Your golden retriever just finished his treat, but he’s looking at you with those eyes. You know the eyes.
I know, because my dog does the same thing, and I used to grab whatever bag was on sale at the store until I actually read the ingredient label one day… yeah… that was the end of that!
Who doesn’t want to spoil their dog without the guilt of mystery preservatives and weird fillers? Strawberries make it so easy.
These [strong]strawberry dog treats[/strong] are your answer. Fresh and simple, your dog will lose his mind. I’ve got 11 recipes (some frozen, some baked) that come together quickly and will look so cute on your counter.
your boy deserves more than a bag. let’s make it happen.
#1: Heart-Shaped Strawberry Dog Cookies in a White Bowl on Grass
And you know how you come home and your dog gives you the eyes when you are eating something really yummy? And she puts her paw on your knee or something? That’s what inspired me to make these.
These little heart shaped cut-outs are made with whole wheat flour, fresh strawberries and a touch of parsley. They are going to be so good and look so good in this white ceramic bowl I couldn’t even post them on Pinterest!
Here’s How to Make Them
Ingredients:
1. 2 cups whole wheat flour
2. ½ cup fresh strawberries, mashed
3. 1 egg
4. 2 tablespoons coconut oil, melted
5. 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
Preheat oven to 350F. In a large bowl, mash the strawberries, egg, and coconut oil together and stir well. Add the flour and parsley, and knead until a firm dough forms. Roll out dough to about 1/4 inch thick, and use a heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut the dough into cookies. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the edges of the cookies are slightly golden.
Prep Time: 15 min | Cook Time: 25 min | Serving Size: 20-24 cookies
These freeze beautifully as well. If you’re not going to eat them right away, let them cool completely before putting them in the freezer to keep them from getting soft too fast.
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @doggydessertchef
#2: Canine Candy Gift Box — Mixed Dog Treat Biscuits
Your horse’s nose is working overtime long before you open the box and suddenly you are the best person alive.
This sweet little gift box from Canine Candy is filled with mixed biscuits in bone, heart and little round shapes in the warm pinks, creams and browns that would look so cute on your Pinterest worthy Pinterest. I know I’m not explaining myself well…you’ll just have to trust me!
The dish was easy to recreate at home.
How To Make Your Own Canine Candy-Style Mixed Biscuit Box
Ingredients:
1. 2 cups whole wheat flour
2. 1/2 cup rolled oats
3. 1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce
4. 2 tablespoons peanut butter (xylitol-free)
5. 1 egg
6. Pink tint: 1 teaspoon beet powder
7. Brown tint: 1 teaspoon carob powder
8. 1/4 cup water (add gradually)
Preheat your oven to 350 F. Whisk together the dry ingredients in a medium sized bowl. Add the wet ingredients and stir until just combined. Divide the dough into three parts. Leave one plain, one with beet powder, and one with carob powder. Roll out each portion to a thickness of about 1/4 inch. Cut the biscuits out with a bone and heart cookie cutter. Place them on a parchment lined baking sheet. Bake for 18-20 minutes until firm and golden. Let them cool completely.
Once the biscuits have cooled, they’ll stay crunchy for up to two weeks in an airtight container, according to the brand. This crunchiness helps scrape your golden’s teeth clean while she chows down, which means less breath stank for you.
Store it in a white box with some parchment paper and tie it with a ribbon – you may not even have to spend anything on shipping.
Prep Time: 20 mins | Cook Time: 20 mins | Serving Size: Approx. 40 small biscuits
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @caninecandyltd
#3: Banana Strawberry Dog Bone Treats
Your golden’s nose is already going wild before these even cool down on the rack.
Last summer, I made a batch for my neighbor’s lab, Biscuit, and the whole house smelled like a fruit smoothie. I wanted to sit down and chow one down with the dogs, but unfortunately, I didn’t save any for myself.
