Making homemade peanut butter dog treats are easy to do and far cheaper than buying pet treats with ingredients you can’t even understand.
Give your dog the best and try my homemade peanut butter dog treats recipe using only 5 simple ingredients.
Homemade Peanut Butter Dog Treats With Simple Ingredients
I’ve never given much thought to our pet budget and making homemade peanut butter dog treats but it comes with benefits.
- Dog treats are easy to make with only 5 ingredients
- You control the ingredients
- The costs for homemade dog treats are far less than store-bought
- Your dog will love you to the moon and back
Owning A Pet Costs Money
We save $113 a month into our pet budget to cover costs such as vet bills, food, treats, pet license, snow boots, leash, poop bags, etc.
Before deciding to get a dog you should complete financial and emotional research into the costs associated with pet ownership.
Related: How much does it cost to own a dog in Canada?
These peanut butter dog treats are as easy to make as my peanut butter cookies for humans.
I thought it was a brilliant idea but I wasn’t sure if our dog would be into the whole peanut butter dog treats idea.
As per usual, I was wrong because he loved them. He is a dog after all, right?
After he had the first peanut butter treat he sat and watched them baking in the oven.
He made sure to come and keep reminding me that his peanut butter treats were baking and not to forget about them.
I almost felt as if he was trying to say, “I don’t like burnt biscuits” so I had to bring my netbook into the kitchen to do my work.
I’d get nothing done with all the pacing back and forth he was doing reminding me about the oven being on.
It was like he was championing the new homemade dog treats and was head of the company.
You know, like…the BOSS!
In the first batch of homemade peanuy butter dog treats I forgot that I had a cookie cutter so I cut out dog bone shapes with a knife.
I made enough for the photo and then I gave up and used my biscuit cutter and then cut that in half to make half-moons.
Honestly, you can just cut them up with a knife your dog won’t care what blinkin’ shape they are.
However, if you want to make your dog treats look like the real deal you can buy dog bone cookie cutters for very cheap.
There’s nothing funky in these homemade dog biscuits, it’s everyday pantry items that the recipe calls for.
You need 5 ingredients to make this easy homemade peanut butter dog treats recipe.
- just nuts peanut butter or regular peanut butter (with sugar)
- baking powder
- eggs
- whole wheat flour
- pumpkin puree or sweet yam puree
There’s only 1/2 cup of peanut butter, so not that much but enough to flavour the dog treats.
You can use either regular peanut butter with sugar, just peanuts peanut butter or homemade peanut butter.
Some people like to add honey to their homemade dog treats so that’s another option if you want a sweet dog treat.
Soft vs. Crunchy Peanut Butter Dog Treats
If you’ve followed my blog you know our dog has been ill and we have had some large vet bills over the past two months.
Since he’s just had his teeth cleaned and three teeth pulled out he only prefers to eat soft and chewy foods.
I pulled the homemade peanut butter dog treats from the oven a bit early and let them sit for a few minutes.
Like any other cookies if you overbake them they will become crunchy or even burnt.
By removing the peanut butter dog treats early you allow them to keep a softer texture which some dogs love.
If you keep the dog treats in a bit longer or even double-bake them as you would biscotti they will be crunchy.
They did not harden but are nice and soft and he just adores them because they are easy for him to chew and the flavours are spot-on.
You’ll find out how I know soon. haha!
Store-Bought vs. Homemade Peanut Butter Dog Treats
I don’t think we will waste our money on store-bought dog treats anymore especially since these are such a budget-friendly alternative.
The only problem is he loves sausage rolls or what’s more commonly referred to as MarroBone treats from Pedigree.
MarroBone treats are made with real bone marrow and have a delicious meaty center, no I did not try them either, I just read the bag.
Human Review of Homemade Peanut Butter Dog Treats
If you ask my mum she will tell you that I fancied dog treats when I was a kid.
Don’t ask me why because I can’t answer any questions on the topic however, I have tasted my fair share of dog treats.
I will also admit that my wife asked me to try this peanut butter dog treat recipe just to see what it tasted like.
She only did it because I told her I used to eat dog biscuits when I was young and didn’t believe me.
Now she does.
What do the homemade dog treats taste like?
It tastes like a peanut butter dog cookie so let that be your human review and move on.
If you put a peanut butter biscuit and a Pedigree MarroBone on the ground the MarroBone always wins.
They are pretty costly sometimes upwards of $3.99-$4.99 a bag so we only buy them on sale for $3.99 max.
Each MarroBone has vitamins A and E plus vitamin D and Calcium to support healthy teeth and bones.
Calculating The Costs of Dog Treats
The bag suggests that for a small dog up to 3 treats per day, medium dog up to 5 treats per day, and a large dog up to 8 treats per day.
