ByThese oatmeal dog cookies use three ingredients: oats, banana and xylitol-free peanut butter. They take about 40 minutes from start to finish. The one thing that keeps them safe is checking your peanut butter label for xylitol.
Recipe Snapshot
- Prep time: 15 minutes
- Cook time: 20-25 minutes
- Total time: About 40 minutes (plus cooling)
- Yield: About 20-24 small cookies
- Difficulty: Easy
- Storage life: 1 week in the fridge, 2 months in the freezer
Key takeaway: Xylitol is safe for people but toxic to dogs, according to the AKC. Always read the label on your peanut butter before it goes in the bowl. AKC on peanut butter and xylitol
I started baking these when my dog got bored of his usual biscuits. I always have oats and a banana on the counter. Twenty minutes later, the kitchen smells amazing, and he sits at the oven door waiting. I like that I know every ingredient.
Are oatmeal cookies safe for dogs?
Yes, plain oatmeal cookies made for dogs can be a safe treat. The trouble comes from human cookie ingredients like sugar, raisins and chocolate. This recipe avoids all of them. For a full list of what to keep away from your dog, see what dogs cannot eat.
How do I make easy oatmeal dog cookies?
Recipe Card: Oatmeal Dog Cookies
Ingredients
- 1½ cups old-fashioned rolled oats
- 1 ripe banana, mashed
- ¼ cup xylitol-free peanut butter
- 1-2 tablespoons water, only if the dough is dry
- A little extra oat flour for rolling
Steps
- Heat your oven to 325°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Add the oats to a blender or food processor.
- Blend until the oats look like coarse flour.
- In a bowl, mash the banana until smooth.
- Stir in the peanut butter.
- Add the oat flour and mix into a sticky dough.
- Add water, 1 tablespoon at a time, only if the dough crumbles.
- Dust your counter with oat flour.
- Roll the dough about ¼ inch thick.
- Cut shapes with a small cookie cutter.
- Place the cookies on the baking sheet.
- Bake 20-25 minutes until dry on top and golden underneath.
- Cool completely before serving.
⚠️ Dog-Safe Ingredient Check
- Peanut butter: Read the label for xylitol (it may also be listed as “birch sugar”). If it is there, do not use it.
- No salt, sugar or honey. Dogs don’t need them.
- No raisins, chocolate or bacon grease. Skip fatty glazes.
- Choose plain oats, not flavored instant packets.
Pro Tip: Roll the dough between two sheets of parchment. It stops sticking and you need less extra flour.
How do I make them soft or crunchy?
Bake time decides it. For soft, chewy cookies, bake 18-20 minutes and store in the fridge. For crunchy cookies, bake 25 minutes, then turn off the oven and leave them inside for 30 minutes to dry out. Crunchy cookies are better for dogs who like a firm bite. Watch small dogs with hard treats, and break them in half.
How many oatmeal cookies can my dog have?
Treats should stay a small part of the day’s food. A common rule is about 10% of daily calories. Here’s how to work it out:
- Add up the calories of every ingredient on the labels.
- Divide the total by the number of cookies you made.
- Ask your vet for your dog’s daily calorie goal.
- Keep treats under 10% of that number.
For example, if your batch adds up to 600 calories and makes 30 cookies, each cookie is about 20 calories. A starting guide from my own kitchen is 1 small cookie for small dogs and 2-3 for large dogs. For more help, read how many treats a dog should have a day.
Vet Tip: Ask your vet before adding new treats if your dog has diabetes, pancreatitis, or a sensitive stomach.
Can I make these without peanut butter?
Yes. Swap the peanut butter for ¼ cup unsweetened applesauce or plain pumpkin puree. See my peanut butter oat dog treats if you want a peanut version, and can dogs eat peanuts safely for more on peanuts.
Substitutions and variations
- Peanut-free: Use applesauce (unsweetened) or pumpkin puree.
- Banana-free: Use ¼ cup extra unsweetened applesauce. Learn more about bananas in can dogs eat banana.
- Gluten-free: Use certified gluten-free oats.
- Small dogs: Use a ¾-inch cutter or roll into tiny balls.
- Large dogs: Use a 2-inch cutter.
- Banana oat fans: Try my banana oat dog treats.
If you’d rather skip baking, I keep some ready-made dog treats in the cupboard.
How do I store oatmeal dog cookies?
Cool them fully first. Then put them in an airtight container. They stay fresh about 1 week in the fridge. For longer storage, freeze them up to 2 months. I use a dog health tracker to jot down which treats my dog loves, so a dog health tracker helps me remember how much he’s had each day.
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FAQ
Q: Can dogs eat oatmeal cookies? A: Dog-friendly oatmeal cookies like these are fine in moderation. Never share human oatmeal raisin or chocolate-chip cookies.
Q: Is peanut butter safe in dog cookies? A: Yes, if it has no xylitol. The AKC says to check the label of peanut butter and any other product you plan to feed your dog.
Q: Can I make them without peanut butter? A: Yes. Use unsweetened applesauce or pumpkin puree.
Q: How long do they last? A: About 1 week in the fridge and 2 months in the freezer.
Q: How many can my dog have? A: Keep treats to about 10% of daily calories. Start with 1 small cookie and watch your dog’s tummy.
Source: AKC: Can Dogs Eat Peanut Butter?