Banana Strawberry Dog Bone Treats
Ingredients:
1. 2 ripe bananas, mashed
2. 1 cup fresh strawberries, chopped small
3. 2 cups whole wheat flour
4. ¼ cup rolled oats
5. 1 egg
Let’s Make These
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Mash the bananas in a large bowl until very smooth. The riper the bananas, the sweeter your dog will think they are, so go for very ripe bananas! Add the chopped strawberries, egg and oats. Add the flour slowly to the banana mixture until you create a dough.
Roll out the dough about ¼ inch thick on a floured surface. Using a bone-shaped cookie cutter, cut out cookies and lay them on a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Bake for 18-20 minutes until golden and firm.
Let them cool completely. Warm treats tend to crumble and the dog will eat it sadly and with a crumbled treat.
Prep Time: 15 min | Bake Time: 20 min | Makes: ~24 treats
The whole wheat flour gives them a nice structure and they hold their shape well when baking. And, they store well in an airtight container up to a week so the whole family will enjoy the tail wagging fun all week.
These would go great with Homemade 2 Ingredient Dog Treats: Simple and Healthy Recipes Your Pup Will Love if you need a quick back up stash.
Don’t hesitate to freeze a couple extras. They will stay good in the freezer for up to 3 months. It’s nice to have a couple in the freezer, that way if you want to make it for a random Tuesday when you’re feeling lazy, you can!
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @lovebakesgoodcakes
#4: Frozen Blueberry Yogurt Dog Bone Treats
Your dog’s nose hits your hand every time you open the freezer. My dog used to do that too, just relentless paw tapping until I’d give in.
These pink bone-shaped frozen treats are made with real blueberries and plain yogurt and they look so good I almost ate one myself.
Here’s what you need:
1. 1 cup plain Greek yogurt (unsweetened)
2. ½ cup fresh or frozen blueberries
3. ¼ cup rolled oats
4. 1 tablespoon honey (optional)
How to Make Frozen Blueberry Yogurt Dog Bones. Just frozen blueberry yogurt dog bones. Can be molded into shapes.
Blend the blueberries until smooth, then fold them into the yogurt with a spoon. Avoid over-mixing; those little purple swirls are the best part. Stir in the oats. Pour into the bone shaped silicone molds. Tap the tray gently on the counter to release any air bubbles. Freeze for at least 4 hours, or overnight if you can wait that long. Pop them out and store them in a zip-lock bag in the freezer.
Silicone molds are cleaner – no cracking or broken off ears from bone shapes. The oats add fiber. The yogurt is kind of helpful with digestion. And the blueberries are loaded with antioxidants. So this one treat does three things.
These cookies pair perfectly with Homemade 3-Ingredient Dog Treats: Easy, Healthy Recipes Your Pup Will Love if you want to mix things up.
Run the bottom of the mold under warm water for about 10 seconds and they will slide out perfectly without breaking.
Prep Time: 10 mins | Freeze Time: 4 hours | Serving Size: 8–10 bones
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @lynnescontrivedkitchen
#5: Strawberry Oat Dog Treats (Peanut Butter Edition)
You know that look that your golden gives you when you’re eating something, and she’s just sitting there, staring into your soul? Yeah. That’s what started this whole thing for me.
Every time my cousin and I would have strawberries on the counter, her dog would start sniffing around for a snack. So, we decided to make these little strawberry oat bites and they disappeared faster than any batch I’ve ever made!
Strawberry Peanut Butter Oat Dog Treats
Ingredients:
1. 1 cup fresh strawberries, diced small
2. 1 ½ cups whole wheat flour
3. 1 cup rolled oats
4. ½ cup natural peanut butter (no xylitol — check the label twice)
5. 1 ripe banana, mashed
6. ¼ cup water
Let’s Make These Together
Preheat oven to 350°F. Mash banana in a large bowl until smooth, then stir in peanut butter until completely incorporated. Stir in flour, oats and water until a thick dough forms. Fold in strawberries gently, so they remain in chunks. The dough will be sticky. This is okay! Drop spoonfuls of dough onto a parchment-lined baking sheet and press down very gently with palm of hand. Bake for 22–25 minutes until golden and firm. Allow to cool completely before serving; warm cookies can upset sensitive stomachs.
