How time flies! My baby girl turned one-year-old on March 11th, 2018. (Cue Mommy tears!)
To celebrate Lady’s special day and commemorate her one year on this Earth, I went all out and baked all of her favorite homemade dog treats, including a fabulous (if I do say so myself) doggie birthday cake.
When baking homemade dog treats, it’s important to me that I only use human foods that are healthy for pups. That way, Lady can enjoy a delicious treat that is made with only the most wholesome ingredients and baked with love.
In honor of her birthday, I’m sharing my go-to homemade dog treats recipes that you’ll want to use for your own best friend’s special day, or any day!
3 of Lady’s Favorite Homemade Dog Treats
1. Dog Birthday Cake
I stumbled across this recipe on a blog called Brown Eyed Baker.
The peanut butter icing (one of Lady’s favorite human foods) is what sold me! It only takes about 45 minutes to complete from start to finish and makes several servings, making it perfect for multiple pups.
We hosted a dog birthday party and invited some of Lady’s friends over to help her celebrate, and each pooch heartily gobbled up his/her slice of cake. Needless to say, it was a huge hit! Plus, dog parents also in attendance loved that their pet got to enjoy a sweet yet healthy treat.
Recipe
Ingredients:
- 1 cup whole wheat flour (healthier alternative to white flour)
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ cup natural peanut butter
- ¼ cup vegetable oil
- ⅓ cup honey
- 1 cup shredded carrots
- 1 egg
Directions:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and grease either an 8 in. round cake pan or 8×4 in. loaf pan.
- Whisk the flour and baking soda together before adding the rest of the ingredients. Use a wooden spoon or rubber spatula to mix it all up. Pour the batter into the pan and bake for approximately 30 minutes. Allow to cool before spreading additional peanut butter on the top as “frosting.” Enjoy!
2. Frozen Peanut Butter Yogurt Dog Treats
These treats are the perfect way for your dog to cool off on a hot summer day! They’re also simple to make, so it’s a fast and healthy snack I can give to Lady anytime.
All it requires is some vanilla yogurt, peanut butter, cupcake papers, and a freezer. Easy as that! Licking away at this delicious treat also gives your dog something to do if they’re feeling bored and you’re too busy to stop and play with them.
Recipe
Ingredients:
- 1 cup Peanut Butter
- 32 oz. vanilla yogurt
Directions:
- Melt peanut butter in a microwave-safe bowl
- Combine yogurt and melted peanut butter
- Pour the mixture into cupcake papers
- Place in the freezer and let them sit for about two hours.
3. Pumpkin and Peanut Butter Dog Treats
These are Lady’s favorite homemade dog treats with pumpkin! When they’re finished, they come out like crisp cookies that your furry friend won’t be able to resist biting into. The best part for you is that it only requires 3 simple ingredients!
Recipe
Ingredients:
- 1 cup oats (I prefer to use old-fashioned)
- ⅓ cup pumpkin puree
- ¼ cup natural peanut butter
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 300 degrees F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Add oats to a food processor and grind until they become a fine powder. Add in the pumpkin and peanut butter and blend until it all becomes a sticky dough
- Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface and cut into squares with a knife. If you want to add a little flair, you can also use fun-shaped cookie cutters!
- Lay the cut treats on the baking sheet and bake for approximately 25-30 minutes. Be sure they’ve cooled off before feeding to your dog! When you’re done, store the leftovers in an airtight container for later.
You can also find this recipe on a vegan-friendly website known as It Doesn’t Taste Like Chicken.
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Happy birthday, Lady Bug! Here’s to many more wonderful years with you. Do you have any special recipes that you use to make homemade dog treats? I’m always looking for more!
Don’t forget to check out even more recipes for pumpkin dog treats, frozen coconut oil and peanut butter treats, or dog health and safety tips!
