Okay so, your golden is destroying your Pinterest living room and you don’t even know where to start.
Buddy got mud on my cream rug. He drooled on my brand new linen sofa. He is looking at me with those eyes as if he did nothing wrong. I love him to death but sometimes he can be a pain in the ass.
Girl, just the snack situation was stressing me out. I use to not even care what was in my snacks, I’d just buy them if they were on sale. Well, my cousin brought to my attention some of the stuff that was in these snacks and I felt sick.
This is when I started making apple dog treats at home and it changed everything for us.
They’re cheap and they smell like fall baking. Your dog will lose his mind over them. I’ve pulled together 12 recipes that are so easy, you can knock them out during a Sunday afternoon.
#1: Dried Apple Ring Treats for Dogs
Your golden is staring at you from across the kitchen with her tongue hanging out and eyes focused on what you’re holding in your hand. You know the face.
These dried apple rings are probably some of the easiest treats I’ve made for my dog. Find a fresh apple with the skin still on (red apples work great for the color), core it and slice it into ¼-inch rings.
Here’s How To Make Them
1. 1 large red apple, washed
2. Optional: a light dusting of cinnamon (no sugar, no nutmeg — nutmeg is toxic to dogs)
Preheat your oven to 200°F. Core the apple, then slice it into 1/4-inch rounds (a mandoline is handy here, as the slices will dry evenly if cut in the same thickness, otherwise some slices may dry more quickly and end up chewy while others may dry more slowly and end up burnt). Lay them flat on a parchment-lined baking sheet and make sure none overlap. Put in the oven to dry for 2.5-3 hours, flipping them over halfway through. They should be firm and leathery, but not soft and sticky.
Prep Time: 10 min | Cook Time: 2.5–3 hrs | Makes: 6–8 rings
The high fiber content and vitamin C make apples a healthy snack, so it’s nice to have a treat that actually helps their digestion instead of destroying it. The thinner the slices, the crisper the chips, so tailor your slicing to your pup’s preference.
Store in an airtight container for up to one week. If you want to branch out Homemade Dog Biscuits Recipes: Healthy and Delicious Treats for Your Pup are another great option to batch-bake on a Sunday.
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @breadloafcorgi
#2: Chocolate Coconut Dog Treat Bites
Your golden’s nose goes into overdrive the second these hit the cooling rack. That alone makes it worth it!
These little round bites are made with coconut flour, unsweetened cocoa powder (dog-safe carob powder works, too), and shredded coconut. We’ve got no chocolate or xylitol here. No sketchy stuff. These little bites bake up into chunky, 1.5-inch rounds that hold together without crumbing everywhere. They look so pretty on a baking sheet, you’d almost think they were for you.
Let’s Make Them
Prep Time: 15 minutes | Cook Time: 18 minutes | Serving Size: 30 treats
Ingredients:
1. 2 cups coconut flour
2. ½ cup carob powder (never use real cocoa)
3. ½ cup unsweetened shredded coconut
4. 2 eggs
5. ¼ cup coconut oil, melted
6. ½ cup unsweetened applesauce
Preheat your oven to 325°F and line a baking sheet with a silicone baking mat. In a medium bowl, mix together your dry ingredients, the coconut flour, carob and shredded coconut. In a second bowl, whisk the eggs, melted coconut oil and applesauce until smooth. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir until a firm dough forms. Roll the dough into 1.5-inch balls, and flatten with your palm on the baking mat. Bake the cookies for 18 minutes and let cool completely on the baking sheet before serving. Note: the cookies will firm up as they cool, which is what makes them so delicious and crunchy!
What this means for you: Coconut flour is lower in carbs than wheat flour, so these are a lighter treat that won’t have your girl begging for more than her waistline can handle.
Store the cookies in an airtight container for up to 1 week or freeze a batch for up to 3 months. If you know your dog prefers a slightly chewy center, you can roll out the dough a little bit thicker.
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @chef_tim_chung
#3: Apple & Pepino Fruit Bowl with Tamarind, Chamoy, and Chili
My golden retriever, Biscuit, knocked my first bowl off the counter before I even got a taste. It smells that good when you’re making it.
