easy homemade dog birthday treats

By Isabella Storyclaire

last updated September 16, 2024

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3 Ingredient Dog Treats

These homemade 3 ingredient dog treats are made with sweet potato, peanut butter, and oatmeal.

They are so easy to make and good for your dog too! Get the recipe here.

FYI This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Why These 3 Ingredient Dog Treats are the Best

There is a time and place for complicated recipes. When you really dont have time for all that, these 3-ingredient dog treats are a sanity-saver.

In fact, you probably already have all of the ingredients in your pantry or refrigerator.

These DIY sweet potato dog treats are made with whole, vegan ingredients so they are actually good for your dog. Your pup will think they are eating a treat, but you will know they are eating their vitamins.

Want to know what is so healthy about them? Ill tell you the nutrition information about these all-natural dog treats here in this post.

Dog treats with sweet potato and oats are some of the best healthy dog treats you can make.

If you enjoy baking healthy dog treats, then this recipe is just for you!

The crunchy homemade dog treats recipe is just a little further below. First, heres more about the ingredients and why I chose to use them.

Benefits of Sweet Potato

These are the best dog treats because of the nutrient-dense sweet potatoes. My favorite thing about them is that they are packed with disease-fighting antioxidants. These antioxidants help your dogs body fight common healthy issues related to aging.

Since they have lots of fiber, sweet potatoes are also good for your dogs gut. It will help them stay regular.

Sweet potatoes are also really good for your dogs blood pressure. Since they have lots of potassium, they help your dogs body regular fluid balance and keep their blood pressure at a healthy level.

Benefits of Oatmeal

Did you know that oats have a bunch of healthy nutrients too? Thats why oatmeal treats for dogs are a great thing to make for them!

The most obvious benefit is that oatmeal is a safe alternative to wheat for dogs that are intolerant or sensitive to gluten. Yes, my treats are naturally gluten-free.

Oats have vitamin B which helps your pet maintain a healthy coat. Its also a good source of omega-6 fatty acids that helps keep a dogs skin strong and healthy.

Just like sweet potatoes, oats have soluble fiber in them too this will help them regulate glucose levels and give them relief if they are having irregular bowel movements.

3 Ingredient Dog Treats Recipe Ingredients

The quantity of the 3 ingredients and the step-by-step directions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this article. First, I want to share some additional information about the ingredients I used in these cookie dog treats.

Heres a list of what you need to make easy dog treats. Use organic ingredients if you want to make organic dog treats.

Oatmeal Use old-fashioned or rolled oats. If you use quick-cooking oats, the treats wont be as crunchy.
Sweet Potato Its best to use a raw sweet potato and dont peel it before you bake it.
Peanut Butter Whether you use crunchy or creamy peanut butter is up to you. Always use unsweetened peanut butter.

Ingredient Notes

When you make this 3 ingredient peanut butter dog treats recipe, there are a few things to keep in mind.

Use natural or unsweetened peanut butter. Most regular peanut butter is sweetened. Dogs dont need sugar in their treats.

Do not use peanut butter that contains xylitol, a sweetener that is toxic to dogs.

Old fashioned oats and rolled oats are the same. So you can use either type of oatmeal to make the treats.

You can use quick-cooking oats but the treats will be moister and softer.

Do not use instant or steel-cut oats for this recipe.

Serving Size

How many homemade dog treats should you give your dog at once? That depends on what else they ate that day. This might be a healthier treat, but it is still a treat.

Treats should not be a dogs main source of calories they should be something they eat on rare occasions.

Dogs shouldnt overeat too many carbs even healthy ones from sweet potatoes and oatmeal. For this reason, I suggest only giving your spoiled hound one treat per day.

Equipment Needed

You probably have most of the kitchen items you need to make these homemade dog treats. You can use any regular silicone candy mold but a dog paw print mold gives these treats a fun look.

How to Make 3 Ingredient Dog Treats

These are the recipe steps and some photos of the process for making the treats. I hope they help you make this healthy dog treats recipe!

You can scroll down to the bottom of this article for a printable recipe card.

Bake a large sweet potato. Let it cool, then peel it and mash the flesh. Discard the skin.

Place a third of the oats in a blender or food processor and blend until it is like flour.

Place mashed sweet potato, oatmeal, oat flour, and peanut butter in a bowl.

Mix it with your hands until a dough forms.

Press the dough into silicone candy molds. Place the molds on a baking sheet.

Bake at 250 degrees for 2 hours.

Transfer the baked treats to a wire rack to cool.

Note that instead of using candy molds, you can roll out the dough and use cookie cutters to cut the dough.

