5 Recipes for Peanut Butter Dog Treats

Have you discovered that your furry friend loves peanut butter? Well, it is a flavour most dogs adore, and homemade peanut butter pet treats can be part of a healthy diet. So, if you have thought about making easy and delectable dog “PB” dog treats, we have what you need. Don’t worry–these 5 recipes for peanut butter dog treats are a lot easier than you think.

Peanut Butter is Healthy for Dogs!

There's no denying that peanuts are a game-changer for people and dogs alike! Peanuts don't just taste great to dogs, they are a powerhouse of nutrients for your dog. Peanuts have essential nutrients that support your dog's health, including:

• Healthy fats

• Protein

• Fiber

• Niacin

• Vitamin B-6

• Vitamin E

• Magnesium

• Manganese

• Phosphorous
  
  

How to add Peanut Butter to your dogs diets

Peanuts are delicious and nutritious, so embrace them as a healthy treat for your dog on Peanut Butter Day! Bake a healthy treat that highlights this ingredient or add some peanut butter to your dogs kong! 

Just be sure you're using unsweetened peanut butter. Sugar and artificial sweeteners can detract from the healthy nature of peanuts. Some sugar substitutes are even dangerous. Sugar alcohol made from birch trees (often referred to as "xylitol" is highly toxic to dogs).

Why should you make your own treats?

Want to turn baking-hour into a pawty for your doggo? Making your own homemade dog treats recipe is a healthy and fun way to celebrate your best friends! In fact, there are a variety of reasons that you might want to make your own treats for your furever friend.

1. You can control the ingredients

Have you ever read the ingredients on some of your dog’s treats and realized that you didn’t know what half of them were? By making your own, you can put in ingredients that you know are good for your doggo and will not cause any health problems in the future.

2. Making it fresh

You loved cookies straight from the oven when you were little. Your dog will love the treats you make and serve them up fresh from the oven. When you buy treats, you really don’t know how long they have been sitting around, and fresh is always better.

3. Save money

Money might not be the most important reason, but you can be pretty sure that you will be saving money while making healthy treats for your four-legged friend.

Healthier, fresher, less expensive–who could ask for more?

Will your dog like homemade peanut butter dog treats?

What self-respecting dog wouldn’t like your homemade treats! They will be bouncing around the kitchen, begging you to pull them out of the oven. But as you make them, there are a few things to watch for.

What to watch out for:

When it comes to dog treats (homemade or otherwise), always be mindful: 

1. High in Calories

Just with all things delicious, calories exist. A healthy peanut butter treat can quickly turn into a overweight nightmare if not monitored closely. As an occasional treat peanut butter is fine, and full of health benefits, however, keep in mind these are additonal calories and fat to your dogs daily requriements. As a general rule of thumb we suggest no more then: 

• ½ teaspoon for a small dog, twice per day

• 1 teaspoon for a medium or large dog, twice per day as a maximum amount
  
  

2. Beware of Xylitol

Xylitol is an artificial sweetener that’s common in gum and sugar-free snacks, and it’s used in some brands of peanut butter. Xylitol ingestion can be life-threatening for dogs in multiple ways” [1].  It can cause blood pressure to drop and can damage the liver.

3. Peanut Allergies 

Some dogs are allergic to peanuts, so be on the lookout for vomiting and diarrhea, as well as skin disorders like itching, hair loss. If that happens, you just need to find another recipe without peanuts.

Also, ensure to limit the number of treats you give to your furry friend each day.

How to make dog treats with peanut butter

These recipes are pretty easy to make. You might love your dog, but you probably don’t want to spend the entire day in the kitchen. So look them over, give them one or two tries, and you and your forever friend will have a new way to bond.

Here are some easy to make peanut butter dog treats!

Recipe 1: Peanut Butter Treats

Peanut butter is a favourite for many dogs, and a common, tasty ingredient in homemade dog treats. If your dog loves that nutty flavour, give these peanut butter treats a try.

This recipe came from the American Kennel Club website, and it was developed by Eileen Anderson.