I’ve never read the bag before and our dog has not had anywhere near 8 per day but that means we’d finish this bag before the month is up.
The bag doesn’t tell me how many are inside so I had to manually count them for a total of 68 treats at 8 per day that would last him just over eight days.
Over 365 days x 8 treats per day / 68 treats in a bag = 42.94 bags of MarroBone per year x $5.19 ($4.59 * 1.13 = cost per bag with tax) = $222.72 for dog treats for the year!
The peanut butter dog treats cost me approximately $2.50 to make approximately 70 treats plus my time and electricity.
I baked at a cheap rate although I do know what every ingredient is in the recipe.
What I don’t know is how many he should be having each day comparable to MarroBone.
The recipe contains a mixture of eggs, whole wheat flour, oats, water, cornmeal, and peanut butter.
The peanut butter contains healthy fat, protein, and fibre.
I think we may continue to purchase his favourite Pedigree MarroBone treats when they are on sale but on a limited basis.
We will eliminate the generic brand of small dog bones we also typically purchase for around $3.99 a bag.
That way he can still have his MarroBone fix just complimented with homemade peanut butter dog treats instead.
Homemade Peanut Butter Dog Treats with Pumpkin
Since Mrs. CBB has been on a low gi diet she’s been roasting, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, or yams.
I don’t mind them but they aren’t my favourite, let’s just say I prefer a traditional spud.
Our dog, however, loves roasted sweet potatoes and pumpkin and makes that fact known by sitting in front of the oven.
What I did was add a little bit of homemade pumpkin puree into the peanut butter dog treats.
If you don’t have pumpkin puree you can use sweet potato or yam instead.
It’s like hiding pumpkin puree in fudgy brownies just so those who hate vegetables get a serving, lots of people do that.
Homemade Dog Food
I think it’s smart that dog owners are creating homemade dog food recipes for their pets as long as they get their nutrients.
Our veterinarian was concerned when we told her that our dog enjoys Wheatabix and whole-wheat toast for breakfast.
Yes, you read that right.
Oh, come on, how many of you pet owners don’t give your pet something special for a treat?
No, he doesn’t get it slathered with butter and marmalade, although if he had it his way I’m betting on peanut butter since he loves it.
When he was younger he managed to steal half of a Nutella sandwich from a plate when no one was looking and gobbled it all up.
Of course, he loved every second of that but lucky for him, he didn’t get ill since chocolate is not good for dogs.
Mobile Dog Spa Services
Image Source: Google Images
So no fancy in-ground dog pool and spa pet wash that visits the home for the posh spa treatment each week.
It’s true, our neighbour has a mobile dog wash come once a week to pamper their poodle.
It’s the funniest pet convenience service you will ever see.
It’s like watching a cartoon because the mobile makes loud noises that your mind starts to wonder just really what is going on inside there.
No, it’s not the “Mutt Cutts” van as seen in the movie Dumb and Dumber either.
Our boy just gets a standard dog wash, dry, and brush with the occasional body massage from our mini hand massager.
That’s as spoiled as he gets but for him, that is a day at the spa and he loves every minute of it.
Dog Nutrition Changes With Age
Our dog is getting older and he wants different foods now.
He doesn’t have much time to live so for the last couple of years we will make his stay on this earth a good one.
It makes us happy when he’s happy so it’s worth it for us as pet owners.
It doesn’t stop there though because now he won’t eat his dog food unless it’s soft and has some human food mixed in.
We’ve been adding water to his food along with a bit of gravy and sometimes cheese, minced beef, boiled chicken, rice, or sauce.
He gobbles it all up in a flash.
Some may think he’s spoiled but it’s his teeth that are giving him the problems and gets bored with eating the same foods.
I have to ask myself if I could handle eating the same food all day every day.
Likely not, so making sure we give him the best we can including all the valuable nutrients he needs is important.
Pet Allergies
Our friend has a dog that is allergic to almost everything and she also has to make his dog food for this reason.
She makes his dog food from fresh lamb which is costly for anyone with a grocery budget.
Have you seen the prices in Ontario for lamb?
She spares nothing when it comes to her pet but he can only eat certain foods let alone hang out in the grass which gives him a rash.
Clearly she’s a good pet owner who takes care of her pet and treats him like family as it should be.
As pet owners, we have to go above and beyond to accommodate our animals even if that means a fancy lamb dinner.
Sure we could buy some expensive soft dog food but our dogs’ backend doesn’t seem to approve, we’ve tried it, trust me.
We’ve even tried the lower-end brands of soft canned food and it just doesn’t agree with him.
We can definitely understand the reasons why homemade dog food would be best for pets with health issues.
Dog Pet Stores
We’ve been to pet stores and bought organic dog food and gone through the range from the most to the least expensive at the grocery store.
