Who doesn't love to spoil their dog? These crunchy, blueberry dog treats made with peanut butter and oats will become your dog's new favorite cookie!
I made these dog biscuits on a whim. I was cleaning out the freezer to load up on fresh berries and found a bag of blueberries from last year. Our dog, Melly, loves this one kind of crunchy blueberry treat that is hard to find, so I thought it might be fun to make her some. She LOVES them. (They smell so good that we actually tasted them. They taste pretty good, but are kind of dry and crumbly, like a Milk Bone treat.)
I love being able to give my dog treats with recognizable ingredients. I know what is in them, so I know she isn't being fed garbage. I also love how much she LOVES them. Melly will sing for her treats!
🥘 Ingredient Notes
- Blueberries (if they are frozen, you can also add the juice from the bag) - optionally, you can use dried blueberries but you will need to add more liquid
- Oats - (I like to use Old Fashioned Oats)
- Whole Wheat Flour (I usually purchase King Arthur Flour - Regular Whole Wheat and White Whole Wheat both work. In the store, you should be able to find it for under $5 a bag - prices online are a little high right now!)
- Eggs
- Peanut Butter - Make sure that you find a kind of peanut butter that does not have any artificial sweeteners like xylitol in it - that is toxic to dogs.
- Ground Cinnamon
- Optional: Kosher salt - we use salt because we sometimes taste them. (These treats are apparently very popular with toddlers!)
- Warm Water
🍽 Equipment Needed
- a stand mixer
- a rubber spatula
- cookie cutters (I like to use these bone-shaped ones from Amazon.)
- a baking sheet (I like these because they
- a non-stick baking mat or parchment paper
🥣 How to Make Them
These dog treats are really easy to make and your dog will love them!
First, preheat your oven to 350°F.
Then, add your blueberries to your mixing bowl. If you are using frozen blueberries, smash them around a little with the mixer. (Picture 1) This will help break the big blueberries up into smaller pieces and mash some of the juices out. If you are using fresh or dried blueberries, give them a rough chop so that they are easier to incorporate in the dough.
Next, add your oats and mix them up with the blueberries. (Picture 2 - 3)
Finally, add the rest of your ingredients - flour, eggs, kosher salt, peanut butter, and cinnamon. (Picture 4)
Mix together until everything is mostly combined - it will be a bit dry and crumbly. (Picture 5)
Now, add about ⅛ cup of warm water to the dough and mix until it sticks together in a ball. If the dough still seems dry, continue adding warm water in ⅛ - ¼ cup increments. (Picture 6) (My blueberries were frozen and released a bunch of liquid when they defrosted, so I only added ⅛ cup of water. If your blueberries are fresh, you may need up to ½ a cup of water. If you are using dried blueberries, you will definitely need to add at least ½ a cup of water. Ideally, you want the dough to be like a pasta dough or sugar cookie dough - stiff but moldable and not runny and sticky.)
Next, flour a clean surface to roll out your dough with a rolling pin (or a bottle of wine - no one here is judging.) (Picture 7) Roll it out to about ½ an inch thick. It doesn't have to be perfect, but you don't want to make these really thin or they will burn. If you make them a little too thick, you can get away with just cooking them for a little longer.
Then, cut out your treats using your favorite cookie-cutters. (Picture 8 - 9) If you don't want to use a cookie-cutter, you can also use a pizza cutter or sharp knife and just cut 1 x 1-inch squares or 1 x 2-inch rectangles.
Place your cookies on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper or a non-stick baking mat. They don't have to be spaced too far apart because they won't really expand, but they will stick together if they are touching. (Picture 9)
Bake in the oven at 350°F for 40 minutes, until the biscuits are hard/crunchy.
Let the treats cool for a few minutes and then let your pup try them out!
Melly sure loves them!
🙋♀️ Frequently Asked Questions
You can use fresh, frozen, or even dried blueberries. If you use dried blueberries, try to avoid sweetened blueberries and definitely avoid blueberries made with artificial sweetener.
