Author: Easy Homemade Dog Treats are made with just 3 ingredients! All it takes is banana, peanut butter, and oats and you can make these cute cookies for your pup, or for a doggy friend of yours. Not only are these easy to make, but they are so much more affordable than store-bought treats and dogs LOVE them!
FEATURED COMMENT:
I made these for Lilly, my Goldendoodle, and she loves them! She would eat all of them at one time if I let her. Thank you for the recipe! - Stephanie ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Every now and then on this blog I like to share a doggy treat recipe that my rescue pup Chickpea loves. Over the years, these recipes have actually become some of my most popular recipes of all time! Clearly, Chickpea is a very good recipe critic.
I came up with this recipe when I wanted to make Chickpea her favorite pumpkin treats, but I didn't have any canned pumpkin in my cupboard. What I did have on hand were two bananas that were getting a bit too spotty. Chickpea also loves bananas and they are very for healthy dogs so I tried the swap and it worked beautifully! In fact, I think Chickpea likes them even more than the pumpkin treats. Just look how happy she is!!
Not only are these homemade dog treats super easy to make but you likely already have the ingredients on hand, and it's a great way to use up old bananas. (Other than making my favorite banana bread recipe, or chocolate chip banana squares recipe).
Feel free to half this homemade dog treats recipe recipe if you only have one banana on hand (or if you want to do a trial run). You can also double or triple this recipe if your dog loves them as much as Chickpea does. I have a huge bag of them in the freezer so I can give one to her whenever she deserves a little cookie. Now she always gets super excited when I open to the freezer... and super disappointed when she discovers that I was just reaching for the coffee beans. Haha. Oh alright, you can have on more...
Ingredients needed:
To make these dog treats for your favorite pet, all you need are these three ingredients- peanut butter, banana, and oats!
- Peanut Butter: make sure that the peanut butter you use is natural peanut butter. The only ingredient should be peanuts. Do not use processed peanut butter that contains added oils, sugars, and salt. That stuff is basically frosting and is bad for our pups. Peanut butter is a great source of protein and healthy fats for our dogs as well as vitamins B and E, and niacin.
- Banana: this is the perfect recipe to use up those bananas that are getting a bit old. Bananas have potassium, vitamin C, vitamin B6, fiber, and magnesium which are all healthy nutrients for dogs.
- Oats: you can use whole oats, 1- minute oats, or instant oats, as long as there aren't any added sugars or other ingredients. In this recipe, I grind the oats into a powder to make homemade oat flour. If you have a food processor or blender, this takes just a few seconds to do and is usually more affordable than buying premade oat flour. I also always have oats on hand so it's nice that I don't have to go out to get anything special. Oats are very healthy for our pooches as they are high in fiber, contain vitamin B, and omega-6 fatty acid among other good nutrients.
How to make dog treats:
Preheat your oven to 300F (150C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Add the oats to a food processor and grind until they reach a fine powder. (If you do not have a food processor, see the recipe notes for other options).
Add the bananas and peanut butter and blend until a sticky dough is formed.
Remove the mixture from the food processor and use a rolling pin to roll out on a lightly floured surface. (Use whole wheat flour, more ground oats, or another dog-safe flour that you have on hand). I used a heart cookie cutter to cut out the treats but you could use a bone cookie cutter, or any shape cookie cutter, or just cut them into squares with a knife or pizza cutter.
Lay the treats on the prepared baking sheet and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until the treats are puffed up a bit, dry and dark golden brown on the bottoms, (they will still feel soft when first removed from the oven).
These homemade dog biscuits will get a bit more firm once they are cool but will still be a slightly softer dog treat. Let cool before giving one to your pup.
Store them in an air-tight container at room temperature for up to 1 week, in the fridge for up to 2 weeks, or I like to store them in my freezer which makes them firmer and makes them stay fresh a long time.
These easy homemade dog treats are:
- Easy to make
- Use 3 ingredients you likely already have on hand
- Super affordable
- Always a hit with dogs- they love them!
More dog treat recipes:
- Easy DIY Sweet Potato Chews
- Pumpkin & Peanut Butter Dog Treats
- Healthy Dog Treats
- Apple Pie Dog Treats
- Peanut Butter & Carrot Dog Treats
If you try this recipe let us know by leaving a comment, rating it, and don't forget to tag @itdoesnttastelikechicken on Instagram.
Bon appetegan!
Sam Turnbull.
(click stars to vote)
Easy Homemade Dog Treats!
Servings: (Makes about 40 treats depending on the cookie cutter size))
PRINT
PIN
Video
COMMENT
Ingredients
- 2 cups oats (old fashioned, 1-minute oats, or instant), plus more if needed- see step 3
- 2 medium ripe bananas
- ½ cup natural peanut butter, (see note)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 300F (150C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Add the oats to a food processor and grind until they reach a fine powder. (If you do not have a food processor, see the recipe notes for other options). Add the bananas and peanut butter and blend until a sticky dough is formed.
- Remove from the food processor and roll out on a lightly floured surface. (Use whole wheat flour, more ground oats, or another dog-safe flour that you have on hand to stop the dough from being too sticky, adding more as needed). I used a heart cookie cutter to cut out the treats but you could use any cookie cutter, or just cut them into squares with a knife or pizza cutter.
- Lay the treats on the prepared baking sheet and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until the treats are puffed up a bit, dry and dark brown on the bottoms, (they will still feel soft when first removed from the oven). The treats will get a bit more firm once they are cool but will still be a slightly softer dog treat. Let cool before giving one to your pup. Store in an air-tight container at room temperature for up to 1 week, in the fridge for up to 2 weeks, or I like to store them in my freezer which makes them firmer and makes them stay fresh a long time.
