… he’s always searching for a treat. These frozen treats are made from apples, yogurt and water, and are the perfect light mid-day snack for your dog. I sometimes even pop a couple of these in my morning smoothies!

Ingredients

• 2 Apples
• 1 Cup Greek Nonfat Plain Yogurt
• Water

Instructions

1. Slice 2 apples into small pieces but remove the seeds and the core.
2. Mix the apple slices, yogurt, and a splash of water in your blender and blend until you get a liquid consistency.
3. Pour the mixture into an ice cube tray and freeze for a few hours or until hard
4. Serve to your dog! We recommend only feeding one at a time.

Irresistible Pets

Spinach & Zucchini Carrot Cake

Just imagine it. A delicious carrot cake packed with healthy vegetables AND it’s in dog form. Sounds like a dream come true, right? This recipe may a little longer to make but your dog will be jumping with joy (and onto the counter) when it’s ready!

Ingredients

• 1 cup pumpkin puree
• ¼ cup peanut butter
• 2 large eggs
• ½ cup old fashioned oats
• 3 cups whole wheat flour, or more, as needed
• 1 carrot, peeled and shredded
• 1 zucchini, shredded
• 1 cup baby spinach, chopped

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat; set aside.
2. 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.
3. Gradually add old fashioned oats and 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. Add carrot, zucchini and spinach, beating just until incorporated.
4. 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.
5. Place into oven and bake until the edges are golden brown, about 20-25 minutes.
6. Let cool completely.

Damn Delicious

Peanut Butter Cookies

Who doesn’t love a good peanut butter cookie? Next time you’re enjoying your post-dinner dessert, you can give your pup one of these yummy treats. After all, we don’t want anyone to feel left out! 

Ingredients

• 2 cups of flour
• 1 cup of peanut butter
• 1 cup of milk
• 1 tbsp of baking powder

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
2. In a medium-size mixing bowl, combine the peanut butter and milk. Drizzling the milk in slowly will allow you to combine it more efficiently.
3. In another large mixing bowl, combine the baking powder and whole-wheat flour.
4. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the peanut butter-milk mixture. Combine all of the ingredients until thoroughly mixed.
5. On a sheet of parchment paper, sprinkle a tiny bit of wheat flour on the surface and roll out the dough to reach your desired dog treat thickness. Using your dog bone cookie cutters, cut out dog treats and place them onto a greased cookie sheet.
6. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes.

She Knows Living

Fruity Frosty Hearts

This sweet treat is the perfect combination of yogurt, watermelon, and raspberries. That said, if your dog prefers bananas or blueberries, you can play around with the recipe! Just make sure to check what fruits your dog can and can’t eat. If you want your final product to resemble the ones in the photo all you’ll need is a heart-shaped ice cube tray. And that’s an investment you really won’t regret.

Ingredients

• Watermelon and raspberries (or any dog-safe fruits)
• 3 tbsp of Greek yogurt

Instructions

1. Combine Greek yogurt with fruit of choice
2. Mix thoroughly (option to use a blender, but a fork works too!)
3. Pour mixture into ice-cube tray
4. Freeze until frozen (a few hours)

Talent Hounds

There’s really no better way to kick off the new year than with some new healthy habits!