ByDisclosure: Some links in this post are affiliate links. If you buy through them, DogHib may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Peanut butter is in almost every dog treat recipe online. I get why. Dogs love it, and it holds dough together. But what if you can’t use it? Maybe your dog has a sensitive tummy. Maybe someone in your home has a peanut allergy. Or maybe you just ran out.
That’s where my neighbor was last spring. Her grandson has a peanut allergy, and she wanted to bake for her shiba inu, Kiko, without any risk. So we worked out these dog treats without peanut butter together. They’re pumpkin oat thumbprint cookies, with a little dent of extra pumpkin in the middle. Kiko approved.
Quick answer: Mix 2 cups oat flour, ¾ cup plain canned pumpkin, and ¼ cup unsweetened applesauce. Roll into balls, press a thumbprint in each, and fill the dent with a little more pumpkin. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 20 to 25 minutes. You’ll get about 36 small cookies with no peanut butter, no eggs, and no wheat.
Recipe Snapshot
- Ingredients: oat flour, plain pumpkin, unsweetened applesauce
- Free of: peanut butter, nuts, eggs, wheat, and dairy
- Bake: 350°F (175°C), 20 to 25 minutes
- Makes: about 36 cookies
- Calories: about 23 per cookie (my estimate)
Why Skip Peanut Butter in Dog Treats?
Plain peanut butter isn’t bad for most dogs. The American Kennel Club says most peanut butter is safe in moderation. But there are some good reasons to leave it out.
1. Xylitol. AKC warns that some peanut butter makers have started using xylitol, a sugar substitute. The FDA says xylitol is dangerous for dogs. If you never use peanut butter in treats, you never have to double-check the jar.
2. Fat. AKC says peanut butter is rich in natural fats, and too much can lead to obesity and health problems like pancreatitis. VCA Animal Hospitals notes that pancreatitis may be triggered in some cases by a fatty meal. If your vet has told you to keep your dog’s fat low, a low-fat treat makes sense.
3. Allergies at home. If someone in your house has a peanut allergy, baking with peanut butter just isn’t worth the worry.
4. You’re out of it. Honestly, this is the most common reason!
We have a full post on whether dogs can eat peanuts safely if you want more detail.
What Can I Use Instead of Peanut Butter?
Peanut butter does two jobs in a dog treat. It adds flavor, and it binds the dough. These swaps can do both.
| Swap | What it does | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Plain pumpkin | Binds well, adds fiber and color | Use 100% pumpkin, not pie filling |
| Mashed cooked sweet potato | Binds well, slightly sweet | Must be cooked and peeled, per AKC |
| Mashed ripe banana | Binds and sweetens | High in sugar, so use a little |
| Unsweetened applesauce | Adds moisture and binds | No added sugar or xylitol |
| Plain Greek yogurt | Creamy, tangy | Some dogs don’t handle lactose well |
| Rolled oats or oat flour | Adds body and soaks up liquid | Works with any wet swap above |
For this recipe, I use pumpkin as the main binder and applesauce for extra moisture. Together they hold the dough just as well as peanut butter.
Dog-Safe Ingredient Check
- Oat flour: Plain oats, blended fine. Naturally wheat-free (but check the label if you need it gluten-free).
- Pumpkin: 100% pure canned pumpkin. AKC says dogs shouldn’t eat pumpkin pie filling, which usually has sugars, fats, and dairy added.
- Applesauce: Unsweetened, with no xylitol.
- Leave out: nutmeg, raisins, chocolate, and macadamia nuts. See our list of foods dogs cannot eat.
Need more nut-free ideas? See my homemade dog treats without peanut butter.
How Do You Make Dog Treats Without Peanut Butter?
- Heat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment.
- If you’re making your own oat flour, blend about 2½ cups rolled oats until fine and powdery. Measure out 2 cups.
- Set aside 2 tablespoons of the pumpkin for the filling.
- In a bowl, mix the rest of the pumpkin with the applesauce.
- Add the oat flour, about ½ cup at a time. Stir until a soft dough forms.
- Test the dough. Squeeze a bit in your hand. It should hold together and not crack much. If it’s dry, add 1 tablespoon of water. If it’s sticky, add a little more oat flour.
- Roll the dough into balls about 1 inch wide. Set them on the sheet, 1 inch apart.
- Press your thumb into the center of each ball to make a dent. The edges might crack a little. Just pinch them closed.
- Fill each dent with a small dab of the saved pumpkin, about ¼ teaspoon.
- Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until the bottoms are golden and the cookies feel firm.
- Cool on the sheet for 10 minutes, then on a rack until completely cool.
Pro Tip
Wet your thumb before pressing each dent. The dough won’t stick, and the dents come out smooth and round. For tiny dogs, use your pinky finger and roll ¾-inch balls instead.
How Many Can My Dog Have?
I tallied the batch with USDA FoodData Central numbers: about 700 calories from the oat flour, about 80 from the pumpkin, and about 25 from the applesauce. That’s around 805 calories for 36 cookies, or about 23 each.
VCA Animal Hospitals recommends keeping treats to 10% or less of daily calories. For more help, see our post on how many treats a dog should have a day.
Vet Tip
If you’re skipping peanut butter because your dog has allergy signs, like itchy skin, ear infections, or tummy trouble, see your vet. VCA lists proteins from dairy, beef, chicken, chicken eggs, soy, and wheat gluten as the most common food allergens in dogs. Your vet may suggest a strict food trial, and during that trial, even homemade treats may need to stop.
What Other Swaps Can I Make?
- Sweet potato for pumpkin: Use the same amount of mashed, cooked, peeled sweet potato. The cookies come out a little sweeter.
- Banana for applesauce: Use ¼ cup mashed ripe banana.
- Fill the dent with yogurt: After the cookies cool, add a dab of plain Greek yogurt. Keep these in the fridge.
- Want an egg in it? Our pumpkin oat dog treats use an egg for a crisp cut-out cookie.
How Do I Store Them?
- Counter: 2 days in a sealed jar.
- Fridge: Up to 1 week.
- Freezer: Up to 3 months.
The pumpkin centers stay a little soft, so the fridge is the best spot after day two.
Dog Treats Without Peanut Butter: FAQ
Do dogs actually like treats without peanut butter?
Most do. Dogs love the smell of baked pumpkin and oats. Kiko never once noticed the peanut butter was missing.
Is peanut butter bad for dogs?
Not usually. AKC says most plain peanut butter is safe in moderation. Unsalted is best. The big danger is xylitol, so always read the label if you do use it. If you want a peanut butter version, try our peanut butter banana dog treats.
What’s the best binder without eggs or peanut butter?
Plain pumpkin. It’s thick, sticky, and holds dough together very well. Mashed sweet potato is a close second.
Can I use almond butter instead?
I wouldn’t. Many nut butters are high in fat, and some may contain xylitol. It’s simpler to use one of the fruit or veggie swaps above.
Key Takeaway
You don’t need peanut butter to make great dog treats. Plain pumpkin, applesauce, and oat flour make a soft thumbprint cookie with no nuts, eggs, wheat, or dairy. Pumpkin and mashed sweet potato are the best peanut butter swaps for binding dough. Always use plain, unsweetened ingredients with no xylitol.
My Final Thoughts
These dog treats without peanut butter prove you don’t need a jar of PB to make your dog happy. My neighbor now bakes a batch every other week, and her grandson helps press the thumbprints. Kiko sits at the oven door the whole time.
If your dog has a sensitive stomach and you’re looking at the whole diet, not just treats, ask your vet whether a daily supplement could help.