If the dough seems dry or crumbly you can add more sweet potato, applesauce, or plain yogurt to give the dough moister.

How to Store Baked Dog Treats

Store the DIY dog treats in a container for dog treats. A dog treat jar is best so they are not mistaken for human treats. Here are some cute ones on Amazon:

Can you eat dog treats?

Yep, you sure can eat these treats! All three ingredients are safe for human consumption. Since they are not sweet, you probably wont like them. I suggest making Sweet Potato Cookies to enjoy and share with family and friends.

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More Homemade Dog Treat Recipes

Want to make more treats for your dog? Here are some different types of dog treats to make:

Want to get the best store-bought dog treats instead of making homemade ones? Check out these favorite dog treats on my Amazon dog treats ideas list.

3 Ingredient Dog Treats

Make crunchy homemade dog treats with three simple ingredients.

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes Total Time 3 hours hours 15 minutes minutes

Ingredients

1 large Sweet Potato big enough to yield cup mashed
3 cups Rolled Oats
cup Creamy Natural Peanut Butter

Instructions

Bake the sweet potato at 400F for 45 to 60 minutes or until done (you can easily insert a fork into the middle).
Cool the sweet potato to room temperature.
Remove and discard sweet potato skin. Mash the flesh.
Measure cup of the mashed sweet potato to use in the treats.
Preheat oven to 250F.
Add 2 cups of the rolled oats to a blender or food processor and blend until it is the consistency of flour.
In a medium bowl, combine the rolled oats with the oat flour.
Add the peanut butter and cup mashed sweet potato to the oat blend and combine using your hands until a dough forms.
If you are using a candy mold, simply press the dough into the mold making sure to fill in all the space.
If you are using cookie cutters, turn the dough out onto a smooth surface. Using your hands, squeeze and combine the ingredients until you have a flat, smooth dough. Flatten evenly with your hands or a rolling pin to about to inch thickness. Place the cutout pieces on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone mat.
Bake the treat at 250F for 2 hours.
Transfer baked treats to a wire rack to cool.

Notes

Be sure to use natural, unsweetened peanut butter. Do not use peanut butter with xylitol, a sweetener that is toxic to dogs.If the dough seems crumbly or dry, you can add more sweet potato or some water, applesauce, or plain yogurt.Store the baked dog treats in an airtight container.

Nutrition

25 Simple Dog Treat Recipes Made With 5 Ingredients or Less

Last updated on March 11, 2024 By Puppy Leaks 212 Comments

Im not gonna lie when it comes to making dinner Im a terrible cook. But there is one kind of cooking that always goes over well in my home making homemade dog treats.

Every month I pick out a new dog treat recipe to try, and my dog loves the process from start to finish. My cooking might freak out my friends, but to my dog Im the worlds greatest chef.

And since Ive made so many different dog treat recipes over the years I decided to put together a list of my favorites. Heres 25 simple dog treat recipes, all made with 5 ingredients or less.

25 Simple Dog Treat Recipes: Made With 5 Ingredients or Less

If youve never made your own dog treats before I suggest starting with one of the dog treat recipes from the list below. In fact Id recommend these recipes to anyone, regardless of baking skill. No need to get extra complicated, your dog will love any of these simple recipes.

What I really love about making my own dog treats is that I control not only what goes in them, but the portion size. And often times making your own treats is a lot less expensive than buying them from the store especially with these simple recipes because so many of them are made with things many of us already have at home.

With five ingredients or less these simple dog treat recipes are easy to make, even for novice cooks like myself. And if your treats dont turn out as pretty as they do in their photos dont worry to your dog theyll still be the worlds best dog treats.

Heres 25 simple dog treat recipes, all made with 5 ingredients or less. From grain free dog treats to frozen options, theres a dog treat recipe thats right for everyone.

Please share with your friends

1. Quick & Easy Peanut Butter Treats / Puppy Leaks

Does your dog love peanut butter as much as mine does? If so you cant go wrong with this simple dog treat recipe its a staple in my house. Youll need 2 cups of flour, 1/2 cup peanut butter and 2 eggs. Mix the ingredients together until combined, and then add water until it becomes wet enough to roll out as dough. This is my go to recipe; my dog goes absolutely nuts for them.

3 ingredients + water, 20 minute cook time

2. Chicken Dog Treats / Kols Notes

Laika loves chicken, and these homemade dog treats make her go insane just a fair warning. Youll need a cup of diced chicken, half cup of cooked rice, 3 tablespoons of rice flour, tablespoon of parsley, and one egg. If you dont have chicken on hand you can dice up your pups favorite meat for this simple recipe as a substitute.

Five ingredients, 20-30 minute cook time.

