It’s always fun to spoil our precious pups, and one of the easiest– and most fun– ways to do that is by making homemade dog treats!

They love sharing “people food” and are always excited to try new snacks. You don’t have to be a pastry chef to make delicious dog treats.

Here are five super easy recipes that will make your dog's day!

1. Five-Ingredient Biscuits

This easy recipe calls for just five simple ingredients. It contains no grain, so it’s safe for dogs with allergies! If you don’t want to use eggs, you can swap in 1 cup of unsweetened applesauce. 

Ingredients: 

• 1½ cup coconut flour
• ½ cup peanut butter with no added ingredients
• 4 eggs
• ½  cup coconut oil
• 1 cup + 2 tbsp pumpkin puree (not pie filling!)

Instructions:

• Preheat oven to 350.
• In a mixing bowl combine all ingredients and form dough into a ball.
• Roll out dough between two sheets of parchment paper.
• Use cookie cutters to cut treats- this recipe can make up to 50 small treats.
• Transfer to a lined baking sheet.
• Bake for 12-15 minutes or until cookies are hard.
• Let cool completely before serving.

Source: Lexi’s Clean Kitchen

2. No-Bake Treat Balls

These no-bake treats are a snap to make, and work well as pill pockets if your dog needs medication. They can be made in minutes– it takes longer for them to set up in the fridge than it does to assemble the treats. 

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of quick oats
• ½ cup of peanut butter
• 1 tsp. honey

Instructions:

• Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl.
• Roll into balls of whatever size your dog likes.
• Let sit in the fridge for at least 30 minutes to let the balls firm up.
• Store in an airtight container in the fridge.

Source: Peace, Love, and Frenchie Farts

3. Four-Ingredient Dog Cupcakes

A cute little cupcake is a great treat, but not all human-style cupcakes contain safe ingredients for dogs. This simple recipe changes the game by being totally dog-safe and delicious! If you want to make “frosting” for this cupcake, use extra peanut butter or a mashed banana.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 small or medium apple, diced into small pieces
• 3 tablespoons peanut butter + more if desired for frosting
• 1 whole egg
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder (optional)
• Bacon bits for topping (optional)

Instructions:

• Preheat your oven to 350.
• Mix together all of your ingredients in a small bowl until combined.
• Line or lightly grease two holes in a cupcake tin or a small ramekin. Spoon the mixture into the prepared pans.
• Bake for about 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
• Allow the cupcake to cool completely. You can leave it as is, or frost using peanut butter and sprinkle with bacon bits.

Source: A Saucy Kitchen

4. Sweet Molasses Peanut-Free Dog Treats

Peanut and nut butters are popular ingredients in dog treats, but what if you, someone you live with, or your dog has an allergy? This tasty treat is free of nut butter and many other allergens, and can easily be adapted to avoid other problem foods.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups whole wheat or gluten-free flour (plus more for dusting)
• 1 tablespoon baking soda
• 1 cup sunflower butter 
• 1 cup coconut milk
• 1 tablespoon molasses

Instructions:

• Preheat the oven to 375.  
• In a medium bowl, stir together flour and baking soda until thoroughly combined. 
• In a large bowl, mix the other ingredients. 
• Add the flour mixture and stir until thoroughly combined.
• Turn out dog treat dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth.
• Coat your rolling pin with whole wheat flour and roll out to 1/4 inch thickness.
• Cut rolled dough and place 2 inches apart onto lined cookie sheets.
• Bake for 10-20 minutes until lightly brown. 
• Remove from the oven and let cool.

Source: This Mama Cooks

5. Dehydrated Dog Treats

This is less of a recipe and more of a simple cooking instruction. Dogs love the texture of dehydrated treats, and it’s a great way to make their favorite foods last longer. And you don’t need any fancy kitchen gadgets to make them– just an oven and a baking tray.

Set the oven low, around 145 (160 if you’re dehydrating chicken), and leave your snacks in there for at least 8-10 hours– sometimes more. Keep checking until you have treats that have the desired texture. This is a great option for dogs who are picky eaters, because the texture might convince them to try something new.

You can dehydrate fruits, veggies, fish, and meat. Popular items to dehydrate for dogs include:

• Chicken 
• Lean beef
• Turkey
• Organ meat
• Salmon
• Tuna
• Apples 
• Carrots
• Sweet potatoes
• Green Beans
• Zucchini

Source: Wiggleworthy

Making homemade treats for your dog is a great way to show them how much you care. It’s a fun activity that you can do by yourself or with other people. You’ll have so much fun making these treat recipes and letting your dog try them! Which of these treats is your dog’s favorite?

At Joyride Harness, we want to help you care for your dog and make them feel loved and appreciated. Check out our blog for more fun tips and tricks!