Scott says
These are so easy and our dogs go absolutely crazy for them. Never buying treat again!
Sam Turnbull @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
Love hearing that, Scott. So happy your pups enjoy them!
Thao says
easy, fast, and 3 ingredients only?! i’m in love and so are my puppies :3
Sam Turnbull @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
Hi Thao, I’m so happy to hear that you and your puppies loved them 😊
Nikki says
Would it be possible to use pumpkin puree instead of peanut butter? Looking for a nut free option
Sam Turnbull @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
Hi Nikki, pumpkin purée is quite a bit softer than peanut butter so it usually makes this dough too mushy to roll out. For a nut free option I recommend using sunflower seed butter instead since it has a similar texture and works much better in this recipe 😊 I hope your pup loves them.
Sally says
I used pumpkin puree and it worked perfectly! About a half cup. Start with less and add more to get all the oats mixed in.
Sam Turnbull @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
So helpful, thanks for sharing this tip, Sally! 🐾
KR says
I am selling these treats and have 7 customers who love ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️them thank you so much for the opportunity to share your treats!!
Sam Turnbull @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
Hi KR, that makes me so happy to hear and I love that your customers are enjoying the treats so much ❤️
Teresa says
My neighbor’s dog was allergic to chicken and other things that are put in treats. I found this recipe and I made them for her dog Domino. Domino just loves them!! I have made them several times and enjoy making them for Domino. Thank you for such a nutritious safe and easy recipe for dogs.
Sam Turnbull @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
Aww that's so sweet!! So lovely that you make these treats for Domino 🙂
Niranjana kashyap says
Super helpful recipe! Love how just 3 simple ingredients can make something exciting for my pup, definitely giving this a try
Sam Turnbull @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
Wonderful! Enjoy!
Dean M Ulip says
I made these treats for my 9 year old American pitbull, terrier, and my nine-year-old American Straffordshire terrier, they are crazy over these dog treats. Love this recipe as I like to feed my dogs my own dog food and good dog treats like these. Thank you for the recipe Dean.
Sam Turnbull @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
Wonderful, so happy they are such a hit, Dean 🙂
Dean Ulip says
Yeah, I give these treats to them an hour or so before they go to bed they absolutely look forward to them. They know what time to look at me and say hey buddy thanks for the recipe again. I like all this homemade stuff.
Sam Turnbull @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
Haha! So cute!!
Robin says
My dogs love these and I feel good about giving them healthy treats. They're simple to make as well.
Jess @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
Terrific! Thanks Robin!
Michele says
Thank you!! My mini Aussie's ♥️ them!! Easy and good 👍
Jess @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
Great! Thanks for your review!
Reese says
My grandpup loves these. They are very easy to make. I always blend extra oats and keep them on the side to add if the dough is too wet/sticky to roll out. It is hit or miss, I guess depending on the humidity. Highly recommend!
Sam Turnbull @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
So happy you love it Reese! The dough can be a bit stickier if your banana is a bit bigger or a bit more ripe, adding more oat flour is the perfect solution! So happy you enjoy them!
Izzy says
hello! i made this dog treat! it was easy but kind of dry! thanks! it was super quick but was super thick and hard to roll out. otherwise, it was great! i tried the dough myself hehe.
Sam Turnbull @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
Hi Izzy! Banana sizes can vary so if yours was a bit smaller it could make the dough a bit drier. Next time if the dough is too dry just add a bit more banana or a bit more peanut butter to add moisture. Or if the dough is to wet, just add a bit more oats.
Steve says
I save some effort by just rolling the dough out on the parchment (about 1/4 or less in thickness), baking it as a sheet, and then cutting it into little squares (1/2") before it cools. Then I freeze them in a tupperware container and get them out a half-dozen at a time.
Steve says
I should add that I've also added apple to this recipe (coursely chopped or even applesauce) instead of some of the banana. Ginger liked that version just as well.
Jess @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
Great! Thanks for sharing your experience, Steve!
MICHAEL BIVENS says
Very interesting, my friend introduced it to me.
Kay says
wanted to make a pup safe treat. Baked these yesterday. Cocker Chip (11 months) loves them. Will make some more and take to puppy class for the other dogs on his birthday 23rd Oct .
Thank you !
love
Kay and Chip
Sam Turnbull @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
Aww that's so great! So happy they are a hit! Enjoy Kay and Chip!
Martina says
I made these with my two year old daughter for our 3 year old wire fox terrier. The dog loves them. The toddler was also enjoying the raw dough.
Jess @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
Hahaha! We love that!
Russlyn Carson says
How do I stop my sweet potato dog treats from getting black spots when they are baking in the oven. HELP they look terrible
Sam Turnbull @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
Hi Russlyn! I think you’re referring to my sweet potato dog chews? The black spots can happen if the oven’s a bit too hot, the slices are too thin, or the sliced sweet potatoes sit out too long and oxidize before baking. Try following the bake temp and time and make sure they are no thinner than ¼ inch. They should turn out great next time 🙂
Elma says
I tried this and ma girl loved it
Sam Turnbull @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
So happy to hear that!
Pamela says
My baby girl, Charlie loves these. She's an older girl, 15 years and she is very picky at what she eats and so glad to find these as she will eat them. They are so easy to make, once you find the right cookie cutter. 🙂 Thanks!
Sam Turnbull @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
Wonderful, so happy she enjoys them Pamela 🙂
Gina says
The recipe is so easy to make! I keep them frozen so they last longer. My daughter in laws dog and my sister in laws dogs love them!
Sam Turnbull @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
Yay! That makes me so happy Gina 🙂
Sharon Migdol says
I make these dog treats for my grandpup and she loves them! I limit them to 1 per day, but she would devour more if I let her!
Sam Turnbull @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
So happy she loved them Sharon!