easy homemade dog treats with oatmeal

By Isabella Storyclaire

last updated September 16, 2024

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Homemade Dog Treats with Rolled Oats

These homemade dog treats with rolled oats are made with applesauce, dried apples, and peanut butter.

Your pup is going to gobble these all-natural dog treats up! And you wont mind if they have one (or two) because you know exactly what is in them. In fact, they arent just delicious, they are nutritious for your dog too.

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

The Best Things About These Oatmeal Treats for Dogs

There are so many things to love about these DIY dog treats. I like how easy they are to make. If you have ever made cookies, then you can make these!

I also like how they only use completely whole ingredients. I chose only the best ones that will nourish your dog. No empty calories here! Im so excited about how nutritious they are that Im going to share details about the health benefits before we get to the recipe.

Making oatmeal dog treats is one of the best things you can make for your dogs. You can control exactly how much of each ingredient you use and not have to worry about whats in them.

I might be biased, but these are some of the best homemade dog treats I have ever made. They smelled so good as I baked them that I had to remind myself they are for the dogs!

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

Benefits of Rolled Oats

Did you know that rolled oats have lots of healthy nutrients? Thats why oatmeal treats for dogs are so good for them!

The most obvious benefit is that oatmeal is an alternative to wheat for dogs that are sensitive or gluten intolerant.

Beyond that, it also has 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.

The soluble fiber in rolled oats helps dogs regulate their blood glucose levels. It also helps your pup of they are having irregular bowel movements that fiber will keep them regular for sure!

Benefits of Apples

Not only do apples add essential nutrients, but they add a wonderful flavor as well. Dogs love apples! Just dont let them eat the core and seeds.

There are even more health benefits of apples for dogs! First, the vitamins are good for them. They are high in vitamins A and C which will help your dog maintain healthy eyesight and boost their immune system.

Just like the rolled oats, apples have dietary fiber. This helps their digestive system function properly.

One surprising benefit of apples its good for your dogs oral health! It actually freshens their breath and cleans their teeth.

Apple Oatmeal Dog Treats Recipe Ingredients

The entire list of ingredients and the step-by-step directions are in the printable recipe card, at the bottom of this post. First, I want to share some extra info about the ingredients I used in these cookie dog treats.

Heres a list of what you need. If you want to make organic dog treats, make sure you buy all organic ingredients.

Rolled oats Rolled oats will have the most benefits. Use any type of oats except instant or steel-cut oats.
Dried apples Use either dried or dehydrated apples since they are the same thing. You can even use fresh ones just make sure to chop them up really small.
Unsweetened applesauce Dogs do not benefit from added sugars. In fact, it could make them more at risk for obesity. Always use unsweetened ingredients in dog treats.
Eggs The eggs will bind the dough, and give a tiny boost of protein to the treats.
Peanut butter If your pet has a peanut allergy, use a different type of nut butter or sunflower butter instead. Always use nut butter with no sugar added. Do not use peanut butter that contains xylitol because it is toxic to dogs.

Ingredients to make dog treats with rolled oats and applesauce.

Ingredient Notes

When you make this easy dog treats recipe, here are a few more notes to keep in mind.

You can substitute fresh apples for dried ones. Chop them into very small pieces before you add them to the batter. The type of apple isnt as important dogs love all kinds of apples. The most important thing is that you make the apple pieces small enough to mix into the batter really well.

Are old fashioned oats the same as rolled oats? Yes they are!

Are Quaker oats rolled oats? Quaker makes old-fashioned, steel-cut, quick-cook, and instant oats. Only the old-fashioned ones are considered rolled oats.

You can use quick-cooking oats instead of rolled oats. But note the treats will be softer and moister.

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

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

Difference Between Dried and Dehydrated Apples

You can use either dried or dehydrated apples in this recipe.

Dried and dehydrated apples are basically the same thing. They have been through a process to remove water.

Serving Size

How many homemade dog treats should you give your dog at once? That depends on what else they ate that day.

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

Look at those whippet shaped oatmeal dog treats!

Equipment Needed

You probably have most of the kitchen items you need to make homemade dog treats with rolled oats. You can use any regular cookie cutters but dog-shaped ones give these treats a fun look.

How to Store Baked Oatmeal Dog Treats

Store the baked dog treats in an airtight container. A dog treat jar is a good idea so they are not mistaken for human treats. Here are some cute ones on Amazon:

Can humans eat these oatmeal cookies for dogs?