This is the kind of snack that shows up at every street fair and family gathering: sliced apples and pepino melon tossed in a metal bowl with tamarind paste, a drizzle of chamoy sauce, a dollop of crema and a shake of chili powder.
Let’s Put This Together
Ingredients:
1. 1 large apple, sliced thin (skin on for color)
2. 1 pepino melon, peeled and cut into chunks
3. 2 tablespoons tamarind paste
4. 2 tablespoons chamoy sauce
5. 1 tablespoon Mexican crema or sour cream
6. 1–2 teaspoons chili powder (Tajín works great here)
Layer your sliced peppers, slices of apple, and figs into a wide bowl. Mix the tamarind and chamoy together over the fruit while it’s still cold. Add your crema on top of the bowl and then lightly sprinkle the chili powder over the top of the bowl so that it does not mix. Eat with a spoon and try not to get any of the spices in each spoonful.
“I always taste my apple first. Some are sweet and I want an extra hit of chamoy to balance it out.”
Prep Time: 10 min | Cook Time: None | Serves: 2
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @cheff.minnie
#4: Homemade Bone-Shaped Dog Treats (Two Ways!)
It was at that point I stopped buying pre-packaged treats. I used to reach for a store bought treat and after flipping it over to read the back of the bag I began to wonder if I needed to grab my chemistry text book.
These are the cutest, bone-shaped beauties and they are exactly what I make for my cousin’s golden, Maple, every Christmas. She is crazy about them.
Peanut Butter Oat Version
1. 2 cups whole wheat flour 2. 1 cup rolled oats 3. 1/2 cup natural peanut butter (xylitol-free!) 4. 2 eggs 5. 1/3 cup water or low-sodium chicken broth
Pumpkin Spice Version Ingredients:
1. 2 cups whole wheat flour
2. ½ cup pure pumpkin puree
3. 2 eggs
4. 2 tablespoons honey
5. 1 teaspoon cinnamon
Let’s Make These Treats
Preheat your oven to 350°F. Whisk together your version’s wet ingredients first, then stir in the dry until a stiff dough forms. Roll the dough out to ¼-inch thick on a floured surface; the thicker it is, the softer it will be; the thinner, the crunchier. Cut out with a bone-shaped cookie cutter, put the cookies on a parchment-lined baking sheet, and bake them for 25-30 minutes until golden.
The dusty coating on some of them is just flour from rolling. It will bake off and give them the rustic look, and your golden will ignore because she is too busy losing her mind over the smell of peanut butter.
Prep Time: 15 mins | Cook Time: 30 mins | Makes: 24-30 treats
I store these in an airtight container for up to two weeks. What’s great about these is that because they will last longer, I don’t need to run out to get these last-minute treats. The fewer errands I have to run on weekends, the better!
And if you want to mix things up, Homemade 3-Ingredient Dog Treats: Easy, Healthy Recipes Your Pup Will Love is a great option when you’re low on pantry staples.
Allow them to cool on the rack for a full 20 minutes before serving. The warm treats stay soft inside. To get a crunchier biscuit for your dog to really gnaw on, crack the oven door open so they can sit inside as it cools down.
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @darcy_w_style_encinitas
#5: Apple White Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Balls (Pre-Bake)
That moment when you are baking something amazing and your golden retriever is sitting behind you staring at you…like she knows something good is happening to you… yep, that’s me every time I make these.
These cookie dough balls are full of chunks of fresh apple and white chocolate chips and mixed into a warm brown sugar base. They are thick, sticky, and smell like a farmers market in the fall.
Here’s How To Make Them
Prep Time: 15 minutes | Cooking Time: 12–14 minutes | Serving Size: 12 cookies
Ingredients:
1. 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
2. ½ tsp baking soda
3. ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
4. ¾ cup brown sugar, packed
5. 1 egg
6. 1 tsp vanilla extract
7. 1 cup peeled and diced apple (about 1 medium apple)
8. ¾ cup white chocolate chips
Beat the cream butter and brown sugar together until fluffy, about 3 minutes with a hand mixer. Beat in the egg. Stir in the flour and baking soda just until combined, as overmixing can make the cookies tough. Stir in the apple chunks and white chocolate chips by hand. Scoop the dough onto a Reynolds parchment paper lined baking sheet and bake at 350°F.
The apple chunks stay soft inside while the edges become crisp. I love the contrast in texture.