Prep Time: 10 minutes | Cook Time: 25 minutes | Makes about 18–20 treats
To be honest, I like these snack bars because peanut butter is a good source of protein, the oats help to keep digestion smooth, and strawberries are a good source of antioxidants, so it’s a snack that does something good for her. That’s why I like to make these every week.
Store the baked golden puffs in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days or store in a zip bag in the freezer for up to 3 months. If your dog has grain sensitivities, you can use oat flour instead of whole wheat flour. Pumpkin and Oat Dog Treats: A Healthy & Easy Homemade Recipe is the next dog treat recipe you should try.
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @peace_love_frenchies
#6: Strawberry Frozen Yogurt Paw Print Treats
I know that feeling… it’s finally warm enough to sit outside and enjoy the sunshine, and your golden is just laying around panting, and maybe even kind of flopped out on the patio, looking at you with those pitiful eyes. That was me last summer with my cousin’s lab. I felt so bad that I ran inside and made him something cold.
These are so stupid cute and so easy it’s almost embarrassing.
Strawberry Frozen Yogurt Paw Print Treats
Ingredients:
1. 2 cups plain Greek yogurt (no xylitol — check that label)
2. 1 cup fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
3. 1 tablespoon honey (optional)
Here’s How To Make Them
Blend the strawberries until smooth, then mix them into the yogurt. If you feel your puppy deserves a little something extra sweet, go ahead and add some honey (my dog always does!). Transfer to a silicone paw print mold (the kind with the little toe beans raised up, it’s so cute I can’t stand it). Freeze for at least 4 hours (overnight is fine, too). Pop them out when they’re frozen, and they’ll come right out of the silicone molds.
Prep Time: 5 min | Freeze Time: 4 hours | Makes: 8–10 treats
Pink and creamy, these treats photograph like a dream, and they’ll keep your dog cool, too. The yogurt helps support your dog’s gut, which means less weird stomach stuff on your nice rugs.
Strawberries are pretty low in sugar, compared to most other fruits. This is a treat that I’m not at all guilt about giving to my dogs a few times a week.
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @petessweets0
#7: Star-Shaped Oat & Peanut Butter Dog Biscuits with Whipped Cream and Strawberry
You know how it feels when your golden sits right next to you on the couch and stares at your snack like you’re the most selfish person alive?
Yup that is what started me baking in the first place.
A couple weekends ago, my cousin’s dog, Maple, guilt-tripped us into making homemade treats for him. We had oats, peanut butter, and zero other plans, and it was the best rainy Saturday ever.
Star-Shaped Oat Peanut Butter Biscuits
Ingredients:
1. 2 cups whole wheat flour
2. 1 cup rolled oats
3. ½ cup natural peanut butter (unsalted, xylitol-free)
4. ½ cup water (add more if dough feels dry)
5. 1 egg
How to Make These
Preheat your oven to 350F. Mix the flour and the oats in a large bowl. I like to have the dry ingredients together before adding in the wet ingredients, since it helps make the dough easier to work with.
Then, add the peanut butter and the egg, and slowly pour in the water until a firm dough forms, similar to Play-Doh that is not sticky, but not crumbly.
Roll out the dough to about ¼ inch thick on a lightly floured surface. Use a star-shaped cookie cutter to punch out your biscuits, placing them on a parchment lined baking sheet.
Bake for 25-30 minutes until they are golden and crisp all the way through. Leave them to cool on a wire rack – a cool biscuit is a crisp one, and your dog will go absolutely feral for it!
I really like this product. My dogs really like them as well. The crunch makes them more of a treat. They help scrape off plaque on your dog’s teeth while she is eating them.
Good news: You should store these in an air tight container for up to two weeks. So one batch goes a long way.
The strawberry and whipped cream photo was for you, girl, just a little treat party for both of us.
