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These 3 ingredient banana blueberry dog treats are soft baked bites made with one ripe banana, a handful of blueberries, and oat flour. They’re ready in about 30 minutes, and they need no yogurt, egg, or dairy. Keep the bites small, because the banana makes them sweet enough that they’re best as an occasional treat.
Recipe Snapshot
- Prep time: 10 minutes
- Cook time: 14 to 16 minutes
- Total time: about 30 minutes
- Yield: about 24 mini bites
- Difficulty: Easy
- Storage life: 4 days in the fridge, 3 months in the freezer
Do you have one brown banana and the last scoop of blueberries sitting in the fridge? That’s this recipe. Most banana blueberry dog treats you’ll find online are frozen yogurt pops. I love those in summer. But yogurt doesn’t agree with every dog, and frozen treats melt all over the car. So I bake mine.
Why Bake Them Instead of Freezing?
Baking skips the dairy and makes a treat you can carry anywhere. That’s the big difference from the frozen versions.
The American Kennel Club explains that many dogs have trouble digesting lactose after puppyhood, which can lead to gas, diarrhea, or vomiting. If your dog has a sensitive stomach, a dairy-free bite is an easy win. These also hold their shape in a treat pouch, so they come on walks and to training class.
Ingredients
- 1 large ripe banana, peeled (the spottier, the better)
- ½ cup fresh blueberries, or frozen ones thawed and patted dry
- 1¼ cups oat flour (blend about 1½ cups rolled oats until fine)
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Lightly grease a 24-cup mini muffin pan, or use a silicone one.
- Mash the banana in a bowl until it’s almost smooth.
- Stir in the oat flour until you get a thick, sticky batter.
- Fold in the blueberries gently so they don’t all burst.
- Spoon about 1 tablespoon into each cup, filling them halfway.
- Press a blueberry or two into the top of each bite.
- Bake for 14 to 16 minutes, until the tops are golden and spring back.
- Cool in the pan for 10 minutes.
- Pop them out and cool completely on a rack.
No mini muffin pan? Roll the dough into 1-inch balls with wet hands, flatten them on a parchment-lined tray, and bake for 12 to 14 minutes.
Dog-Safe Ingredient Check
- Blueberries, not “blueberry anything.” Skip blueberry pie filling, jam, or muffin mix. They have added sugar, and some sugar-free versions use xylitol, which the FDA says is dangerous for dogs.
- Don’t mix up your berries. Blueberries are fine. Grapes and raisins are not. The ASPCA warns they can cause kidney damage in dogs.
- Peel the banana. Only the soft fruit goes in.
- Plain oats only. No flavored instant oatmeal.
If this one is a hit, try another from my short-list dog treat recipes.
Are Bananas and Blueberries Good for Dogs?
Yes. Both are safe for dogs in moderation, and both bring something different to the bite.
The AKC’s blueberry guide says blueberries are low in calories and give dogs fiber, vitamin C, phytochemicals, and antioxidants. It also mentions research suggesting antioxidants may help reduce the effects of brain aging in dogs. That’s one reason I like these for my older dog.
Bananas are a little different. The AKC says they’re high in potassium, vitamin B6, and vitamin C, but they also contain natural sugar. So they should be served in moderation rather than every day. My post on whether dogs can eat banana goes deeper on that.
Vet Tip: If your dog has diabetes or needs to lose weight, ask your vet before adding banana treats. For dogs watching sugar, a plain frozen blueberry makes a lower-calorie reward.
How Many Calories Are in One Bite?
About 26 calories per mini bite. I used USDA FoodData Central numbers for each ingredient:
- 1 large banana: about 120 calories
- ½ cup blueberries: about 42 calories
- 1½ cups rolled oats, as flour: about 460 calories
- Total: about 622 calories ÷ 24 bites = about 26 each
The AKC says treats, blueberries included, should make up no more than 10% of a dog’s daily calories. For a small dog, that might be one bite. For training, cut each bite into quarters. They’re soft, so they tear easily, and they work well with the games in this brain training program for dogs.
Variations to Try
Want it frozen after all?
Skip the oven. Mash the banana, stir in the blueberries and just ½ cup of oat flour, spoon into a silicone mold, and freeze for 3 hours. They’re softer and a bit messy, but great on hot days.
No oats?
Use 1 cup of brown rice flour. Add a tablespoon of water if the batter feels dry.
Different fruit
Swap the blueberries for chopped strawberries. Or check out my homemade blueberry dog treats if you have more berries than bananas.
Same method, different flavor
If your dog liked these, try my 3 ingredient apple dog treats. They’re egg-free and scoop-and-bake too. Have extra bananas? My 3 ingredient peanut butter dog treats use one as well.
Key Takeaway: Baked banana blueberry bites are a dairy-free, travel-friendly treat at about 26 calories each. Use real blueberries (never grapes or blueberry filling), keep portions small, and freeze most of the batch.
What If My Bites Come Out Wrong?
Most problems come from the banana or the oven, not from you. Here are the fixes I’ve learned the hard way.
- Gummy in the middle: Your banana was very big, or the cups were overfilled. Bake 2 to 3 more minutes, and fill each cup only about three-quarters full next time.
- Dry and crumbly: The banana wasn’t ripe enough. Use one with lots of brown spots. It mashes smoother and binds better.
- Purple streaks everywhere: You stirred too hard after adding the berries. Fold them in gently at the very end.
- Stuck to the pan: Use a silicone mini muffin pan, or grease every cup of a metal pan, including the sides.
How Do I Store Them?
Keep them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days, or freeze them for up to 3 months.
Fruit keeps these moist, so they spoil faster than crunchy biscuits. I freeze most of the batch and pull out two or three at a time. They thaw in about 15 minutes. If you want a dairy-based option for summer later, my yogurt dog treat bites are a good one, as long as your dog handles yogurt well.
FAQ
Can puppies have banana blueberry bites?
Usually yes, in small pieces, once they’re on solid food. Check with your vet, and start with a quarter of a bite.
Can I use frozen blueberries?
Yes. Thaw and pat them dry first, or the batter turns purple and runny.
Are blueberries a choking hazard?
The AKC says the size and shape of blueberries can pose a choking risk, especially for very small dogs. Baking them into a soft bite makes them easier to eat. Break bites into small pieces for toy breeds.
Why are my bites gummy in the middle?
The banana was very large or the bites were too thick. Fill the cups only halfway and bake 2 more minutes.
That’s it: one banana, one handful of berries, and some oats. Leave a couple out before you head to work, and if you’re curious who’s begging at the counter while you’re gone, a dog camera will show you. My money’s on the dog.
