You know when your golden smells peanut butter? That face he makes, the body wiggle, the whining and the “I will do anything” feeling.
Yeah. Mine does the same thing.
The problem is, store bought treats tend to be junk. The ingredients are whatever the lowest bidder put in the package and you never know what you’re really giving your dog.
Real talk: I started making homemade peanut dog treats when my dog, Koda, had a reaction to a bag of peanut dog treats that I grabbed without thinking.
They are pretty simple, use ingredients you probably have already and your dog is going to lose his mind over them. It is one of the best swaps we have made for him.
#1: Heart-Shaped Peanut Butter Dog Treats Piled in a Tin
My golden is staring at me again with that full body wiggle, the hopeful eyes and the little whine that says “please, Mom.” I want to give her something that is good. Something I made.
These are my treats that are made with whole wheat flour. They are rolled and cut into heart and flower shapes using the mini metal cookie cutters. The one in the picture are piled into a small round tin on a lace doily… almost too Pinteresty for me. 😉
Ingredients:
1. 2 cups whole wheat flour
2. 1/2 cup rolled oats
3. 1/3 cup natural peanut butter (unsalted, xylitol-free)
4. 2 eggs
5. 1/4 cup water (add more if dough feels dry)
How to Make These (It’s Easier Than You Think)
Preheat the oven to 350F degrees. Mix the peanut butter, eggs and water in a bowl until smooth. Stir in the flour and oats until a firm dough forms. It will feel like play-dough and that is the consistency we want. Roll the dough out to about 1/4 inch thick on a floured surface. Press your cutters down firm and clean. Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake 18–20 minutes or until golden and set. Let them cool completely before handing them over. Warm treats get messy really fast.
The whole wheat flour adds a bit of structure to the treats and the peanut butter adds a protein bonus for the pooches. Plus they actually last more than two seconds in the tin.
Last Christmas, I made three batches of these and gave them to my dog-mom friends in little tins. They were obsessed. They pair so well with the dog biscuit recipes, too, so you could make a treat box for your pup!
Store in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks, or freeze them for up to 3 months. Skip the xylitol check on the peanut butter label if you buy the same brand all the time, it’s dangerous to dogs. Read every label.
Prep Time: 15 mins | Cook Time: 20 mins | Serving Size: ~40 mini treats
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @theitsybitsykitchen
#2: Peanut Butter Drizzle Cookies Your Dog Will Lose Their Mind Over
I was also making these when my golden retriever was just staring at me while I was eating. I’d talk to her about my day and she’d just sit there like “kay… Whatever” while I was eating. Of course, I’d have to give her some food so she wouldn’t be jealous. So these are also for her.
These cookies are a nice golden tan and a little chunky. They’re drizzled with a warm peanut butter glaze that hardens just enough so they look like something off a Pinterest board (and they’re prettier than some stuff I’ve baked for myself).
Ingredients:
1. 2 cups whole wheat flour
2. ½ cup rolled oats
3. ½ cup natural peanut butter (unsalted, xylitol-free — this part matters)
4. 2 eggs
5. ¼ cup unsweetened applesauce
6. 2 tablespoons honey
7. ¼ cup peanut butter (for the drizzle)
8. 1-2 tablespoons warm water (to thin the drizzle)
How To Make Them
Preheat oven to 350 . Combine peanut butter, eggs, applesauce and honey in a bowl and mix until smooth and sticky. Add flour and oats and mix until a sticky dough forms. The dough will be dense. Roll the dough into balls and flatten onto a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Bake for 12-14 minutes until edges are just starting to turn golden.
After they have cooled, drizzle the peanut butter with warm water and drizzle it over each cookie. It sets in about 10 minutes.
Make it even easier: batch freeze the unbaked dough balls for fresh cookies in under 15 minutes.
I add oats for fiber and applesauce keeps them moist without adding fat. That drizzle of honey on top though… pure drama! Your dog will get a treat they actually like and you get a photo worthy shot! Try it out!
Prep Time: 15 min | Cook Time: 14 min | Serves: 20-24 cookies
If you pup has a sensitive stomach, you can switch out the whole wheat flour with oat flour for the same kind of texture. Make sure the treats are completely cool before giving them to the pup so that the drizzle doesn’t stick to their fur.
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @spoiledhounds
#3: Peanut Butter & Coconut Oil Frozen Dog Treats (Bone + Paw Molds)
Imagine this: It’s a hot day, and your goldfish is sitting right next to you, staring at you with those big eyes as if you owe her a snack. That is exactly what made me try this recipe for the first time, and I’ve been making them for her ever since!
Ingredients:
1. ½ cup natural peanut butter (xylitol-free — check that label!)
