How to Make Easy, Gluten-Free Homemade Dog Treats

Making these easy, gluten-free homemade dog treats is the perfect healthy treat for your pet! These are great as a special treat or for everyday treats for our furry friends. They contain simple ingredients that your doggo will love even if they are gluten-free.

flower shaped gluten-free homemade dog treats with natural peanut butter and oats on baking tray

The best thing is that they only have 5 ingredients while taking 30 minutes or less to make your own dog treats!

Healthy Ingredients

Oat Flour is the base of this homemade dog treat recipe. You can buy oat flour from the grocery store, but I like to make my own using old-fashioned oats. The easiest way to make oat flour is to add oats to a blender or food processor and pulse until you get a flour-type consistency. For this easy recipe, it’s not needed to get the finest flour, and perfectly fine to have larger pieces.

Unsweetened Applesauce is another good ingredient that is also low in calories. Applesauce is easier to digest that apples and gentle on a dog’s stomach. It’s best to buy the unsweetened applesauce to avoid added sugar.

simple ingredients for gluten-free dog treats including ground oats, natural peanut butter, coconut oil, ground pumpkin seeds, unsweetened applesauce

Natural Peanut Butter is perfect to help combine all the ingredients and contain the healthy fats that dogs need. We are using a small amount in these dog cookies, but it’s most dog’s favorite part of this treat. You can also substitute different nut butters such as almond butter or cashew butter if you have those on hand.

Coconut Oil helps to add some moisture and fat to the recipe. It also is great in small amounts for digestion, brain and mental function, and helps with weight loss.

Ground Flaxseeds or Ground Pumpkin Seeds (Optional) are a great addition to add some extra nutrition to your dog’s diet. Ground flaxseed has fiber and is a great source of protein. They are known for helping with your dog’s digestive system while providing energy and a stronger immune system. Ground pumpkin seeds are great for digestive and bladder health, great for their skin and coat, plus they also act as a natural de-wormer for parasites.

Supplies Needed & Ingredient List

It’s a good idea to get out all your healthy ingredients and other supplies right away. Then the recipe will go smoothly and your four-legged friend can enjoy these gluten-free homemade dog treats! And if your dog is anything like mine, they will be right next to you in the kitchen waiting to see what you are making for them.

1 1/2 cups of old-fashioned oats (ground into oat flour)
1/2 cup of unsweetened applesauce
2 tablespoons natural peanut butter
1 tablespoon coconut oil
2 tablespoons ground flaxseed or ground pumpkin seeds (optional)
Blender or Food Processor (if making oat flour)
Bowl
Spoon
Baking sheet
Cookie cutters

Recipe for Homemade Gluten-Free Dog Treats

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Step one: If making your own oat flour, then add 1 1/2 cups of old-fashioned oats to your blender or food processor. Pulse several times to get the mixture started. Then you can blend for 10-20 seconds until you get the texture you like. There is no need to get fine flour, as a little texture is really nice in the dough. If you are using already-made oat flour, then only use 1 1/4 cup instead. Make sure to reserve one to two tablespoons of oat flour for rolling out the dough so it doesn’t stick.

Step two: Pour oat flour (less the 1-2 tablespoons reserved), 1/2 cup of unsweetened applesauce, 1 tablespoon of coconut oil, and 2 tablespoons of creamy peanut butter into a medium bowl. Stir until a dough forms. It should not be wet, sticky, or dry. If you have sticky dough, then you will want to add some more oat flour. If your dough is dry, then add a little more unsweetened applesauce or peanut butter.

adding oat flour, ground pumpkin seeds to unsweetened applesauce, coconut oil and peanut butter in glass bowl with spoon

Step three: If you are using ground flaxseeds or ground pumpkin seeds, this is when you want to add them. Mix them in well to combine.

Step four: Sprinkle the cutting board or kitchen counter with reserved oat flour. Roll out dough with a rolling pin or press down until 1/4” inch thickness all around. Using a small cookie cutter, cut out your dog treats. I like using a few different shapes that are between 1-2 inches that I already had on hand. Of course, you can also purchase a dog bone cookie cutter for extra cuteness or cut them into small squares!

flower shaped gluten-free homemade dog treats on baking sheet

Place the dog treats on your cookie sheet leaving a little room between each one.

Step five: Bake treats in your 350-degree F oven for 13-15 minutes. The bake time may vary based on your oven, the size of the treats, and the thickness of the treats. You will know when they are ready to take out when the edges start to brown and they slide on your baking sheet. For a crunchier cookie, leave them in the oven for an extra 3-4 minutes.

beagle blue heeler mix dog eating DIY gluten-free dog treat

This recipe made 54 dog treats using my cute rounded cookie cutters between 1-2 inches. I even make them for my dog who doesn’t have a gluten sensitivity, because she likes them so much. (My previous dog had a gluten intolerance and went crazy for them too!)

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Dog Treat Storage

It’s best to store your homemade dog biscuits in an airtight container and place them on the counter. If you store them at room temperature, they will last around 7-14 days sitting on the counter.

homemade gluten-free dog treats in glass mason jar

If you like your homemade treats on the softer side, then you can place them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for longer storage. Then the treats will last about 2-3 weeks.

The best part is that you can also freeze the gluten-free homemade dog treats if your dog won’t be able to eat them all in time! I have had success freezing them in freezer-safe plastic bag or glass container for up to 2 months without any issues. When ready to use the treats again, just take them out of the freezer and place them in the fridge, and let them thaw out overnight.

More Healthy Treats for Your Dog

Hi, I’m Kristin.

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