5 Grain Free Dog Treat Recipes {Easy to Make!} (2024)

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.

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Table of Contents

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.

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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.

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Grain-Free Peanut Butter Dog Treat Recipe

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 24 minutes

Total Time: 39 minutes

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

    1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
    2. Grease a cookie sheet or line with parchment paper.
    3. In a large bowl, mix all ingredients thoroughly.
    4. Roll out dough on powdered surface.
    5. Cut dough into 24 cookies with cookie cutters (or slice with a pizza cutter) and place on cookie sheet.
    6. Bake for 25 minutes or until golden brown.
    7. Cool completely before serving or refrigerating.
    8. 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.

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Coconut Carrot Dog Treats

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 40 minutes

Total Time: 55 minutes

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

    1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
    2. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
    3. Place carrots in blender along with coconut chips, blending to a fine chop.
    4. In a medium bowl, add carrot-coconut chip mixture, eggs, and flour.
    5. Stir until mixed completely.
    6. Use a spoon or melon baller to scoop out about a tablespoon dough; drop onto cookie sheet.
    7. Flatten lightly with a fork.
    8. Bake cookies for 40 minutes or until golden brown.
    9. Cool completely before serving or refrigerating.
    10. Refrigerate for 5 days or freeze in an airtight container for up to 6 months.

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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.

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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

    1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
    2. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
    3. In a small bowl, add water to the flax to form a paste as you work on other ingredients.
    4. Combine sweet potato, egg, coconut milk, peanut butter, and coconut flour, mixing well.
    5. Add flax paste and continue to mix.
    6. Use a spoon or melon baller to scoop 1 tablespoon of dough; drop dough onto cookie sheet.
    7. Use a fork to flatten slightly.
    8. Bake for 40-45 minutes until golden brown.
    9. Remove from heat and cool on a wire rack before serving or refrigerating.
    10. Refrigerate for 5 days or freeze in an airtight container for up to 6 months.

Would your dog love this recipe?

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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.

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Raw Carrot Dog Treats

Ingredients

  • 4 ounces reduced-fat cream cheese
  • 1 cup finely grated carrots
  • ½ cup unsalted peanuts

Instructions

    1. In a bowl, combine cream cheese and carrots.
    2. Using a blender or food processor, chop peanuts to a fine powder. Pour out powder onto a clean surface.
    3. With a spoon or melon baller, roll small bits of cream cheese mixture into a small ball, approximately 1” in diameter.
    4. Roll in peanut powder and place on a cookie sheet.
    5. Refrigerate for immediate use (treats can be stored in the refrigerator for 5 days.
    6. 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.

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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)

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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

    1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
    2. Grease mini muffin tins or line with cupcake liners.
    3. Purée chicken livers in blender. Once puréed, add eggs, butter, and pumpkin. In a large bowl, mix purée with coconut flour and baking powder.
    4. Fill muffin tins 2/3 of the way, and bake for 25 minutes.
    5. Remove from heat and cool completely before serving or refrigerating.
    6. Refrigerate for 3 days or freeze in an airtight container for up to 6 months.

Would your dog love this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Pinterest

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

Pumpkin Dog Ice Cream Recipe

How to Make Pumpkin Puree for Dogs – Recipes

Dehydrated Dog Treats: Your Ultimate Guide to Making Treats and Chews!

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Paris Permenter

Paris Permenter is the award-winning co-author, with John Bigley, of over 30 pet and travel books including The Healthy Hound Cookbook and Texas with Dogs, both available through Simon and Schuster. Paris is also a member of the Dog Writers Association of America.

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5 Grain Free Dog Treat Recipes {Easy to Make!} (2024)

FAQs

How to make high value dog treats at home? ›

How to:
  1. Preheat your oven to 170°C.
  2. Dice the lamb liver.
  3. Puree the whole eggs with lamb liver in the food processor.
  4. Mix eggs and liver with the dry ingredients. ...
  5. Pour the mixture into the baking molds.
  6. Bake for 35 minutes or until golden brown and firm.
  7. Let the dog treats cool before it's time for dog training.
Mar 30, 2024

What is a substitute for wheat flour in dog treats? ›

Almond flour can serve as a great substitute for wheat flours, as it's very high in protein and low in carbohydrates relative to something like whole wheat flour. Almond flour is made by blanching almonds in boiling water in order to remove the skins, then grinding the nuts into a powder.

