I set out to create a simple recipe for vegan and gluten free dog treats and not only did I succeed, but I also discovered it makes a great scone recipe as well! Check out the accompanying Pumpkin, Banana & Peanut Butter Scones if you’re interested in making delicious treats you can share with your dog.
We all want our furry companions to be happy and healthy, but unfortunately a lot of dog products contain yucky ingredients & fillers that cause disease in the long run. Once I realized this and began looking at the ingredients in my dogs’ food, I was floored by what I was feeding my dogs. Many of the brands out there, especially the cheaper ones, are the equivalent of doggy fast food. No wonder the rates of cancer and disease in dogs are rising.
Here are a couple of quick tips before I begin this recipe:
- look for dog food/treats that don’t list corn, wheat, or soy in the ingredients, or at least make sure they’re listed as the end, which usually means it contains a smaller amount.
- definitely stay away from any ingredients with the words “by-product” in them, like chicken by-product, which means parts of the carcass including beaks, feet, necks, and other gross things.
- try to buy organic and all-natural brands that have a good reputation.
- do your research, read reviews on products, and ask around to see what other people like.
- make your own dog food – there’s tons of homemade dog food recipes online and it’s easy to do.
This recipe for homemade dog treats uses healthy ingredients, it’s super easy to make, and your dog will looooove them! I tested these treats out on my former foster dog Pretty Girl, and she went cuckoo for them 🙂
The first step is mix together the dry ingredients. You can find all of these ingredients in the bulk foods section at Whole Foods, Central Market, Natural Grocers, or possibly even your local supermarket depending on their variety. Measure out 2 cups brown rice flour, 1/2 cup coconut flour, 1/2 cup almond meal, and 1/2 cup rolled oats into a mixing bowl.
Next up is wet ingredients. Mash up 1-2 very ripe bananas and add it to the bowl, along with 1 cup peanut butter, 1/2 cup canned pumpkin, 1 cup cashew milk, and 4 tbsp vegan honey. Yes, they actually make vegan honey. I found mine at a locally run vegan grocery store in Austin called Rabbit Food Grocery. It’s made from apples and it’s pretty darn tasty.
Add 1/2 tsp of ground cinnamon and mix everything together until you have a dough consistency. If the mixture is too dry, add some more cashew milk. You can also add more vegan honey depending on the sweetness you want.
That’s it! This recipe makes a ton of dog treats, depending on how big you make them. Mine were about 1 in x 1 in circles. Place your dog treats on a parchment lined baking sheet and pop those suckers in the oven for about 15-20 minutes at 350 degrees.
I took them out when they were just starting to harden around the edges and they still retained a fluffy, moist consistency. Not too chewy, not too crunchy – perfect for dog treats. Store extras in a sealed container in the fridge and they should stay fresh for several days. I would suggest keeping a few on hand in the fridge and putting the rest in the freezer. Pretty Girl wolfed them down no problem straight from the fridge, but sometimes I would warm them in the microwave for a couple of seconds.
When I made another batch later in the week, I used maple syrup instead of vegan honey, used 1/2 peanut butter & 1/2 almond butter, and mixed chia seeds into the dough. The dough was much stickier, probably because of the maple syrup, but it tasted the same as using the vegan honey.
- 2 cups brown rice flour
- ½ cup coconut flour
- ½ almond meal
- ½ cup rolled oats
- 1-2 very ripe bananas, mashed
- 1 cup peanut butter
- ½ cup canned pumpkin
- 4 tbsp vegan honey or maple syrup
- 1 cup cashew milk
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- chia seeds (optional)
- Measure out brown rice flour, coconut flour, almond meal, and rolled oats into a mixing bowl.
- Mash up the banana(s) and add it to the bowl, along with the peanut butter, canned pumpkin, cashew milk, and vegan honey (or maple syrup).
- Add ground cinnamon and mix everything together until you have a dough consistency. If the mixture is too dry, add some more cashew milk. You can also add more vegan honey depending on the sweetness you want.
- Shape the dough into 1 in x 1 in circles and place on a parchment lined baking sheet. Pop in the oven for about 15 minutes at 350 degrees, or until the outer layer starts to harden.
- Keep extras in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 5-7 days. You can also freeze them. Makes about 20-30 dog treats depending on how big you make them.
- Variations: Substitute almond butter for peanut butter. Mix chia seeds directly into the dough.
Your dog will enjoy these treats in moderation and you can enjoy them too in scone form!
Jillian ♥
I can’t use the cashew milk as I’m allergic to cashews and that wouldn’t turn out well for me, so would it be okay to use almond milk instead? I assume it’s the same, just wanted to make sure! And would it be a problem if I just used the coconut flour instead of two different ones?
Hi Ashley! Almond milk would be just fine 🙂 The coconut flour is really dense, which is why I prefer to combine it with a thinner flour. But I encourage you to try it and see how it turns out. Let me know! Chances are, your doggie will love it either way 🙂