Homemade Dog Treats are my favorite way to show my pets that we love them like family! This homemade peanut butter dog treats recipe is an easy dog biscuit that I believe our pups would request every week if they could. I made this recipe in 2013 for my dog Scout, my first baby. I make them now for our two labs, Mabel and Daisy. Every pet deserves the love of a homemade treat and this is just the recipe to give them.
5-Star Review
“My husband and I wanted to bond over something, so we decided to make these for our two dogs. They go crazy over these. Cannot control themselves. I took a nibble too, and they’re not bad for humans either. They stayed nice and chewy sitting in a tupperware on the counter. Our smallest dog (8lbs) doesn’t like crunchy things, so the fact these are chewy was perfect. We even gifted some to the German Shepherd next door. We will be making these again!” – Sarah
Best Dog Treat Recipe
I love making homemade peanut butter dog treats because they’re so easy and use just a few simple ingredients. This recipe comes together in no time—just mix, roll, cut, and bake.
The dough is super easy to work with, and the treats come out soft and chewy, perfect for pups of all sizes. Plus, I add a little peanut butter frosting on top to make them extra special. If you want a fun, quick way to spoil your dog with a homemade treat, this is the perfect recipe.
Note: Dogs can have allergies, just like people, so while these ingredients are all safe for dogs in general, make sure you know what your furry friend can and cannot eat. I recommend giving them a small bite to test these treats out before you start using them regularly.
Homemade Peanut Butter Dog Treats Recipe
Equipment
- Kitchen Scale (optional)
- Baking Sheet
- Rolling Pin
- Piping Tip Set
Ingredients
For the Dog Treats
- 2½ cups whole wheat flour 300 grams (see note)
- 1 large egg 50 grams
- 1 cup peanut butter 270 grams (see note)
- 1 cup water 227 grams
- 2 tablespoons honey 43 grams (see note)
For the Frosting
- 2 tablespoons peanut butter 34 grams
- 1 tablespoon honey 21 grams
- ⅓ cup cornstarch 37 grams (can also use potato starch or arrowroot powder)
- 3-4 tablespoons hot water 43-57 grams
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine flour and the egg. Add the peanut butter, water, and honey, and stir until you have a stiff dough. The dough becomes very firm and sticky. You may need to use your hands, or the paddle attachment on your mixer.2½ cups whole wheat flour, 1 large egg, 1 cup peanut butter, 1 cup water, 2 tablespoons honey
- On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough about ½-inch thick and use a cookie cutter to make fun shapes. The treats barely spread and rise, so get creative with your shapes.
- Bake for 18-20 minutes, until golden. Once done, set aside to cool. (If you have smaller cookies, use less time, otherwise the bottom might burn.)
- To make the frosting, combine the peanut butter and honey in a microwavable bowl, and heat in the microwave in 15 second increments, stirring in between, until melted.2 tablespoons peanut butter, 1 tablespoon honey
- Add the melted peanut butter mixture to the cornstarch and stir until just combined.⅓ cup cornstarch
- Slowly add in the water 1 tablespoon at a time until you have reached the consistency that you would like. For a thinner frosting, add more water.3-4 tablespoons hot water
- Add the frosting to a piping bag and pipe designs on top of each dog treat.
- Frost the treats with the peanut butter/honey mixture for an even more tempting cookie.
Becky’s Tips
- Flour Alternatives: Some dogs are allergic to wheat. For a wheat-free option, use rice flour or coconut flour, though this may slightly alter the texture.
- Peanut Butter Warning: Avoid peanut butter containing xylitol, as it is toxic to dogs. Stick to natural peanut butter or substitute with nut butter, pumpkin purée, or mashed sweet potato. Adjust the dough consistency as needed.
- Honey Caution: Do not give honey to immunocompromised dogs or puppies under 1 year old.
- Frosting Consistency: For decorative frosting, use a thicker mixture (2–3 Tbsp water) to outline designs and let it dry for 10 minutes. Use a thinner mixture (3–4 Tbsp water) to fill in the design, smoothing with your finger.
