If you’re thinking of treating your dog this Valentine’s Day, then why not use one of our recipes for some beautifully homemade biscuits and tasty Valentine bakes.
Our recipes
- Strawberry love hearts
- Valentines Day apple and peanut butter dog treats
- Hugs and kisses biscuits
- Puppy love cupcakes
- Cheesy dog biscuits
Even if your dog falls in love with these mouth-watering treats, you mustn’t forget to only give them occasionally as part of a well-balanced diet. Some of these recipes may not be suitable for dogs with nut allergies or other special dietary needs.
Find out more about portion control and other things to think about when treating your dog to one of our Valentines Day snacks.
Strawberry love hearts
Ingredients:
- 32g Greek yoghurt
- 3-4 large strawberries finely chopped
- Finely chop the strawberries
- Add a few pieces of strawberry to each section of a love heart silicone mold, or add them to an ice cube tray
- Pour the Greek yoghurt over the finely chopped strawberries and put in the freezer for 3-4 hours, or overnight
- Once the mixture is frozen, pop them out
- Once you have taken out your dog’s allocated portion for that day, transfer the rest into a sandwich bag and place them back into the freezer for next time
Valentines Day apple and peanut butter dog treats
Ingredients:
Preheat your oven to 180°C/ 160°C Fan/ gas 4
- 1 ripe banana
- 150g wholewheat flour
- 40 g peanut butter (xylitol-free)
- 1 egg
- 30g apple sauce (unsweetened and unflavoured)
- 50g finely sliced apple
Preheat your oven to 180°C/ 160°C Fan/ gas 4
- Finely chop the apple so that it is in small chewable, pieces. Alternatively, use a food processor to cut your apple into even smaller pieces
- Add the banana to a bowl and mash using a fork
- Add all of the ingredients to a large mixing bowl
- Mix until combined and the ingredients form a dough that you are able to squeeze into a ball without it sticking to your hands
- If your dough is too sticky, add small amounts of flour and mix until it’s the right consistency
- Roll the dough out using a rolling pin, until it is a ¼ inch thick
- Using a heart shaped biscuit cutter, or any other shaped cutter, cut your biscuits out of the dough
- If, after cutting out your heart cookies, there is any dough remaining, re-roll it out and cut out more treats until you are left with no more dough
- Place all of your treats onto a baking tray and bake in the oven for 20 minutes
- Once baked, place onto a wire cooling rack and leave to cool completely before giving to your dog
Hugs and kisses biscuits
Ingredients:
- 385g wholewheat flour
- 1 tbsp cinnamon
- 250ml water
- 60ml olive oil
- 100g black treacle
- 2 tbsp honey
- Add the flour and cinnamon to a large mixing bowl and stir together
- add the water, olive oil, treacle and honey
- Fold the ingredients together until they are combined and the mixture forms a dough
- Next, cut the dough in half (one will be your ‘hugs’ and the other will be for your ‘kisses’) and wrap both parts in cling film. Place in the fridge for 3.5 hours
- Remove both of the doughs from the fridge and roll each one out until they are about ¼ inch thick (less than a centimeter)
- Pre-heat your oven to 180°C/ 160°C Fan/ gas 4
- Line a large baking tray with greaseproof paper
- Use a X (‘kisses’) and O (‘hugs’) shaped biscuit cutter, or a template and a knife, to cut out your treats
- Place onto the baking tray and bake for 10-15 mins
- Once baked, place onto a wire cooling rack and leave to cool completely
- Add half the Greek yoghurt into one bowl and the other half of the Greek yoghurt and the beetroot powder into another bowl and mix these together until the mixture turns pink
- Once your treats are completely cool, dip the ‘kisses’ into the plain Greek yoghurt and the ‘hugs’ into the Greek yoghurt and beetroot powder
- Refrigerate for an hour and serve
Puppy love cupcakes
Ingredients:
Preheat your oven to 180°C/ 160°C Fan/ gas 4
- 200g wholewheat flour
- ½ tsp bicarbonate of soda
- 30ml olive oil
- 30g peanut butter (xylitol-free)
- 60g applesauce (unsweetened and unflavored)
- 1 egg
- 110g Greek yoghurt
- 60g peanut butter (xylitol-free)
Preheat your oven to 180°C/ 160°C Fan/ gas 4
- In a large mixing bowl, add the olive oil, peanut butter and applesauce and mix together
- Stir in the egg and add the rest of the mixture to the flour and bicarbonate of Mix until it has a batter-like consistency
- Spoon the mixture into cupcake cases until it’s just below the top of each case
- Bake your cupcakes for 20-25 mins, until a knife comes out clear from the middle
- Place the cupcakes on a wire cooling rack. Your cupcakes must be completely cool before adding the topping
- Whilst the cupcakes are cooling down, make the topping by mixing the Greek yoghurt and peanut butter until it forms a caramel coloured paste
