Valentine Dog Treats

Homemade Valentine Dog Treats are the perfect way to celebrate Valentine’s Day with your furry friend. These DIY heart-shaped peanut butter dog cookies are decorated with dog-safe icing.

Tell your furry friends how much you love them by making them these sweet heart-shaped DIY dog treats. Your furry valentine will wag their tale in delight as they gobble up these gluten free dog treats.

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Why Make Valentine’s Day Treats For Your Dog

When you want to share your love with your pup, there is a better way than buying unhealthy cookies that are made for people.

This is a simple and fun way to celebrate the special day with your furry friend. Homemade dog treats show your dog how much you care.

These special treats are super versatile, too! Add peanut butter on top, serve them in a bowl with dog ice cream, or serve them as bars if you don’t have cookie cutters.

Why You’ll Love This Valentine Dog Treats Recipe

Out of all the Valentine’s Day dog treat recipes you find, this is the best! The best part about them is that you can make them without icing. Your pup will want to gobble up these sweet treats when they are fresh out of the oven.

You’ll also love that these heart-shaped dog treats are made with simple ingredients that are good for your best friend.

Making food for my dogs is my favorite way to show them I care. This simple treat is perfect for special occasions, Valentine’s gifts, or just as an everyday snack. They are a great way to include your dog in this holiday of love. 

Ingredients

Here are the ingredients you’ll need before you make these heart cookies.

For the Cookies:

• Unsweetened Natural Peanut Butter – adds protein, healthy fats, and a flavor dogs love.
• Unsweetened Applesauce – adds moisture to the dough and gives the treats a little natural sweetness. Check out this homemade applesauce for dogs recipe.
• Egg – adds protein and binds the dough.
• Coconut Oil – a healthy fat.
• Oat Flour – a healthy flour that’s easily digestible for dogs.

For the icing:

• Beet Powder or Natural Red Food Coloring (see how to make it below).
• Water – to turn the powder into a liquid.
• Honey – a natural sweetener.
• Cornstarch, Arrowroot Powder, or Tapioca Starch – to thicken the icing.

How to Make Natural Red Food Coloring

Place about ¼ cup of chopped beet, strawberries, or raspberries in a small pan or skillet. Simmer until the juices are released. Strain the juice from the pulp and discard the pulp. Add enough water to the strained juice to make 2 teaspoons of coloring.

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions

Do not use peanut butter that contains xylitol, an artificial sweetener toxic to dogs.

You can substitute peanut butter with unsweetened almond butter or SunButter (sunflower seed butter). Make sure it does not contain xylitol.

You can find beet powder on Amazon, at Walmart, or in health food stores.

You can use store-bought or homemade applesauce for dogs.

You can make your oat flour by placing raw old-fashioned oats in a blender or food processor and blending until it reaches a flour consistency.

You can substitute oat flour with brown rice flour. For another type of flour, all-purpose is fine if your dog does not have a wheat allergy. You can also use a 50-50 blend of all-purpose and whole wheat flour. Coconut flour is not recommended but if you want to use it, you’ll need to add more liquid to the dough.

Equipment Needed

While you may have most of the kitchen items you need to make these Valentine’s Day cookies for dogs, here’s a list just in case. You can use any regular cookie cutter but a heart shaped cookie cutter makes cute and festive treats.

• Measuring Cups and Spoons
• Mixing Bowls
• Hand Mixer
• Rolling Pin
• Baking Sheet
• Heart Shaped Cookie Cutter

How to Make Valentine Dog Treats

To make the treats:

1. Place all wet ingredients in a large bowl and combine them with a mixer or by hand.
2. Add the dry ingredients and combine well.

3. Place the dough on a floured surface.
4. Use a rolling pin to roll out the dough until it is about ½ inch thick.
5. Using a cookie cutter, cut out as many shapes as possible. Re-roll as necessary until all the dough is used up.
6. Place the cutouts on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or greased with cooking spray.
7. Bake at 350°F for 12 to 15 minutes.
8. Transfer the treats to a wire rack to cool to room temperature.

To make the icing:

• Combine beet powder and water in a small bowl to make the red food coloring.
• Place honey, beet mixture, and thickener in a separate small bowl.
• Stir until combined and smooth. If needed, add more thickener to the mixture to get the consistency you need for spreading it. It may seem runny but it will harden quickly.
• Spread the icing on the treats.

Serving Size

How many of these homemade treats should you give your canine companion? 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.

Even though they are healthy treats, they are still treats and should be included when you consider your dog’s daily caloric intake. Make sure you don’t exceed the recommended amount for your dog. That amount changes for each dog breed, size, and activity level.

Dogs shouldn’t have too many treats, including these yummy ones for Valentine’s Day. For this reason, I suggest only giving your spoiled hound one treat per day.

However, you can use your judgment or consult with your veterinarian regarding how many treats are right for your dog.

Also, keep in mind when adding new foods to your dog’s diet to start with small amounts to ensure your dog has no allergic or adverse reactions.

How to Store the Treats and How Long They Last

Store homemade Valentine’s dog treats in an airtight container in the refrigerator. If they have icing, place parchment paper between the layers. They will last up to 5 days.

You can freeze them for longer storage. They will last up to 3 months in the freezer. You can give them to your dog frozen or thaw them in the fridge overnight.

Can people eat these Valentine’s Day dog treats?

Yes, absolutely. All the ingredients are safe for human consumption. They’re not sweet like the cookies made for people but great for folks who are watching their sugar intake. The beetroot powder has many nutritious benefits for people so you can use it in smoothies or other recipes.

More Homemade Dog Treats

Do you want to make more tasty treats for your dog? Try these recipes:

• Anise Dog Treats
• Apple Carrot Dog Treats
• Beet Dog Treats
• Easter Dog Treats
• Goat Milk Dog Treats
• Granola for Dogs
• Low Fat Dog Treats
• Peanut Butter Sandwich Cookies for Dogs

Find lots of easy recipes for dog treats and the best holiday dog treat recipes right here on Spoiled Hounds!