- Crunchier Treat Option: For a crispier biscuit, roll the dough thinner or bake at 200°F for a longer time to dry them out.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Did you make this? Leave a comment!
How to Make Homemade Dog Treats Step by Step
Mix the Dough: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set it aside. In a large mixing bowl, combine 2 ½ cups whole wheat flour and 1 large egg. Add 1 cup peanut butter, 1 cup water, and 2 tbsp honey.
Form the Dough: Stir until the mixture forms a stiff dough. The dough will be firm and sticky, so you may need to use your hands or a stand mixer with a paddle attachment.
Roll and Cut the Dough: Lightly flour a work surface and roll out the dough to about ½ inch thick. Use a cookie cutter to cut the dough into fun shapes. Since the treats will not spread or rise significantly, you can make them any shape you like.
Bake the Treats: Place the shaped treats onto the prepared baking sheet and bake for 18–20 minutes, or until they turn golden brown. If making smaller treats, check them a few minutes earlier to prevent burning. Once baked, remove them from the oven and let them cool completely before adding the frosting.
Prepare the Frosting: In a microwave-safe bowl, combine 2 tbsp peanut butter and 1 tbsp honey. Microwave in 15-second increments, stirring after each, until the mixture is smooth and fully melted.
Mix the Frosting: Add the melted peanut butter and honey mixture to ⅓ cup cornstarch and stir until just combined. Slowly add 3–4 tbsp hot water, 1 tbsp at a time, mixing well until the frosting reaches the desired consistency. If you prefer a thinner frosting, add more water as needed.
Frost and Decorate: Transfer the frosting to a piping bag and pipe designs onto the cooled dog treats. Allow the frosting to set before serving them to your pup.
How to Store
Once fully cooled, I store homemade peanut butter dog biscuits in an airtight container (very important) in the refrigerator, for up to 1 month. This recipe makes 24 medium dog cookies, so you’ll have plenty to share whenever your dog needs a healthy treat.
How to Freeze
This easy recipe for homemade dog treats can be stored in the freezer for up to 8 months. I recommend placing a pan of them in the freezer for about an hour, then transferring them to a freezer-safe bag or container. This will prevent them from sticking together, so you can grab as many as you need, and keep the rest in storage. Move them to the fridge to thaw.
I made this exactly how the recipe stated. I used a large bone cookie cutter and a medium bone cutter. I set the timer for 18 minutes … the minimal cook time. Yes, the smaller bones teetered on the edge of burnt BUT the large bones were exactly the same. Going to have to look at other recipes.
Great recipie!
Could you use almond flour in place of the whole wheat flour?
Hi Tara, it could work, but the treats may end up too fatty for your pup and could cause stomach upset.
Thank you so much! I have a lot of almond flour that I don’t know what to do with but this recipe is not it then! 😊
If you’re looking for suggestions, we have a great blueberry raspberry coffee cake recipe that uses a whole cup!
Our 3 Newfies just LOVE these. And I substituted pure maple syrup for the honey because I couldn’t get my honey jar open (I made sure maple syrup was ok for dogs). And I didn’t bother with the cute shapes or frosting. But they totally loved them! Thank you for the recipe.
Is the dough able to be frozen ?
Hi Jody, you can freeze the dough for up to 3 months, although we recommend freezing it precut into treats so you can easily just pop them in the oven and bake a little longer rather than waiting for the dough to thaw.
Hi, would I be able to use a dog treat mold with this recipe? If so, do I need to make any oven temperature or baking time? Thanks!
Hi Erin, it should work. If the mold is thicker than the cookies pictured, you may need to increase the bake time.
Thank you! I used unsweetened apple juice instead of water and gluten free flour, since I didn’t have wheat and it worked. My pup enjoys them
Tasty
:)
These are delicious. I used oatmeal instead of flour, that I grind in my magic bullet .I just made them for the dog and not for nothing, but these wre fit to share with fido~for human consumption and they really are delicious. 😋🩷