They sure can! Everything in the crunchy dog treats is safe for human consumption. Although people probably wont like them. I suggest making Apple Oatmeal Cookies for people.

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Great Homemade Dog Treat Recipes

Want to make more treats for your dog? Check these out:

Not in the mood for making homemade dog treats? Check out my favorite dog treats on Amazon.

Apple Oatmeal Dog Treats

Crunchy baked homemade dog treats with rolled oats, applesauce, apples, and peanut butter.

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes Cook Time 20 minutes minutes Total Time 35 minutes minutes

Ingredients

1 cups Freeze-dried apples
2 Eggs
cup Unsweetened applesauce
cup Natural smooth peanut butter
4 cups Rolled oats

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Chop the freeze-dried apples into -inch pieces.
In a medium bowl, mix together the eggs, applesauce, and peanut butter. Use a hand mixer or a large spoon for this step.
Add the rolled oats and apple pieces and stir to combine well.
Turn the dough out onto a smooth surface.
Using your hands, squeeze and combine the ingredients until you have a flat, smooth dough.
Flatten the dough evenly with your hands or a rolling pin to about to inch thickness.
Using a cookie cutter, cut out the dog treats and place them on a greased baking sheet or use parchment paper or silicone mat to cover the baking sheet.
Bake at 350 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes.
Place the treats on a wire rack to cool once baked.

Notes

Store in an airtight container.Other types of freeze-dried fruit may be substituted for the apples.Use natural, unsweetened peanut butter. Do not use peanut butter with xylitol because it is toxic to dogs.

Nutrition

Homemade Oatmeal Dog Treats

TheseHomemade Oatmeal Dog Treatsare so much better than store-bought. These DIY dog treats are made with all or your pup's favorite ingredientsoats, pumpkin, applesauce, bananas, and, of course, peanut butter!

This post may include affiliate links.Please read mydisclosure policy.

These pumpkin peanut butter banana dog treats are a go-to in our household.

I love them because they come together in just a little bit of time and I usually have all of the ingredients on-hand already. No trip to the grocery store is necessary! Fritz loves them because they're made with pumpkin, applesauce, and peanut butter. He prefers a softer treat like these.

While my other pup, Mr. Winkles likes the crunchy dehydrated dog treats I make.

It's a win for everyone!

Jump to:

Why Your Dog Will Love These Treats

No Oil.While oil is technically safe for dogs to eat, it doesn't really have any nutritional benefits for them. These dog biscuits are made with only ingredients that enhance their overall well-being!
No Eggs.The treats stay together with just the pumpkin and applesauce. No eggs needed! That also makes this recipe vegan.
Peanut Butter.I mean, what dog doesn't love peanut butter? But we did it in a drizzle so you can add extra if you like.

Ingredient Notes

These easy homemade dog treats are made with super simple ingredients you might already have in your kitchen!

Oats- You'll need rolled oats for this recipe. Other varieties, such as steel cut, will not work. If you have leftover homemade oat flour you can use that instead.

Pumpkin- Double-check to make sure that you're using plain pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie filling. Pie filling has other added ingredients and sweeteners. The puree is just pumpkin! You can also use sweet potato puree, either canned or fresh.

If you have leftover pumpkin from the can you make yourself a little of this pumpkin syrup recipe!

Applesauce- Use unsweetened applesauce to avoid added sugar.You can use storebought or read this tutorial on how to make homemade applesauce.

Bananas- The riper the bananas, the sweeter they will be.

Cornstarch-This will help hold the cookie together. You can also use all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, or gluten-free flour in the cookie but not in the glaze.

Peanut Butter Drizzle- Optionally, mix together natural peanut butter, cornstarch, and hot water to add a peanut butter drizzle to make peanut butter oatmeal dog treats.

See the recipe card for exact quantities.

How to Make Homemade Oatmeal Dog Treats

These healthy homemade dog treats are almost as easy as grabbing a bag of dog treats at the store. No extra effort and your dog will love them!

Step 1 - Combine the Ingredients

In a mixing bowl, combine the rolled oats, canned pumpkin, applesauce, and mashed banana. Mix well until everything is well-combined. It should form something similar to a dough!

If the dough is too wet, add more oats. Alternatively, if it's too dry, add more applesauce or pumpkin. The ratios here matter much less than they would in a human treat. Your dog will love them no matter what!

Step 2 - Roll and Bake

Layer a light dusting of flour on a clean work surface, then roll the dough out until it's about inch thick. Use your cookie cutter of choice to cut shapes out of the dough. This can be dog bone cookie cutters, hearts, stars, or anything you have on hand!

