snacks for dogs homemade

By Isabella Storyclaire

last updated November 30, 2024

Contributions sourced from

How to Make Homemade Dog Treats

When your dog is a picky eater or has a restrictive diet,it can be tough finding yummy treats that are inexpensive. Thankfully, almost anyone can make homemade dog treats from the comforts of their kitchens, including the popular pyramid dog treats that make lots of tiny treats in one batch.

Homemade dog treats have benefits beyond being budget-friendly. With DIY treats, you know exactly what foods your dog is eating. Along with being free from harmful ingredients, homemade dog snacks can make great training treats, especially when made in smaller sizes.But before whipping out your cookie sheet and mixer, be sure to check with your veterinarian to make sure your dog has no allergies to any ingredients.

For owners interested in making homemade dog treats, weve put together some of our favorite baking accessories, tips, and must-try recipes.

Homemade Pyramid Dog Treats

Pyramid dog treats are homemade dog treats that are made with asilicone pyramid baking sheet. While these easy-to-clean silicone baking sheets werent originally made for dog treats, theyve become popular among dog lovers because they can make big batches of small treats appropriate for training sessions. The recipes for these kinds of treats usually call for tapioca flour, which helps the treats stay together without crumbling. Tapioca flour is an ingredient that agrees with most dogs.

When you flip over the baking sheet, you can fill it with a range of recipes that will easily pop out from the silicone sheet once youre finished. Some molds can make up to 500 treats in one batch! Along with the basic pyramid mold, there are also a lot of fun different shapes of silicone sheet molds to try. Here are some baking sheets to try out.

This simple, pyramid-shaped mat will make treats that pop out easily and clean up quickly.

If youre looking for something a little more traditional, these mini dog bones are perfect for DIY dog treats.

These paw molds are safe to use in the oven, refrigerator, freezer, and dishwasher. Plus, the silicone material means wet ingredients wont stick to the mold.

Want to have a lot of fun shapes and sizes? This pack comes with a range of molds, including hearts, bears, stars, and shells.

Key Ingredients for Homemade Dog Treats

Another great thing about making homemade dog treats is that you probably already have most of the key ingredients in your house. Many recipes require things such as oatmeal, eggs, flour, water, or broth. Add some flavor as well as vitamins, protein, and fiber with peanut butter (free of artificial sweeteners likexylitol), pureed pumpkin, apples, carrots, sweet potato, and cheese to create delicious cookies any dog would love.

Homemade Dog Treat Recipes

Once you order a pan, try out some of these popular recipes. From bacon treats to peanut butter, here are some popular pyramid dog treat recipes for beginners to try.

Bacon Pyramid Pan Treats

Does your dog love bacon? Try this simple bacon dog treats recipe by Michelle Taylor. With just four ingredients, this is a great homemade treat for beginners, one that your dog is sure to love.

Ingredients:

package of bacon
2 eggs
150 grams ofgluten-free flour
Water (to thin)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350F.
Blend the bacon and eggs.
Add flour. Stir in water if the batter needs to thin.
Smooth the batter over the baking mat and bake for 8 minutes.
Once cooled, cut the treats into bite-sized pieces or dump out.

Baked Chicken Treats

For an easy, no-fuss recipe, try these baked chicken homemade dog treats from Eileen Anderson. Once baked, you can refrigerate or freeze the treats.

Ingredients:

110-ounce can of chicken, including liquid
2 eggs
1 cuptapioca flour
cup of white flour
1 tablespoon of coconut oil

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350F.
Blend chicken and eggs in a food processor.
Pour the mixture into a bowl, and stir in flour and oil. This batter should be a little thicker than pancake batter but still pourable.
Spread the batter onto the silicone mold on a cookie sheet, making sure its in the holes, and then scrape it off the dividers.
Bake for 12 minutes.
Once cooled, turn over the mold and dump the treats out.
You can bag up the treats and refrigerate or freeze.

Peanut Butter Treats

Peanut butter is a favorite for many dogs, and a common, tasty ingredient in homemade dog treats. If your dog loves that nutty flavor, give these peanut butter treats from Eileen Anderson a try.

Ingredients:

2 eggs, beaten
2 tablespoons canola oil
cup peanut butter powder
cup white flour
cup tapioca flour
cup water

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350F.
Mix the ingredients until smooth.
Pour the mixture into the pan.
Bake for 12 minutes or until the treats are soft but still drawing away from the side of the pan.
Once cooled, stretch the pan and dump the treats out.

Apple-Cheddar Dog Biscuits

To make something a little different and mix in some unique ingredients, take a look at this recipe for apple-cheddar dog biscuits from Martha Stewart.

Ingredients:

2 cups barley flour
cup old-fashioned oatmeal
cup shredded cheddar cheese
cup grated Parmesan cheese
cup unsweetened applesauce
2 tablespoons olive oil

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350F. Line a baking sheet with a nonstick baking mat or parchment paper. Set aside.
In a large bowl, mix together all ingredients and about 3 tablespoons water to form a dough. Roll out mixture between two sheets of plastic wrap to -inch thick. Remove plastic wrap and cut out biscuits with a 3-inch bone-shaped cookie cutter. Re-roll scraps and continue cutting out biscuits.
Space biscuits 1 inch apart on a prepared baking sheet. Bake for 30 minutes until nicely browned and firm.
Transfer biscuits to a wire rack. Turn off the oven and place biscuits on a wire rack in the oven overnight. Remove from oven and store in an airtight container for up to two weeks.

Cheese and Sardine Pyramid Pan Dog Treats

These tasty dog treats by Michelle Taylor only have a handful of ingredients and are easy to make. Sardines are a great single-ingredient source of protein, and many dogs cant resist cheese. Its a win-win.