Absolutely! You can replace the blueberries with one cup of canned pumpkin or one cup of unsweetened applesauce. If you are using applesauce or pumpkin, you will most likely not need to add much water so keep an eye on that! (You can also use mashed, cooked sweet potato!)
Absolutely. I love using bone-shaped cookie-cutters, but you can just cut the dough into squares, rectangles, circles, hearts - even Santa Claus or Christmas trees - whatever your heart desires.
If you do not have a rolling pin, you can use a bottle of wine or any large and round glass bottle. Just make sure that you clean the outside of the bottle and don't be too rough with it.
🍴Recipe Variations
You can replace blueberries in these treats with all kinds of things. You can make:
- dog treats with canned pumpkin
- dog treats with applesauce
- dog treats with cooked and mashed sweet potato
Let me know what dog treat combinations you try!
🍳 Serving Suggestions & Uses
Serve these treats as often as you would give your dog a regular hard biscuit - not too many, but make sure they are happily spoiled 😉
Melly weighs somewhere around 45 pounds and she usually gets 2 or 3 of these a day. (I'm sure she would happily accept more if we offered!)
🥫 Storage/Shelf Life/Reheating
Store these treats in an air-tight container. They are really crunchy, so as long as they are not exposed to moisture, they should last a good while. (I like to freeze half of the batch since I only have one dog and she won't go through them that quickly.)
✏️ Helpful Tips
- Try not to over-roll or over-mix your dough. It will lose some of its stretch and be hard to work with if you overwork it. (It will start to get that pizza dough spring back where you roll it out and it shrinks back up 😉 )
- These treats would make a great dog birthday gift!
- Make sure to find a peanut butter that does not have any artificial sweeteners like xylitol in it - that is toxic to dogs.
- Try out different variations of shapes and cookie sizes - I like to use these cookie cutters from Amazon. They come in a set of five and I usually use the middle size - it is about 3 ½ inches long.
🐶 Try These Other Great Dog-Friendly Recipes
- Homemade Dog Food
- Pupkin Spice Pumpkin Dog Treats
- Instant Pot Homemade Dog Food
- Peanut Butter and Banana Dog Treats
- Frozen Peanut Butter and Bone Broth "Pupsicles"
Have You Tried This Recipe?
Please rate it and leave a comment below. I would love to hear what you think!
Crunchy Dog Treats with Blueberry, Oats, and Peanut Butter
Equipment
- a stand mixer
- a rolling pin
Ingredients
- 1 cup blueberries fresh, frozen, or dried
- ¾ cup oats
- 2 ½ cup whole wheat flour
- 2 eggs
- 3 tablespoons peanut butter (make sure it does not have xylitol in it)
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ⅛ - ½ cup warm water adjust the water depending on the texture of your dough after mixing
Optional
- ¼ - ½ teaspoon kosher salt optional - but salt improves the taste if humans are going to eat these
Instructions
- First, preheat your oven to 350°F.
- Next, add your blueberries to your mixing bowl. (If you are using frozen blueberries, smash them around a little with your mixer. This will help break up the big blueberries into smaller pieces and mash some of the juices out. If you are using fresh or dried blueberries, give them a rough chop so that they are easier to smush around in the dough.)
- Now, add your oats and mash them up with the blueberries.
- Lastly, add your flour, eggs, kosher salt, peanut butter, and cinnamon.
- Mix together until everything is mostly combined - it will be a bit dry and crumbly. Add about ⅛ cup of warm water to the dough, and mix until it sticks together in a ball. If the dough still seems dry, continue adding warm water in ⅛ - ¼ cup increments.
- Next, flour a clean surface to roll out your dough with a rolling pin (or a bottle of wine - no one here is judging.)
- Roll the dough out to about ½ an inch thick. It doesn't have to be perfect, but you don't want to make these really thin or they will burn. If you make them a little too thick, you can get away with just cooking them for a little longer.
- Next, cut out your treats using your favorite cookie-cutters. (If you don't want to use a cookie-cutter, you can also use a pizza cutter or sharp knife and just cut 1 x 1-inch squares or 1 x 2-inch rectangles. )
- Place your cookies on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper or a non-stick baking mat. They don't have to be spaced too far apart because they won't really expand, but they will stick together if they are touching.