- Once the cupcakes are cool, spoon a tablespoon of the topping on top of each one and spread around using the back of the spoon and then top with a dog treat
- Leave in the fridge to set for an hour and then feed the appropriate portion to your dog
Cheesy dog biscuits
Ingredients:
Preheat your oven to 180°C/ 160°C Fan/ gas 4
- 200g wholewheat flour
- 1 egg
- 50g applesauce
- 50ml water
- 1 tbsp coconut oil
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- 50g cream cheese
- 1tsp beetroot powder (optional)
Preheat your oven to 180°C/ 160°C Fan/ gas 4
- Place some greaseproof paper onto a baking tray
- Add your egg into a large bowl and beat using a fork
- Add the applesauce, coconut oil, cinnamon and wholewheat flour into the bowl and mix
- Add the water, a little at a time, until the mixture forms a dough. Your dough should be workable, but not sticky. If your dough is too sticky add a little bit more flour
- Roll the dough out until it is about an inch thick
- Cut out your biscuits using a cutter or a knife. Make sure you cut out an even number of biscuits, as there needs to be a top and a bottom
- Put your biscuits onto your baking tray
- Bake in the oven for 10-15 mins
- To make your filling, add the cream cheese and beetroot powder into a mixing bowl. Add more powder dependent on your desired colour
- Once the biscuits are completely cool, add a teaspoon of the filling to half of the biscuits and spread evenly using a butter knife
- Add the top onto the bottom of the biscuit and put into the fridge for an hour
Things to consider when making homemade treats for your dog
Portion control
The snacks we’ve listed above should only be given as an occasional treat and must be given in moderation. Giving too much food in one go can be dangerous to dogs and could cause life threatening bloat, particularly if they’ve eaten immediately before or after exercise. Large amounts of certain foods, especially fatty foods, can also cause a painful and potentially severe condition known as pancreatitis. If you ever suspect your dog has bloat or pancreatitis, then always contact your vet immediately.
It's easy to give your dog extra food throughout the day, especially around this time of year, but doing so regularly can be damaging to their health and can make them less happy in the long run. It’s vital that you take care of what food you give to your dog. Maintaining good feeding habits will allow your dog to live the healthiest and happiest life possible.
It's easy to give your dog extra food throughout the day, especially around this time of year, but doing so regularly can be damaging to their health and can make them less happy in the long run. It’s vital that you take care of what food you give to your dog. Maintaining good feeding habits will allow your dog to live the healthiest and happiest life possible.
Counting the calories
It’s important that you divide your dog’s total calorie intake for the day between each meal so that you're not overfeeding them. If you like to give them treats, make sure that you assign a certain amount of their calories for these before working out how much to give them for each meal.
Cautions about peanut butter and xylitol
Some of the recipes above use peanut butter. Do not use these recipes if your dog has a nut allergy.
Although dogs love peanut butter, and it’s a great source of protein, you must be careful which type you use. Always avoid feeding dogs peanut butter that is high in salt and sugar and it should never contain artificial sweeteners.
Xylitol, also known as birch sugar or E967, is an artificial sweetener that is highly toxic to dogs and can cause an otherwise healthy dog's blood sugar level to drop to dangerous levels or could cause liver failure. If your dog ever eats xylitol then contact your vet immediately.
Although dogs love peanut butter, and it’s a great source of protein, you must be careful which type you use. Always avoid feeding dogs peanut butter that is high in salt and sugar and it should never contain artificial sweeteners.
Xylitol, also known as birch sugar or E967, is an artificial sweetener that is highly toxic to dogs and can cause an otherwise healthy dog's blood sugar level to drop to dangerous levels or could cause liver failure. If your dog ever eats xylitol then contact your vet immediately.
Suitability
These recipes may not be suitable for all dogs, particularly those on a special diet or those that suffer from obesity, pancreatitis, diabetes, a sensitive stomach or those with problems with their kidneys or liver. If your dog has any pre-existing health conditions then always talk to your vet about any special diets that they may need, or what treats you can give them.