2. ¼ cup coconut oil, melted
3. ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
How to Make Them
First, you’re going to want to melt your coconut oil in the microwave for 20 seconds. Add the peanut butter and stir until the mixture looks smooth and pourable. Then add your cinnamon and mix again. Pour into your silicone bone or paw molds and place on a baking tray so they’re easier to move. Freeze for at least 2 hours before removing them from the molds.
Prep Time: 5 min | Freeze Time: 2 hours | Serving Size: 20–30 mini treats
The coconut oil helps the treats stay together so there’s zero crumbling mess on the floor, and also gives her coat a shine I notice after a few weeks.
They pair so well with other simple recipes like these homemade 3-ingredient dog treats, if you want to mix up her snack rotation.
Put them in a freezer bag – they last for 3 weeks and you can grab one whenever she gives you that look.
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @baileymakesvideos
#4: Bone-Shaped Oat Cookies with Berry Frosting
You know those moments when you look at your dog and they give you the eyes (please, just one little treat) and you reach for the store bag, flip it over and can’t pronounce half the ingredients? Yeah. That’s what inspired me to make these.
Ingredients:
1. 2 cups whole wheat flour
2. 1 cup rolled oats
3. 1/3 cup natural peanut butter (unsalted)
4. 2 eggs
5. 1/4 cup water
For the berry frosting:
1. 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
2. 3 tablespoons mashed fresh strawberries or raspberries
Let’s Make These Happen
Mix flour, oats, peanut butter, eggs, and water until a firm dough forms. Roll out to about 1/4 inch thick (it can’t be any thinner or they’ll fall apart). Cut out with bone shaped cookie cutters and place on a parchment lined baking sheet.
Bake at 350°F for 25 minutes, until golden and firm. Let cool completely before frosting — if not, the yogurt will slide right off! Mix the yogurt and mashed berries together and then spoon onto the cooled cookies.
Oats add fiber which helps keep things flowing, so no tummy problems for you or your bestie! And with pink frosting, these are SO Pinterest-worthy, you might not want to give them away!
Would look even better with the Dog Cookies Recipes: Easy & Healthy Homemade Treats for Your Pup collection as it would give you a whole variety of dog cookies to make!
Freeze the leftovers in a single layer first, then move them to a bag — the frosting stays intact for up to 3 weeks.
Prep Time: 15 min | Cook Time: 25 min | Serves: 18–20 cookies
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @spoiledhounds
#5: Homemade Dog Bone & Paw Print Biscuits (Three-Shape Variety Box)
One look and I know my golden is giving me the same look she gives my cousin when she wants a treat. Every Tuesday in my house it’s the look from my cousin’s lab.
These biscuits are baked in the shape of bone, paw print, or rectangle. They’re packed into a white gift box. And they’re made from wholesome pantry staples your pup already loves.
Here’s What You Need:
1. 2 cups whole wheat flour
2. ½ cup rolled oats
3. 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed
4. ½ cup natural peanut butter (unsalted, xylitol-free)
5. 2 eggs
6. ⅓ cup low-sodium chicken broth
Let’s Bake These:
Preheat oven to 350°F. In a large bowl mix the peanut butter, eggs, and broth together. Combine until mixture is smooth and uniform in consistency. Add the flour, oats, and flaxseed until the mixture forms a firm dough. Add more flour if needed. Roll out the dough to a ¼ inch thick on a floured surface. Cut with your cookie cutters and place on baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool completely on a rack. As they cool the cookies will crisp up and become crunchy.
a little change makes a big difference! i used the regular broth, but then changed it to low sodium broth because i wanted it to be safe for my kids to snack on. i also cut down on the butter. works for me. thanks, again!
Prep Time: 15 min | Cook Time: 30 min | Serving Size: 30-35 biscuits
Store in an airtight container up to 2 weeks, or freeze for up to 3 months. These would also make the cutest little neighbor gifts!
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @emmazbakery
#6: Heart-Shaped Apple Cinnamon Dog Treats Baked in a Blue Speckled Pan
Do you have one of those dogs that will give you the eyes while you’re eating an apple? Yep, mine does it every single time and I caved, but in the best way possible.
These little heart shaped apple cinnamon biscuits are baked in a white ceramic heart shaped muffin pan (yes, I put a blue speckled enamel tray in there just because it looks so pretty). They’re a warm golden brown, smell just like fall, and I bet your girl is going to go feral for these.
Ingredients:
1. 2 cups whole wheat flour
2. 1 medium apple, peeled and grated (I used a Honeycrisp — that red-yellow beauty you see right there)
3. 1 teaspoon cinnamon (plain, dog-safe, no nutmeg)
4. 2 tablespoons natural peanut butter (xylitol-free, always)
5. 1 egg
6. ¼ cup water, added slowly as needed
Prep Time: 15 minutes | Cooking Time: 25 minutes | Serving Size: ~30 treats
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How to Make Apple Cinnamon Heart Dog Treats
Preheat your oven to 350°F. Grate your apple into a large bowl, making sure you don’t squeeze out the juice. This will give you extra moisture for binding.