As well, we’ve purchased dog food at the veterinarian which he liked for a short while then turned his nose up at once he got sick of it.
We mix up the vet food and the store-bought pet food but have to add the extra bits like a topping so he’ll eat it.
Yep, dogs are picky eaters too.
Currently, we’re feeding him a British dog food called Harrington’s Lamb and Rice which we found at Wal-Mart for a reasonable price.
How to Make Easy Peanut Butter Dog Treats
If you want to make homemade dog bones it’s a bit of work to bake up but it’s worth the 30-minute effort for your dog and your pet budget.
Making homemade dog treats is fine and adding in nutrient-rich meals to mix in his dry food bowl is what works for us and our dog.
We talked with our veterinarian who didn’t have problems with adding cheese, gravy, or proteins as long as he got all the nutrients.
That and a good dose of exercise to keep him in top-notch shape makes for a healthy, happy pet.
Note: Printable recipe is at the end of the blog post.
Homemade Peanut Butter Dog Treats Ingredients
- 1/2 cup just nuts peanut butter or regular peanut butter (with sugar)
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 2 large eggs
- 2 + 1/2 cups whole wheat flour (add more if needed)
- 3/4 pumpkin puree or sweet yam puree
Homemade Peanut Butter Dog Treats Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees
- Line a large baking sheet with silicone baking mats or parchment paper
- In your stand mixer or bowl with a hand-mixer add the pumpkin, eggs, and peanut butter
- Mix until combined about 2 minutes
- Add the whole wheat flour holding back the 1/2 cup which you will add a little at the end just until it becomes a dough you can handle. You don’t want a sticky dough.
- Sprinkle a bit of flour on your counter or cutting board and knead the dough for 5 minutes.
- Using a rolling pin roll the peanut butter dog treats cookie dough to 1/4 inch thick. They will rise with the baking powder.
- With a knife or dog bone cookie cutter (or any of your choice) cut out the dog treats.
- Roll the dough and continue the process until all of the peanut butter dog treats are cut.
- Line them on the baking sheet about 1 inch apart and bake for 20-25 minutes or slightly golden.
- ½ cup just nuts peanut butter or regular peanut butter (with sugar)
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 2 large eggs
- 2 + ½ cups whole wheat flour (add more if needed)
- ¾ pumpkin puree or sweet yam puree
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees
- Line a large baking sheet with silicone baking mats or parchment paper
- In your stand mixer or bowl with a hand, mixer add the pumpkin, eggs, and peanut butter
- Mix until combined about 2 minutes
- Add the whole wheat flour holding back the ½ cup which you will add a little at the end just until it becomes a dough you can handle. You don't want a sticky dough.
- Sprinkle a bit of flour on your counter or cutting board and knead the dough for 5 minutes.
- Using a rolling pin roll the peanut butter dog treats cookie dough to ¼ inch thick. They will rise with the baking powder.
- With a knife or dog bone cookie cutter (or any of your choice) cut out the dog treats.
- Roll the dough and continue the process until all of the peanut butter dog treats are cut.
- Line them on the baking sheet about 1 inch apart and bake for 20-25 minutes or slightly golden.
There you go, simple, easy peanut butter dog treats that you can store in a jar or in a basket for your dog.
Now, I have to find a hiding spot for the homemade peanut butter dog treats because if he can smell or see them he will guard them with his life.
I don’t blame him, I feel the same way about my homemade treats too which you can find on CBB at The Free Recipe Depot.
Discussion: Do you make homemade pet treats or pet food?
Leave me your comments below and let me know what types of pet treats you make!
Pauline says
what a spoiled dog! having his human make delicious treats for him 🙂 He may go for the pedigree for now as an acquired taste, and because he remembers it and identifies as a treat, maybe if you don’t give any to him in a month he will go for peanut butter first.
Canadianbudgetbinder says
He’s getting so bad Pauline I don’t know what to feed him any more. I try to add stuff to help him eat but he’s getting to be a snob dog I think.
Holly@ClubThrifty says
My dog would LOVE homemade dog treats. Well, he loves everything, lol. Anyway, maybe I will try your recipe. It would make his day!
Canadianbudgetbinder says
Most dogs like anything haha. If we can shave some money from the budget we will as long as it’s not jeopardizing his health. The vet was ok with it and teh vet assistant even makes her own too. It’s much cheaper and you know what’s going in it.
Thomas says
I need to look into making some of these thing for my dog. Her food is so expensive its like having another child in the house and with the insurance we pay we can really side to save a few dollars on food and treats. She would really like those homemade doggie treats not sure about the sweet potato ones though.
