If your dog is anything like ours, their love language is food 😜 and there is no better way to show them your love than with some easy homemade peanut butter banana dog treats!
If you follow me on Instagram, you probably know that our pup, Cashew, is our whole life and a huge part of our family. It’s funny how people say dogs take after their humans. While I can see it in some things in Cashew, there is one thing I know for sure, and that is this dog loves food. There haven’t been too many things he doesn’t eat.
And who does that sound like… me haha! There isn’t much food that I don’t eat either.
Since food is kind of a big deal in our house, there is nothing better than making some homemade dog treats. You know what exactly goes into them and they are so cheap to make! Most of timagehe treats and cookies at the store run from $5-15 dollars depending on what kind you are buying. These peanut butter dog treats come out to less than $1.50 total!
On top of that, they couldn’t be easier to make. You just need a few ingredients, a silicone mold, and a little patience. No baking required!
Another added bonus is that they taste amazing. If your dog is like Cashew, they will eat pretty much anything. But he loves this treat recipe so much and goes nuts for them. Every time we open the freezer, he runs over and sticks his head in thinking he will get one
I’ll admit that I’ve tried them and they really are delicious. I mean how can you go wrong with frozen peanut butter and banana?! If you don’t have a dog, I won’t judge you if you make them and eat them yourself.
Frozen peanut butter banana dog treats highlights
- just 3 ingredients and are super easy to make – all you need is a bowl and silicone molds
- made human-grade ingredients that you probably already have at home – bananas, peanut butter, and coconut oil
- taste delicious – Cashew and other dogs love them, and I’ve even tried them and they are so good!
- a healthy treat for your pup – grain-free, dairy-free, and no added fillers or preservatives
Peanut butter banana dog treat ingredients
- brown/spotted bananas – for a little sweetness and healthy carbohydrates
- peanut butter – a dog’s favorite food! Look for all-natural peanut butter that is drippy. Make sure it does not have xylitol in it.
- coconut oil – helps the treats stay solid in the freezer
How to make peanut butter dog treats
- Mash bananas. Add bananas to a medium bowl and mash until fairly smooth. You can also use a food processor, hand mixer, or stand mixer with the paddle attachment (this is what I usually do).
- Add remaining ingredients. Then add your softened coconut oil and peanut butter to your mashed bananas and mix until combined. You want to make sure your peanut butter is runny so it incorporates well.
- Place in molds. Add a heaping tablespoon or so to your dog bone silicone molds. The mixture will make 10-12 treats.
- Let your pup lick the bowl 🙂
- Freeze. Pop them in the freezer for 2-3 hours to firm up.
- Let your pup enjoy!
What brand of peanut butter is safe for dogs?
Look for all-natural peanut butter that contains just peanuts or peanuts and salt when feeding it to your dog. Stay clear of any kinds that have xylitol in them, which is dangerous for dogs, even in super small amounts. Check out this article for more on xylitol and dogs.
Most brands of peanut butter can be safe for dogs, but you want to make sure you check the ingredients.
Storage
Frozen peanut butter dog treats need to be kept in the freezer or they will get too soft. You can either pop them out of the mold and store them in a bag or airtight container, or just keep them in the mold in the freezer.
How long do homemade dog treats last?
Since these are frozen and kept in the freezer, they will last for months! Honestly, we go through these pretty quickly since Cashew loves them so much, but they should last up to 3 months in the freezer.
What if I don’t have silicone molds?
If you don’t have silicone molds, a mini muffin tin will work the same. You can also try to put them in a small glass baking dish lined with parchment paper. Once frozen, let defrost for a minute and then slice into them, cutting into equal size pieces.
What makes these peanut butter banana dog treats healthy?
These frozen dog treats are made from good-for-you human-grade ingredients! Literally, you can eat them (I know, they are delicious). Here are how the ingredients break down:
- bananas – a good source of carbs for active dogs, full of potassium, vitamin C and B6, fiber, and antioxidants, and can help with digestion.
