Our dehydrated dog treats recipe is easy to make and long-lasting. Which makes you can make a big batch at once. With only 15 minutes of hands-on time, Dehydrator dog treats are filled with flavors your puppy loves- bacon and peanut butter!
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Please read the entire post for tips and tricks to ensure a perfect recipe every time. And don't forget to tag @peelwithzeal on Instagram so we can admire your creation!
If you are new here, welcome. While I normally make recipes for hoomans. I am known for my homemade dog treats. From our very popular to dog birthday cake to our blueberry frozen dog treats, we have something for every season.
This is why I love these dehydrated dog treats. They are long-lasting and perfect for taking your dog out and about.
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📖Why This Recipe Works
This recipe for dehydrated dog treats balances flavors that dogs love with healthy ingredients. And it is also very flexible with the ingredients used. I have includedd several substitution options so you can make homemade dog treats with what you have on hand.
I made my version gluten-free, but you certainly don't have to. I used bacon fat but you can use coconut oil if you want to keep them vegetarian.
Drying the dog treats in a dehydrator gives them a crispy crunch but I also included instructions for drying in the oven.
🧾Ingredient Notes
- Flour- I used all-purpose gluten-free flour but you can use regular all-purpose flour but not self-rising flour.
- Almond Meal- You can also substitute cornmeal or oat flour. No need to buy special oat flour, you can make oat flour from whole oats.
- Rolled Oats
- Banana- Make sure the banana is very ripe.
- Oil-I used leftover bacon grease, but you can also use coconut oil. Whatever you use it should be solid at room temperature.
- Peanut Butter- Almond butter can be substituted to make peanut-free dog treats.
- Eggs
See the recipe card for exact quantities.
⏲️How to Make Dog Treats in a Dehydrator
We are going to make the batter just like any hooman cookie. Wet ingredients, then dry, roll and cut out. You need one mixing bowl and no electric mixer is required.
Step 1- Batter
Start by mashing the banana with a fork. I do this directly in the mixing bowl. Add your eggs, and oil or grease. Note that there is no need to melt the grease or oil. Room temperature but not cold will work fine.
Mix the wet ingredients until well combined.
Mix in the flour, almond meal, and oats. Give it a good stir and add the peanut butter. Stir until combined. The batter will be extra thick, perfect for rolling.
Step 2- Roll and Cut
No need to knead the dough. Roll the dough out on a floured work surface until it is ⅛ to ¼-inch thick. Alternatively, turn it out onto a piece of parchment paper. Using another piece of parchment paper on top, press or roll out the dough.
Cut the treats into your desired shape. You can use a cookie cutter or a knife. The dog treats should be the same size as the treats you normally feed your dog. They will not spread or shrink much in the dehydrator so plan accordingly.
Step 3 - Dehydrate
Lay out the treats on your dehydrator trays. The treats should be spaced out and should not overlap.
Set your dehydrator to 145 F degrees. Insert the racks and close the dehydrator. Rotate after 4 hours to ensure even drying. Depending on the size of your treats, they will take between 8 and 12 hours. Begin checking after 8.
The treats are done when they lose flexibility and snap when you break them.
How to Oven Dry Dog Treats
Place the cutout dog treats on a baking sheet. Even better if you have a perforated baking sheet. Preheat the oven to 165 F degrees, or the lowest setting the oven has.
Place the baking trays in the oven. Prop open the oven door with a wooden spoon. If your oven has a convection setting, turn that on to increase airflow.
Every two hours rotate the pans and flip the treats. It will take 10 to 12 hours to dehydrate the treats.
👩🏻🍳 Expert Tips
- If your dog is allergic to eggs or chicken products, you can substitute ¼ cup applesauce for each of the eggs or make a vegan flax egg by mixing one tablespoon of ground flaxseed meal with three tablespoons of water.
- Parchment paper is the best option if you don't have a rolling pin. Place the dough between parchment and press down onto the paper with a large pan to flatten out the dough.
- If the dough gets too warm chill for 15 minutes in the fridge and try rolling out again.
🔪Equipment
My favorite brand of dehydrators is Excalibur. I use the 4-tray dehydrator at home and is perfect for regular dehydrating. If you have a large garden or do a lot of canning and dehydrating for the winter months, the 9-tray dehydrator is likely a better fit.
You will need dehydrator mats as well.
🌡️Storage
Store the dog treats at room temperature in an air-tight container. The treats can be frozen by keeping them in a zip-top bag for up to 3 months. Thaw the treats at room temperature.
More Homemade Dog Treat Recipes
💬Frequently Asked Questions
Dehydrated dog treats will last for 3 months at room temperature when properly stored in an airtight container. You can extend their shelf life by freezing them for an additional 3 months.
Yes, you can dehydrate dog treats in the oven. Preheat the oven to the lowest setting, and place the treats on a baking sheet. Prop the oven door open with a wooden spoon. Bake/ dehydrate according to the recipe.
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📖 Recipe
Dehydrated Dog Treats
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cup gluten free flour blend or regular all-purpose
- 1 cup almond flour or cornmeal or oat flour
- 1 cup old fashioned oats
- 1 banana very ripe
- ¼ cup coconut oil or bacon grease
- 3 tablespoon peanut butter, all-natural or almond butter
- 4 eggs
Instructions
- In a medium size bowl combine eggs, bacon grease or coconut oil and mashed banana.1 banana, 3 tablespoon peanut butter, all-natural, 4 eggs, ¼ cup coconut oil
- Add in flour, almond flour (or cornmeal), oats, and peanut butter. Mix until combined, it will look like a thick cookie batter.1 ½ cup gluten free flour blend, 1 cup almond flour, 1 cup old fashioned oats
- Sprinkle flour on your work surface and roll dough to ¼” thick. Use cookie cutters to cut out the dog treats*.
- Place the treats on dehydrator mats, spaced out so they aren't touching. The dough will not spread. Set dehydrator to 145 F degrees, rotate the trays at 4 hours and check at 8 hours. The treats may take up to 12 hours depending on humidity.
Video
Notes
- If the dough is too sticky to roll try rolling it out between two sheets of parchment paper.
- *Cut the treats into sizes that are appropriate for the size of your dog, i.e. the treats should be the size of the treats your dog normally receives.
- Store treats in an air-tight container or you can freeze them in a ziptop bag for up to 3 months.
- See the post for details on oven drying your DIY treats.
MaryAnn says
Hi!
If I am substituting apple sauce for the eggs, what quantity of apple sauce should I use? Thanks!
Jen Wooster says
You should use 1/4 cup of apple sauce for each egg. So 1 cup total. I updated the post. I have only tested this with a half recipe but it worked with the smaller quantity.
Victoria says
If you freeze for three months and when you thaw how long will they last?
Thanks!
Jen Wooster says
Usually, a couple of weeks if kept dry and in an airtight container.
Emma says
I tried this recipe and dehydrated them for them time and temperature shown but they broke almost immediately when I touched them. How can I prevent that?
Jen Wooster says
Hmmmm humidity definitely impacts the timing. But let' s troubleshoot.
1) What type of flour did you use?
2) Did you use bacon fat or coconut oil?
3)What size where the treats?
I will update the recipe to do the first check at 6 hours but mine always takes 8 hours.