Once the dough is all cutout, place the treats onto a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. If you are using an insulated cookie sheet like I did you don't need to line the pan.

If the dough is too wet to roll out you can add more starch or form the treats by hand and just press them out.

Place the baking sheet in the oven and bake the treats at 350F for about 30 minutes. I recommend checking them at 25, then adding time as needed. Take them out as soon as the edges are lightly golden-brown and the treats are firm to the touch.

Remove them from the oven and let the treats cool completely. I let them set up for a few minutes on a baking sheet, then I transfer them to a cooling rack to let them cool fully.

Once your dog treats are done cooling, they are ready for your pup to enjoy!

Step 3- Drizzle

Optionally, you can decorate the finished treats with a simple peanut butter drizzle. To make the drizzle, heat peanut butter in the microwave until melted, then stir in cornstarch and water. Drizzle the glaze over the treats, then let it cool completely.

Crispy Dog Treat Variation

For a crunchier version process the dough in a food processor. Roll thin and add more cornstarch or flour as needed. Bake the treats for 30 to 50 minutes until crispy.

Expert Tip

No ripe bananas but in a hurry to make fur baby these oatmeal treats? No worries, to quickly ripen the bananas place the banana, still in the peel, in the oven for 20 to 30 minutes at 300 F degrees.

Equipment

You can use any type of cookie cutter, a knife, or a pizza cutter to make the shapes for the dog biscuits. For dog bone-shaped treats I like these simple cookie cutters.

But if you also make your dog our frozen yogurt dog treats I like this variety pack of molds for frozen treats and the cookie cutters. Very budget-friendly!

Storing Leftovers

Store your pup-friendly oatmeal cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, in the fridge for up to a week, or in the freezer for up to 3 months.

More Homemade Dog Treat Recipes

Frequently Asked Questions

Are homemade dog treats healthier?

Heck yes! In the same way that making your own food at home is better for you, dog treats are healthier for your furry friend when they're made from scratch right at home.Most store-bought dog treats contain unnatural ingredients and preservatives that, when fed to your dog on a regular basis, are not really that good for them. Homemade dog treats are made with only ingredients that are healthy for your dog.

Can dogs eat oatmeal and pumpkin?

Yes! Both oats and pumpkin are great things to incorporate into your dog's diet. Not only do they taste great for your pup, but both ingredients contain plenty of nutritional benefits too.

What kind of oats do you use for dog treats?

You will need rolled oats for this recipe. Other varieties, such as instant oats or steel-cut oats, don't have the right texture for this recipe.

Did You Enjoy Making This Recipe? Please rate this recipe with or leave a comment. It helps other wonderful people connect with my food.

Recipe Card

Homemade Oatmeal Dog Treats

This homemade oatmeal pumpkin dog treat recipe is going to have your best furry friend begging for more. Packed with healthy ingredients. and no added sugars, these homemade treats are so much better than store-bought treats. And they don't require any special baking skills.

Ingredients

Peanut Butter Drizzle (optional)

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a mixing bowl, combine the rolled oats, canned pumpkin, unsweetened applesauce, and mashed bananas.
2 cups rolled oats, 1 cup canned pumpkin, cup unsweetened applesauce, 2 ripe bananas, cup cornstarch
Mix well until the ingredients are thoroughly combined and form a dough. If the dough is too wet to handle add extra oats.
Lightly flour a flat surface and roll out or press the dough to about inch thickness.
Use cookie cutters to cut the dough into desired shapes, such as dog bones or hearts.
Place the cutouts on the prepared baking sheet. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes, or until the treats are lightly golden brown on the outside and firm to the touch.
Remove from the oven and let the treats cool for a few minutes on the baking sheet before transfer to a wire rack to totally cool.
OPTIONAL: In a small microwave safe bowl heat the peanut butter for 30 seconds. Stir in the cornstarch and add the water. You can either use a spoon or pour the glaze into a sandwich bag and snip a small hole in one corner. Once the treats are fully cooled, drizzle the glaze over each dog treat.
2 tablespoons natural peanut butter, cup cornstarch, 3 tablespoons hot water

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Notes

These are soft dog treats. For a crunchier version process the dough in a food processor. Roll thin and add more cornstarch or flour as needed. Bake the treats for 30 to 50 minutes until crispy.
Cut the treats into a size that is appropriate for the size of your dog.
Store the treats in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week, or freeze them for longer storage.