3. Easy Two-Ingredient Dog Treats / Dog-Milk

This homemade dog treat recipe is perfect for novice cooks (myself included). If youre interested in making some super simple dog treats Id recommend starting out with this easy recipe. The only ingredients you need are 2 cups of organic whole wheat flour and 2 jars of pureed baby food. For the baby food Ive found Laika loves blueberry, beef and sweet potato.

Two ingredient dog treats: 20-25 minute cook time.

These homemade dog biscuits made with five ingredients are one of my favorites. Youll need whole wheat flour, oats, flaxseed, beef broth, and peanut butter. If you dont have any fun cookie cutters you can use my living like a bachelor method; use the tops of your shot glasses.

Five ingredients dog treats, 20 minute cook time.

We all need our veggies, and luckily sweet potato seems to be quite popular with our canine friends. For this homemade dog treat recipe youll need a sweet potato, coconut oil, cinnamon, and turmeric. These are a great way for both you and your pup to get in some of your daily vegetable servings theyre delicious.

Four ingredients, 30 minute cook time.

This dog treat recipe is so simple it doesnt even involve any cooking. If youve got two apples, a cup of nonfat plain yogurt, and some ice cube trays youve got yourself a yummy treat your dog will love. My dog Laika absolutely loves these treats.

Two ingredients (plus water), freeze for a couple hours.

These homemade dog treats will make your kitchen smell awesome; good lucking keeping your dog out of the kitchen while making these. Youll need four cups of flour, two cups of shredded cheese, some oil, and water just that simple.

Four ingredients, 3 hour cook time.

If you want to impress your dog try out this simple dog treat treat recipe. Its another one that smells awesome so expect some excitement in the kitchen while youre cooking these. Youll need one cup of dry quick cook oatmeal, half cup of apple sauce, and one egg.

Three ingredients, 22 minute cook time.

Looking for a vegan dog treat recipe? This recipe uses 4 ingredients and is super easy to make.

Four ingredient dog treats: vegan, 30 minute cook time.

10. Ginger Apple Dog Treats / Lola The Pitty

This homemade dog treat recipe is another great option for our canine companions that have grain allergies. Youll need one cup of brown rice flour, one cup of diced apple, two thirds cup plain yogurt, half teaspoon ginger, and one tablespoon of coconut oil. These ones are not only simply but theyre quick cooking time is only 25 minutes.

Five ingredients, 25 minute cook time.

Laika loves carrots and apples, so these simple dog treats are one of her favorites. As soon as I grab a few carrots she starts licking her lips. For this recipe youll need a cup of whole wheat flour, one cup of grated carrots, one egg, and a half cup of apple sauce.

Four ingredients, 30-40 minute bake time.

12. Diabetic Dog Treats Recipe / All Recipes

When youve got a diabetic dog it can be hard to find suitable dog treat recipes. This one is super easy to prepare takes only 15 minutes to cook. Youll need a half cup of whole wheat flour (watch for gluten levels), two eggs, and one a half pounds of beef liver cut into small pieces.

Three ingredients, 15 minute bake time.

This dog biscuit recipe with peanut butter gets Laika drooling. Anything with peanut butter is pretty much guaranteed to be a big hit around here. Youll need two cups of flour, one cup of rolled oats, a tablespoon of parsley, half cup of dry milk, and a half teaspoon of salt.

Five ingredients, 40-60 minute bake time.

14. Easy DIY Dog Treats / She Knows

This homemade dog treat recipe is extremely simple. If your dog does fine with wheat and milk Id recommend trying this out if its your first time baking dog treats. For this simple recipe youll need two cups of whole wheat flour, one cup of peanut butter, one cup of skim milk, and a tablespoon of baking powder.

Four ingredients, 15-20 minute bake time.

15. Banana Almond Puppy Treats Recipe / Pretty Fluffy

This a great soft dog treat recipe for puppies and grown dogs alike. And just so you know the smells in your kitchen will be amazing when making these. Youll need one egg, three fourths cup unsalted almond butter, one third of a banana, and a teaspoon of cinnamon.

Four ingredients, 10 minute bake time.

This simple dog treat recipe is one of my favorites it yields a bunch of great smelling, bite sized treats that are perfect for training rewards. For this simple recipe youll need three fourths cup canned pumpkin, one egg, one fourth cup shredded carrots, and a cup of whole wheat flour.

Four ingredients, 30-35 minute bake time.

17. Simple Pumpkin Cookies / My GBGV Life

If youve never made pumpkin dogs treats before this is a great recipe to start with. These treats are delicious and easy to prepare. Youll need one egg, 2/3 cup pure canned pumpkin, 1/2 tsp cinnamon, and 1 & 1/2 cups of flour.

