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When your dog is a picky eater or has a restrictive diet,it can be tough finding yummy treats that are inexpensive. Thankfully, almost anyone can make homemade dog treats from the comforts of their kitchens, including the popular “pyramid” dog treats that make lots of tiny treats in one batch.
Homemade dog treats have benefits beyond being budget-friendly. With DIY treats, you know exactly what foods your dog is eating. Along with being free from harmful ingredients, homemade dog snacks can make great training treats, especially when made in smaller sizes.But before whipping out your cookie sheet and mixer, be sure to check with your veterinarian to make sure your dog has no allergies to any ingredients.
For owners interested in making homemade dog treats, we’ve put together some of our favorite baking accessories, tips, and must-try recipes.
Homemade Pyramid Dog Treats
“Pyramid dog treats” are homemade dog treats that are made with asilicone “pyramid” baking sheet. While these easy-to-clean silicone baking sheets weren’t originally made for dog treats, they’ve become popular among dog lovers because they can make big batches of small treats appropriate for training sessions. The recipes for these kinds of treats usually call for tapioca flour, which helps the treats stay together without crumbling. Tapioca flour is an ingredient that agrees with most dogs.
When you flip over the baking sheet, you can fill it with a range of recipes that will easily pop out from the silicone sheet once you’re finished. Some molds can make up to 500 treats in one batch! Along with the basic “pyramid” mold, there are also a lot of fun different shapes of silicone sheet molds to try. Here are some baking sheets to try out.
Silicone Pyramid Pan
Amazon
This simple, pyramid-shaped mat will make treats that pop out easily and clean up quickly.
Mini Dog Bones
Amazon
If you’re looking for something a little more traditional, these mini dog bones are perfect for DIY dog treats.
Mini Dog Paws
Amazon
These paw molds are safe to use in the oven, refrigerator, freezer, and dishwasher. Plus, the silicone material means wet ingredients won’t stick to the mold.
Hearts, Stars, and Shells
Want to have a lot of fun shapes and sizes? This pack comes with a range of molds, including hearts, bears, stars, and shells.
Key Ingredients for Homemade Dog Treats
Another great thing about making homemade dog treats is that you probably already have most of the key ingredients in your house. Many recipes require things such as oatmeal, eggs, flour, water, or broth. Add some flavor — as well as vitamins, protein, and fiber — with peanut butter (free of artificial sweeteners likexylitol), pureed pumpkin, apples, carrots, sweet potato, and cheese to create delicious cookies any dog would love.
Homemade Dog Treat Recipes
Once you order a pan, try out some of these popular recipes. From bacon treats to peanut butter, here are some popular pyramid dog treat recipes for beginners to try.
Bacon Pyramid Pan Treats
Does your dog love bacon? Try this simple bacon dog treats recipe by Michelle Taylor. With just four ingredients, this is a great homemade treat for beginners, one that your dog is sure to love.
Ingredients:
- ½ package of bacon
- 2 eggs
- 150 grams ofgluten-free flour
- Water (to thin)
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350ºF.
- Blend the bacon and eggs.
- Add flour. Stir in water if the batter needs to thin.
- Smooth the batter over the baking mat and bake for 8 minutes.
- Once cooled, cut the treats into bite-sized pieces or dump out.
Baked Chicken Treats
For an easy, no-fuss recipe, try these baked chicken homemade dog treats from Eileen Anderson. Once baked, you can refrigerate or freeze the treats.
Ingredients:
- 110-ounce can of chicken, including liquid
- 2 eggs
- 1 cuptapioca flour
- ½ cup of white flour
- 1 tablespoon of coconut oil
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350ºF.
- Blend chicken and eggs in a food processor.
- Pour the mixture into a bowl, and stir in flour and oil. This batter should be a little thicker than pancake batter but still pourable.
- Spread the batter onto the silicone mold on a cookie sheet, making sure it’s in the holes, and then scrape it off the dividers.
- Bake for 12 minutes.
- Once cooled, turn over the mold and dump the treats out.
- You can bag up the treats and refrigerate or freeze.
Peanut Butter Treats
Peanut butter is a favorite for many dogs, and a common, tasty ingredient in homemade dog treats. If your dog loves that nutty flavor, give these peanut butter treats from Eileen Anderson a try.
Ingredients:
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 2 tablespoons canola oil
- ½cup peanut butter powder
- ½cup white flour
- ½ cup tapioca flour
- ½ cup water
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350ºF.
- Mix the ingredients until smooth.
- Pour the mixture into the pan.
- Bake for 12 minutes or until the treats are soft but still drawing away from the side of the pan.
- Once cooled, stretch the pan and dump the treats out.
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Apple-Cheddar Dog Biscuits
To make something a little different and mix in some unique ingredients, take a look at this recipe for apple-cheddar dog biscuits from Martha Stewart.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups barley flour
- ½ cup old-fashioned oatmeal
- ⅓ cup shredded cheddar cheese
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ⅓ cup unsweetened applesauce
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350ºF. Line a baking sheet with a nonstick baking mat or parchment paper. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, mix together all ingredients and about 3 tablespoons water to form a dough. Roll out mixture between two sheets of plastic wrap to ¼-inch thick. Remove plastic wrap and cut out biscuits with a 3½-inch bone-shaped cookie cutter. Re-roll scraps and continue cutting out biscuits.
- Space biscuits 1 inch apart on a prepared baking sheet. Bake for 30 minutes until nicely browned and firm.
- Transfer biscuits to a wire rack. Turn off the oven and place biscuits on a wire rack in the oven overnight. Remove from oven and store in an airtight container for up to two weeks.
Cheese and Sardine Pyramid Pan Dog Treats
These tasty dog treats by Michelle Taylor only have a handful of ingredients and are easy to make. Sardines are a great single-ingredient source of protein, and many dogs can’t resist cheese. It’s a win-win.
Ingredients:
• 1 can of sardines
• 2 eggs
• 150 grams of grated Parmesan cheese
• Handful of roasted vegetables
• 75 grams of tapioca flour (or plain flour)
• Water
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 320ºF.
2. Blend all the ingredients in a blender to make a thick batter. Add water as needed to make thicker.
3. Smooth the mixture over the baking mat and bake for about 15 minutes or until crispy.
4. Once cooled, cut into small pieces.
Remember, you should always check with your vet before giving your dog anything other than dog food, commercial dog treats, and prescribed medication. Once you’re in the clear, purchase a fun baking sheet, try a recipe, and rest easy knowing exactly what you’re feeding your dog.
