These homemade dog treats are made with simple pantry ingredients like oats, banana, and peanut butter, so you know exactly what you're giving your furry family member. They're easy to make, fun to cut into cute shapes, and perfect for everyday treats. Best of all, they're made with love!

"Easy to make. Tastes so good you could make cookies with this recipe! But our fur babies love, love, love them!"

★★★★★- RLH

Jump to:

🔍 Quick Look: Homemade Dog Treats
A note to the reader
Ingredient notes and substitutions
Watch how to make
Steps
Helpful tips
Can you freeze homemade dog treats?
How long do homemade dog treats last?
Safety note
About the recipe
💬 Comments

🔍 Quick Look: Homemade Dog Treats

⏱️ Prep Time: 15 minutes
⏲️ Bake Time: 15 minutes
🕒 Total Time: 30 minutes
👥 Servings: 16
🐶 Main Ingredients: Oats, banana, peanut butter
🍪 Texture: Crunchy homemade dog biscuits
❄️ Freezer Friendly: Yes
⭐ Difficulty: Easy

A note to the reader

One Christmas, our sweet friend Naomi Grace surprised my dog with a bag of homemade dog treats. I thought they were such a thoughtful gift that I immediately asked if she'd help share the recipe here on A Fork's Tale. Thankfully, she said yes! Together, we made these easy dog treats with simple ingredients like oats, banana, and peanut butter. They're fun to cut into shapes with cookie cutters, making them a great recipe to make with kids or to package up as a homemade gift for fellow dog lovers. My dog loved them. I hope yours will too! Enjoy! Xoxo -Katie.

Ingredient notes and substitutions

You only need a handful of simple pantry ingredients to make these homemade dog treats. Here's what you will need:

Old Fashioned Oats- Quick oats will also work if that's what you have on hand.
Banana- It naturally sweetens the treats and helps hold the dough together.
Peanut butter- Be sure to use peanut butter that does not contain xylitol, as it is toxic to dogs. Creamy peanut butter works best, but natural peanut butter is also a great option if it's well stirred.
Cornstarch- Used to make the optional dog-friendly icing. If you are skipping the icing, you won't need it.
Honey- Adds a touch of sweetness to the optional icing and helps give it a smooth consistency.
Water- Mixed with the cornstarch and honey to create the icing.
Food coloring (optional)- Completely optional and only used for decorating. Feel free to leave it out if you prefer a natural treat.

*The full recipe with ingredient measurements is located at the bottom of the post in the recipe card.

Watch how to make

Steps

Follow these simple steps to make homemade dog treats.

Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Add the oats to a food processor or blender and pulse until they resemble a fine flour.
In a large mixing bowl, mash the banana with fork. Stir in peanut butter until smooth. Add the ground oats, reserving 1 tablespoon for dusting your work surface, and mix until a dough forms.
Lightly dust a work surface with reserved ground oats. Roll the dough to about ¼ inch thick. Cut desired shapes for the doggie treats using cookie cutters.
Place cutouts on the prepared baking sheet and bake treats for about 15 minutes, or until the edges are lightly browned. Let the treats cool completely before decorating or serving.
If making the optional icing, mix cornstarch, water, honey, and a few drops of food coloring until smooth.
Drizzle the icing over the cooled treats or brush it on with a pastry brush. Allow the icing to dry completely before storing. Store cookies in air tight container in refrigerator.

Helpful tips

Chill the dough for 15 minutes if it becomes sticky.
Roll the dough about ¼ inch thick so the treats bake evenly.
Smaller treats bake faster than large cookie cutter shapes.
Store refrigerated because these contain fresh banana.

The homemade dog treats are primarily made with bananas, peanut butter, and oatmeal.

Can you freeze homemade dog treats?

Store in the freezer in a airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator before serving.

How long do homemade dog treats last?

Because these treats contain banana, keep them refrigerated and use within a week, or freeze them for longer storage.

Safety note

Always use peanut butter that does not contain xylitol (sometimes listed as birch sugar), as it is extremely toxic to dogs. If you dog has food allergies or special dietary needs, check with your veterinarian before serving these.

This is a kids recipe to cook with your child.

About the recipe

Naomi Grace really did all the work. I just supervised. She is an excellent chef.

Naomi Grace is such a special young lady. She routinely volunteers at our local animal shelter called FAPS. She wants to be a Veterinarian when she grows up. I am very certain she will accomplish this goal.

Fayetteville Animal Protection Society, Inc. (FAPS) is the only Cumberland County No-Kill, non-profit animal shelter supported by volunteers, grants and individual contributions. FAPS receives no state or federal funding to operate and relies solely on the community to support its mission in rescuing and successfully placing companion animals in their forever homes.

Her family also fosters dogs on a regular basis. There is always a new dog visiting at her house until they can be matched with their forever home. They have rescued numerous dogs that are now happily living with their new families. All of their personal dogs have been rescued and adopted. They recently adopted a very cute French Bulldog named Banks to add to their family. I am trying my best not to steal him away. He is so darn cute! My dog Goliath loves visiting and playing with the pack. He gets spoiled rotten when he visits and has a great time playing with his furry friends.

Want to make your own dog food? Check out my homemade crockpot dog food recipe.

If your dog liked these homemade dog treats, please leave me a comment and tell me how it went. I would love to hear back, and so would my readers.