Four ingredients, 4o minute bake time.

18. Salmon & Sweet Potato Dog Treats / Kols Notes

These homemade dog treats are perfect for training because theyre soft, making them easy to break into small bite sized pieces. Theyre also great for older dogs who dont love super crunchy treats. Youll need one can of salmon, one medium sweet potato, two eggs, one third cup coconut flour, and coconut oil for greasing the pan.

Five ingredients, 60-70 minute bake time.

This easy dog treat recipe is perfect for anyone it only uses three ingredients and takes less than 15 minutes to make and clean up (not including freeze time). Youre going to need one can of 100% pumpkin puree, one cup plain yogurt, an a half cup peanut butter.

Three ingredients, freeze time 12 hours.

20. Easy Dog Cookie Recipe / M. K. Clinton

This dog treat recipe is delicious and simple. If you want to make some good looking dog cookies the icing (yogurt) will give them a nice personalized touch. For this easy recipe youll need a half cup cornmeal, six tablespoons of oil, two cups whole wheat flour, four ounces plain yogurt, and and two thirds cut water or broth.

Five ingredients, 35-40 minutes bake time.

21. Heart Shaped Cranberry Cookies / The Lazy Pitbull

These dog cookies are super cute (especially with heart shaped cookie cutters) and theyre easy to make. For this recipe youll need 2 eggs, 1.5 cups wheat flour, 1 tbsp. coconut oil, 3 tbsp. coconut flour and a 1/2 cup of dried cranberries.

Five ingredients, 15-20 minute bake time.

22. Fruity Frosty Hearts / Talent Hounds

If your dog loves fruit this dog treat recipe is perfect, and theyre great for novices since theres no cooking involved. The ingredients you need are watermelon, raspberries & yogurt. You mix those three ingredients together and place them in an ice tray and just wait for them to freeze.

Three ingredients, ready when theyre frozen.

This easy dog treat recipe is the perfect summer treat for your pooch. and theyre super cute. Oh yeah, and the best part is theres no baking involved they just need a couple of hours to freeze. Youll need 1 can of pumpkin, 1 strip of bacon, 1 cup water, blueberries, and a package of rawhide sticks (for the handle).

Four ingredients + water, ready when frozen in a couple hours.

This dog treat recipe is perfect if youve got some fun cookie cutters on hand. And since its peanut butter based its pretty much guaranteed to be a hit with your dog. I have yet to meet a dog who doesnt go bonkers for PB. For this recipe youll need 2 cups of whole wheat flout, 1 tablespoon baking powder, 1 cup unsalted natural peanut butter and 1 cup skim milk.

Four ingredients, 20 minute bake time at 375 F.

25. Peanut Butter Holiday Dog Treats / Dogvills

This simple dog treat recipe only uses 3 ingredients, making it a great one for beginners to try out. For this recipe youll need 1 cup of mashed sweet potatoes, 1 cup whole wheat flour, and a 1/2 cup of peanut butter.

Three ingredients, 10 minute bake time at 350 F.

The Benefits of Making Homemade Dog Treats

When it comes to making dog treats at home you might be asking yourself if its worth the effort. I love making treats, but the benefits go beyond just making my dog happy.

When it comes to dog treats I prefer making my own rather than buying them. Its nice knowing exactly whats going into your dogs treats, and I love being able to control the portion size. Some of the other benefits of making homemade dog treats include:

You know all the ingredients included in your dogs treats
You can easily adjust the portion size
Theyll make your kitchen smell awesome
Theyre a great way to practice your baking skills
Your dog will getting an extra special treat made by you
Youll have a nice supply of training treats on hand
Baking can be relaxing (well it is to weirdos like me at least)
Making dog treats (and baking in general) fosters creative expression

And if youre interested in more dog treat recipes be sure to check out our list of 39 Healthy Snacks You Can Stuff in a Kong & 20 Frozen Dog Treat Recipes.

Anyone Can Make Homemade Dog Treats

So there they are my friends 25 of my favorite homemade dog treat recipes, each using five ingredients or less. Be sure to bookmark this page for future reference your dog will be quite grateful.

Even if youve never baked a thing in your life you can make these simple dog treat recipes. Its hard to go wrong with five ingredients or less, and theres comfort to be found in knowing exactly whats going into your dogs food. I make homemade dog treats when were working on any new training behaviors the extra focus they bring is priceless.

Give your dog a little extra gift this weekend by making him some homemade dog treats. I guarantee hell be impressed by your cooking skills; even if your human friends arent. To my friends my cooking is a nightmare, but to my dog Im the worlds best chef.