Ingredients:

1 can of sardines 2 eggs 150 grams of grated Parmesan cheese Handful of roasted vegetables 75 grams of tapioca flour (or plain flour) Water

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 320F.2. Blend all the ingredients in a blender to make a thick batter. Add water as needed to make thicker.3. Smooth the mixture over the baking mat and bake for about 15 minutes or until crispy.4. Once cooled, cut into small pieces.

Remember, you should always check with your vet before giving your dog anything other than dog food, commercial dog treats, and prescribed medication. Once youre in the clear, purchase a fun baking sheet, try a recipe, and rest easy knowing exactly what youre feeding your dog.

Low Calorie Dog Treats

These homemade low calorie dog treats are made with oat flour, carrots, applesauce, and bone broth. They are a tasty snack for your furry friend!

So if you are looking for a great recipe for healthy low calorie treats for dogs, youve found it! Now you can make your own bite-sized treats with simple ingredients.

FYI This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Easy Low Calorie Dog Treats Recipe

It doesnt take a lot of time to make these tasty treats. You dont need a cookie cutter, just a pizza cutter or knife. It only takes 30 minutes to make healthy snacks your dog loves!

These low cal dog treats are great for obese dogs in a weight loss plan. Not only are these low in calories, they are also low in fat too. If your dog needs something with healthy fats in it, I suggest making some frozen dog treats with coconut milk and fresh fruit.

These homemade dog biscuits are the perfect low calorie dog training treats. Theyre so tasty that dogs will consider them high-value dog treats and crave them!

Best Treats For Obese or Overweight Dogs

If your pup is battling their weight, then its best to bake healthy homemade dog treats with fresh fruits and vegetables. You could also skip the baking and just give them some fresh apple slices, green beans, carrots, and parsnips.

If you want to bake dog treats for your furry friend, these are so much better for your pup than the snacks youll find at the store!

This homemade dog treat recipe is a great way to give your dog tasty treats without worrying about it drastically affecting their calorie intake.

This is a great option if your dog still asks for treats but you want to restrict their calorie intake and help them lose extra pounds. Obesity can cause a multitude of health issues including heart problems.

Since they are smaller pieces, you dont have to worry about your pup overeating. Plus, making your own dog treats lets you control all the ingredients. There are no mystery ingredients like the ones found in store-bought treats.

The Best Things About Low Calorie Homemade Dog Treats

Your furry friend will gobble up homemade treats, and making them is a fantastic way to save money too! These natural dog treats cost less than store-bought dog treats and have dog-safe ingredients with no preservatives.

One treat has only 16 calories. The recipe makes about 100 treats so you will have a lot of treats.

These crunchy treats align with your conscious effort to provide and maintain a healthy and balanced diet for your dog.

The natural ingredients are easy to digest, making them a good option for senior dogs.

Recipe Ingredients

The entire list of ingredients, quantities of each, and the step-by-step directions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post including nutritional information. First, I want to share a bit more information about the delicious ingredients.

Heres a list of what you need for this low calorie dog biscuit recipe. If you want to make organic dog treats, make sure you use organic ingredients.

Oat Flour Has folic acid thats great for a dogs immune system.
Shredded Carrots A low calorie vegetable loaded with beta carotene.
Ground Flaxseed Adds fiber, vitamins, and minerals.
Bone Broth Has essential fatty acids, protein, vitamins, and essential fatty acids.
Unsweetened Applesauce Adds a little sweetness and Vitamin C.
Egg White Adds protein and binds the dough.

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions

When you make this easy recipe for low calorie dog treats, here are a few notes to keep in mind:

You can make your own oat flour by placing uncooked old-fashioned rolled oats in a blender or food processor and blending until it has the consistency of flour.

You can substitute oat flour with brown rice flour but it will increase the calories in the treats.

If you use any other type of flour, such as all-purpose flour or whole wheat flour, the end results may vary due to the difference in the flour. They will not be gluten-free if using flour made from wheat. They will also increase the calorie count.

Equipment Needed

You probably have most of the kitchen items you need to make these treats. Here are a few of them just in case:

How to Make Low Calorie Dog Treats

These are the recipe steps and photos of the process for baking the treats. I hope they help you make this healthy dog treats recipe!

You can scroll down to the bottom of this article for a printable recipe card.

Place the oat flour, flaxseed, and shredded carrots in a large bowl. Then stir to combine them.

Add the bone broth, applesauce, and egg white.

Stir until combined and a dough forms.

Using a rolling pin, roll out the dough.

Place the dough on parchment paper on a cookie sheet. (Or roll it out on parchment to make the transfer easier).
Use a pizza cutter or knife to cut the dough into 1-inch squares.

Bake the treats at 350F for about 15 minutes, until golden brown.
Let the treats cool on the baking sheet.
Break them apart and store them in an airtight container.

Serving Size and Information

How many homemade dog treats should you give to your canine companion? That depends on what else they ate that day because you need to consider your pets total daily intake. Being mindful of a dogs food consumption is just as important as it is with a human family member.

It also depends on the size of your dog. Small dogs need fewer calories than larger dogs. Maintaining a dogs healthy weight is important, so keep that in mind when feeding your dog treats in addition to their regular food.

The recipe makes about 100 treats and the nutrition information in the recipe card below is for 1 treat.

How to Store the Treats

Place the cooled treats in an airtight container or plastic zip-top bag. Store them at room temperature.

How long do homemade low calorie dog treats last?

They will last up to 5 days when stored in a sealed container.

For longer storage, place them in a freezer-safe container or plastic freezer bag and freeze them. They will last up to 3 months when frozen. You can also use a vacuum sealer if you have one.