Get ready to spoil your pup with a batch of delicious Turkey and Cranberry Dog Treats. These crunchy baked treats are packed with tasty turkey, pops of cranberry, and just the right amount of sweet potato to bring it all together. They look adorable, smell amazing, and bake up beautifully. They are perfect for everyday rewarding, holiday fun, or turning leftover turkey into something your dog will absolutely love.
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Why You Will Love This Recipe
There is something so fun about making homemade treats for your dog and watching their excitement as they wait for a taste. Dogs always know when something special is happening in the kitchen. There are so many reasons this recipe will be a favorite.
Wholesome Ingredients – Simple, dog-safe, and nutritious ingredients come together to create treats you can feel good about giving.
Easy to Make – A little mixing, rolling, and cutting is all it takes to bake up a batch of crunchy dog biscuits.
Simple to Customize – You can easily adjust the flavors to match your dog’s needs and preferences.
Economical – Homemade dog treats cost far less than boutique store-bought options.
Great for Using Leftovers – This recipe is perfect for utilizing leftover roasted turkey and baked sweet potatoes.
Ingredients and What They Bring to the Treats
These ingredients work together to create firm, crunchy biscuits with great flavor. Each one adds something useful to the texture or taste.
- Cooked turkey adds savory protein and delicious homemade flavor.
- Unsweetened dried cranberries bring a tart, chewy bite that pairs beautifully with turkey.
- Sweet potato adds moisture, natural sweetness, and helps bind the dough.
- Egg helps hold everything together so the treats bake into firm biscuits.
- Coconut oil adds richness and healthy fats for a smooth dough.
- Oat flour creates a gentle, dog-friendly base that bakes into a crisp texture.
- Baking powder helps the treats puff slightly and bake evenly.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
These treats are flexible and easy to adapt. Here are helpful tips and swaps to keep in mind while making them.
- Turkey can be white or dark meat. You can also substitute cooked chicken or lamb.
- Cranberries should be unsweetened dried cranberries. You can replace them with dried blueberries, strawberries, apples, mango, or pineapple.
- Sweet potato can be swapped with plain pumpkin puree, mashed butternut squash, banana, or unsweetened applesauce.
- Baking powder is safe for dogs in small amounts. Source: Petco.
- Oat flour can be made at home by blending old-fashioned oats in a blender or food processor until fine. One cup of oats equals about 3/4 cup of flour.
- Other flours such as rice flour, all-purpose flour, or a mix of all-purpose and whole wheat flour will work. Avoid using only whole wheat flour because it is dense. Do not use coconut flour because it absorbs too much moisture.
Equipment Needed
You likely already have the mixing tools needed for this recipe. For shaping the treats, any cookie cutter works, but bone shaped cookie cutters make them extra cute.
How to Make Turkey and Cranberry Dog Treats
These treats are fun to make with a few simple steps. Here’s what to do:
- Prepare the sweet potato by boiling peeled cubes until tender or baking a whole sweet potato until soft. Mash and cool to room temperature.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat.
- Place the oat flour and baking powder in a bowl and stir to combine.
- Put the turkey, sweet potato, egg, and coconut oil in a food processor. Process until combined.
- Add the flour mixture and process again until a dough forms.
- Transfer the dough to a work surface and flatten it slightly. Sprinkle the dried cranberries on top and knead them in until evenly distributed.
- Roll the dough to about 1/4 to 1/2 inch thickness. Cut out shapes with a cookie cutter. Re-roll scraps until all dough is used.
- Place the cutouts on the baking sheet and bake for 20 to 25 minutes.
- Cool the treats completely on the baking sheet before serving.
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 in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge or give them to your dog as a frozen treat.
Can people eat these treats?
Oh yes, they sure can. All the ingredients are safe for human consumption. Try one and see what you think.
More Fruity and Meaty Dog Treat Recipes
Want to make some more treats with meat or fruit for your dog? Try these recipes:
- Bison Meatballs
- Blueberry Carrot Dog Treats
- Duck and Blueberry Dog Treats
- Lamb Dog Treats
- Liver Cake
- Turkey and Cranberry Meatballs
Find lots of easy recipes for fruity dog treats and meaty dog treats right here on Spoiled Hounds!
Turkey and Cranberry Dog Treats
Ingredients
- 2 cups oat flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 cup cooked turkey shredded or diced
- 1/2 cup mashed sweet potato
- 1 egg
- 1 tablespoon melted coconut oil
- 1/2 cup unsweetened dried cranberries
Instructions
- You can either boil sweet potato cubes (without skin) until fork-tender or bake a sweet potato at 425°F for 45 minutes or until soft when pierced with a fork. Mash the boiled cubes or baked flesh with a fork. Cool it to room temperature before using it to make the treats.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat.
- Place the oat flour and baking powder in a bowl and stir or whisk to mix well.
- Place the turkey, sweet potato, egg, and coconut oil in a food processor. Process until combined.
- Add the flour mixture and process until a dough forms.
- Place the dough on a work surface and flatten it slightly. Sprinkle the cranberries on the dough and knead them in until evenly distributed.
- Roll the dough out to 1/4-1/2″ thickness. Use a cookie cutter to cut shapes. Re-roll and cut dough until all the dough is used. Place the cutouts on the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes. Allow to cool completely on the baking sheet.
- 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 about serving size. If this is your dog’s first time trying any of these ingredients, start with a small piece to ensure they have no allergies, sensitivities, or adverse reactions.
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