Crunchy Canine Cuisine Discovering Organic Dog Treats

By Isabella Storyclaire

last updated September 16, 2024

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3 Ingredient Dog Treats

These homemade 3 ingredient dog treats are made with sweet potato, peanut butter, and oatmeal.

They are so easy to make and good for your dog too! Get the recipe here.

FYI This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Why These 3 Ingredient Dog Treats are the Best

There is a time and place for complicated recipes. When you really dont have time for all that, these 3-ingredient dog treats are a sanity-saver.

In fact, you probably already have all of the ingredients in your pantry or refrigerator.

These DIY sweet potato dog treats are made with whole, vegan ingredients so they are actually good for your dog. Your pup will think they are eating a treat, but you will know they are eating their vitamins.

Want to know what is so healthy about them? Ill tell you the nutrition information about these all-natural dog treats here in this post.

Dog treats with sweet potato and oats are some of the best healthy dog treats you can make.

If you enjoy baking healthy dog treats, then this recipe is just for you!

The crunchy homemade dog treats recipe is just a little further below. First, heres more about the ingredients and why I chose to use them.

Benefits of Sweet Potato

These are the best dog treats because of the nutrient-dense sweet potatoes. My favorite thing about them is that they are packed with disease-fighting antioxidants. These antioxidants help your dogs body fight common healthy issues related to aging.

Since they have lots of fiber, sweet potatoes are also good for your dogs gut. It will help them stay regular.

Sweet potatoes are also really good for your dogs blood pressure. Since they have lots of potassium, they help your dogs body regular fluid balance and keep their blood pressure at a healthy level.

Benefits of Oatmeal

Did you know that oats have a bunch of healthy nutrients too? Thats why oatmeal treats for dogs are a great thing to make for them!

The most obvious benefit is that oatmeal is a safe alternative to wheat for dogs that are intolerant or sensitive to gluten. Yes, my treats are naturally gluten-free.

Oats have vitamin B which helps your pet maintain a healthy coat. Its also a good source of omega-6 fatty acids that helps keep a dogs skin strong and healthy.

Just like sweet potatoes, oats have soluble fiber in them too this will help them regulate glucose levels and give them relief if they are having irregular bowel movements.

3 Ingredient Dog Treats Recipe Ingredients

The quantity of the 3 ingredients and the step-by-step directions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this article. First, I want to share some additional information about the ingredients I used in these cookie dog treats.

Heres a list of what you need to make easy dog treats. Use organic ingredients if you want to make organic dog treats.

Oatmeal Use old-fashioned or rolled oats. If you use quick-cooking oats, the treats wont be as crunchy.
Sweet Potato Its best to use a raw sweet potato and dont peel it before you bake it.
Peanut Butter Whether you use crunchy or creamy peanut butter is up to you. Always use unsweetened peanut butter.

Ingredient Notes

When you make this 3 ingredient peanut butter dog treats recipe, there are a few things to keep in mind.

Use natural or unsweetened peanut butter. Most regular peanut butter is sweetened. Dogs dont need sugar in their treats.

Do not use peanut butter that contains xylitol, a sweetener that is toxic to dogs.

Old fashioned oats and rolled oats are the same. So you can use either type of oatmeal to make the treats.

You can use quick-cooking oats but the treats will be moister and softer.

Do not use instant or steel-cut oats for this recipe.

Serving Size

How many homemade dog treats should you give your dog at once? That depends on what else they ate that day. This might be a healthier treat, but it is still a treat.

Treats should not be a dogs main source of calories they should be something they eat on rare occasions.

Dogs shouldnt overeat too many carbs even healthy ones from sweet potatoes and oatmeal. For this reason, I suggest only giving your spoiled hound one treat per day.

Equipment Needed

You probably have most of the kitchen items you need to make these homemade dog treats. You can use any regular silicone candy mold but a dog paw print mold gives these treats a fun look.

How to Make 3 Ingredient Dog Treats

These are the recipe steps and some photos of the process for making the treats. I hope they help you make this healthy dog treats recipe!

You can scroll down to the bottom of this article for a printable recipe card.

Bake a large sweet potato. Let it cool, then peel it and mash the flesh. Discard the skin.

Place a third of the oats in a blender or food processor and blend until it is like flour.

Place mashed sweet potato, oatmeal, oat flour, and peanut butter in a bowl.

Mix it with your hands until a dough forms.

Press the dough into silicone candy molds. Place the molds on a baking sheet.

Bake at 250 degrees for 2 hours.

Transfer the baked treats to a wire rack to cool.

Note that instead of using candy molds, you can roll out the dough and use cookie cutters to cut the dough.

If the dough seems dry or crumbly you can add more sweet potato, applesauce, or plain yogurt to give the dough moister.

How to Store Baked Dog Treats

Store the DIY dog treats in a container for dog treats. A dog treat jar is best so they are not mistaken for human treats. Here are some cute ones on Amazon:

Can you eat dog treats?

Yep, you sure can eat these treats! All three ingredients are safe for human consumption. Since they are not sweet, you probably wont like them. I suggest making Sweet Potato Cookies to enjoy and share with family and friends.

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More Homemade Dog Treat Recipes

Want to make more treats for your dog? Here are some different types of dog treats to make:

Want to get the best store-bought dog treats instead of making homemade ones? Check out these favorite dog treats on my Amazon dog treats ideas list.

3 Ingredient Dog Treats

Make crunchy homemade dog treats with three simple ingredients.

