I’m a sucker for the Golden Retriever puppy eyes. It is hard to say no to those big brown eyes every time I open the pantry. My dog does the same thing to me and last week I finally caved and started making him homemade baked dog treats rather than buying him a bag of mystery-ingredient dog treats off the shelf.
I picked up the store bag, turned it over and read the label. I could not pronounce half the stuff on there. No way!
Anyway, I went all Pinterest and tried a bunch of dog treat recipes I found until I found ones that I wanted to make again.
These 13 recipes are super easy to make, you’ll only need real ingredients, and your girl will wag her tail when she smells them baking! No weird ingredients, no guilt, just a happy dog and a kitchen that smells like peanut butter heaven.
#1: Homemade Bone-Shaped Peanut Butter Dog Biscuits
Ever get that look from your golden, just before dinner, the one that says, “please-just-one-bite”,? This is the recipe your dog has been waiting for.
These golden-brown, crunchy biscuits are shaped just like the classic cartoon bone and are cut at 2.5 inches long from a simple rolled dough. They’re firm enough to keep your pup busy, but not so hard that they’re scary for his teeth.
What You’ll Need:
1. 2 cups whole wheat flour
2. 1 tablespoon baking powder
3. 1 cup natural peanut butter (no xylitol — check that label)
4. 1 cup skim milk
Let’s Make Them
Preheat oven to 375°F. Mix together the flour and baking powder, then add the peanut butter and milk. Stir until a stiff dough is formed and roll out the dough to ¼ inch thick on a lightly floured surface. Use a bone shaped cutter and place the biscuits on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet.
Bake for 20 minutes until firm and lightly golden. Let them cool completely before handing over one that you want. No sense giving me a warm biscuit that crumbles everywhere. My rug doesn’t need that right now.
Prep Time: 10 min | Cook Time: 20 min | Serving Size: ~24 biscuits
Store in an airtight jar on your counter for up to two weeks. If your dog goes nuts for these, be sure to check out the rest of the homemade dog biscuits recipes.
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @dogoseria
#2: Frozen Peanut Butter Bliss Balls for Dogs
If you have a dog, I’m willing to bet money that your dog just finished playing in a muddy backyard and now she’s staring at you with those puppy dog eyes. You know, the ones that say “I deserve a treat!”
These little frozen bliss balls are exactly what she’s been manifesting.
Ingredients:
1. 1 cup natural peanut butter (xylitol-free, always check the label)
2. ½ cup plain Greek yogurt
3. 2 tablespoons honey
4. 1 cup whole wheat flour
How To Make Your Dog’s New Favorite Thing
Mix the peanut butter, yogurt and honey in a bowl until well combined. Add the flour and mix with a large spoon or spatula until it forms a thick dough, like a soft cookie dough. Roll the dough into 1-inch balls between your palms. Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet and freeze for at least 2 hours.
That’s genuinely it.
My cousin always makes a double batch every Sunday, so that her border collie has something to wait by the freezer for.
One of the reasons I decided to make this recipe is because I like that the greek yogurt has probiotics which helps to keep my gut healthy so I have less mystery tummy growling at 3am.
These are great to make with other no bake dog treats if you want a freezer full of these.
And for those hot summer days, roll them slightly smaller as they will melt faster and you won’t have to vacuum up the cat hair. They’re not as messy as chocolate.
Prep Time: 10 mins | Freeze Time: 2 hours | Serving Size: ~30 balls
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @dudeandfortune
#3: Flower-Shaped Buckwheat Dog Cookies Rolled Fresh by Hand
As you can see, from the first paragraph, I’m not going to pretend that I don’t feel slightly guilty every time I’m baking something for myself and my golden is staring at me with those “you are sooooo mean!” eyes.
These little flower cookies are made for her.
