Get ready for lots of tail-wagging and slobbery smiles - these easy homemade peanut butter dog treats made without wheat flour are about to become your furry BFFS new favorite dog biscuit.
These homemade treats are purposefully crafted without whole wheat flour and instead use naturally gluten-free flour, making them the perfect treat for any dog with gluten sensitivities.
Here are a few reasons dog moms and dads will love making homemade dog treat recipes:
- Simple, healthy ingredients, without any artificial sweeteners.
- You get way more treats compared to store-bought treats making it a cost-effective option and a great way to share with fellow canine friends
- Personalize the treats to be filled with your dog's favorite foods
- Easily adjust cooking time to make them soft or crunchy depending on your dog's age and chewing abilities
Jump to:
Ingredients
5 simple ingredients is all we need for these easy peanut butter dog treats:
- Ripe banana: Bananas are high in fiber, vitamins B6 and C, and potassium. Overripe bananas work best as they add natural sweetness to baked treats.
- All-natural creamy peanut butter: use a creamy natural peanut butter. Only peanuts should be listed in the ingredients (no salt, no sugar, no xylitol). Do not use peanut butter with xylitol - it is toxic to dogs. Read more about xylitol toxicity here.
- Oat flour: A great flour option for dogs that's high in nutrients. If your furry friend has gluten sensitivities be sure to use a certified gluten-free oat flour. Make your own oat flour by blending gluten-free rolled oats until a fine texture is achieved.
- Chickpea flour: adds protein and fiber!
- Golden flaxseed meal: flaxseed meal contains omega 3-s that can help keep your beloved furry friends skin and coat healthy. Use flaxseed meal, not whole flaxseeds as ground flaxseeds are easier to digest. Flaxseed meal can be found in the baking isle - I prefer Bobs Red Mill.
If any of these ingredients are new to your dog, start with a very small amount of the treat and monitor for any signs of discomfort. For any dog with specific dietary restrictions, check with your veterinarian or adapt ingredients as needed (see variation section below).
Peanut butter containing xylitol
Xylitol is toxic to dogs and any peanut butter containing it should NOT be used in this peanut butter dog treats recipe (or any recipe that you plan on sharing with your furry friend). Here are brands that you should not use as they contain xylitol:
- Go Nuts, Co
- Nuts 'N More
- P28
It's also important to note that xylitol can also be listed as birch sugar, birch bark extract, or zylatol.
Check the label of your peanut butter before making the treats. For the most nutrient-dense option, choose a natural peanut butter that only has peanuts listed in the ingredients.
How to make homemade peanut butter treats
Start by mashing an overly ripe banana in a mixing bowl. Add peanut butter and stir together using a spatula. Then, add oat flour, chickpea flour and flaxseed meal.
If the dough is too try and won't form a ball, add a scant tablespoon of water and stir again. Repeat until a workable texture is achieved.
On a flat surface, roll the dough between two pieces of parchment paper (I did about ¼ inch thick) and press desired cookie cutter shapes in. I used a 2.5 inch heart, but really any shape or size can be used (dog bone, circle, square, etc.).
Finally, place cut-out treats onto a lined baking sheet and bake for 10-15 minutes.
How to make soft homemade dog treats
There are a few tricks to making soft homemade dog treats:
1. Roll the dough slightly thicker (anywhere between ½-3/4 inch thick)
2. Bake the treats for less time (10-12 minutes)
3. Remove them from the baking sheet and let them cool at room temperature.
How to make crunchy dog treats
Conversely, to make crunchy dog treats we are going to do the following:
- Roll the dough thin (⅛-1/4 inch)
- Bake the treats for at least 15 minutes (continue to check on them to ensure they do not burn, they should be crisp around the edges with golden brown bottoms)
- Keep them directly on the pan to cool (or for at least 15 minutes).
Tips for making banana peanut butter dog treats
- Mashed banana. Be sure to mash your banana well with a fork to prevent large banana chunks from being in the dough.
- Dough consistency. Add a tablespoon or so of water if needed to help achieve the right consistency. The dough should be easily workable but still hold its shape (similar to a sugar cookie dough).
