Are you looking for grain free dog treat recipes to make at home for your dog? Whether you have your dog on a grain-free diet or you’re just looking to cut back on the grains in his diet, we’ve got a roundup of homemade grain free treat recipes that are fast and easy to make at home.
Why Grain Free?
Grain-free dog food is one of the fastest-growing segments of the commercial pet food world because more pet lovers are concerned about the high percentage of grains in traditional kibble as well as in many treats.
Peanut Butter & Chickpea Flour Treats
Most dogs, ours included, absolutely love peanut butter. This easy recipe is grain-free; if your dog has no issues with wheat, you can substitute whole wheat flour or all-purpose flour for chickpea or garbanzo bean flour.
Garbanzo beans, also known as chickpeas, are a good source of fiber and protein as well as minerals including manganese and copper. They are also low in cholesterol, sodium, and saturated fats.
Garbanzo bean flour makes a good alternative to traditional grain flours. You’ll find it for sale at health food stores, farmers’ markets and at groceries that specialize in Middle Eastern foods.
Grain-Free Peanut Butter Dog Treat Recipe
Grain-free peanut butter dog treats are easy to bake--and your house will smell wonderful! Be sure to use peanut butter with NO xylitol, which is toxic to dogs.
Ingredients
- 1 medium banana, mashed
- 3 tablespoons creamy peanut butter
- 1 egg
- 1¾ cups garbanzo bean flour
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Grease a cookie sheet or line with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, mix all ingredients thoroughly.
- Roll out dough on powdered surface.
- Cut dough into 24 cookies with cookie cutters (or slice with a pizza cutter) and place on cookie sheet.
- Bake for 25 minutes or until golden brown.
- Cool completely before serving or refrigerating.
- Refrigerate for 5 days or freeze in an airtight container for up to 6 months.
Coconut Carrot Dog Treats
Did you know that studies have shown coconut oil to be beneficial in improving brain function– including in dogs with canine cognitive dysfunction?
Along with being tasty to dogs, coconut is rich in potassium and many other vitamins and minerals.
Coconut Carrot Dog Treats
Coconut is rich in potassium and many other vitamins and minerals--and has even been shown to help dogs in cognitive decline.
Ingredients
- ½ pound carrots, cut into 1” rounds
- ¼ cup coconut chips
- 2 eggs
- ¼ cup coconut flour
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
- Place carrots in blender along with coconut chips, blending to a fine chop.
- In a medium bowl, add carrot-coconut chip mixture, eggs, and flour.
- Stir until mixed completely.
- Use a spoon or melon baller to scoop out about a tablespoon dough; drop onto cookie sheet.
- Flatten lightly with a fork.
- Bake cookies for 40 minutes or until golden brown.
- Cool completely before serving or refrigerating.
- Refrigerate for 5 days or freeze in an airtight container for up to 6 months.
Flaxseed and Sweet Potato Dog Treats
Omega-3 found in flaxseed (as well as in fish oil, including sardines) benefits your dog’s skin.
Dogs cannot efficiently digest whole flaxseeds. To make the nutrients more available for absorption, you’ll see that this grain free recipe uses ground flaxseed.
Flaxseed and Sweet Potato Dog Treats
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1½ tablespoons ground flaxseed
- 1 sweet potato, peeled, boiled, and mashed
- 1 egg
- ¼ cup coconut milk
- ½ cup peanut butter
- ½ cups coconut flour
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
- In a small bowl, add water to the flax to form a paste as you work on other ingredients.
- Combine sweet potato, egg, coconut milk, peanut butter, and coconut flour, mixing well.
- Add flax paste and continue to mix.
- Use a spoon or melon baller to scoop 1 tablespoon of dough; drop dough onto cookie sheet.
- Use a fork to flatten slightly.
- Bake for 40-45 minutes until golden brown.
- Remove from heat and cool on a wire rack before serving or refrigerating.
- Refrigerate for 5 days or freeze in an airtight container for up to 6 months.
Raw Carrot Dog Treats
Make these treats tiny to use as training treats or to use to plug a stuffable treat-dispensing toy!
Carrots have natural sugars and can raise blood sugar levels. While the amount is generally not concerning for most dogs, if your dog has diabetes or other metabolic conditions, it’s a good idea to consult with your veterinarian.
Raw Carrot Dog Treats
Ingredients
- 4 ounces reduced-fat cream cheese
- 1 cup finely grated carrots
- ½ cup unsalted peanuts
Instructions
- In a bowl, combine cream cheese and carrots.
- Using a blender or food processor, chop peanuts to a fine powder. Pour out powder onto a clean surface.
- With a spoon or melon baller, roll small bits of cream cheese mixture into a small ball, approximately 1” in diameter.
- Roll in peanut powder and place on a cookie sheet.
- Refrigerate for immediate use (treats can be stored in the refrigerator for 5 days.
- For longer storage, place treats on a cookie sheet in freezer for 4 hours. Once frozen, bag treats; serve frozen or thawed. Refrigerate for 5 days or freeze in an airtight container for up to 6 months.
Grain-Free Liver Dog Treats
Liver may not make your mouth water, but your dog feels differently! We use pieces of these popular cupcakes as powerful training treats. (More liver dog treats)
Grain-Free Liver Dog Treats
Ingredients
- 1 pound chicken liver
- 3 eggs
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 2 cups pumpkin purée
- 1 cup coconut flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Grease mini muffin tins or line with cupcake liners.
- Purée chicken livers in blender. Once puréed, add eggs, butter, and pumpkin. In a large bowl, mix purée with coconut flour and baking powder.
- Fill muffin tins 2/3 of the way, and bake for 25 minutes.
- Remove from heat and cool completely before serving or refrigerating.
- Refrigerate for 3 days or freeze in an airtight container for up to 6 months.
FAQ
Can dogs eat grain?
Dogs can definitely eat grain–but dogs have tougher time digesting grains than humans do, partly because they lack the enzymes in their saliva to start digestion.
Some dogs can be allergic to grains (although dogs can definitely develop allergies to beef, chicken, and other meats as well).
Recent years have brought attention to the grain-free diet as the FDA investigates the possibility of a link between grain-free dog food and canine heart disease. If you are concerned about a grain-free diet, talk with your veterinarian.
How many treats can I give my dog?
Grain-free treats–like ALL dog treats–should never make up more than 10 percent of your dog’s daily food allowance.
More Dog Treat Recipes
How to Make Pumpkin Puree for Dogs – Recipes
Dehydrated Dog Treats: Your Ultimate Guide to Making Treats and Chews!
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