Ingredients:
1. 2 cups buckwheat flour
2½ cup rolled oats (ground fine)
3. 1 egg
4. ⅓ cup unsweetened applesauce
5. 2 tablespoons coconut oil (melted)
6. ¼ cup water (add more if dough feels dry)
Rolling & Cutting These Little Beauties
Heat your oven to 350F. Combine the dry ingredients first, then the wet ones and stir to combine. At this point, the dough should be firm but not sticky or crumbly. I always like to chill the dough for 15 minutes before rolling. It makes everything easier!
Roll out ¼ inch thick onto a silicone mat (helps dough to lift easier when rolling out) and press flower cutter straight down (without twisting) onto dough to form flower.
Bake for 18-20 minutes until firm. Allow to cool completely before giving one to your girl.
The best part: I gave her a treat that is naturally grain-free and high in protein to support her joints and energy.
If you love making things from scratch for her, these homemade 2 ingredient dog treats are a great place to start!
Store tightly covered in an airtight container up to 2 weeks or freeze.
Prep Time: 20 min | Cook Time: 20 min | Serving Size: ~30 small cookies
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @doggonegoodiesaz
#4: Peanut Butter Blueberry Dog Cookies
Your golden is staring at you with those eyes. You know the ones that say “I know you have something good.” Mine does that to me too and it just about breaks my heart.
These cookies are exactly what that moment is calling for.
Peanut Butter Blueberry Dog Cookies
Ingredients:
1. 1 cup whole wheat flour
2. ½ cup rolled oats
3. ⅓ cup natural peanut butter (xylitol-free)
4. ¼ cup fresh or frozen blueberries
5. 1 egg
6. 2 tablespoons water (add more if dough is dry)
Let’s Bake These:
Preheat oven to 350°F. Mix peanut butter and egg together first to combine. Add flour and oats next and fold in blueberries last. Roll out to about a quarter-inch thick. Using a round cookie cutter or the rim of a glass, cut out cookies. Bake for 12-15 minutes or until edges are slightly browned. Let cool completely on a baking sheet before removing. Warm cookies crumble and your pup will eat them before you can plate them.
Prep Time: 10 mins | Cook Time: 15 mins | Yield: ~18 cookies
As you can probably tell, I’ve been eating a lot of oatmeal and whole wheat flour lately, and those grains provide a lot of fiber, which helps keep my digestion regular, so I don’t have to run to the bathroom.
If your pup is crazy about fruit-based treats, then Homemade Banana Dog Treats: Easy Recipes Your Pup Will Love is a recipe that you should bookmark.
Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days or freeze a batch for up to a month. Freeze them on a tray so they don’t stick together and you can pull one out whenever you get that urge.
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @archie.the.boston.and.co
#5: Homemade Bone-Shaped Dog Biscuits (Simple 4-Ingredient Recipe)
Does your golden give you ‘those eyes’ while you’re eating? Mine used to every time so I started making these little bone shaped biscuits and he loves them.
Ingredients:
1. 2 cups whole wheat flour
2. 1 egg
3. ½ cup natural peanut butter (unsalted)
4. ½ cup water
Prep Time: 15 min | Cooking Time: 25 min | Serving Size: ~30 small bones
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Let’s Bake These Little Guys
Preheat oven to 350F degrees. In a large bowl, mix peanut butter and egg until smooth. This step is easier to do if you mix the peanut butter and egg together first and then add the flour. Add the flour and water a little at a time until it forms a firm dough. The dough should feel like play dough and not sticky.
Roll out to about 1/4 inch thick on a floured surface. Using a bone shaped cutter, press the shape into the dough and place on a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Bake for 20-25 minutes until the edges turn golden. Let them cool completely, if you don’t, the biscuits will be soft and tasty while they are warm. Once they cool down they will be nice and crunchy.
The whole wheat flour adds fiber, for better digestion, and not a single “mystery” ingredient on the label.
If you are in the turmeric dog treats — benefits, recipes, and safety tips for your pup game, here’s a great read on turmeric dog treats.
Store in an airtight jar for up to two weeks, or freeze for up to three months.
