These Homemade Peanut Butter Bones Are Perfect Puppy Snacks

We love baking for our dogs, so we're sharing a peanut butter dog treat recipe we've made for years. Yet is peanut butter safe to use in dog treats? Try making your own peanut butter or check the label of the jar you typically buy at the store.

Homemade peanut butter allows owners to control the amount of oil and sodium that goes into the recipe, and it also eliminates the growing risk of xylitol poisoning. Many peanut butter brands still contain Xylitol, so pet owners need to be vigilant when they check the labels!

Also, almond butter is a much better alternative for this recipe. We substitute almond butter in any recipe that calls for peanut butter.

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Recipe courtesy of the DIY Network.

Peanut Butter Dog Bones

Ingredients

  • 1 cup organic unsweetened peanut butter (creamy or crunchy) or use almond butter as recommended above
  • 1 cup whole-wheat flour
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 cup crushed multigrain cereal or bran (Note: NO raisins!)
  • 1/2 cup shredded carrots (Optional!)
  • 2 tablespoons baking powder
  • 1 tablespoon blackstrap molasses
  • 1/2 cup water
Preparation
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Mix dry ingredients, then add wet ingredients, adding small amounts of water as needed — This varies based on the oil in the peanut butter.
2. Work the dough on a lightly floured surface. Roll out to about a 1/4-inch thickness, then cut with cookie cutter.
3. After cutting out the bones, bring together the scraps, knead the dough, and continue cutting until you've used up all the dough.
4. Place the bones on a greased or parchment-lined cookie sheet.
5. Bake in a preheated oven.
6. After baking the bones until browned on both sides, remove from the oven, set them out, and let them cool completely to make them crisper.

About Xylitol

What is Xylitol? It's the sugar-free sweetener often found in gum and peanut butter. According to the Preventive Vet, Xylitol poisons well over 6,000 dogs each year!  

This ingredient is absolutely toxic to your dog and can be extremely harmful, even if ingested in small quantities.   

Can dogs have peanut allergies?

Make sure your dog can tolerate peanuts!

Dogster tells us:

"Dogs don't tend to experience peanut allergies as frequently or as violently as humans do, but those food allergies do exist. Peanuts do contain more fat than is usually good for dogs, so a few peanuts should be okay, but proceed with caution"

Your dog could have an allergic reaction, so be sure to observe their behavior after an unsalted peanut. Also, be sure the peanut butter you choose doesn't have any artificial sweetener or sugar substitute.

Dog bones, dog cookies, or dog chews are so easy to bake. Prep time will only take minutes before your dog biscuits are ready for your furry friend! Many people are even baking their own dog food these days. Set out your large bowl, and baking sheet in advance so prep time is decreased by a minute or two.

Choose an easy recipe like the one above for your fur babies so they get to enjoy them right away. Make sure these are healthy treats like our peanut butter banana treats.

Try natural peanut butter like almond butter instead of a store-bought brand like Jiffy. Homemade dog treats can be made with sweet potato, coconut oil, blueberry, flaxseed, applesauce, and even chicken broth.

Make sure to store your peanut butter dog bones, homemade treats and other goodies in an airtight container.

What recipes are your fave? Please leave us a comment, if there is something we missed on this list. 

WATCH: People Are Poisoning Dogs