Save the scraps to re-roll – just don’t overwork the dough or the biscuits will get tough. Also, always check the peanut butter label. Xylitol is showing up in more and more brands and it’s seriously toxic to dogs.
Prep Time: 15 minutes | Cook Time: 30 minutes | Serving Size: About 24 biscuits
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @samspawsomepad
#8: Paw-Shaped Strawberry Dog Cookies
My golden is sitting at my feet looking at me with that look that tells me she knows I have something good for her. And I do. I feel like the rockstar when I hand her something I made.
These paw shaped strawberry cookies are so cute that I almost didn’t want to give them away. Almost.
Prep Time: 15 min | Cook Time: 25 min | Serving Size: ~12 cookies
Ingredients:
1. 2 cups whole wheat flour
2. 1 cup fresh strawberries, diced small
3. ⅓ cup natural peanut butter (xylitol-free!)
4. 2 eggs
5. 2 tablespoons honey
Let’s Make These Happen
Preheat your oven to 325 F. Add your peanut butter, eggs, and honey to a bowl and mix it until smooth. Add your flour and mix it until a dough forms. Your dough will be thick but that is OK. Gently fold in your diced strawberries and fold again. Roll out your dough to ¼ inch thick on a floured surface and press down firmly with your paw-print cookie cutter.
Bake for 22-25 minutes until golden at the edges. Let them cool completely before serving. If you try to serve them while warm, they will be crumbly and will not have the snap your dog loves.
The whole wheat flour gives them the structure, the peanut butter gives them protein and you have a treat that your dog will not be able to resist. They also look so cute that you want to photograph them. Look at the tail of your pup going nonstop. For more unique doggie treats, visit Dog Cookies Recipes: Easy & Healthy Homemade Treats for Your Pup.
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days or freeze it for up to 2 months.
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @spoiledhounds
#9: Heart-Shaped Pumpkin & Cranberry Dog Treats
His nose is already pressed against the oven door before the timer goes off. The smell of the warm spiced cakes fills the whole kitchen and you’ll be wanting to eat one yourself!
These little hearts are made with pumpkin puree, dried cranberries, and whole wheat flour. I took the color of the pumpkin and made a pretty gold color, and they look exactly like something off a pinterest board!
Ingredients:
1. 2 cups whole wheat flour
2. ½ cup pure pumpkin puree (not pie filling)
3. ⅓ cup dried cranberries, roughly chopped
4. 2 eggs
5. 2 tablespoons peanut butter (xylitol-free)
Let’s Bake These
Preheat your oven to 350°F. Whisk together the pumpkin, eggs and peanut butter first so that its combined before adding the flour. Mix in the cranberries last so that they don’t break apart.
Roll out the dough to about ¼ inch thick on a floured surface. Using your heart-shaped cutter, push through the dough. Place the cookies on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Use a fork to poke a few holes on top of the cookies to help them bake through without puffing up weird.
Bake for 20-25 minutes until firm.
Prep Time: 15 min | Cook Time: 25 min | Serves: About 24 treats
The whole wheat flour gives them their structure so they stay formed for gifting — finally I made a homemade treat that actually looks good in pictures. If you love baking for your pup you’ll love Baked Dog Treats: Easy, Healthy, and Homemade Recipes.
Store the muffins uncovered for the first hour after baking. This helps them crisp up even more.
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @sweettreatsbygab
#10: Strawberry Banana Dog Treats (The Trusty Doodle)
Your golden just stared you down while you were eating strawberries on the couch. Again. Those big brown eyes…..yeah, grinding.
These little ring shaped treats from The Trusty Doodle are made with organic coconut flour, organic bananas, organic strawberries and organic tapioca starch. And that’s literally it. They are pink, chewy-edged, and dotted with real strawberry bits. They are a cute treat to have on your “dog mom aesthetic” board.
