Easy, Simple, Tasty: Why you’ll love them and so will your dog 🐾
These easy to prepare treats are tummy-friendly, fibre-packed, and smell good. I like the combination of ingredients and my dogs are familiar with them too, being a staple part of their diet at other times. The pumpkin helps regulate digestion, the banana adds natural sweetness, and peanut butter… well, that’s the universal dog licky mat happiness paste.
🥣 Ingredients
- 2 cups (about 120g) organic oat flour
Note: I use organic oats ground in a blender on high until fine.
- ¾ cup of mashed pumpkin
Note: I make my own, microwaved pumpkin in water, until tender and then mashed. If you are using pumpkin puree, make sure it has nothing other than pumpkin. Pumpkin Pie Filling in a can will often have spices, sugar or other sweeteners, which are not dog friendly.
- 1 small banana, mashed, or half a large one
- 1 tablespoon of peanut butter – unsweetened, no salt, and xylitol-free
CRITICAL SAFETY CHECK – Peanut Butter ⚠️ It’s absolutely critical to verify that the peanut butter contains NO XYLITOL. Xylitol is an artificial sweetener that is extremely toxic to dogs and can be fatal even in small amounts. Always check the ingredient label carefully – Xylitol can even appear in “no sugar added” labelled products.
- 2 teaspoons of ground flaxseeds
- 2 teaspoons coconut flour
- 1 teaspoon chia seeds, swollen in 60 ml boiling water for a few minutes
- 60 ml cold water as needed to get dough to rolling consistency
- Extra oat flour for rolling
Optional Variations
- 1 tablespoon of fresh mint, chopped finely – natural breath freshener, may help soothe upset stomachs and may aid digestion, natural anti-inflammatory, natural flavour that many dogs enjoy.
Note: Safety Considerations ⚠️
Use spearmint or peppermint – these are safe for dogs in small amounts. Avoid pennyroyal mint – this variety is toxic to dogs. Use fresh, not essential oils (mint essential oils are too concentrated and can be harmful.
- Only a whisper of Ceylon cinnamon
👩🍳 Directions
- Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F) and line a baking tray with parchment paper.
- In a mixing bowl, combine oat flour, linseed meal, and coconut flour.
- In another bowl, mash the banana and mix with pumpkin, chia slurry, and peanut butter. Mix until smooth.
- Stir the wet mixture into the dry until a dough forms (add a splash more cold water if the mixture is too dry).
- Allow the dough to sit covered for 5 minutes to allow for the wet ingredients to moisten the linseeds.
- Flatten the dough onto a floured surface (I use extra oat flour to flour the board).
- Use your favorite cookie cutter to fashion into fun biscuits. Or just cut them with a knife into rectangle lengths.
- Bake for 25 minutes until firmed and lightly golden.
- Cool completely before serving to your pup (hardest step for them).
Note: I cook mine for only 25 minutes due to my dog’s preferences. Audrey gets biscuits that are too dry caught in her throat, causing coughing or reverse sneezing, and Koji needs something he can chew, otherwise he will inhale them whole. Keeping them a little chewy also allows me to break off a portion easily for reward nibbles throughout the day.
👉 Tip: If you want crunchier biscuits, leave them in the oven (turned off) for another 30 minutes to dry out.
Storage
Keep in an airtight container for up to 5 days, or freeze for longer storage. Dogs love them straight from the freezer in summer!
🍌 Nutritional Notes for Dogs
- Pumpkin – Gentle on tummies, rich in fibre, helps keep things moving smoothly.
- Banana – Natural sweetness plus potassium for healthy muscles and nerves.
- Peanut Butter – A source of protein and healthy fats (just be sure it’s unsweetened and xylitol-free).
- Oat Flour – Whole-grain, gluten-free, and provides slow-release energy.
- Linseed (Flaxseed) Meal – Packed with omega-3 fatty acids to support skin and coat health.
- Cinnamon (Ceylon, in tiny amounts) – May help regulate blood sugar and adds a warm flavor dogs love.
- Mint – natural breath freshener, may help soothe upset stomachs and may aid digestion, natural anti-inflammatory, natural flavour that many dogs enjoy.
🥯 Serving Sizes- Treat Sizes by Dog Weight:
- Small dogs (2-9 kg): 1-2 small treats (about 2-3 cm diameter)
- Medium dogs (9-23 kg): 2-4 medium treats (about 3-4 cm diameter)
- Large dogs (23-45+ kg): 3-6 larger treats (about 4-5 cm diameter)
Remember the 10% rule – treats should be no more than 10% of your dog’s daily caloric intake! These treats are designed as occasional snacks, not a full meal replacement. Think of them as a healthy “high-five” for your pup when they deserve a little something special.
Practical Tips:
- Start with smaller portions when introducing any new treat to watch for digestive upset or allergies
- These homemade treats are likely more calorie-dense than some commercial options due to the peanut butter and banana
- If giving multiple treats in a day, reduce the size accordingly
- Consider your dog’s activity level – highly active dogs can handle slightly more treats than sedentary dogs
- Adjust their regular meal portions slightly if giving treats regularly
Feeding Frequency
Since you mentioned “occasional,” 2-3 times per week would be reasonable, or even daily if the portions are small enough to stay within that 10% guideline.
💡When you cut the dough into shapes, you could make them small to medium-sized so they’re easier to portion appropriately for your dog’s size!
Enjoy the healthier snacks without the additives
With love,
Sarah J
Co-Founder Koji & me, Your curated online dog products store