Ingredients:

• 2 eggs, beaten

• 1 ½ tablespoon canola oil

• ½ cup / 1 ⅛ dl peanut butter powder

• ½ cup / 1 ⅛ dl white flour

• ½ cup / 1 ⅛ dl tapioca flour

• ½ cup / 1 ⅛ dl water
  
  

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 180ºC (350ºF)

2. Mix the ingredients until smooth

3. Pour the mixture into the pan

4. Bake for 12 minutes or until the treats are soft, but still drawing away from the side of the pan

5. Once cooled, stretch the pan and dump the treats out [2].
   
   

Recipe 2: Peanut butter shortbread cookies

Ingredients

• 1 ⅛ cup / 3 dl peanut butter

• ¾ cup / 1 ¾ dl milk

• 2 cup / 4 ¾ dl oat flour or rolled oats powdered in a food processor

• ¼ cup / ⅔ dl tapioca flour
  
  

 Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 162ºC (325ºF)

2. Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper or oil lightly

3. Cream the peanut butter for 2-3 minutes, preferably with a stand mixer

4. Add the milk and continue mixing on low

5. Add the flour one 1/2 cup at a time just until mixed

6. Turn out onto a floured or parchment-lined surface to roll out

7. Roll out half the dough and cut out your cookies. A simple patterned cookie cutter will work best

8. Bake at 325º for 15 minutes or until just starting to turn golden brown

9. Cool on the pan to prevent treats from crumbling
   
   

Recipe 3: Easy Peasy Peanut Butter Dog Treats

Ingredients:

• 2 cup / 4 ¾ dl whole wheat flour

• 1 and 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

• ⅓ cup / ¾ dl peanut butter

• 1 cup / 2 ⅓ dl hot water

• 1 egg
  
  

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 190ºC (375°F).

2. Mix the flour and baking powder in a big bowl.

3. Mix the peanut butter and the hot water until smooth

4. Slowly add the dry mixture and stir until well blended

5. Add more water if the dough is too dry or flour if it’s too wet

6. Roll it to a 1/4″ thickness.

7. Cut the mix with a cookie cutter

8. Place it all on a cookie sheet

9. Bake for 20 minutes or until lightly brown

10. Remove from the pan and let it cool
    
    

Recipe 4: PB = Love Cookies

Ingredients:

• 1 cup / 2 ⅓ dl peanut butter

• 1 cup / 2 ⅓ dl oat flour or rolled oats run through blender or food processor

• 1 egg

• ¾ tablespoon coconut oil

• ½ banana mashed
  
  

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 180ºC (350°F)

2. Line a baking sheet with unbleached parchment paper

3. Place oats in a blender on high and blend until they look like flour

4. Beat the banana, egg, and coconut oil until blended

5. Add peanut butter and stir

6. Stir or oat flour with a spatula to form the dough (should form a nice ball)

7. Roll on a floured cutting board or parchment paper until the dough is 1/4 thick

8. Use cookie cutters to make the dog treats

9. Place on the parchment paper-lined baking sheet

10. Bake for 15-20 minutes
    
    

Frozen Peanut Butter dog treats

Recipe 1: Peanut butter blueberry treats

Looking for something special for your doggo on one of those hot summer days? Try one of the tasty and healthy treats.

Ingredients:

• ¼ cup / ⅔ dl creamy peanut butter

• ¾ cup / 1 ¾ dl plain Greek yogurt

• 1 ½ tablespoon honey

• 1/2 blueberries (frozen or fresh)

• ½ cup / 1 ⅛ dl plain Greek yogurt

Directions:

Peanut Butter Layer

1. Add the peanut butter, yogurt, and honey to a blender or food processor and blend until smooth

2. Spoon the mixture into the moulds of your choice or use ice cube trays filling each cup halfway 

3. Tap the moulds on the counter to remove air bubbles

4. Put the moulds into the freezer for 30 minutes the bottom layer sets
   
   

Blueberry Layer

1. Add the blueberries and yogurt to a blender or food processor and blend until smooth.

2. Spoon the mixture on top of the peanut butter layer

3. Tap the moulds on the counter to release any air bubbles

4. Place the moulds back in the freezer

5. Freeze at least 8 hours

6. Remove the moulds from the freezer and let stand for 1-2 minutes

7. Tap the moulds on the counter to loosen or run the moulds under warm water

8. Give one to your dog, and put the rest back in the freezer
   
   

Recipe 2: Banana and Peanut Butter Treats

Ingredients:

• 1 cup / 2 ⅓ dl mashed ripe banana

• 1 cup / 2 ⅓ dl peanut butter
  
  

Instructions:

1. Mix mashed bananas and peanut butter

2. Blend until smooth and well mixed

3. Slowly add water until it makes a thick paste

4. Pour into a silicone mould

5. Pop into freezer

6. Freeze until solid
   
   

Are you ready to make your own homemade peanut butter dog treats?

Get the pawty started and begin creating tasty, healthy, homemade peanut butter dog treats! Have fun as you try out different recipes your doggo is sure to adore! Each of these recipes is designed to get your dog’s tail wagging!

Looking for other treats to add a bit more flavour to your doggo’s life? Petzyo offers the Australia made healthy dog treats! 

Resources:

[1] Is Peanut Butter Safe for Dogs? | PetMD 

[2] Homemade Dog Treats: Recipes, Tips, & Tricks For Delicious DIY Treats (akc.org)