When you make homemade treats and they happen to be vegan and people FLIP OUT! Seriously though, if you feel strongly against your dog consuming a treat containing no animal bi-products, please feel free to adjust this recipe as needed or completely disregard it altogether. I’m not here to tell you how to feed you companion animals – I merely would like to offer up a easy recipe that you can share with them. Fur babies deserve a little something special too!
Each batch yields about 12 medium-sized biscuits. For reference I used these dog bone cookie cutters, in the 3.5 inch size. They perfectly filled a quart jar, complete with a little bow for gift giving. Any dog-owner would greatly appreciate some homemade treats for their companion. I made this batch for my sister’s pug, Mordecai. Needless to say, he loves them.
This is such a simple recipe that require very little. You can use any flour you prefer that meets your pup’s needs. You can also add upon this recipe, including mint (for fresh breath), flax (for shiny coat) and/or chia seeds (for added protein and digestive support). I can’t wait to hear what your dog thinks of these!
Had to include some outtakes of the aftermath… Mordecai LOVED it!
DIY 3-Ingredient Vegan Dog Treats
Prep
Cook
Total
Yield 14 medium
Ingredients
- 1 cup Oat or Rice Flour, any works
- 2 ripe Bananas, mashed
- 1/4 cup Peanut Butter*, smooth (unsweetened)
Instructions
- Peel your bananas and mash them with the peanut butter until smooth.
- Measure and pour in your flour, adding half at a time. Mix until evenly combined and add the remaining half.
- Fold together until combined. Use your hands as needed to form a solid ball of dough.
- Chill the dough for 20 minutes*. Optional, but it helps firm the dough more.
- Remove the dough from the fridge and place on parchment paper or a well floured counter.
- Preheat your oven to 325 F.
- Roll out the dough to a 1/3-1/2 inch thickness.
- Using your cookie cutter, cut out shapes as desired.
- Transfer your cookies to a parchment lined baking sheet.
- Use a fork to poke 4 holes in the center of each, to allow steam to escape.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes.
- Remove and let completely cool before transferring to an air-tight container.
- Give to your pup as desired! (They're people safe too!)
Notes
Depending on the size of your bananas, you might need to add a touch more flour. The dough should be slightly sticky but firm, like a sugar cookie dough. Chilling will slightly firm it up more, but it's not essential. I used a peanut butter that was only organic peanuts. Please read the label to ensure you're using a product that DOES NOT contain added oils or sugar. Some sweeteners are TOXIC to animals.
Freeze for up to 3 months. This is a treat, please refrain from giving your dog too many. 1-2 per day is more than enough, depending on their size. Feel free to add ground flax, chia or hemp seeds for added protein and healthy fats!
This is the bone-shaped cookie cutter I used. The medium sized one.
Courses DIY, Snack
Cuisine Gluten-free, Vegan, Dog-friendly
cute treats!!!! i know you’ve said unsweetened pb, but i just thought i’d add it’s super important to check the brand doesn’t include xylitol, because this is very bad for dogs.
Thanks Lydia, I appreciate the advice. I’ll be sure to include that in the notes as well 🙂
Also, can this recipe be used in baking molds? Thanks.
Yes! You might need to bake for a couple of extra minutes though.
Cute pup! Thanks for the recipe. My dogs will love them.
Thanks so much!
Very nice recipe! and I’m sure my Yorkie would love these. would the baking time be the same if I used a smaller shape? I’ve an itty bitty bone shape cutter because I have an itty bitty Yorkie!
Thank you, Linda. If you’re making them thinner, I would start by cutting the time in half and baking until they’re firm and golden brown. Adjusting the time as needed from there. Hope your Yorkie enjoys!
I’ve been waiting for this recipe!!!! Ok, I’m dying over your sister’s dog!!! The name and that cute squishy face!! So perfect. This recipe is so simple, I love it! And I’m sure my dog (and my parents dog) will love these, too! So excited to make these! <3
Yay! I hope all the pups enjoy, Mo wanted to eat all of them lol
How brilliant!
Have tried a recipe for cats?
Great blog, thank you for sharing all these great recipes 🙂
Happy new year.
Thank you so much! I have not, but I will definitely give it a try this year <3
Is that for a fan oven? Is it a fan oven for all the recipes? X
I use a regular, conventional oven.
Will definately dry for my dog.Pls share some more dog vegan receipes.
I hope your dog enjoys!
Hi! thank you for the recipe! How long can they be stored before going bad..?
Thank you!
Hi! About 1 week, I found that it’s better to bake them longer to dry them out or freeze them so they can last for months.