- Bake in the oven at 350°F for 40 minutes, until the biscuits are hard/crunchy.
- Let the treats cool off, then share with your favorite pup!
Notes
- Try not to over-roll or over-mix your dough. It will lose some of its stretch and be hard to work with if you overwork it. (It will start to get that pizza dough spring back where you roll it out and it shrinks back up 😉 )
- These treats would make a great dog birthday gift!
- Make sure to find a peanut butter that does not have any artificial sweeteners like xylitol in them - that is toxic to dogs.
- Try out different variations of shapes and cookie sizes - I like to use these cookie cutters from Amazon. They come in a set of five and I usually use the middle size - it is about 3 ½ inches long.
You can use fresh, frozen, or even dried blueberries. If you use dried blueberries, try to avoid sweetened blueberries and definitely avoid blueberries made with artificial sweetener. Can you make these treats with any other fruit?
Absolutely! You can replace the blueberries with one cup of canned pumpkin or one cup of unsweetened applesauce. If you are using applesauce or pumpkin, you will most likely not need to add much water so keep an eye on that! (You can also use mashed, cooked sweet potato!) Can you bake these treats in other shapes?
Absolutely. I love using bone-shaped cookie-cutters, but you can just cut the dough into squares, rectangles, circles, hearts - even Santa Claus or Christmas trees - whatever your heart desires. What can you use in place of a rolling pinIf you do not have a rolling pin, you can use a bottle of wine or any large and round glass bottle. Just make sure that you clean the outside of the bottle and don't be too rough with it. Storage Store these treats in an air-tight container. They are really crunchy, so as long as they are not exposed to moisture, they should last a good while. (I like to freeze half of the batch since I only have one dog and she won't go through them that quickly.)
Nutrition
Nutrition information is approximate and is automatically calculated, so should only be used as a guide.
Nancy
Hey Chris. Not sure if you were trying to stir up trouble. But read up on it before posting things you really are not sure of or think you know. DOGS CAN HAVE BLUEBERRIES. THEY ARE GOOD FOR THEM.
I do know this is 2 years later. But thought I'd share since I just started baking these kind.
Kari
Thanks for helping Nancy! Yes, I'm not sure why so many people think dogs can't have blueberries, but they can. So many great vitamins in blueberries for them and for us. Now, if they ate a whole pint of them, they might not feel awesome, but we wouldn't either 🙂
Faith
Hi Kari, Thank you for the recipe. Pretty easy to make, and my dog loves them. How long do you think these keep in an airtight container? I pulled a baggie from the freezer, have a small dog, and have not gotten through them yet. They are probably going on a month now. Wondering if they will go 'bad'.
Kari
I think it depends on the humidity in your house and how "airtight" the container is. I have kept some in a mason jar on my counter for more than two months and they are as crunchy as the day I baked them and I currently have a bag sitting out that has been going for at least a month and a half. As the weather gets warmer, if you live somewhere humid - I would consider keeping them in the fridge or freezer!
SueJT
Thanks! I ended up buying old-fashioned oats and made them today with pumpkin. The pups seem to enjoy them and I have them in an air-tight container (not sure I'll need that as I have three dogs). I'm sure they'll go quickly!
Kari
They do go quickly, but it is good to keep them sealed so they don't absorb any moisture from the air! I'm glad the pups love them 🙂
SueJT
Hi, I saved this recipe for ages, intending to make these one day. That day is now! However, after buying the flour, etc. I realized that the oatmeal I have in the cabinet is 1-minute oatmeal. Can I use this or do I need to buy regular oatmeal for these biscuits?
Kari
Hey Sue! It should be fine, as long as the oatmeal doesn't have any added sugar or anything. You might not need to add as much water when mixing the dough, but I think it would work!
Blythe
My luna loves this recipe! Can strawberries be used in place of blueberries?
Thank you! Blythe
Kari
Absolutely! I've made this recipe with cranberries & strawberries and both came out great! Just make sure that you add enough extra liquid to the dough if needed 🙂
Lorraine Englande
Love these!