(Chilling the dough for 20 minutes before baking prevents the cookies from spreading too thin.
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @joseph_p1005
#6: Homemade Peanut Butter Apple Dog Biscuits
your golden will give you that look every time you open the peanut butter jar. You know the one, the one with the ears perked up and the tail a million miles an hour and the front paws barely stay on the ground.
These biscuits are made from things you already have in your kitchen.
Ingredients:
1. 2 cups whole wheat flour
2. 1 cup rolled oats
3. ½ cup natural peanut butter (xylitol-free)
4. 1 medium apple, peeled and grated
5. 2 eggs
6. ¼ cup water (add more if dough feels dry)
7. 1 teaspoon cinnamon
Let’s Make These Biscuits
Preheat your oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Mix your flour, oats and cinnamon in a large bowl first. Add your peanut butter, grated apple and eggs and mix until a stiff dough forms. Add water one tablespoon at a time if it’s crumbling.
Roll out the dough to about ¼ inch thick on a lightly floured surface. Use a bone-shaped cookie cutter and cut out the cookies. Place each cookie on your lined trays. Bake for 25-30 minutes until the edges are golden and firm.
By letting them cool completely on the rack, the treats will be crunchier, and dogs actually prefer that over soft treats.
Prep Time: 15 min | Cook Time: 30 min | Makes: about 20 biscuits
These biscuits are made with whole oats and apple for fiber so they’re a treat your dog loves, and that does something good for their tummy. I made a batch last Thanksgiving for my cousin’s lab and that dog was pretty much my best friend for the rest of the trip.
Put them in an air tight glass jar and they’ll stay fresh for up to two weeks. Or, if you want to store them for even longer, freeze a batch. They’ll thaw in just a few minutes and taste just as yummy. You might also enjoy the Ultimate Guide to Oven Dog Treats: Healthy, Homemade Recipes for Your Pup. It has some really good options.
Grating the apple instead of chopping it means that the dough doesn’t get too wet, and the treats will still hold their shape after baking.
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @murmurs.of.ricotta
#7: Heart-Shaped Pumpkin Oat Dog Treats
Your golden’s nose hits the kitchen when the oven preheats. That’s when you know you’re doing something right.
These little hearts are made with whole rolled oats, pumpkin puree, and whole wheat flour. They are golden, dense, and PACKED with things that are good for her.
Here’s How to Make Them
Prep Time: 15 min | Cook Time: 25 min | Makes: ~20 treats
1. 1 cup canned pumpkin puree (plain, not pie filling)
2. 2 cups whole wheat flour
3. 1 cup rolled oats
4. 2 tablespoons peanut butter (xylitol-free)
5. 1 egg
Mix the pumpkin, egg, and peanut butter together until the mixture is thick and pasty. Slowly add the flour and oats until the dough is firm and not wet. If the dough sticks to your hands, add flour one tablespoon at a time. Roll the dough out to about ¼ inch thick on a floured surface and press the heart cutter down hard.
Bake for 25 minutes at 350°F. Let them cool on the pan.
Also, making them sit out overnight, they get more crispy and my dogs go crazy over them.
They help to slow down the digestion so there aren’t too many starving puppy eyes when treat time rolls around an hour later.
Refrigerate in an airtight container up to two weeks, or freeze them up to three months.
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @mymuellers
#8: Heart-Shaped Peanut Butter & Strawberry Dog Treat Sandwiches
My golden was staring at me with those eyes while I was mindlessly scrolling Pinterest. I was feeling the same way I did when I caught myself bookmarking dog treat recipes at midnight.
These little heart sandwiches are EXACTLY the kind of thing that I want to put in a white gift box and send to my girl to make her lose her mind.
Prep Time: 20 min | Cooking Time: 25 min | Serving Size: 8 sandwich treats
Ingredients:
1. 2 cups whole wheat flour
2. 1 cup rolled oats
3. ½ cup natural peanut butter (unsalted)
4. 2 eggs
5. ¼ cup unsweetened applesauce
6. 3-4 fresh strawberries, mashed
Making Your Heart Sandwich Treats
Mix flour and oats together, then work in peanut butter, eggs and applesauce until mixture forms a firm dough. Roll out dough to ¼ inch thick and cut out cookies with a heart shaped cookie cutter.