OMG how cute Mo looks eating the biscuits !! & the bikkis are so cute I could grab one and eat myself! I’m definitely going to try this once I get an oven <3
Thank you so much, we had a blast making these and Mo very much enjoyed devouring all of them!
Hi, these look so cute and simple to make but one of my dogs is allergic to rice, oats and flax. What can i sub the rice flour for? thanks.
Thanks Sophia! I’d recommend replacing with a flour you know your dog can consume safely, like wheat or maybe even coconut flour. I’d avoid using a bleached white flour, try to find something that’s going to offer some bit of nutrients.
Sophia- you could try some Besan (chickpea) flour for extra protein, or some Buckwheat if your dog is ok with that?
Great idea!
I would like to know how long these can be left out on counter or do they need fridgerated . Thanks a bunch I make all my dogs food and treats he’s diabetic . But making big batches sometimes go bad I see u said can freeze but what about in general so they need refrigeration or can sit in jar on shelf and if they can sit in jar for how long can the be there
Great question! It depends on how well you bake them. If they’re cooked through and crispy they can sit on the counter in an air-tight container for about a week. If you bake then to stay softer, I’d recommend keeping them in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to a week as well. You can freeze these for 3-4 months though.
Thanks so much seems to be all homemade treats and food can only last a week out of freezer . I was hopeing to maybe put some recipe together for longer shelf storage . Thanks a bunch
Yeah, due to the banana it’s really best to keep them as fresh as possible. But to give them a longer shelf life you can always do a lower temperature bake for a longer period of time to really dry them out. Even then I wouldn’t push more than two weeks. When in doubt, throw them in the freezer to keep for longer. Hope this helps!
What pb did you use, can I get it at Whole foods? I’m making them for my sisters pup for Christmas
I bought a smooth peanut butter that had no added oil or sugar. Salt is fine, but it’s a bonus if it doesn’t include that too. Whole Foods will definitely have it, their 365 brand is oil and salt free to my understanding.
Hey, I made a double batch tonight. I even processed my own Old Fashioned oatmeal to make my flour for the recipe. Amazed how easy that was.It will be fun to hear how 4 different dogs take or not take to this snack. Thanks for sharing. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!
That’s amazing! I hope all the pups enjoy these treats. Thanks for giving the recipe a try, Happy Holidays!
Where did you buy the rice/oat flour? I will be making these today or tomorrow. By the way, that pug is adorable.
I buy rice flour from Vitacost. To make oat flour, you use rolled oats and blend them up in a blender or food processor until it creates a fine texture. Hope that helps! Thanks so much, Mo is such a sweetie.
This recipe did not firm up in the fridge – even overnight. Cutting shapes out were impossible.
That’s odd, I’ve never had an issue with these. Did you try adding more flour?
I used Brown Rice Flour, brand Arrowhead Mills. I make it roughly to a cookie dough, which is more flour than the recipe calls and it cuts out smoothly 🙂
Just made them using wheat flour. My dogs love them!!
Yay! So happy to hear that, thanks Mary.
I see the 3 months in the freezer, but how long can they last on the counter or in the fridge?
I’d say up to 2 weeks. 3 if you really dry them out and keep them sealed properly.
How do you keep them soft? My pups absolutely love them, but my mom’s Chihuahua has a hard time with crunchy food. Is there a way to bake them to keep them soft?
Hey Katie, absolutely! You can reduce the cooking time slightly and reduce the heat slightly so they don’t dry out as much. They won’t have as long of a shelf life, but they will be softer. Hope that helps!
Oh thank you! My pups love them and so do my grandma’s. Great and simple recipe 🙂
I made these with my 4 yr old granddaughter- they were so easy & she had a ball. Her dog loved them! Thanks so much for sharing the recipe.
What can i substitute for bananas
You could use pumpkin or sweet potato puree.
Thanks for the great recipe! I did find I had to add a little olive oil and almond milk to make the batter stick together. Overall, the texture of the biscuits were great. My doggies love them and they freeze nicely. :o)
No problem, I’m sorry the batter wasn’t working for you. Glad to hear the pups enjoyed them though! I might need to share another dog treat recipe soon. People seem to really enjoy this one, they’re so fun to make!
Hi. My dog has kidney damage so the vet suggested a low protein diet. Can you suggest something I can use instead of Peanut Butter?
I think this would also work well with sweet potato puree or a combination of apple sauce and ground flax meal, so it holds together.