- peanut butter – full of healthy fats and some protein. I recommend getting peanut butter where the only ingredients are peanuts and salt.
- coconut oil – full of saturated fat and has a high amount of medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs), which provide your body and brain with energy. MCTs are harder for the body to convert into stored fat and easier to burn off. And coconut oil is great for your dog’s coat!
Each treat is 71 calories with 5 grams of carbs, 5 grams of fat, and 1 gram of protein. Gluten-free, grain-free, egg-free, and dairy-free, and perfect if your dog has any allergies. And they don’t have any added fillers or preservatives which you can sometimes find in store-bought dog treats.
Substitutions
- bananas – if your dog doesn’t like bananas, pumpkin or cooked sweet potato will work instead.
- peanut butter – any kind of nut or seed butter should work (almond butter, cashew butter, sunflower seed butter, or tahini). Just check sure to check the ingredients.
- coconut oil – coconut oil helps hardens the mixture in the freezer. You could try olive oil, but it will change the flavor some. If you want to keep them oil-free, you can double the amount of peanut butter.
More homemade dog treat recipes
Peanut Butter Banana Dog Treats
ingredients
- 2 large spotted/brown bananas (230 grams)
- 3 tablespoons peanut butter (make sure it is drippy)
- 3 tablespoons coconut oil, soften/melted
instructions
- Mash bananas. Add bananas to a medium bowl and mash until fairly smooth. You can also use a food processor, hand mixer, or stand mixer with the paddle attachment (this is what I usually do).
- Add remaining ingredients. Then add your softened coconut oil and peanut butter and mix until combined. You want to make sure your peanut butter is runny so it incorporates well.
- Place in molds. Add a heaping tablespoon or so to your bone silicone molds. The mixture will make 10-12 treats.
- Let your pup lick the bowl 🙂
- Freeze. Pop them in the freezer for 2-3 hours to firm up.
- Let your pup enjoy! If needed, let them defrost for a minute or two (they are pretty hard). Store in the freezer for up to 3 months.
TL says
Thanks for this recipe! I recently bought a couple Woof “Pupsicle” frozen treat holders (so my dogs can’t just inhale their frozen treats in few seconds) and wanted to try some new recipes. One of my dogs isn’t wild about bananas (unlike the the other, who loves them), so I made a small tweak. I substituted 4 oz. of unsweetened apple sauce (one of those individual serving cups) for one of the bananas. The dogs went bonkers for them!
Kelly Nardo says
Yay, so happy to hear this! I love the use of apple sauce too! I’ve never thought of that but will have to try it for my pup. Thanks for trying them, TL.
Naya Akel says
My dog is obsessed with these, absolutely loves those banana treats. I added blueberries and apples to second batch and it’s been a huge success. Love that I can give my dog healthy (and cheaper) treats!
Kelly says
Love those additions! So glad your pup enjoyed them so much!
Amanda says
Love how easy this recipe is and my pup loves the treats! Will be making all summer for a cool treat!
Kelly says
So happy to hear your pup loved them, Amanda! Thanks for trying them!
malika beck says
I dont have coconut oil, would it be okay if I used Fish oil or just water instead? Thanks!
Kelly says
Hi Malika! You need the coconut oil to help them firm up in the freezer. You could try water, but it might change the texture some.
Sara Sordini says
My dog loved these so much that it didn’t even chew it. It was as if it inhaled it. It was gone in a flash.
Sara Sordini says
thank-you for the recipe.
Kelly says
Of course!
Kelly says
Haha!! That is what Cashew does lol! Glad they enjoyed them and thanks for trying!
Mallory Hamann says
My lab Jake is a huge fan of these! I’ve made them with the banana and if I don’t have them around, I just use the pb and coconut oil!
Kelly says
So glad Jake loves them! Thanks Mallory!