- Use parchment paper. Instead of flouring a surface and rolling out the dough, place the dough on parchment paper, then cover it with another piece of parchment paper and roll it to the desired thickness. This makes cleanup a breeze!
- Use a rolling pin (or something similar like a wine bottle or seltzer bottle) to help roll out and flatten the dough evenly.
- Make homemade GF oat flour. Blend old-fashioned oats (rolled oats) in a high-speed blender for 30 seconds to 1 minute or until fine flour is achieved.
- Treat size. The treats will not spread or expand while baking, so use a cookie cutter size that you feel comfortable with the treats being based on your dog's size.
Variations
- No cookie cutters? No problem! Use a tablespoon (or teaspoon for small training bits) and scoop out dough and roll into balls, then place on a lined cookie sheet and press down with your fingers or the back of a spoon. You can also make small squares by rolling the dough and using a pizza cutter to divide the dough into squares.
- 3-ingredient dog treats: for a super simple dog treat recipe, just use banana, oat flour, and peanut butter.
- Blueberries: add fresh or frozen blueberries to the dough.
- Carrots: shredded carrots can be added for additional nutrients.
- Pumpkin: substitute mashed banana for 100% pure pumpkin puree.
- Peanut butter frosting: combine ½ teaspoon melted coconut oil and a heaping tablespoon of peanut butter and stir until smooth. Drizzle over cooled treats.
- Other dog safe gluten-free flours: it's best to talk with your vet, but check out this post for 10 safe flours for dogs. 8 of the flours are naturally gluten-free, however, the list does contain white flour and whole wheat flour which are not GF.
Storing homemade dog biscuits
Be sure to let the treats cool completely before storing them. They are all natural treats and do not have any preservatives so they will only last for a few days at room temperature. For best results store them in the fridge or freezer.
- Fridge: store in an airtight container for a week.
- Freezer: store in an airtight container for a few months.
If you would like to store them at room temperature, it is best to use a dehydrator instead of baking them.
📋 Recipe
Easy Homemade Peanut Butter Dog Treats (Gluten-Free)
Equipment
- mixing bowl
- large baking sheet (13x18)
- cookie cutter
- Rolling Pin
Ingredients
- 1 overly ripe banana, mashed
- ½ cup natural peanut butter, only peanuts listed in the ingredients - NO xylitol*
- ¾ cup gluten-free oat flour** 79 grams
- 2 tablespoons chickpea flour
- 2 tablespoons flaxseed meal
Instructions
- Mash an overly ripe banana in a medium-large mixing bowl, ensuring no chunks remain. Add peanut butter and stir together until smooth.
- Add oat flour, chickpea flour, and flaxseed meal directly to the bowl. Stir to combine. The dough should start to form a ball and be similar to sugar cookie dough. If it is too dry, add a teaspoon of water at a time. If it's too wet, add a tablespoon of oat flour.
- Preheat oven to 350℉ and line a large baking sheet with unbleached parchment paper.
- Place a piece of parchment paper on the countertop and add the dough. Cover the dough with another piece of parchment paper and use a rolling pin to flatten the dough between the pieces of parchment paper. For crunchy treats: roll the dough ⅛-1/4 inch thick. For chewy treats: roll the dough ¼-3/4 inch thick.Using a cookie cutter, press and cut out treats then place on the prepared baking sheet. They will not spread while baking so they can be placed close together. Repeat until the dough is gone. I used a 2.5-inch cookie cutter and made about 38 crunchy treats or 25 soft treats
- For soft, chewy treats bake for 10-12 minutes. For crunchy treats bake for 13-15 minutes, then allow to cool directly on the sheet pan for at least 10-15 minutes. The edges should be set and the bottoms will be golden brown.
- Store in the fridge for up to a week or in the freezer for a few months. The treats will only last a few days at room temperature so I don't recommend storing them this way.
Notes
If you enjoyed making this peanut butter dog treat recipe (and your fur baby loves eating them) be sure to leave a star rating and a comment below!
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