Great, simple recipe. We used pumpkin puree, instead of the peanut butter, and coconut flour with the bananas. Our golden retriever loved them. We will make them again 🙂
Hey Julie, so happy to hear your pup enjoyed the treats! I love the substitutions you’ve made, thanks for sharing <3
Hi! This seems like a great recipe – i feed my dog grain free diet, would it be just as good if I replaced the flour with almond, cassava, or garbanzo flour?
Of course, I think any combination of the flours you’ve listed would work just as great.
I was just trying to pass time by baking something (I think it’s really fun) and stumbled upon this recipie. I figured my dogs wouldn’t like it because they’re very picky when it comes to treats. I thought it would be fun anyways, so I gave it a try. When I was done, I gave them some, and now they won’t leave me alone. They love them SO much, that they were jumping and scratching and barking for more! I make a whole jar of them, so it’ll last us a while. Thanks for this recipe! I would recommend this for everyone!
Haha I’m so pleased to hear your pups enjoyed these treats. Mine go crazy for them as well. Thanks for the positive feedback! <3
When adding flax or chia do you add water and let is sit or add it in dry?
If I add chia or flax I add it in dry, it will help bind the dough more as well as add healthy fats + protein!
Hi! Are these soft?
They’re crispy. You can reduce the baking time to keep them softer in texture. But they last longer when dried out. If you bake for less time you should store them in the fridge in an air-tight container since they contain no preservatives.
Hi. Mine turned out soft. I did bake them for the full time, but I used a baking mold. Is that why? Thank you.
The mold most likely held in more moisture and kept them from drying properly. You could bake for the whole time and then at the end pop them out and let them rest in the oven while it’s still hot but turned off to further dry them out. I hope that helps! Just keep checking on them to make sure they don’t burn. Once fully cooked they will firm up a bit more too.
Thanks for the great recipe!
So glad you like it!
Does regular flower work??
I’m sure it would. I haven’t tried that though.
Can I add chia seeds to the dough
Absolutely, feel free to add 2-3 tbsp.
I tried these today using Wild Rice Flour and extra peanut butter. Needless to say, they were a hit! Will definitely be making again.
Yay, I’m so happy to hear that Kyla. Thanks for letting me know those modifications worked well. Glad they were a hit!
Hi, thank you for all you have posted. I was wondering, I buy natural peanut butter from an amish store and it is only ground peanuts. Is this okay or is it to strong. Thanks so much.
The peanut butter I use is peanuts only too, so it should be just fine for this.
Hi, can you tell me how long can the treats last if they are properly closed in a plastic bag?
Thanks!
If they’re properly dried out, they can last for up to 2-3 weeks. If they’re still a bit soft, I’d freeze them and they will last for up to 3 months.
I just made these dog treats… but I might have to make another batch for the kids. They were a big hit with everyone!
I cut them into small squares using a pizza cutter dipped in flour, separated them, and stirred them a few times during the baking process. Oh, and I used wheat flour.
Thanks for sharing what you did differently. I appreciate you taking the time to make these and leave feedback <3
So happy to hear these were a hit!
How long do these last outside of the freezer in and air tight bag?
Also what kind of preservatives could I add to make them last longer in a storage air tight sealed bag
I’m honestly not sure. I don’t usually try to push the quality to last longer. The best option is freezing them for up to 3 months.
About a week, more or less depending on how well dried out they are. If they’re a bit softer they’ll spoil faster.
Hi there! I am excited to try this recipe today! One of our dogs has food allergies so we are in the process switching our dogs to a vegan diet. They have done well on homemade dog food but we are happy to have turkey friendly options available. My question is regarding rice protein. We are vegetarian and I purchased a large container of organic rice protein. Do you have any “dog treat” recipes in which rice protein may be added? Thanks so much!
Hey Julie! Hope your pups enjoy these treats. For adding protein powder, you can reduce the amount of flour based on how much protein you would like to replace it with. Which depends on about how many grams of protein you want each treat to have. This recipe should work just fine using the rice protein in place of the flour. Hope that helps!
Thanks Margaret! Yes that answers my question. One more thing…I am thinking of replacing the banana with organic sweet potato puree. Is the banana essential,”glue”, for the recipe? Thanks again for your response. My bone shaped treat cutter arrived today and I will let you know what Amy and Luke think.
Ooooops, I read some of the feedback and discovered the answer to my sweet potato question.
Thanks for posting this recipe! It’s easy and cheap to make, and my dogs love it. I use a pizza cutter wheel to make tiny training treats, about 1/4-1/2″ on a side so a dog can eat a lot of them without filling up. My very fear-aggressive rescue dog, who initially could not be handled at all without risking a bite, has become enthusiastically cooperative once he learned that he can earn these treats. And my 16-year-old picky eater dog has begun emptying her bowl once she learned that an empty bowl will earn her a couple of these treats for dessert. Even my two youngest cats come running for them!
