We know filling our bodies with healthy food makes us feel good, gives us more energy and contributes to a healthy immune system and overall wellness. We try to avoid highly-processed foods or snacks with plenty of preservatives that won’t give us anything healthy in return. So, if we take good care of our own bodies and treat our food as a healthy source of fuel, then why wouldn’t we do the same for our dogs who depend on us to keep them healthy?
The following recipes offer treats filled with a higher nutritional value, are preservative-free and can utilize the freshest and most natural ingredients available. These healthier ingredients do more good for your dog’s digestive system, and they also contribute to healthier hearts, teeth, gums and fur.
Cranberry Biscuits For Dogs
These delightful little treats are a delicious way to show your dog how much you love them.
Ingredients
2 eggs
1-1/2 cups almond flour
1 tablespoon coconut oil
3-4 tablespoons coconut flour
1/2 cup dried, unsweetened cranberries
Directions
Preheat oven to 325F. Beat the eggs and set aside. Combine almond flour, coconut oil, and dried cranberries in a bowl. Add in the eggs and knead the ingredients with your hands. Dough will be wet and sticky. Add in the coconut flour one tablespoon at a time to achieve a consistency that is easy to roll out and not overly sticky. This should take approximately 3-4 tablespoons. Roll out the dough and cut out the treats using a cookie cutter. Place the treats on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for 15-18 minutes or until crisp.
No-Bake Peanut Butter & Coconut Oil Dog Treats
Coconut oil can aid with a dog’s digestion, provide more energy, improve their coats and more. These grain-free dog treats have only three ingredients.
Ingredients
1 cup all-natural peanut butter
1 tablespoon unprocessed coconut oil (melted)
1 teaspoon cinnamon
Silicon paw print mold
Instructions
Combine coconut oil, peanut butter and cinnamon. Stir until mixture is completely smooth and thoroughly mixed. Mixture should be thick, but pourable. Pour mixture into tray and freeze until set. Carefully remove from tray and store in air-tight container in freezer (they soften quickly). NOTE: These were made for dogs in the 10-15 pound range. Adjust the amount of coconut oil following this rule of thumb: use 1 teaspoon of coconut oil per 10 pounds of your dog’s body weight.
Chicken & Quinoa Treats
Ingredients
1 cup cooked, finely diced chicken, skin removed
1/2 cup quinoa, cooked
3 tablespoons rice flour
1 tablespoon parsley
1 egg
Silicone heart mold
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350F.
Mix together all ingredients and stir well. Spoon into silicone molds. Bake for 20-30 minutes, until tops are golden brown. Allow to cool and remove from molds. Store in fridge.
Sweet Potato Fries
Ingredients
1 sweet potato, washed and peeled
1 tbsp coconut oil (melted)
Spices – turmeric, cinnamon
Instructions
Preheat oven to 425F. Cut the seed potato into evenly sized long skinny (fry-shaped) pieces.
Use your hands to coat fries with oil and spices. Place fries on baking sheet in a single layer. Bake for 15 minutes. Turn fries over for even baking. Bake for another 10-15 minutes. Let cool before giving to your dog.
Other dog-safe spices you can use in this recipe
Basil, cinnamon, coriander, dill, ginger, marjoram, oregano, parsley, rosemary, sage, tarragon, thyme, and turmeric.
Ginger Apple Treats
This ginger apple dog treat is perfect for dogs who are on a grain-free diet.
Ingredients
1 cup brown rice flour
1/2 cup apple, finely diced
2/3 cup Greek yogurt (plain, unsweetened)
1/2 tsp fresh ginger (finely minced) or 1 tsp ground ginger
1 tablespoon coconut oil
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350F. Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Stir together until well combined. If necessary, thoroughly mix together with hands. Turn mixture out onto a floured, flat surface and roll out with a rolling pin to approximately 1/4-inch. Cut into desired shapes and place on a baking sheet coated greased with coconut oil. Bake for 25 minutes, until golden brown.
Peanut Butter Pumpkin Treats
Pumpkin is great for doggie digestion. This recipe can be adjusted to include or exclude grains.
Ingredients
1 cup pumpkin puree
2 eggs
1/2 cup oats (optional if your dog is on a grain free diet, sub an extra 1/4-cup grain free flour)
3 cups whole wheat flour, brown rice flour, or gluten-free flour
3 tablespoons all-natural peanut butter
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350°F. In a small bowl, stir together the flour, oats, and cinnamon. In a separate large bowl, whisk together the eggs, pumpkin and peanut butter until combined. Stir wet ingredients into dry. Pour onto a floured surface and roll dough out to 1/2-inch thick. The dough will be a little sticky, a dusting of flour for your hands and the rolling pin will help. Cut out using cookie cutter. Bake for 30-35 minutes until golden brown. Place on cooling racks and let cool thoroughly. The biscuits will harden as they cool.
Salmon & Sweet Potato Treats
Not every dog can eat or enjoy crunchy dog treats. These soft treats are perfect for dogs with dental problems, small mouths, or who just don’t like crunchy dog treats.
Ingredients
1 can salmon or tuna
1 medium sweet potato, baked in the skin
2 eggs
1/3 cup coconut flour
Coconut oil for greasing a pan
Instructions
Preheat oven to 300F. In a medium bowl, stir together coconut flour, eggs, and salmon. Allow the mix to “rest” for 10 minutes while the coconut soaks up the moisture. Remove the sweet potato from the skin and stir into the salmon mixture. Grease a 9×9 cake pan or 9-inch pie plate with coconut oil. Press mix into the pan. Bake for 60-70 minutes. Allow to cool and slice into squares. For a crunchy treat, return the squares to the oven on a baking sheet and bake at 150F for 3 -4 hours.
Recipe Notes
Feel free to swap out ingredients in any of the above recipes, just remember, swap dry for dry and wet for wet.
Foods that are safe for dogs
Carrots, peanut butter, eggs (cooked), salmon (cooked, boneless), blueberries, pineapple, watermelon, green peas, oatmeal, apples (remove the seeds!), sweet potatoes, quinoa, chicken (cooked, skinless, boneless), pork, mango, rice, turkey, beef, bananas, strawberries, oranges, store-bought mushrooms, and celery.
Foods and ingredients to avoid
Grapes and raisins, chocolate, macadamia nuts, onions, avocado, caffeine (coffee, tea etc.), garlic, alcohol, lemons, and limes.