Mix peanut butter and egg together until it looks shaggy and rough. Add cinnamon, and mix together. Begin to add flour one cup at a time until dough comes together in a firm but not crumbly consistency. If the dough is too dry, add water one tablespoon at a time.
Roll out your dough to about ¼ inch thick on a lightly floured surface. Using your heart shaped cookie cutter, press firmly and place on a parchment lined baking sheet. Bake for 22-25 minutes or until the edges are a deep golden brown and the centers feel firm when touched.
Pull them out and let them cool completely on a wire rack. This makes them nice and crunchy instead of soft, and will let them keep for longer.
The whole-wheat flour gives these their structure (that’s the feature), and because of this these can be stored in an airtight jar for up to 2 weeks (that’s the benefit), so you don’t need to re-bake them every 3 days to keep your dog’s tummy happy (that’s the payoff).
I like to keep a few in my heart shaped pan on the counter. They look like Pinterest art! And if your girl is anything like mine, she will smell them when you take them out of the oven and probably will sit at your feet the entire cooling time.
If you’re looking to up your homemade treat game, check out these 10 Irresistible Homemade Soft Dog Treats Your Pup Will Love.
If you slice the dough into thin strips before cutting out the shapes you will make some chewy, softer “stick” like treats (the ones on the bottom left of the pan in the picture). Same recipe, two textures!
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @nourishgf
#7: Peanut Butter Banana Dog Biscuits in a Mason Jar
Puppies can be so cute, and my golden used to give me the most amazing look when i was eating a banana. Every single morning she would be sitting there with her tail going a mile a minute totally convinced that banana was for her.
These biscuits are exactly what you should make when you want to feel like a good dog mom.
Prep Time: 15 minutes | Cooking Time: 25 minutes | Serving Size: About 30–35 small biscuits
Ingredients:
1. 2 ripe bananas, mashed
2. ½ cup natural peanut butter (xylitol-free — check the label)
3. 2 cups whole wheat flour
4. ½ cup rolled oats
5. 1 egg
Let’s Bake These
Preheat oven to 350°F. Mash the bananas in a large bowl until they are mostly smooth; there is no need to mash them completely smooth. Add the peanut butter and egg, and stir to combine.
Fold in the flour and the oats gradually. It will be quite stiff. If too sticky, add flour one tablespoon at a time.
Roll out the dough to a thickness of about ¼ inch on a floured surface. Using your favorite cookie cutters (gingerbread men are adorable in a jar, like these!), cut out cookies. Bake on a lined sheet for 22-25 minutes until golden and firm.
Good news: Those stay fresh in a sealed glass jar for up to two weeks.
These treats are very gentle on your girls belly because they are made with whole, simple ingredients and it’s always a nice touch to have if you are making homemade probiotics for dogs because of your girl’s sensitive stomach.
Let them cool completely before jarring. Warm biscuits are too soft and steamy. You want that satisfying crunch when she takes a big bite.
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @thetwoebs
The Peanut Butter Trick That Changes Everything About Dog Treat Baking
And for most people, they simply grab any jar of peanut butter and go to town.
It can be found in “natural” and “sugar free” peanut butters and is actually deadly to dogs. Your golden’s life isn’t worth saving a dollar on a fancy jar. Always flip it over and read the ingredients before anything else.
A tip I learned to make this a little easier (although time consuming) is to use room temperature peanut butter, rather than cold from the refrigerator. This way, it will not seize up when you are shaping the cookie dough and it will not crack when you are cutting out shapes.
If you don’t plan on eating them all at once, let your treats cool completely on the rack before storing them. I learned this the hard way when I accidentally made a batch of treats and sealed them in an airtight container before they were cool. I woke up to a whole batch of moldy treats. So sad.
One more thing: If you have a hot dog that you want to last a little bit longer, freeze these dog treats. They will last for weeks!
Your golden deserves the good stuff, made right.
Your Dog Deserves This — Go Make It Happen
Seriously? This is one of those recipes that you wish you had found sooner. Your Golden already gives you those eyes every time you open the fridge – now you actually have something worth giving her.
I might just mix a batch this weekend. They’re so fast! I made mine on a Sunday afternoon while my coffee was still warm and my dog lost her mind over them.
And if you want to keep spoiling her more, these sweet potato dog treats are something that she will go crazy for.
So tell me, what’s your golden’s all-time favorite treat flavor?
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.