I’m so happy to hear all the pups enjoy these treats! It makes my day hearing about your fur babies and how my treat recipe has positively impacted their daily lives <3
Another thing I’ve discovered with this recipe: You can use a small pinch of the unbaked, raw dough to make a vegan pill pocket. I leave the dough in an airtight container the refrigerator for up to a day to pull off bits for pill pockets, then go ahead and bake what’s left before it goes bad. This allows my housemate (who doesn’t know how to pill dogs) to give the seniors their medicines if I’m away.
That’s such a great idea! My senior pup struggles with pills and I usually hide them in a spoonful of peanut butter haha.
Hi! Can i add fresh mint leaves
You could, but I’d recommend parsley for dogs instead. About 1/4 cup for this recipe is plenty.
This looks great! Are they very crumbly?
Thanks! They are crunchy when dried out fully but less so if you bake them for less time.
Do you think I could sub pumpkin for the peanut butter and they would turn out?
You could try it, it might not bind as firmly together though. If possible try adding some flax meal to strengthen that bond, since peanut butter tends to be thicker and sticky. Or go half and half with pumpkin and a nut or seed butter of choice.
The dough was super duper sticky! I did not add more rice flour, but thought to roll the dough between parchment paper! yay! it worked! Had to bake longer i think because my cutter is smaller than what you used..but whatever, they love them! Thank you!
Going to attempt to make these but I was wondering if almond butter and almond flour can be used instead of peanut butter and rice flour.
Dogs typically have a harder time digesting almonds. You could use them, but I wouldn’t give your dog more than 1-2 per day.
I went with an organic peanut butter and used the almond flour (that’s all I had) but it turned out really sticky. Used more flour but the end result was fantastic, kept them soft because my doggo has six missing teeth so crunchy is not much of an option.
Is my dog still limited to just 1-2 because of the four used? (Did not used the almond butter)
If your dog is under 25 pounds 2 a day is plenty. You know them better than I do, watch how they eat and react to it and gauge off of that. I wouldn’t give more than 3 in a day if you have a bigger dog. It’s a treat, not a supplement.
HI!
how many treats does this batch make?
12 medium-sized treats (3 1/2 inches).
Hi, I am disappointed to say this recipe did not work. It was much to sticky and their was no possible way no matter how much flour you use or how long you chilled it that you would even be able to roll it. I even added another 1/2 cup of oat flour and 1/2 cup wheat flour. It still didn’t work. I also tried to roll it with parchment. Still didn’t work. In the end I just put them on a cookie sheet and press them with a fork. They didn’t look as pretty as I liked but my dog thought they were okay.Bummer. Big was of time.
I’m so sorry to hear that! What type of peanut butter did you use? Maybe the bananas you had were bigger then the ones I used, I’ll be sure to adjust that so the measurements are more exact.
Hi. I just made these for my dog’s 14 birthday. Thank you for the recipe, Margaret. She and my other dog love them. I used almond butter (my vet prefers it). I don’t know if it was the almond butter or the larger bananas, but I had to add about a half cup more oat flour. After the 20 minutes in the fridge, it was firm enough to roll into a ball. Mine were about 1/3″ thick. I cooked them for about 30 minutes. They browned a little more than yours, but have a bread-like texture on the inside. I prefer softer so I can break them into training treat sizes. Were yours softer like that or crunchy enough to snap when broken?
Thanks!
Great idea! Approximately how many does it yield? Know it varies according to size.
Using the cookie cutter I have, it yields roughly 20.
thanks my dog is having them for her first b-day
I love that! Hope your pup enjoyed them <3
I will try with some pumpkin
Hope your pup enjoys them!
Hi Margaret, just want to say my pup loves these! I roll them into small ball-shapes and hide a few in her snuffle mat every day 🙂
Hey Laura! So happy to hear your pup loves these treats. Thanks for the positive feedback!
could I add strawberries to the recipe? A certain pug I know LOVES strawberries… 🙂
Thank you!
You probably could, I haven’t personally so I’m not sure how that would react with everything else. I’ll start with maybe 1-2 fresh strawberries blended up and then add that to the batter, with extra flour as needed.
I made this for my dog Arlo’s 5th Birthday. Needless to say he loved it. I just made it into a giant cookie cake and baked it in my convection oven. I added all natural peanut butter and plain Greek yogurt together to make frosting and decorated it with some of his favorite k9 treats. Thank you for this awesome recipe.