Bake at 350°F for 22-25 minutes until golden and firm. Let them cool completely- warm cookies will make the filling slide everywhere.
Pound the strawberries to a paste and sandwich two cookies together. The cookies are made with whole wheat flour, so they are packed with fiber.
Before you decide: skip the jam – added sugar is not great for dogs, and the fresh strawberry paste holds together just as well.
Store in the fridge for up to 5 days in an airtight container.
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @pepas_paws
#9: Homemade Veggie-Packed Dog Bone Biscuits
Your dog comes bounding in from the backyard with paws wet, and tail going a million miles an hour and you have absolutely nothing to give her but the only treats left in the house. Again.
These little bone-shaped biscuits fix that fast.
Ingredients:
1. 2 cups whole wheat flour
2. 1/2 cup shredded carrots
3. 1/2 cup finely chopped broccoli or spinach
4. 1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce
5. 1 egg
6. 1/4 cup water (add more if dough feels dry)
7. 2 tablespoons olive oil
Let’s Make These Biscuits
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Mix the dry ingredients first, then add the wet ones. Stir until the dough is firm. If the dough is sticky, add a little more flour. Roll the dough to about 1/4 inch thick on a lightly floured surface. Using a bone-shaped cookie cutter, press it straight down to cut out the bones.
Place the biscuits on a parchment lined baking sheet and bake for 25-30 minutes until the edges are golden and firm. Allow the biscuits to cool on a rack. A warm biscuit will crumble, a cool one will snap. Snaps make me happy.
Prep Time: 15 min | Cook Time: 28 min | Serving Size: ~40 small biscuits
Real talk: The carrots give these cookies a little orange speckle that is adorable and because the cookies bake dry, they can be stored in an airtight jar for up to two weeks without a fridge.
If your dog has a sensitive stomach, I would just do some cooked sweet potato instead. It works great and she will never know the difference.
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @pookspantry
#10: No-Bake Peanut Butter Oat Energy Balls
How many times have you forgotten to grab your dog’s treats when you’re rushing out the door and your dog’s giving you the puppy dog eyes? I’m sure we’ve all been there before.
I can always rely on these no-bake peanut butter oat balls as a no-fuss, easy, on-the-go snack. I always have a batch of these in my freezer. My friend Shaya made these for her lab mix last summer and was texting me all “why didn’t anyone tell me about these sooner?!” – I felt her pain.
Ingredients:
1. 2 cups rolled oats
2. ½ cup natural peanut butter (unsalted, xylitol-free)
3. 2 tablespoons honey
Let’s Put These Together
Whisk the peanut butter and honey together in a medium bowl until combined and a little glossy. Stir in the oats. The mixture will be a little dry at first, but keep stirring. Once the mixture holds together when pressed, form into 1 inch balls between the palms of your hands and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving.
The oats give a little crunch that your dog actually notices and the peanut butter adds some healthy fats. The honey is just for binding it so it doesn’t fall apart all over your Pinterest worthy throw rug.
I store extras in an airtight container in the fridge for up to one week, but if your dog inhales them fast (looking at you, golden retriever mom), freeze half the batch immediately.
Prep Time: 10 min | Chill Time: 30 min | Makes: ~20 balls
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @simplysagedogtreats
#11: Apple-Shaped Dog Biscuits Surrounded by Fresh Red Apples
I was watching your video on facebook and you were eating an apple while your golden was giving you those eyes. You know the look? Like the one that I always get from my dog and she deserves a bite of that apple! And it always makes me break down and let her have it.
These little apple-shaped dog biscuits are the answer.
Ingredients:
1. 2 cups whole wheat flour
2. 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
3. 1/4 cup rolled oats
4. 1 tablespoon cinnamon
5. 2 tablespoons coconut oil, melted
6. 1 egg
7. 2-3 tablespoons water (as needed)
Baking Day for Your Pup
Preheat oven to 350°F. In a large bowl mix the flour, oats, cinnamon. Add the applesauce, coconut oil, and egg. Stir until a dough forms. Add a little water one tablespoon at a time if the dough seems too stiff. Roll out the dough to about a 1/4 inch thick on a floured surface. Cut out your bone or apple shaped cookies with the bone or apple shaped cookie cutters and place on the parchment lined baking sheet. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown and firm. Let them cool completely before giving them to your girl so they don’t get hard and crunchy as they cool (my dogs love it when they’re a little hard to crunch).