Canadianbudgetbinder says
I’m not sure about the sweet potato one’s either but he seems to love sweet potato so I’ll give it a try. It’s hit or miss so I’ll try it. He loves the PB ones thought and like I’ve mentioned it’s a huge savings and so easy to make. Let me know if you make them. What do you normally spend on dog treats?
Save Big Live Better! says
I can’t wait to try out these peanut butter treats, I have a feeling they’ll go over well;)
With 3 dogs, any savings is a bonus! Thanks CBB!
Canadianbudgetbinder says
Go for it Julia, they are so easy to make!! Our dog goes nutty for them….
alexis436 says
So sorry to hear about your dog not being well. We have just found out that our little fur baby has a sensitive stomach and can’t handle a lot of the commercial foods, so I will have to give these a go. Peanut Butter is his favourite thing in the whole world.
Canadianbudgetbinder says
Let me know what you think Alexis. Our dog goes nuts for them. I haven’t tried the dog food recipe yet but I’d like to one day for him.
donna pierce says
You can use canned pumpkin in your treats. Dogs love it. I have two little moochers !! LOL
Canadianbudgetbinder says
Brilliant idea as well. I wish it wasn’t so darned expensive.
Kim@Eyesonthedollar says
I’m going to give it a shot. Our dog, Mo, is so mellow her tail could catch fire and she’d still just sit there, but she does get excited about her nightly biscuit, so I bet she’d love these. Have you ever given your dog a spoonful of peanut butter? If you stick it on the roof of their mouth, it is the funniest thing ever to watch.
Canadianbudgetbinder says
Oh yes, we have done that he loves peanut butter. He licks his chops and looks goofy and then drinks lots of water.
Lil' Suburban Homestead says
Now that we know how easy home made dog treats are to make we only make them….if I ever run out of spent grains in my freezer I am definitely trying your recipe too! Great blog article!
Canadianbudgetbinder says
I noticed you did a post when I was linking up. Did I miss that post? I can’t remember… I have to check it out and see how you make yours.
studentdebtsurvivor says
Aww, I definitely want to whip up a batch of these for our pup. He’s definitely a “treat hound” and these are a healthier and more natural alternative to the store bought treats.
Canadianbudgetbinder says
These are so easy to make I don’t know what took me so long to do it. Your dog will love them.
Christine Weadick says
Those treats look good for Poochie!! I just emailed my sister-in-law about her recipe for dog treats and I’ll flip it over when she emails back. I keep meaning to ask her when we’re talking on the phone but the calls tend to be quick calls before work to check up on hubby kind of calls. She is his sister…
Our cats over the years have had the odd weird taste for something….we had a siamese that liked broccoli….just the flower parts and only cooked in chicken stir fry thank you very much!!!She liked Chinese food too. A couple have liked potato chips, regular flavour only…. and we had one that liked spaghetti…. Found that out one night when I turned my back before clearing the table. Turned my back for a few seconds and found her cleaning off the plate for me, front paws on the table and enjoying herself greatly.
When I was a kid, one of my friends family had a fair size dog that would steal from the table, some one told them to put a piece of bread spread with hot mustard where the dog could reach it…. the taste would be enough to teach the dog to not steal from the table or so the theory went…. Yeah…. the darn dog loved the hot mustard!!! Hear tell the dog liked rye and coke too… once. One plastered pup!!!
I might break down and make these for Mitzi next time we go to visit instead of buying a pack. I still remember the time she had a cough, rather bad apparently as she had to go to the vet about it. The vet told my sister-in-law to give her people cough medicine…. you know how that stuff smells and how well dogs can smell things…. seems the only way they could get Mitzi to take her cough medicine was to bribe her with one of the treats I had brought her. If she was a good girl and took her medicine she got a treat that ‘Auntie Christine’ got her…. Hey… it worked….
Canadianbudgetbinder says
Yes, if you get the recipe please send it my way. These treats are so easy to make. If you do make them let me know how your dog likes them but I’m sure you won’t have any problems. Cheers Christine!
Shannon Ryan (@TheHeavyPurse) says
I love the image of your dog anxiously walking back and forth to make sure you didn’t forget about his dog biscuits baking away in the oven. Pets are so precious and add so much to our lives. The girls would certainly enjoy making these to hand out to our neighborhood dogs. Who knows, maybe even our cat might enjoy a nibble. 🙂
Canadianbudgetbinder says
Thanks Shannon, you had to be here it truly was a sight to see but worth it. He’s a good boy. These are so simple to make and if the kids enjoy making them I bet the dogs would enjoy eating them. Cheers Shannon! Mr.CBB
Michelle says
I’ve been thinking about making homemade dog food for them. It’s just so much healthier!
Canadianbudgetbinder says
It is Michelle and you MUST try this recipe, it’s so easy and you will see your dog will love it!