These soft and chewy kale dog treats are made with wholesome ingredients your dog will love. Packed with kale, sweet potato, and applesauce, they’re a simple way to make a nutritious treat with natural flavor and a tender texture. They’re fun to make, budget-friendly, and perfect for rewarding your pup with something homemade.
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Why You Will Love This Recipe
There are so many reasons these treats will become a favorite for you and your dog.
Easy to Make – Simply mix the ingredients, press the dough into silicone molds, and bake.
Simple Ingredients – Everything in this recipe is made with wholesome ingredients you can easily find at the grocery store.
Customizable – You can easily swap several ingredients to fit your dog’s taste preferences or dietary needs.
Economical – Making treats at home costs much less than buying specialty treats from the pet store.
Nutrient-Rich – Kale provides vitamins A, C, and K along with calcium, magnesium, antioxidants, and fiber.
Ingredients and What They Bring to the Treats
These homemade dog treats use simple ingredients that work together to create soft, flavorful treats. This is what you’ll need:
- Fresh kale – The star of the treats! Adds vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fiber.
- Sweet potato – Adds natural sweetness, moisture, and nutrients.
- Unsweetened applesauce – Helps keep the treats soft while adding natural sweetness.
- Egg – Binds the ingredients together and adds protein.
- Coconut oil – Adds healthy fats and richness.
- Oat flour – Adds fiber and is easily digestible for dogs.
Ingredient Substitutions
This recipe is easy to customize with a few simple substitutions.
Kale – Spinach can be substituted for kale.
Sweet Potato – Swap with cooked butternut squash or cooked carrots.
Applesauce – Use mashed banana or plain pumpkin puree instead.
Oat Flour – You can make oat flour by blending old-fashioned rolled oats in a blender or food processor until it has a flour consistency. One cup of oats makes about ¾ cup of flour.
Flour Substitutions – You can substitute oat flour with brown rice flour, all-purpose flour, or a 50-50 mix of all-purpose and whole wheat flour. Because whole wheat flour is denser, it’s not a good substitute to use by itself. Flour substitutes may affect the dough, so start with less and add as needed.
Equipment Needed
You likely have all the kitchen items needed to make these treats. You can use any silicone molds, but paw and bone-shape silicone molds make them extra cute.
How to Make Kale Dog Treats
These soft and chewy treats come together quickly with just a few simple steps.
- Chop the kale. Peel, cube, and boil the sweet potato until fork-tender. Drain and let it cool to room temperature.
- Place the cooked sweet potato, applesauce, egg, and melted coconut oil in a large bowl. Mash until smooth and well combined.
- Stir the chopped kale into the mixture.
- Add the oat flour and mix until a soft dough forms.
- Place silicone molds on a baking sheet for stability, and fill each mold with the dough.
- Bake at 350°F for 15 to 18 minutes.
- Allow the treats to cool completely in the molds before removing them.
How to Store the Treats and How Long They Last
Store the treats in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
For longer storage, freeze them for up to 3 months. Thaw them in the fridge overnight.
Important Note
While kale is packed with nutrients, it also contains calcium oxalate. Feeding too much kale may contribute to kidney or bladder stone formation in some dogs. Do not feed kale to dogs with kidney or bladder issues unless your veterinarian recommends it.
Can people eat these treats?
Yes, they sure can! All the ingredients are safe for human consumption. Give one a try and see if you like it.
More Dog Treat Recipes with Vegetables
Want to make some more yummy treats with veggies for your dog? Try these recipes:
- Chicken and Broccoli Dog Treats
- Banana Carrot Dog Treats
- Fennel Dog Treats
- Spinach Egg Bites
- Zucchini Dog Treats
Find lots of easy recipes for dog treats right here on Spoiled Hounds!
Kale Dog Treats
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup chopped fresh kale
- 1 small sweet potato (½ – ¾ cup of peeled and diced)
- 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1 egg
- 2 tablespoons melted coconut oil
- 2 cups oat flour
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Chop the kale. Peel, cube, and boil the sweet potato until fork-tender, about 15 minutes. Drain and allow to cool to room temperature, about 15-20 minutes.
- Place the boiled sweet potato cubes (about ½ to ¾ cup), applesauce, egg, and melted coconut oil in a large bowl. Mash and combine well. Stir in chopped kale.
- Add the oat flour and combine into a dough.
- Place silicone molds on a baking sheet and fill the molds with the dough.
- Bake for 15-18 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely in the molds. Once cooled, remove the treats from the molds.
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge.
Nutrition
Serving Amount
Treats should make up no more than 10% of your dog’s daily calories. Consult your veterinarian if you are unsure of the appropriate serving size for your dog.
If your dog hasn’t had any of these ingredients before, start with a small piece to make sure there are no allergies, sensitivities, or adverse reactions.
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