Thank you for sharing your recipe. I make these treats weekly for my dog, Jett. He LOVES them and they are pretty healthy. I have tweaked the recipe a little with more oats, blueberries, and peanut butter.
Alexis Michelle peavey/greeley
So I am a kid well teen and I made your dog treats for the maine sampler my dog really loves them and I can not wait to hear about every one els's dogs. I did have to make the circles with my hands cause I have no cutter's but its ok. I made 3 batches with the doe. It was fun thank you for sharing this. I surely recommend this to other people.
Kari
Thanks, Alexis! I'm so glad you enjoyed making them!
Angela
Add a secret ingredient of some grated up all natural beef jerky I made. I had intended to make two separate batches one if blueberry and the other of pumpkin since my grandpuppies like pumpkin, but discovered that I only had enough ingredients for one batch so the original fourth cup turned into half cupm my dogs didn't mind so I'm hoping my grandpuppies will like it too! They really smelt like bacon biscuits cooking. My grandkids wanted to eat them too.....lol...
LJ
This is my go to biscuit recipe. My dogs and those I give them to cannot get enough. I do not add salt, there is zero benefit to the recipe and it is not good for the dogs. I use either cinnamon or turmeric with a dash of pepper as I have an older dog with joint pain which the turmeric helps. I also use a sodium free bone broth instead of the water. I also found a slightly moister dough results in a crisper biscuit. Over all a fantastic recipe.
Victoria Jones
I'm making these again. My dog loves blueberries and she loves these treats!
Kari
I'm so happy to hear that! My dog loves blueberries as well - these are her favorite 🙂
Alexis Michelle peavey/greeley
Same =D
Blythe
Hello, my son is making dog treat to sell for a little business. He is allergic to peanut. Do you think sunbutter will work? There are 3 grams of sugar per serving, salt and sunflower seeds. Thank you!
Blythe
Kari
How cute! Yes - that should work - my dog loves to lick the spoon after I eat sunbutter so they should be a big hit!
Gina
My dog absolutely loves it.
Kari
So glad your dog loves them!
Jessica
My dog and my picky toddler both love them lol
Kari
I'm so glad to hear it! These seem to be almost as popular with kids as they are with dogs 😉
Lisa tubbs
My dog loves these treats! I just put my second batch in the oven--the first only lasted a week. I really like that they are quick and easy to make, and since they're relatively thick, I can fit the whole batch on a large cookie sheet at one time. Thank you for sharing!
Kari
I'm so glad they are a hit! Melly loves these treats - I'm so glad other dogs love them too!
Chris
DOGS SHOULD NEVER have blueberries!!!! They’re toxic to their system! Please add a CLEAR warning to your post or else you risk killing someone’s dog. I can’t believe your dog hasn’t gotten sick!
Kari
Hey Chris, I actually checked with my vet before making this recipe because a berry treat that my dog loved from Nutro was getting too expensive. He recommended berries in her diet to help incorporate different vitamins and minerals. If you search on Google "Can dogs eat blueberries?" there are hundreds of sources promoting berries for canine health, including the American Kennel Club, who says, "Yes, dogs can eat blueberries. Blueberries are a great source of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and more. This fruit is a healthy snack for both large and small dogs, and most pups love them." Being such a public source of dog information, I would imagine they would get in a lot of trouble giving out bad advice. Grapes (and dried as raisins) are a commonly known fruit that is toxic for dogs - maybe that's what you are thinking of?
Robin Wood
Would love to make these! is it possible to switch the flour out to another type? I have oat flour, garbanzo bean flour and coconut flour ?
Kari
I have not made these with another flour, but since the dough doesn't really rise or require much gluten for elasticity like bread does, you would probably be okay using the oat flour! They just might be a little more dry and crumbly!
IreNe
Can u freeze these?
Kari
Yes! Absolutely. They keep very well in the freezer!
Andrew
These look great, kari! I'm going to make them for our pup, harry. 🙂
You might want to add a warning about xylitol in peanut butter... more brands have been "sneaking" that in as a sweetener, and it's extremely toxic to dogs. So it's something people definitely need to watch out for.