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @dudeandfortune
#6: Star-Stamped Oat Cookies (Cooling Rack Edition)
Has your golden retriever ever just stared at you while you were baking? As in they give you those eyes and make you feel guilty as hell? Well, that’s exactly what happened to my cousin last week. She was making these adorable oat cookies with star-stamps and her dog just sat on her feet while she was baking.
and I get it, the smells are that good!
Prep Time: 15 minutes | Cooking Time: 12–15 minutes | Serving Size: ~50 small cookies
Ingredients:
1. 2 cups whole wheat flour
2. 1 cup rolled oats
3. 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
4. 1/4 cup peanut butter (xylitol-free)
5. 2 eggs
6. 1/4 cup water (add more if dough feels dry)
How to Make These Star-Stamped Oat Cookies
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. In a big bowl, combine your dry ingredients (whole wheat flour and rolled oats). In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, applesauce, and peanut butter.
Pour the wet mix into the dry mix, and stir. The dough will feel very thick (almost like play-dough). If it seems to crumble, add a little bit of water at a time until it forms a thick dough.
Roll the dough out to 1/4 inch thick on a lightly floured surface. Use a round cookie cutter and a small star stamp to cut out and decorate the cookies (or you can just press a star-shaped cap into the middle). Put them on a lined baking sheet.
Bake for 12-15 minutes until the edges begin to turn golden. Leave to cool on a wire rack – it is important not to rush this part as a fully cooled cookie holds its shape much better and is more crunchy (dogs like crunchy cookies!). The oats give the cookies a hearty texture and the dogs rarely get more than one, anyway.
If you make this often, you may want to take a peek at my archive of Dog Cookies Recipes: Easy & Healthy Homemade Treats for Your Pup.
STORE them in an airtight container for up to one week on the counter, or freeze them in a zip bag for up to three months. Just take a few out the night before and put them in the fridge to thaw and you have yourself some breakfast…
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @gerty_the_mutt_puppy
#7: Dog Birthday Muffins with Paw & Bone Biscuit Toppers
I know your dog probably goes crazy when you even think about looking in the treat drawer. So just picture these six little muffins in a tray, with paw prints and dog bones on top, and two birthday candles sticking out of one of the middle muffins. That’s all I’m saying. Your dog will spin in circles before you even set the tray down.
They are made with real ingredients. No mystery stuff.
Ingredients:
1. 2 cups oat flour
2. 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
3. 1/3 cup dried blueberries (or try fresh — they sink in beautifully during baking)
4. 2 eggs
5. 1 tsp turmeric (gives that golden color on the bone toppers)
6. 2 tbsp peanut butter, unsalted
7. Store-bought paw and bone dog biscuits for topping
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How to Make Them
Preheat the oven to 350°F. In a bowl, mix together the oat flour, eggs, applesauce and peanut butter. Mix until well combined. You should have a thick batter that resembles a brownie mix. Gently fold in the dried blueberries so they don’t sink to the bottom of the muffins. Spoon the batter into a silicone muffin pan. Fill the cups about 3/4 full.
Bake for 22-25 minutes until the edges look set and pull slightly away from the side. Let them cool completely before adding the biscuit toppers – pressing a bone or paw biscuit into a warm muffin just breaks it. Once they’re completely cooled, you can press your toppers into the tops gently. The biscuits will stay put without any frosting needed.
The turmeric in the batter is anti-inflammatory (and there’s nothing more soothing for inflammation than baking a cake with it).
Prep Time: 10 mins | Bake Time: 25 mins | Serving Size: 6 muffins
Good news: These freeze perfectly. Wrap each muffin individually. I take one out the night before a birthday or play date, and it is thawed out by morning. It still tastes fresh. If your dog is obsessed with blueberries like mine, Blueberry Dog Treats: Easy, Healthy Recipes Your Pup Will Love has some fun variations I would recommend.