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes Total Time 3 hours hours 15 minutes minutes

Ingredients

1 large Sweet Potato big enough to yield cup mashed
3 cups Rolled Oats
cup Creamy Natural Peanut Butter

Instructions

Bake the sweet potato at 400F for 45 to 60 minutes or until done (you can easily insert a fork into the middle).
Cool the sweet potato to room temperature.
Remove and discard sweet potato skin. Mash the flesh.
Measure cup of the mashed sweet potato to use in the treats.
Preheat oven to 250F.
Add 2 cups of the rolled oats to a blender or food processor and blend until it is the consistency of flour.
In a medium bowl, combine the rolled oats with the oat flour.
Add the peanut butter and cup mashed sweet potato to the oat blend and combine using your hands until a dough forms.
If you are using a candy mold, simply press the dough into the mold making sure to fill in all the space.
If you are using cookie cutters, turn the dough out onto a smooth surface. Using your hands, squeeze and combine the ingredients until you have a flat, smooth dough. Flatten evenly with your hands or a rolling pin to about to inch thickness. Place the cutout pieces on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone mat.
Bake the treat at 250F for 2 hours.
Transfer baked treats to a wire rack to cool.

Notes

Be sure to use natural, unsweetened peanut butter. Do not use peanut butter with xylitol, a sweetener that is toxic to dogs.If the dough seems crumbly or dry, you can add more sweet potato or some water, applesauce, or plain yogurt.Store the baked dog treats in an airtight container.

Nutrition

The seven best healthy dog treats, according to a vet

Does your dog need treats?

Fortunately, many dog treats are nutritious, so dog treats can be part of a balanced diet for your pup. Dog treats are especially helpful when you are training your dog or rewarding them for good behavior. If your dog has food allergies, youll need to pay close attention to treat ingredients, and dogs that are overweight or with certain medical conditions should only follow a veterinarian-recommended diet and may not be allowed to have treats.

Choosing healthy treats for your doggie

When your best friend learns a new trick or behaves really well at the dog park, its tempting to reach for the first treats you can find to praise them. But not all treats are a good reward for good behavior. Unfortunately, some treats may have questionable ingredients or high-calorie counts that can be detrimental to your pups health. To keep your pup healthy and following good nutrition, opt for healthy treats instead.

What to look for in healthy dog treats

If youre ready to start shopping for healthy dog treats for your best friend, there are several things to keep in mind. Take a close look at labels to evaluate the ingredients and calories, but also keep things like size and texture in mind.

Ingredients. One of the most important things to look for in healthy treats is the ingredients list. Stick to treats with an ingredients list of whole, natural foods. Many treats include healthy ingredients like meat, peanut butter, fruits, and vegetables. Our vets also recommend treats with fish or salmon, because omega-3 fatty acids can help with brain and eye development in puppies or boost cognitive function in older dogs.

Brand. Some brands offer higher quality dog treats than others. Our veterinary team trusts brands like Purina Pro Plan, Science Diet/Hills, and Royal Canin. They all avoid cross-contamination between foods and treats during manufacturing.

Calories. Generally, treats should be just that treats! Treats should make up less than 10% of your dogs daily calories, so read the label for the calorie amount per treat and stick to the correct portion sizes.

Texture. You want to choose treats that arent too hard, otherwise, they can pose a choking hazard. Hard treats are difficult for a dog to bite into, so they might only be able to bite them into large pieces, which are hard to swallow. Too-hard treats can also fracture your dogs teeth.

Size. Treats can be a choking hazard if they are too large or too small for your dog. Opt for small treats for puppies or small dogs. Large dogs may enjoy large treats, but also make sure to keep an eye out. Even large dogs can choke on treats that are too big.

Labels. Treats labeled as all-natural can be misleading, as the treats may still be highly processed.

If your dog is overweight or has dietary restrictions, youll need to scrutinize the treat labels very carefully.

Types of dog treats to avoid

There are many popular treats out there that arent good for any dogs. Here are some common treats to stay away from.

Rawhides. Rawhides are inexpensive treats with little nutritional value. Some rawhides are treated with toxins like formaldehyde and bleach. They also pose a huge choking risk as they break down into pieces over time. However, some rawhide-like products, such as Purina Pro Plan Dental Chewz, are VOHC-approved and safe for consumption.

Animal bones. Sure, bones are all-natural but they can be covered in pathogens, such as E. Coli and salmonella. Some people may suggest boiling the bones to sanitize them, but this process actually makes the bones brittle and more likely to splinter. This is a choking hazard for dogs, and splinters and sharp pieces can puncture the intestines.

Jerky-type treats. Since 2007, the FDA has received reports of sick pets after consuming jerky pet treats. Learn more about their ongoing investigationTrusted SourceU.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)Government agency.Go to source and how theyre testing treats to determine why some jerky treats are making pets sick. While these cases are rare, we recommend avoiding jerky-type treats especially with so many other great options on the market.

Treats with additives. We like treats that dont contain lots of additives or artificial colors. Some additives, such as Red#3, used for coloring or preservatives have been linked to cancer in animalsTrusted SourcePubMed CentralArchive of biomedical and life sciences journal literature.Go to source.

Toxic human food. While dogs may love chicken and sweet potatoes as we do, there are many foods that humans eat that are not suitable for dogs. While you treat yourself with chocolate, you cant do the same for your pup, because the chemicals in chocolate can cause seizures and increased heart rates in dogs. Instead, you can give your dog human food treats like some fresh fruits and vegetables (avoid grapes and items with seeds or pits), like watermelon, broccoli, green beans, bananas, or carrots.

Can you make DIY treats at home?

Its easy to make DIY dog treats at home, and you might be surprised to find your mouth watering as the smell of our favorite peanut butter and oatmeal cookies (yes, these really are for your pup!) fills your kitchen. Making treats at home means you can customize the ingredients based on your dogs dietary needs and flavor preferences. Try one of our tried-and-true all-natural pet treat recipes for your best friend.