Reviewed By Joana Garrido DVM
Dogs simply can’t resist the irresistible taste of peanut butter. Impress your furry friend with these 6 simple and tasty peanut butter dog treat recipes, perfect for whipping up at home.
Why Do Dogs Love Peanut Butter So Much?
The true answer as to why dogs love peanut butter so much is yet to be known. However, dog enthusiasts and pet experts have their theories behind the big affection of canines toward this human food.
The salty sweet taste of peanut butter is believed to be the reason why dogs are drawn to it. That being said, some pooches enjoy plain natural peanut butter without added salt or sugar.
Some speculate that the smell of peanut butter is what entices dogs to snack on it. Others suppose that the presence of protein and fats in this human food leads dogs to love it.
Regardless of the true answer, the affinity of canines for peanut butter makes it a great ingredient for homemade dog treats.
Reasons to Make These Dog Treats:
Homemade peanut butter dog treats are healthier choices compared to store-bought versions; you are in charge of choosing the ingredients for your dog’s snacks.
Thus, it is easy to avoid using additives such as food dyes and artificial flavoring. Making dog treats at home also allows you to swap certain ingredients your dog might be allergic, or sensitive to. Always opt for a peanut butter brand that has a composition of 100% peanuts.
If you have a picky eater, you can tweak the ingredients list and include his favorite food in the recipe.
How to Make Peanut Butter Dog Treats at Home
Making peanut butter dog treats is easy, even for dog owners that have no experience in baking.
All it requires is combining dog-friendly ingredients, forming the dough or batter into your desired shape, and then placing them in the oven to bake.
Some recipes do not even require baking. You simply need to freeze the peanut butter treats for dogs inside the freezer until they turn solid.
Tips for Making Dog Treats from Scratch
Xylitol, which is an artificial sweetener that is toxic to dogs, can be found in certain peanut butter brands. Always check the ingredients list to be sure that the product you are purchasing is xylitol-free.
Xylitol does not always go by its known name. This sweetener has plenty of nicknames including birch sugar, xylite, and sucre de bouleau.
Homemade Peanut Butter Dog Treat Recipe
2-Ingredient Peanut Butter Dog Treats
If you are running on a tight budget, save money when making peanut butter dog treats using this great recipe.
What you need:
- ½ cup unsweetened, xylitol-free peanut butter
- 1 cup unprocessed all-natural coconut oil
How to make these peanut butter treats for dogs:
- Melt the coconut oil in a small saucepan if it is in its solid form. Use medium-low heat to completely liquify the coconut oil.
- Pour the peanut butter into the saucepan and stir thoroughly until the mixture has a smooth consistency. It should be thick but easy to pour.
- Remove the mixture from the heat and transfer it into a spouted measuring cup.
- Pour the mixture into a dog bone-shaped silicone mold or an ice cube tray.
- Let these peanut butter treats for dogs freeze for about 2 to 4 hours.
- Serve them to your canine friend.
- Transfer uneaten homemade peanut butter dog treats into an airtight container. Store them in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
3-Ingredient Peanut Butter Dog Treats
Time constraints can discourage dog owners from making delicious dog treats for their dogs. However, our recipe will teach you how to quickly make peanut butter dog treats using only 3 ingredients.
What you need:
- ½ cup unsweetened, xylitol-free peanut butter
- 1 steamed beet
- 16-ounce plain Greek yogurt
How to make these peanut butter treats for dogs:
- Mash the steamed beet in a large bowl using a ladle. Using a blender to turn the vegetable into a puree is fine too.
- In another large bowl, thoroughly combine the peanut butter and plain yogurt.
- Fill a silicone mold or ice cube tray halfway with the mashed or pureed beet.
- Pour the peanut butter–yogurt mixture on top of the pureed or mashed beet. Avoid filling the mold or tray to the brim to prevent spillage.
- Freeze the 3-ingredient dog treats for about 2 to 4 hours or until they are solid.
- Serve the homemade peanut butter dog treats to your canine friend.
- Store leftovers in a freezer-safe ziplock bag and place them in the freezer for up to 3 weeks.
4-Ingredient Peanut Butter Dog Treats
You do not need to shop for several ingredients to bake delicious snacks your pup loves. This easy peanut butter dog treat recipe uses only 4 ingredients, which you can easily find at home.