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @kezprinzi
#8: Herb & Veggie Dog Biscuits in a Teal Bowl
Your golden’s nose hits the kitchen before you even open the oven. Then that tail starts going, and the paws start tapping, and 65 pounds of retriever is pressing against your leg. I get it, girl, I get it.
These biscuits are golden brown, rustic squares filled with herbs and served in a teal ceramic bowl. I mean, who wouldn’t love a bowl like this on their Pinterest board?!
Ingredients:
1. 2 cups whole wheat flour
2. ½ cup rolled oats
3. 1 egg
4. ½ cup low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth
5. 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped fine
6. 1 tablespoon fresh chives, chopped
7. 2 tablespoons olive oil
8. ¼ cup shredded carrots
How to Make Them
Preheat oven to 350° F. Mix together the dry ingredients (flour, oats). Then add the egg, chicken broth and olive oil. Add parsley, chives and carrots last. The dough should feel firm, not sticky. Roll out the dough to about a 1/4 inch thickness on a floured surface, then cut into squares or use a bone shaped cutter. Bake 25-30 minutes until the edges are crisp and deep gold. Let them cool completely before serving, as a warm biscuit can upset stomachs.
Prep Time: 15 min | Cook Time: 30 min | Serving Size: ~30 biscuits
The parsley here is for more than just decoration. It’s to freshen your breath, and without it, you’ll be breathing your golden breath directly into your face.
Store extra in an airtight glass jar on the counter. They stay crisp for up to one week, or you can freeze them in a zip-lock bag for up to three months.
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @moorlandseater
#9: Homemade Peanut Butter Biscuits Your Dog Will Beg For
Once, my dog was sitting at the kitchen table as if he was a whole entire person, waiting for me to notice him. I felt like that dog, today.
These peanut butter drop biscuits are stupidly simple. They are golden, dense, and are baked in your own home, no weird ingredients, and no special equipment.
Ingredients:
1. 2 cups whole wheat flour
2. 1 teaspoon baking powder
3. ½ cup natural peanut butter (xylitol-free, always)
4. 2 eggs
5. ⅓ cup water
Let’s Bake These Bad Boys
Preheat the oven to 350 . In a medium-sized bowl, mix the flour and baking powder. Add the peanut butter, eggs and water, stirring until a thick dough forms — it will feel stiff. Drop spoonfuls of the mixture onto a baking sheet lined with a sheet of parchment paper. Flatten each spoonful slightly and bake for 18-20 minutes until firm and golden underneath.
To be honest, these biscuits stay crunchy for up to two weeks in an airtight container. Meaning, less stress and more tail wags without having to bake them every day.
Prep Time: 10 min | Cook Time: 20 min | Serves: 18-20 biscuits
If your dog loves to munch on sweet snacks, Pumpkin and Oat Dog Treats: A Healthy & Easy Homemade Recipe is the next recipe you need.
Let biscuits cool completely before serving. Warm biscuits tend to stay soft on the inside and may crumble faster.
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @nessiethesheltie
#10: Pineapple-Shaped Peanut Butter Dog Cookies (Baked in Batches)
You know the moment when your dog is giving you that look (nose on your knee, tail thumping the floor) and you just cave. Well that’s why I started making these in bulk.
Prep Time: 15 min | Cook Time: 20 min | Serving Size: ~60 small cookies
Ingredients:
1. 2 cups whole wheat flour
2. 1/2 cup natural peanut butter (unsalted, xylitol-free)
3. 2 eggs
4. 1/3 cup water (add more if dough feels dry)
How to Make These (And Actually Nail Them)
Mix peanut butter and eggs together until combined then slowly add the flour. The dough should feel like firm playdough – not sticky or crumbly. Roll it out to <strong>1/4 inch thick</strong> on a floured surface.
Press your pineapple-shaped cookie cutter down firm and clean. Line your aluminum baking sheet with parchment paper and bake at 350F for 18-20 minutes until edges turn golden.
