Homemade Apple Peanut Butter Dog Treats topped off with a delightful peanut butter drizzle will have your dog’s tail wagging with joy! Made with the goodness of fresh apple and the irresistible taste of peanut butter, these treats are the perfect blend of health and taste.
Not only will your fur babies beg for them, but these bite-sized treats will also provide a good dose of dietary fiber, vitamins, and protein. Keep reading to dive into all about this simple yet nourishing recipe that’s sure to make a dog’s day!
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Why You’ll Love This Apple Peanut Butter Dog Treats Recipe
One of the significant advantages of making your own dog treats at home is its cost-effectiveness. But there’s another upside that’s impossible to overlook – the health factor.
These treats have straightforward, wholesome ingredients, making them a healthier choice for your furry friend. As these treats bake, the mouth-watering aroma of apples wafting through your kitchen is bound to get your dog’s tummy rumbling in anticipation. It’s a great way to give your dog healthy treats that don’t break the bank.
Peanut butter and apple dog treats do not have added sugar or artificial sweeteners. You can’t say that about most store-bought treats.
This simple dog treat recipe doesn’t have complicated steps either. It’s just basic stirring, rolling, cutting, and baking. Anyone can make homemade apple dog treats at home.
The Best Things About These DIY Dog Treats
Baking homemade treats yourself means you know you are giving your four-legged friend all-natural dog treats with simple ingredients. There aren’t any mystery ingredients found in store-bought dog treats.
If you give your dog apple slices with peanut butter for treats, your pup will flip for these! Baking some homemade dog treats with fresh apples, apple sauce, and peanut butter is the next step in spoiling your hound. This may be your dog’s new favorite treat.
This is a great recipe to make for Christmas presents or dog birthday parties.
Benefits of Apples for Dogs
Apples are not only a delicious fruit for humans, but they can also be beneficial for dogs in moderation. Here are some health benefits of apples for dogs:
- Apples are a great source of fiber, which can aid in a dog’s digestion. It may help regulate bowel movements and could assist in maintaining a healthy weight.
- Apples contain a variety of vitamins and minerals including vitamin A, vitamin C, and potassium. These nutrients are beneficial for a dog’s overall health, including the immune system, skin, and coat health.
- Apples are packed with antioxidants, which can help protect against cellular damage and boost the immune system.
I love making homemade dog biscuits, especially ones full of nutrients! Make a batch of these when your dog wants a special treat, and share your love with your pup.
Ingredients
The exact ingredient amounts and step-by-step directions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this article. First, I want to share some information about the ingredients in this simple recipe.
Here’s a handy ingredient list of what you’ll need. They are common ingredients found in regular grocery stores. Use organic ingredients if you want to make organic dog treats.
- Fresh Apple – the star of the treats!
- Unsweetened Applesauce adds moisture and sweetness.
- Creamy peanut Butter is full of healthy fats and adds protein to the treats.
- Eggs are a binder for the dough and add protein.
- Oat Flour is a whole-grain flour rich in nutrients.
- Old-Fashioned Oats for texture.
- Coconut Oil for making the peanut butter drizzle.
Ingredient Notes
Be sure to use natural peanut butter safe for dogs that does not contain xylitol, an artificial sweetener toxic to dogs.
Instead of buying oat flour, you can easily make it by placing uncooked old-fashioned oats in a blender or food processor and blending until it has the consistency of flour.
Instead of using store-bought applesauce, make your own applesauce for dogs.
You can use chunky peanut butter; just make sure it is unsweetened and does not contain xylitol.
Flour Substitutions
When you make this dog treats recipe and want to use different flours, there are a few things to keep in mind:
If you can’t find or don’t have oat flour, use brown rice flour as an easy substitute.
You can also substitute all-purpose flour or a 50-50 combination of all-purpose and whole wheat flour for the oat flour. The amount will have to be adjusted since those flours will cause the dough to have a different consistency. It will take less of those flours than oat flour. Because whole wheat flour is denser, it’s not a good substitute to use by itself.
Finally, it’s also possible to substitute coconut flour for oat flour, but you’ll need to add more liquid to the batter.
Equipment Needed
You probably have most of the kitchen items you need to make these treats. You can use any cookie cutters but a paw or dog bone cookie cutter would be a good idea so folks will know these are dog cookies.
- Measuring Cups and Spoons
- Mixing Bowls
- Rolling Pin
- Cookie Cutters for Dog Treats
- Baking Sheet
- Silicone Mat or Parchment Paper
- Sealed Container (to store leftover treats)
How To Make Apple Peanut Butter Dog Treats
These are the recipe steps and some photos of the process. I hope they help you make this healthy dog treats recipe! Note there’s a printable recipe card below.
- Core and cut the apple into small pieces, making sure there are no apple seeds in the pieces.
- Place the chopped apples, applesauce, and eggs in a medium bowl. Stir to combine them.
- Place the oat flour and oats in a large bowl. Stir or whisk to combine them.
- Add the wet ingredient mixture to the dry ingredient mixture.
- Stir until a dough forms.
- Roll out the dough on a flat surface.
