ByI used to buy those bags of dried sweet potato chews at the pet store. My dog loved them. My wallet did not. Then one day I looked at the bag and thought, “This is just sweet potato. I can do this.”
I can. And so can you. These 3 ingredient sweet potato apple dog treats are thin, oven-dried chips. You need one sweet potato, one apple, and a pinch of cinnamon. Your oven does the rest on low heat. The sweet potato turns chewy, and the apple rings turn crisp.
The short answer: Peel and slice a sweet potato ⅛ inch thick. Core an apple and slice it into thin rings. Lay them on parchment, dust the apples with a tiny pinch of cinnamon, and bake at 250°F (120°C) for about 2 to 3 hours, until they’re dry.
Recipe Snapshot
- Ingredients: 1 medium sweet potato, 1 medium apple, ⅛ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Oven: 250°F (120°C), low and slow
- Time: 2 to 2½ hours for apple rings, 2½ to 3 hours for sweet potato
- Makes: about 40 chips
- Calories: about 5 per chip (my estimate)
- Equipment: a sharp knife or mandoline, 2 baking sheets, parchment
Are Sweet Potatoes and Apples Safe for Dogs?
Yes, when you prepare them the right way.
Sweet potato: AKC’s page on sweet potatoes for dogs says they’re low in fat and rich in vitamins A, B6, and C, plus calcium, potassium, and iron. But AKC is clear on two things. Make sure it’s cooked, and take the skin off. You should never feed your dog raw sweet potato. It’s hard to chew, can upset the stomach, and may cause a blockage.
That’s why these chips bake low and slow until they’re cooked and dry all the way through. They aren’t raw slices with a little heat on top.
Apple: AKC’s apple guide says apples are safe, but keep the seeds far away. The seeds contain a small amount of cyanide. The tough core and stem can also be a choking risk. So we core every apple before slicing.
Cinnamon: AKC’s article on cinnamon says cinnamon is not toxic to dogs. It also says too much can irritate the mouth, and breathing in the powder can make a dog cough. The article cites the Pet Poison Helpline saying it takes more than a teaspoon of powder to cause problems for most pets. We use ⅛ teaspoon for the whole batch, lightly dusted.
Dog-Safe Ingredient Check
- Sweet potato: Peeled and fully cooked through in the oven. Never raw.
- Apple: Cored, no seeds, no stem.
- Cinnamon: Plain ground cinnamon, just a pinch. Never cinnamon essential oil.
- Not nutmeg. AKC warns that nutmeg can be toxic to dogs. “Apple pie spice” blends often include it, so skip them.
How Do You Make 3 Ingredient Sweet Potato Apple Dog Treats?
- Heat the oven to 250°F (120°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment.
- Peel the sweet potato. Trim off the ends.
- Slice it into rounds about ⅛ inch thick. A mandoline makes this fast and even. Use the hand guard.
- Wash the apple. Use a corer or a small knife to cut out the whole core. Check that no seeds are left.
- Slice the apple into rings about ⅛ inch thick.
- Lay the sweet potato on one sheet and the apple on the other. Keep them in one layer, not touching.
- Put the cinnamon in a small strainer and tap it lightly over the apple rings. A thin dusting is plenty.
- Bake both sheets. Flip all the pieces after 1 hour.
- Check the apple after 2 hours. It’s done when it feels dry and leathery and starts to crisp at the edges.
- Check the sweet potato after 2½ hours. It’s done when it’s dry, bendy, and darker at the edges, with no soft, wet spots.
- Turn off the oven. Leave the chips inside with the door cracked for 30 minutes to dry a little more.
- Cool them completely on the sheets.
Pro Tip
Even slices are everything. If some are thick and some are thin, the thin ones burn while the thick ones stay soggy. A mandoline helps a lot. If you use a knife, sort the slices by thickness and pull the thin ones out early.
Chewy or Crispy?
Your oven, your slices, and your sweet potato all change the result. Here’s what I’ve found:
| Slice | Sweet potato | Apple |
|---|---|---|
| ⅛ inch | Chewy, leathery | Crisp after cooling |
| ¼ inch | Soft and chewy, needs 3 to 4 hours | Chewy rings |
| Thinner than ⅛ inch | Crunchy, can burn | Very crisp, breaks easily |
Chewy chips last longer as a chew. Crisp ones are easier to break into small training bits.
How Many Chips Can My Dog Have?
By my rough math using USDA FoodData Central, a medium sweet potato and a medium apple together come to about 200 calories. Spread over about 40 chips, that’s around 5 calories each.
The VCA guideline is to keep treats under 10% of daily calories. Our guide to how many treats a dog should have a day helps you find your dog’s number.
Sweet potatoes are starchy. AKC says dogs that are diabetic, overweight, or less active should only have a small amount.
Vet Tip
Chewy sweet potato chips can be swallowed whole by dogs who gulp. If your dog doesn’t chew well, tear the chips into small pieces. And watch your dog the first few times. If your dog seems to choke or gag, or vomits after eating, call your vet.
What Can I Swap?
- No cinnamon: Just leave it out. The chips are still sweet and tasty.
- Pear for apple: Core it and remove the seeds, the same as an apple. Our pear oat dog treats use pear in a baked biscuit.
- Only sweet potato: Make two sheets of sweet potato and skip the apple. Our sweet potato dog treats are a baked biscuit version.
- Dehydrator: If you have one, follow its directions for fruits and vegetables. Make sure the sweet potato is cooked and dry through, not just dried on the outside.
How Do I Store Them?
- Store chips in an airtight jar at room temperature for up to 1 week.
- In the fridge, they keep up to 2 weeks.
- Freeze for up to 3 months.
If the chips feel soft or sticky later, they weren’t dry enough. Move them to the fridge and use them up soon. Throw out any with mold.
This is one of my three-ingredient treat recipes, all made with just three things.
Questions About Sweet Potato Apple Chips
Can I leave the sweet potato skin on? I don’t. AKC says to remove the skin because it makes sweet potato harder for dogs to digest.
Can I use apple chips from the store? Many store chips have added sugar, oil, or preservatives. Plain homemade chips are a safer bet.
Do these help clean teeth? I wouldn’t count on it. Chewy treats are fun, but they don’t replace brushing or dental checkups.
Can I add other fruits? Bananas dry well too. For more apple ideas, see our simple apple cinnamon dog treats and the apple oat dog treats.
Key Takeaway
Sweet potato, apple, and a pinch of cinnamon turn into chewy and crisp dog chips with just a low oven. Peel and fully cook the sweet potato, core and seed the apple, and keep the cinnamon to a light dusting. Slice evenly, dry them fully, and store them airtight.
My Final Thoughts
These 3 ingredient sweet potato apple dog treats take time, but almost all of it is waiting. Slice them on a lazy Sunday, and your kitchen smells like fall all afternoon. Your dog will be very patient by the oven door. I promise.
If you’re trying to give your dog more real, whole foods, a fresh variety meal plan can help with the main meals, too.
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