Real talk: pull them slightly underdone, they crisp up as they cool and that crunch makes your dog lose her mind.
These wheat-flour cookies are baked hard. They will last up to 2 weeks in an airtight jar on your counter (Pinterest jar).
Let the whole batch cool before storing. If the cookies are warm, they trap steam and become soft.
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @paradisepawz
#11: Crunchy Oat & Peanut Butter Bone-Shaped Dog Biscuits
The golden retriever stares at the treat jar. Apparently it owes her money. Every. Single. Morning.
These grainy, golden biscuits are just what that jar of peanut butter deserves. Baked from whole oats and made with simple pantry staples, these biscuits are dense, crunchy and baked until dry all the way through.
Ingredients:
1. 2 cups rolled oats, ground into a rough flour
2. ½ cup natural peanut butter (no xylitol — check the label)
3. 1 large egg
4. ¼ cup unsweetened applesauce
5. 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed
6. 2-3 tablespoons water (just enough to bring the dough together)
Let’s Bake These Bad Boys
Preheat oven to 325°F. Put the oats in the blender, and pulse a few times to make a coarse, slightly chunky flour. Mix the oat flour with the other ingredients, and continue to mix until a stiff dough forms. Roll out the dough to 1/4 inch thick on a lightly floured surface, and cut with a bone-shaped cookie cutter. Using a skewer, make a few small holes down the center of each biscuit. This will help the cookies dry out and get the perfect crunch. Bake the biscuits for 30 minutes, then flip them over and bake for an additional 15 minutes. Leave the cookies in the oven, with the door cracked, while it cools.
Prep Time: 15 min | Cook Time: 45 min | Makes: approximately 20-24 medium biscuits
These keep for 2 weeks in an airtight container. Do not refrigerate. The best part? You actually know what’s in every single one!
And let’s be honest, when you are looking for a bone to gnaw on, sometimes you just need a soft treat option. 10 Irresistible Homemade Soft Dog Treats Your Pup Will Love are perfect to have on hand for different moods.
Put them in a cool, dry spot and throw out any that smell funky before the two weeks are up.
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @puprepublicco
#12: Bone-Shaped Peanut Butter & Oat Dog Treats Baked on Parchment
Does your golden give you that look as you’re eating something? Well, my friend’s retriever, Maple does this. She just sits and stares until someone caves. These little bone shaped biscuits are my go to item.
I made a batch last fall when I ran out of store treats mid-week. I grabbed whatever I had laying around: oats, peanut butter and a banana. It was the best decision ever!
Ingredients:
1. 2 cups whole wheat flour
2. 1 cup rolled oats
3. ½ cup natural peanut butter (unsalted, xylitol-free)
4. 1 ripe banana, mashed
5. 2 eggs
6. ¼ cup water (add more if dough feels dry)
7. 1 teaspoon cinnamon (optional, dog-safe)
Let’s Make These Treats
Preheat your oven to 350°. Mash the banana in a bowl with a fork then add peanut butter and eggs. Mix these together first. This will make the dough easier to work with. Mix in the flour, oats, and cinnamon. Mix until the dough comes together. If the dough sticks to your hands, add a little more flour.
Roll the dough out to about ¼ inch thick on a floured surface. Use a bone-shaped cookie cutter, any size will do, but I find the smaller sizes tend to bake better. Lay them on a parchment lined baking sheet and leave a little room between each one.
They bake for about 25-30 minutes until the edges are golden and firm. Let them cool completely on the pan. The longer they sit, the crunchier they get, and dogs go crazy for that.
Parchment also means zero scrubbing afterward.
These treats are made with only whole ingredients and no preservatives, and the 20 minutes they bake give them a satisfying crunch! They are the perfect snack to give your dog, and if you are already doing all this for your dog’s health it just makes sense to give them a homemade dog toothpaste treat at the same time.