- Use a cute cookie cutter to cut out the treats and place them on a baking sheet lined with a silicone mat or parchment paper.
- Bake at 350°F for about 25 minutes until golden brown.
- Cool the treats to room temperature either on the baking sheet or a wire rack.
To make the peanut butter drizzle:
- Place peanut butter and coconut oil in a small microwave-safe bowl.
- Microwave on HIGH for about 30 seconds, or until they are melted. Stir to combine.
- Drizzle the mixture over the treats.
Recipe Notes
You can make the treats in different sizes and fun shapes. For bite sized treats, use a small cookie cutter or the top of a shot glass.
Using the paw-shaped cutter, the recipe yielded 30 2½-inch diameter dog treats. The amount will vary depending on the size and shape of the cutter you use.
You can use a pizza cutter to cut the dough into squares or rectangles.
Silicone Mold Treats
Don’t want to roll out and cut the dough? You can press the dough into silicone molds.
Bake at 350°F for about 25 to 30 minutes.
Note the treats baked in silicone molds tend to be softer than cutouts.
Serving Size
How many homemade apple peanut butter dog treats should you give your pup at once? That depends on the amount of food you gave your pet to eat that day and the size of your dog. Large dogs can consume more than smaller dogs.
Treats should be considered in your dog’s daily caloric intake. Make sure you don’t exceed the recommended amount for your dog.
Dogs shouldn’t have too many treats, including these yummy cookies. For this reason, I suggest only giving your spoiled hound one treat per day.
However, you can use your own judgment regarding how many treats are right for your dog.
And as with adding new foods to your dog’s diet, start with a small amount to ensure your dog has no adverse reactions.
How to Store
These baked dog treats should be stored in an airtight container or plastic zip-top bag.
For longer shelf life, freeze them in a freezer-safe container or plastic freezer bag.
How Long Do Homemade Peanut Butter Dog Treats with Fresh Apple Last?
Due to the storage life of apples that are baked, they will last 2-3 days at room temperature or 4-5 days in the refrigerator. They will last up to 3 months in the freezer.
It is best to freeze these treats because they may become moldy due to the fresh apple. Just take enough out of the freezer for a couple of days. Your dog may enjoy the frozen treat, or you can thaw them in the fridge overnight.
Can Humans Eat These Dog Treats?
Yes, people can eat these dog treats. All the ingredients are safe for human consumption. But I doubt folks would like them. They don’t taste as sweet as cookies for people.
Popular Homemade Dog Treat Recipes
Want to make more yummy homemade treats for your dog? Here are some great ones to make:
- 3-Ingredient Dog Treats
- Carob Dog Treats
- Dehydrated Sweet Potatoes for Dogs
- Frozen Apple Dog Treats
- Low Fat Dog Treats
- Peanut Butter Banana Dog Treats
- Rolled Oat Dog Treats
- Strawberry Dog Treats
Find more easy dog treat recipes here on Spoiled Hounds!
Apple Peanut Butter Dog Treats
Ingredients
Treats
- 1 small Apple
- 2 Eggs
- ½ cup Unsweetened Applesauce
- ⅓ cup Natural Creamy Peanut Butter
- 2 cups Oat Flour
- 1 cup Old-fashioned Rolled Oats
Drizzle
- 1 tablespoon Natural Creamy Peanut Butter
- 1 tablespoon Coconut Oil
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with a silicone mat or parchment paper.
- Chop the apple into small pieces.
- In a medium bowl, mix together the chopped apple, eggs, applesauce and peanut butter.
- Combine the oat flour and rolled oats in a separate large bowl.
- Add the wet ingredient mixture to the dry ingredient mixture and combine well to form a dough.
- Turn the dough out onto a smooth surface. Using your hands or a spoon, combine the ingredients until you have a dough. Flatten evenly with your hands or a rolling pin to about ¼ to ½-inch thickness.
- Using a cookie cutter, cut out the dog treats and place them on a greased baking sheet or use parchment paper to cover the baking sheet.
- Bake for 20 to 25 minutes.
- Cool the treats to room temperature either on the baking sheet or a wire rack.
- In a small bowl, add peanut butter and coconut oil. Microwave for 30 seconds or until melted. Stir well.
- Drizzle the mixture over the treats.
Raine says
These sound wonderful. I’m always looking for treats that I can make for my two greyhounds. Thanks so much. Making these today
Beth A Carman says
How long will these last?
Renee Dobbs says
They will last 2-3 days at room temperature or 4-5 days in the refrigerator. They will last up to 3 months in the freezer.
Tammy says
Hi there, I was wondering what can I substitute for unsweetened applesauce…I don’t have any on hand at the moment. TIA ☺️🙏🏻
Renee Dobbs says
You can substitute the applesauce with pumpkin puree, mashed banana, other pureed fruit that is safe for dogs.
Levi says
Hello thank you for sharing these great recipes. Can this be done on dehydrator instead of oven so they last longer?
Renee Dobbs says
You could try dehydrating the baked treats in your dehydrator. I haven’t tried it so I don’t know how long it would take or what setting. You can dry them out in the oven at 200°F until they are crispy.