Prep Time: 15 min | Cook Time: 30 min | Makes: ~30 biscuits
I love using whole wheat flour for my cookies because they seem to stay crunchy longer than the soft kind. That means you can enjoy them without them crumbling all over your couch cushions.
Store them in an air tight glass jar on the counter. They look so cute stored next to a couple fresh apples. Pinterest moment for your kitchen.
If you want to add some extra sweetness to your dog’s applesauce, skip the cinnamon. And always make sure the applesauce you give your dog doesn’t have any added sugar, or xylitol.
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @sydneysdogcookies
#12: Peanut Butter Oat Dog Treats Cut Into Adorable Shapes
Do you ever get “those” eyes from your dog while you’re eating? My dog does it every time I’m in the kitchen. I finally started making her a batch of her own treats so we could snack together and it’s the best decision ever!
These are made with whole rolled oats and natural peanut butter (no xylitol – I bought mine at Trader Joe’s so check the label), and a few other pantry staples. The dough is thick and crumbly, and holds the cookie cutter shapes perfectly.
Here’s How You Make Them
Ingredients:
1. 2 cups whole wheat flour
2. 1 cup rolled oats
3. ½ cup natural peanut butter
4. 2 eggs
5. ¼ cup water (add more if dough feels dry)
Preheat your oven to 350°F. Mix together the dry ingredients in a large bowl (flour and oats). Add the peanut butter and the eggs, and use your hands to work the dough until it comes together. It will be pretty dense, and that’s a good thing! Roll the dough out to about ¼ inch thick on a floured surface. Press your cookie cutters into the dough, making flower shapes, little dogs, houses, or whatever makes you happy. Place the cut outs on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake for 18-20 minutes until the edges are golden.
Prep Time: 15 min | Cook Time: 20 min | Makes: ~24 treats
The oatmeal is a perfect addition to any recipe. It’s filled with fiber which keeps those tummy trouble moments off of your nice rugs. You’ve heard of a peanut butter cookie, but the peanut butter doggie is the best thing since sliced bread. This recipe is a perfect way to give your stubborn golden a little extra incentive.
Wait until they are totally cool before giving one to your child. I learned that the hard way when my daughter Maple burned her little tongue and gave me a sad look.
Store them in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks, or freeze a batch for later.
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @veganadventurefoodie
The Apple Treat Mistake That Sent My Dog to the Vet (So Yours Doesn’t Have To)
Most people just slice up an apple and give it to their dog to eat. What they don’t realize is that the core can pose a choking hazard but also because apple seeds contain amygdalin that is released and can turn into cyanide when chewed up by a dog. So while a few apple seeds here and there won’t harm your golden retriever, if he is chewing on a few apple seeds per day it can add up.
I learned this the hard way when my cousin’s lab was acting a little lethargic after weeks of giving him healthy snacks of apples. Turns out, seeds were sneaking through.
Peel the apple too. The skin is not toxic, but is harder to digest, and can cause bloating in dogs with sensitive stomachs.
Also freeze little chunks of apples with a bit of plain yogurt in a ice cube tray. My golden will go feral for them during the hot months and it’s good for their teeth as they are slower to chew.
If your pup is already sensitive to foods, this list of the best dog foods for allergies might help and this list of fruits that are safe to feed a dog might help too.
Your Golden Deserves a Bed That Actually Holds Up
No more worrying about having to replace your cheap bed every few months or staring at a lumpy, chewed-up mess in your living room.
You will need to pick one bed that fits your dog’s size, your decor and your sanity. Don’t be swayed by all of the options; you know your dog better than the product descriptions do.
Start with what bugs you the most right now – the mud, the smell, the saggy cushion – and let that be your guide.
What is one thing your golden’s current bed gets wrong?
Amr Mohsen is a software engineer who traded his keyboard for a leash — at least on weekends. His love for dogs inspired him to share what he learns as a dog owner and enthusiast, bringing a detail-oriented, research-driven perspective to every article he writes. If it’s about dogs, he’s probably already looked it up twice.