I store them in an airtight container for up to two weeks, or freeze them for up to three months. Thinner cuts dry out faster in the oven so it actually extends their life a bit so don’t be afraid to roll the dough a bit thin.
Prep Time: 15 minutes | Cooking Time: 25-30 minutes | Serving Size: Approx. 40-50 small bones
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @sharonbanham
#13: Frosted Bone-Shaped Dog Treats in Pink, Green, Yellow & White
Molly is one of those dogs that plants herself directly in front of whatever smells good, and just stares at you. No bark. No whine. Just one of those pouty-faced expressions, staring at you like you’re auditioning for the part of the meanest dog ever.
These treats from The Hound Ville are so cute – bone-shaped biscuits with pastel frosting in the colors of pink, green, yellow, and white. And they look so perfect on a Pinterest board.
Here’s what you need and how to make them:
Prep Time: 20 minutes | Cooking Time: 25 minutes | Serving Size: 12–14 treats
Ingredients:
1. 2 cups whole wheat flour
2. 1/2 cup rolled oats
3. 1/3 cup natural peanut butter (xylitol-free)
4. 2 eggs
5. 1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce
6. 1/4 cup water (add more if dough feels dry)
7. 1 cup plain Greek yogurt (for frosting base)
8. A few drops of dog-safe food coloring in pink, green, and yellow
How To Make These:
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Mix the flour, oats, peanut butter, eggs, and applesauce together in a bowl. Mix until the dough is stiff enough to handle (add a little water at a time if it is crumbling). Roll the dough out to about 1/4 inch thick on a floured surface. Use a bone-shaped cookie cutter to cut out the cookies. Place the cut-outs on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
Bake for 22-25 minutes, until the edges are golden. Pull them out of the oven and let them cool completely on a wire rack. You don’t want them cold, just not warm — otherwise, the frosting just slips right off.
Divide your greek yogurt into small bowls and add one drop of food coloring to each bowl. Spread the color of choice over a set of cooled bones with a butter knife or small spatula. Allow the frosting to set in the refrigerator for 30 minutes before serving.
The yogurt frosting hardens enough so that it holds its shape, so that your dog can give it a satisfying crunch, and your kitchen counter will look like a bakery while you’re preparing them.
Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 3 months. If freezing, chill the baking sheet before placing the cutouts on it. Warm sheets spread the dough and you lose the nice bone edges.
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @thehoundvilleltd
The One Baking Mistake That’s Making Your Dog Treats Go Stale in 3 Days
OK, I ruined a lot of batches of almond milk before I figured this out.
Most recipes will tell you to bake your dog treats at 350 for 25 minutes. While this is fine for human cookies, we want to make sure that our dog treats are dry. If there is moisture trapped inside, they will go bad and get soft.
The other way I’ve found to solve the problem is to bake the treats at 325°F, then leave the oven on with the heat off for another 30-40 minutes, which helps to dry out the remaining moisture without burning the cookies.
Also, I was surprised no one mentioned peanut butter in here. It adds moisture to the dough, so if you’re using it, take off at least 2 tablespoons from the liquid ingredient.
And if your golden has been scratching or getting a tummy ache after some of the treats I’ve shared on here, then the flour may be the culprit. Dogs with wheat sensitivities can react to it just like any other trigger. The 5 Best Dog Foods for Allergies actually breaks down ingredient triggers really well.
It is like you’re eating crunchy little morsels of dust. They’ll last forever. That’s the secret. They’re dry.
Your Dog-Proof Sofa Is One Decision Away
With enough muddy paw prints and mystery wet spots on your furniture, your home should feel like yours again — cozy, pulled-together and still golden retriever approved.
Pick the one you want tonight, and order it. Sit back and relax on your couch and not have to do the math on how much it will cost to clean it!
And hey – if the accidents go beyond the sofa cushions, you’re ready to cleaning dog urine from carpet.
And tell me – which one are you grabbing first and has your golden already got a favourite that she is hogging? 🙂
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.