What is the healthiest dog treat? ›

Consider treats that contain dog-safe fruits and vegetables like carrots, green beans, apples and bananas that offer very few calories and have good nutritional value, experts say.

Is it cheaper to buy or make dog treats? ›

Cost: Store-bought treats can be more expensive than homemade treats, especially if you choose premium brands. Quality Control: Some store-bought treats contain low-quality ingredients, preservatives, and artificial colors and flavors that can be harmful to your dog.

Is it OK to make dog treats with all purpose flour? ›

I use a mix of all-purpose flour and whole wheat. You can use all AP flour or all whole wheat. Both will work.

What is the healthiest flour to use for dog treats? ›

Whole wheat flour: is packed with fiber, and protein, and is a good source of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, including vitamin B9 (folate), vitamin E, copper, iron, manganese, and selenium. You could alternatively substitute this with oat flour or another dog-safe flour.

What grain free flour is best for dogs? ›

Almond flour

It's grain and gluten-free and high in plant-based proteins. It's rich in healthy fats, calcium, fibre, iron and vitamin E as well.

Is coconut flour or wheat flour better for dogs? ›

For pet owners looking for a healthy way to treat their furry friends, coconut flour may be the perfect choice. Not only does it offer a rich source of high-quality protein, but its high levels of medium chain triglycerides are also beneficial in supporting fatty acid balance in the body.

Why do vets not like grain free dog food? ›

There also seems to be a connection between grain-free diets and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). DCM is a disease that weakens the heart muscle and decreases its ability to pump blood throughout the body.

Is peanut butter grain free for dogs? ›

Peanut butter is a fantastic source of protein for dogs and also contains a lot of healthy fats that can improve their coats, as well as help with dry skin conditions. It is also very tasty which is why most dogs love it! These treats: Are wheat and grain free.

What do they put in grain free dog food? ›

Any dog food made without wheat, corn, rice and other grains is considered “grain free.” Dogs still need carbohydrates for energy, though. So no-grain dog foods use alternative sources of carbs like potatoes and pea flour.

What dog treats to avoid? ›

At-a-Glance Types of Bad Treats to Avoid
  • Any treats from China.
  • Cooked or raw bones.
  • Rawhide treats.
  • Treats with unnatural coloring.
  • Any treats that contain sugar.
  • Treats that are high in corn, soy, or wheat.
  • Treats that appear on the recall list [5]
Jun 10, 2021

Are milk bones ok for dogs? ›

We want to reassure our clients that Milk-Bones are safe for your dog and do not pose a risk. We use mini Milk-Bones as treats in our hospital and many of our doctors and staff feed them to their pets.

What is the most fattening dog treat? ›

High-Calorie Treats
Treat/FoodSizeCalories
Pill Pocket – Duck and Pea1 pocket, tablet size8
String cheese1 stick, 28 g90
Bully stick6-inch stick90
Marrow bone100 g 0.5 oz786 125
5 more rows

What is the most high value treats for dogs? ›

A small breed dog only needs a pea-sized treat while a Great Dane or Mastiff might need a grape-sized treat. Cheese, low sodium hot dog, cooked chicken, dog food rolls such as Natural Balance, or even your dog's favorite treat from the pet store are all great options depending on his preferences and health.

Can you make good money selling dog treats? ›

If you just want to run a fun-but-profitable hobby, you can easily earn $500 to $1,000 a month with a dog treat bakery as a side hustle. At this level, you can do all of the work yourself in just a few hours a week. If you have kids, you can also have them pitch in. A dog treat bakery is a great family business!

How do you preserve homemade dog treats to sell? ›

Airtight containers

And if, as I do, you use preserve jars, leave the lid popped open for a while before sealing. Providing they are fully dried out, most dog treats will happily keep in an airtight container for a couple of months. Always keep an eye on them though, just in case.

How do you package homemade dog treats to sell? ›

Resealable Cello Bags, for dog treats like individual cookies, brownies, or truffles. Decorative tins, for fancier treats or treats that you need to ship. Vacuum Bags, for dog treats that need to be preserved longer term and may not have preservatives or added ingredients.

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