Homemade treats for your dog are a great way to offer your pooch a reward while knowing exactly what’s in there.
These fantastic peanut butter dog treats with oats also include some well-known superfoods for dogs – so they are not only enjoying a tasty bite, but they’re also getting a bunch of health-boosting nutrition.
This homemade dog treat recipe is easy and fun, and goes down an absolute storm with the pooches!
My doggy, Noodles, was super excited to try them, she’s not always easy to please either! She’s always very interested in our dinner – especially if it is steak or sausages, but shop-bought dog treats have never been a winner.
In fact, it is a little bit embarrassing because Noodles comes to work with us every day and the postman always brings her a dog treat – she takes it from him and then just leaves it on the floor! I mean how ungrateful!
Anyway, so me and my budding little helper Sophia (dressed very appropriately for the occasion in an elaborate princess gown) got to work on this superfood dog treat recipe and it is fair to say it was a big hit.
Having published an earlier article on superfoods for dogs I am working on some creations to include them in dog treat recipes. So this carrot, pear, and peanut butter dog biscuit recipe also contains local, raw honey and olive oil.
Superfood dog treats
As I said earlier, the purpose of these dog treats was to incorporate the goodness of superfoods for dogs, having published the article I was interested in finding a way to get some of that goodness into my dog.
So here are the superfoods that I included:
- Carrots
Carrots are a superfood for dogs as they contain a wealth of vitamins and minerals, they help support a healthy immune system, protect against disease and are good for the eyes!
- Honey
Raw, local honey contains vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, and has anti-fungal and antibiotic properties. Having been used in medicine for years, honey can help support a healthy immune system and may help ward off allergies.
A minimal amount is included as it is also very high in sugar.
- Pears
Pears make a great addition to these homemade dog biscuits and are high in fiber, vitamins & minerals. Stalks and seeds do need to be removed before feeding.
- Olive Oil
Oh yes olive oil is a fantastic superfood for dogs! It has cancer fighting properties, is anti-inflammatory, and can boost the immune system. They only need a little bit though, and cold-pressed, extra virgin is the way to unlock all that goodness.
In addition to these superfoods for dogs, you’ve also got wholewheat flour, peanut butter, egg, & oats…
- Wholewheat flour
You can pretty much use any flour you like but I used wholewheat because it was in my cupboard and it also has the benefits of containing A whole load of stuff that’s nutritionally beneficial including vitamins and minerals, antioxidants, protein and fibre.
- Eggs
Eggs contain iron, protein, fatty acids, and minerals so they make a great addition to this dog biscuit recipe both nutritionally and in terms of binding the recipe together during baking.
- Peanut butter
It is very well-known that dogs just love peanut butter so it’s great to add it for palatability – they just love the taste!
And in terms of health benefits peanut butter is a great source of good fats, vitamins B and E, and protein. But there are a few things that you do need to watch out for, it’s really important that you check the ingredients of the peanut butter before feeding it to your dog.
Many contain xylitol which is extremely harmful while others have added ingredients such as salt or sugar and neither of these are great for your dog either. You want to pick one that is made from 100% peanuts and has absolutely nothing else added.
- Oats
Oats for dogs are a great source of soluble fiber and omega-6 fatty acids, they help to regulate blood glucose levels and contribute towards strong and healthy skin. So they make a great addition to this dog treat recipe! Make sure you choose plain oats that are without flavors or additives.
The Taste Test
Let's get baking!
And now down to the bake! You may find some natural variation in the ingredients which can affect the consistency of biscuit dough – eg some pears are bigger and juicier than others!
You’re looking to achieve a good workable dough that’s not too sticky and holds together so you can roll it out easily. If you find that the consistency is too dry you can simply add a little water, if you find it is too wet you can add a little more flour.
In terms of cutters, I purchased a set of cookie cutters from Amazon that has three different sizes of pawprint and bone shapes.
While I mentioned before that my dog is a bit fussy about treats, I have also found that the size of them does affect whether she turns them down or not.
She’s a cockapoo and she was also the runt of the litter, so she only has a little mouth (aww bless!) so we often have to break things up for her so she can get her chops around them!
The joy of making them yourself is that you can make them as large or as small as you like – you just have to adjust the baking time accordingly.
From the video I think you can agree that Noodles absolutely loved these homemade dog treats! That waggy tail, she was following me around for a good while trying to get as many as she could!
Then we popped next door to see Reggie! As you can see, his eyes nearly popped out of his head! They were definitely a hit with the pooches and Reggie’s human, Dan, gave them a bash too and enjoyed them!
Important: While it’s great fun to make and serve your dog homemade dog treats, the majority of their nutrition should always come from their main diet.
Always follow the 10% rule to ensure your beloved furry friend is benefitting from a well balanced diet – no more than 10% of their daily food intake should come from treats or supplementary foods.
Suggested reading: How many treats can my dog have per day?
Carrot, pear, and peanut butter dog treat recipe
Equipment
- Cookie Cutters
- Mixing Bowl
- Measuring Cups
- Wooden Spoon
- Baking Sheets
- Grease
- Rolling Pin
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups Wholemeal Flour
- 2 Carrots (grated)
- 1 Large Pear (or 2 small)
- 1/4 cup Olive Oil
- 1 tbsp Honey (local, raw)
- 2 tbsp Peanut Butter (made from 100% peanuts)
- 1/2 cup Oats
- 1 Egg (beaten)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to gas mark 4 or 180°C/350°F (160°C fan oven)
- Use baking parchment to line 2 baking sheets
- Tip the flour and oats into a large mixing bowl and give it a little mix.
- Add the beaten egg, olive oil, honey, peanut butter, and add the grated carrots and pear and mix until well combined.
- Assess the consistency at this stage – if it is too sticky add a little more flour, too dry add a little water until you have a good firm dough.
- Tip the mixture out onto a floured surface and roll it out to about 1cm thick. Sprinkle flour onto the top of the dough as you go to prevent it sticking to your rolling pin.
- Cut out your shapes and place on the baking sheets.
- Bake until golden brown! Your baking time is going to vary based on how big your cutters are, mine were small and so it look about 20 minutes to get a golden brown top. They could take up to 45 minutes if you have gone larger.
Notes
