If you’re looking for a simple low-ingredient dog treat that’s inexpensive, quick, and healthy, this is the recipe for you.
I’m a Dog Lover
You might not figure that out from reading my baking posts and recipes but I’m head-over-heels for dogs. I have four of my own and two fosters at the moment.
My house is always full. Which means my pocketbook is usually empty. Because dogs are expensive! You have to feed them, make sure they’re current on vaccines, and don’t even get me started on what I spend weekly on treats for six dogs! (Way too much, that’s for sure.)
My vet has been after me to cut back on the size of the treats, and I had that in mind as I stared at the two speckled bananas in my kitchen. I wondered (just out curiosity) if they could be used to make dog treats.
Now, this wouldn’t be the first time I’d made homemade dog treats. I’ve done them a couple of times before—once with sweet potatoes and once with peanut butter.
But. . .bananas? That would be different.
Banana Dog Treats are Delicious!
I know, because my dogs gobbled them down. And, let’s be real: They’re made out of ingredients that I could eat, myself. (Hey, I might just have to try one.)
My big dog Benny wasn’t sure at first. I gave him that first one and he laid it on the floor and stared at it. But when he saw the little dogs eating theirs, he dove right in.
Then came back for another.
And another.
You get the idea. He was hooked and so were the others. And I’m pretty happy, too. Mostly, because I’ve estimated that it cost me about $2 to make the whole batch. Yep, you read that right. Where else can you get so many dog treats for so little money?
I’m guessing you’re intrigued by this idea, so I won’t keep you in suspense anymore. Let’s take a look at the ingredients.
Homemade Dog Treats Ingredients
You will find a full printable recipe card at the bottom of this recipe post but here’s a quick peek at what you’ll need to make these. These are such simple and inexpensive ingredients. You might already have them in your pantry.
- 1 ½ cups rolled oats
- ½ cup natural peanut butter (no sugar added)
- 2 overripe bananas
How to Make Banana Dog Treats
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Grab two pieces of parchment paper. Spray one with non-stick spray and set aside.
Place 1 ½ cups of rolled oats into a food processor and process until you’ve got a coarse flour.
Add the peanut butter and bananas. Mix well.
Place the blob of dough onto the parchment paper that was not sprayed.
Now place the sprayed paper on top of the dough (sprayed side down).
Roll with a rolling pin until the dough is about ⅓ inch thick. Place on cookie sheet.
Lift top paper and throw away.
Use a pizza cutter to score the dough.
Place in preheated oven and bake for 15 - 20 minutes or until set. Remove and cool. Break apart and serve.
Watch your dogs have the time of their lives!
Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They should stay good for a couple of weeks.
What to Expect from these Treats
Okay, so I took a little nibble, so that I could adequately describe these little treats. I’m thinking they would make good healthy snacks for humans, as well as dogs.
They’re rich in banana flavor, loaded with the sweetness of peanut butter, and yet hold their own shape.
These treats aren’t super crispy. In fact, I flipped them over and popped them back in the oven for five minutes so the bottoms could crisp up a little. But the dogs didn’t care. They loved them—semi-soft or crunch.
My pocketbook is already celebrating the ease and inexpensive qualities of these tasty treats. I already make my dogs’ food. Now I have the incentive to make their treats, too!
Variations on this Recipe
These are great but I always love to add things to my recipes. Here are some ideas that come to mind.
Add an extra half cup of oats (not processed). I think this would be tasty.
Pumpkin in place of peanut butter. Dogs love pumpkin and it’s so good for them.
Almond flour in place of oats. I think almond flour is okay for dogs but check first, just to be sure.
Other Dog Treats from Out of the Box Baking
That’s it for this post, friends! I hope you enjoyed this delicious recipe.
If you make this recipe and love it, don’t forget to leave a review and a comment below. And while you're at it, go ahead and pin some photos to your Pinterest boards!
About the Author
Janice Thompson is an author, baker, and all-around mischief maker! She has overcome a host of baking catastrophes, including a toppled wedding cake, to learn more about the baking process. Janice has published over 165 books for the
Banana Dog Treats
If you’re looking for a simple low-ingredient dog treat that’s inexpensive, quick, and healthy, this is the recipe for you.
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups rolled oats
- ½ cup natural peanut butter (no sugar added)
- 2 overripe bananas
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Grab two pieces of parchment paper. Spray one with non-stick spray and set aside.
Place 1 ½ cups of rolled oats into a food processor and process until you’ve got a coarse flour.
Add the peanut butter and bananas. Mix well.
Place the blob of dough onto the parchment paper that was not sprayed.
Now place the sprayed paper on top of the dough (sprayed side down).
Roll with a rolling pin until the dough is about ⅓ inch thick.
Lift top paper and throw away.
Use a pizza cutter to score the dough.
Place in preheated oven and bake for 15 - 20 minutes or until set.
Remove and cool.
Break apart and serve.
Watch your dogs have the time of their lives!
Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They should stay good for a couple of weeks.