What you need:
- 1 cup unsweetened, xylitol-free peanut butter
- 2 cups coconut flour
- 2 large eggs
- 3 slices cooked bacon
How to make these peanut butter treats for dogs:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Use parchment paper to line the baking sheet.
- Chop the cooked bacon into small pieces.
- Mix all the ingredients in a large bowl until well combined.
- Roll out the dough to ¼-inch thickness onto a lightly floured surface.
- Use dog bone cookie cutters to cut out shapes from the flattened dough.
- Transfer them to the lined baking sheet.
- Bake, these homemade dog treats for 15 to 25 minutes or until the edges turn golden brown.
- Allow the dog peanut butter treats to cool at room temperature before feeding them to your furry friend.
- Place leftovers inside an airtight container and store them in the fridge for about a week.
Note for these peanut butter dog treats:
Add 1 tablespoon of water at a time to the dough if it is too dry. Conversely, add ¼ cup flour at a time if the dough is excessively sticky.
Peanut Butter Dog Treats, No-Bake
Take a different approach when creating peanut butter dog treats by skipping the use of the oven. Make chewy snacks for your dog with the help of our no-bake soft peanut butter dog treat recipe.
What you need:
- ¼ cup milk
- ¼ cup sliced apple
- ½ cup butternut squash
- ½ cup unsweetened, xylitol-free peanut butter
- 1½ cups uncooked oats
How to make these peanut butter treats for dogs:
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Mix the milk, peanut butter, and uncooked oats in a food processor until properly incorporated.
- Add the butternut squash and sliced apple to the mixture. Puree until all ingredients are well combined.
- Use a scooper to mold the dough into 1¼ to 1½-inch balls.
- Roll these homemade peanut butter dog treats on the remaining uncooked oats.
- Place them on the lined baking sheet and let them chill for around 1 hour inside the fridge.
- Feed these dog treats with peanut butter to your furry friend.
- Transfer any leftover no-bake peanut butter treats for dogs in a secure jar. They can last for up to 4 days in the fridge and 3 months in the freezer.
Note for these peanut butter dog treats:
You can easily administer medications, particularly pills, to your dog by stuffing them inside these homemade dog treats.
Peanut Butter Banana Dog Treats
You can never go wrong with combining peanut butter and banana to bake tasty treats your dog will love.
What you need:
- ½ cup peanut butter
- 1 large banana
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 2 large eggs
- 3 cups whole wheat flour
How to make these peanut butter treats for dogs:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Use parchment paper to line a baking sheet.
- Combine all the ingredients in a large bowl. Stir until the mixture turns into a firm dough.
- Lightly dust your work surface with flour and roll out the dough to ¼-inch thickness.
- Use a cookie cutter to cut out shapes from the dough.
- Place them on the lined baking sheet and bake for 15 to 20 minutes.
- Take the peanut butter dog treats out of the oven and allow them to cool at room temperature.
- Feed the peanut butter treats for dogs to your canine companion. If there are any leftovers, store them inside a ziplock bag and freeze them for up to 3 months in the freezer.
Notes for these peanut butter dog treats:
Some pooches have allergic reactions to chicken eggs. If your dog has this condition, use chia seeds as a substitute.
Mix 1 tablespoon of chia seeds with 3 tablespoons of water. Wait for about 5 minutes to let them form into a gel and then incorporate it into the dough.
Doughnut Peanut Butter Dog Treats
Go the extra mile for your beloved pooch by baking peanut butter-flavored doughnuts for him.
What you need:
- ½ cup creamy peanut butter
- ½ large grated carrot
- 1⅛ cups almond flour
- 2 eggs
- 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
How to make these peanut butter treats for dogs:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Grease a nonstick pan with vegetable oil and set aside.
- Mix all the ingredients in a large bowl. Stir with a spatula until a thick batter is formed.
- Transfer the batter into a disposable piping bag and pipe it into the greased doughnut pans.
- Gently rap the pan on the countertop to level the batter.
- Bake for about 15 to 20 minutes. Insert a toothpick into one of these peanut butter dog treats to know if they are fully cooked. If it comes out clean, remove the doughnuts from the oven.