Here’s How To Make Them At Home
Ingredients:
1. 2 cups organic coconut flour
2. 2 ripe organic bananas, mashed
3. 1 cup organic strawberries, diced small
4. 3 tablespoons organic tapioca starch
5. ¼ cup water (add more if dough feels dry)
Mash your bananas until smooth and lumps free as the lumps will make your dough crack when you cut the donuts. Fold in the strawberries last so they stay chunky. Roll the dough to a 1/4 inch thickness, cut with a donut cutter, and bake at 325°F for 22-25 minutes. Let the donuts cool completely on a wire rack before serving. The tapioca starch helps the texture stay soft. These can get really dense and crumbly if you just use coconut flour.
Real talk: Coconut flour is grain free so it is easier to digest. It also makes for a lighter treat your dog can enjoy more often!
If your dog loved these then be sure to check out the 10 Irresistible Homemade Soft Dog Treats Your Pup Will Love.
Store extras in the fridge for up to 5 days, or up to 3 weeks in the freezer, where they become a fun, cool summer treat for your goldens to go crazy over.
Prep Time: 15 mins | Cook Time: 25 mins | Serving Size: ~24 mini treats
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @thetrustydoodle
#11: Homemade Dog Bone & Heart-Shaped Oat Treats With Freeze-Dried Strawberry Bites
My golden just stared at me with those big brown eyes while I was stressing out baking on Sunday afternoon. “Why not make something for her too?”.
These are so cute they should be displayed on your kitchen counter! I made some bone and heart-shaped oat treats and added some little red freeze-dried strawberry bites for a little extra color.
Ingredients:
1. 2 cups rolled oats (ground into flour)
2. ½ cup peanut butter (unsalted, xylitol-free)
3. ¼ cup unsweetened applesauce
4. 1 egg
5. 1 tablespoon honey
6. Freeze-dried strawberries (for the red bites — just press into small round molds)
How to make these (and get them crispy).
Preheat oven to 350°F. Pulse oats in a blender until it reaches a rough flour texture. Do not over blend – keep some graininess. Mix oat flour with all other ingredients until a firm dough forms. Roll out to ¼ inch thickness. Use bone and heart cookie cutters to cut out shapes. Bake both trays for 25 minutes, or until firm. Let cool completely on a wire rack – the cookies will remain crisp when cooled.
Prep Time: 15 min | Cook Time: 25 min | Makes: ~24 treats
The oats give my girl energy and the peanut butter keeps her coat nice and shiny. And on top of that, I get the cutest treat bowl on the counter!
Store in an airtight jar for up to two weeks. If your golden is a power chewer, roll the dough slightly thicker for the treats to last longer during snack time.
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @wildwildwhisk
The Strawberry Sugar Trap Most Dog Owners Fall Into (And How to Dodge It)
I learned this the hard way after my cousin’s lab developed an upset stomach after eating “healthy” store bought strawberry treats. Upon reading the label, I realized the sugar content in the treats was nearly equivalent to that of a candy bar.
To start off with, strawberries have fructose which is a natural sugar. Therefore, if you add extra sugar to the strawberries for treats, you are just adding more sugar to your dog’s diet.
When shopping for strawberry treats, be sure to turn the bag over and look at the ingredients. There should be no sugar in the top 5 ingredients. Also, it should say dried strawberry or strawberry powder as the first ingredient.
Pro tip, freeze the fresh sliced strawberries in plain yogurt drops. You don’t have to worry about your girl getting a mystery ingredient in her lunch, and your Pinterest worthy kitchen stays involved in the process.
Also, portion size matters. Even if her treats are very clean, they should be under 10% of her daily calories. One or two pieces of treat per day, not a handful while you’re both busy scrolling.
Your Golden Retriever Deserves a Clean Home Too
You know you’ve worked so hard to make your home look and smell wonderful. Don’t let muddy paws and their golden fluff undo all of your hard work!
But, you should pick one of the products from the list below and try it. I picked up the furniture cover almost on a whim last spring, and now my couch actually looks like it did when I bought it.
Your house can be Pinterest worthy and golden retriever approved at the same time! Those two things don’t have to fight anymore.
which one are you grabbing first then ??
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.