- Allow these peanut butter treats for dogs to cool down completely before drizzling peanut butter on top as frosting.
Note for these peanut butter dog treats:
Unprocessed coconut oil can be used as a substitute for vegetable oil. All you need to do is melt 3 tablespoons of coconut oil and combine it with the other ingredients for this peanut butter treats for dogs recipe.
Gift Idea: Homemade Peanut Butter Dog Treats
You do not have to stress about finding the perfect present for other dog enthusiasts. Creating homemade peanut butter dog treats is a more affordable and personalized present for them.
So whip up a batch of dog snacks at home for special occasions like Christmas and doggy birthdays.
FAQs About Homemade Peanut Butter Dog Treats
1. Is a peanut butter cookie good for dogs?
No, store-bought peanut butter cookies made for human consumption are not good for dogs.
They tend to have high levels of sugar and added preservatives, which are unhealthy for your canine friend. It would be best to stick with peanut butter treats specifically made for pooches.
2. Is peanut butter dog treats good for dogs?
It’s important to be cautious when giving peanut butter dog treats to your pup. While homemade treats with natural peanut butter can be a good option, not all store-bought options are safe as they may contain harmful additives and excessive amounts of sugar and coloring.
Additionally, it’s worth noting that peanut butter is high in fats and protein, so overindulging in it can lead to health issues like obesity, pancreatitis, and diabetes in dogs.
Therefore, it’s important to be mindful of the ingredients and portion sizes when giving peanut butter treats to your dog.
3. Can you use all-purpose flour in peanut butter dog treat recipes?
Yes, regular all-purpose flour can be safely used in peanut butter dog treats homemade. However, it does not provide any nutrition to your dog.
If you want healthier alternatives, almond flour, wheat flour, and coconut flour, which we have used in our recipes, are good options.
Other healthy all-purpose flour substitutes that you can try are quinoa flour, arrowroot flour, tapioca flour, and oat flour.
4. Can dogs be allergic to peanut butter treats?
Yes, some dogs can be allergic to peanut butter dog treats due to the ingredients used.
For this reason, be aware of your dog’s food sensitivities. You can either omit these types of food or look for substitutes when making homemade peanut butter treats for dogs.
Common clinical signs of allergies in dogs are hives, inflamed skin, swelling, and bald spots. If your canine friend is exhibiting these symptoms, bring him to the vet immediately.
5. What can I substitute for peanut butter in dog treats?
You can substitute peanut butter in dog treats with sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, or sunflower seeds.
Turn these seeds into butter by roasting them in a 350-degree Fahrenheit oven for 5 to 12 minutes.
Then blend them in a food processor for about 10 minutes or until they form into creamy butter. Refrigerate and use it up within 2 days.
6. Can you freeze peanut butter for dog treats?
Yes, you can freeze peanut butter dog treats to prevent them from getting spoiled quickly.
No-bake or frozen homemade peanut butter treats for dogs take about 3 to 4 hours to freeze solid. However, some dog owners prefer to leave them in the freezer overnight.
7. How long will homemade dog treats keep?
Homemade peanut butter dog treats do not contain any preservatives. Thus, they have a shorter shelf life compared to commercial dog treats.
Leaving them at room temperature or in the refrigerator can make them last for up to a week.
Homemade peanut butter treats for dogs have a longer shelf life if you freeze them. They can last for over 3 months when properly stored in the freezer.
That being said, it is difficult to predict when homemade peanut butter dog treats become spoiled. For your dog’s safety, always check them before serving them to him.
The presence of molds, bugs, and stinky odor would mean that the peanut butter dog treats have gone bad. Discard them and whip up a new batch for your canine friend.
Other Homemade Dog Treats Your Pup Will Beg For
Try your hand at creating other simple and easy homemade dog treats such as:
If you made any of these dog treats, make sure to share this article with your friends or add it to your Pinterest board.
Summary
There’s no denying that many dogs just can’t resist the irresistible taste of peanut butter. And with these easy recipes, you can treat Fido to delicious homemade snacks that they’ll love. But why stop at peanut butter? Our Diet & Recipe section is full of other healthy and tasty treats that your dog is sure to enjoy.
