Easy cheddar apple dog treats recipe (2024)

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Cheddar apple dog treats are a quick and easy homemade dog treat recipe. Made with only a handful of ingredients, these delicious DIY dog treats will become your pup’s favorite biscuit. They are less expensive than store-bought and so much better for your furry best friend.

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Healthy puppy treats made at home don’t contain additives, preservatives or questionable ingredients like fillers. All dogs, no matter their age or diet, benefit from a healthier option.

Cheddar apple dog treats

Dogs like snacks too! Think about it this way – would you rather have a packaged, store-bought cookie that’s been sitting on a grocery store shelf or a fresh, homemade cookie? Dogs know a good thing when they’ve got it and homemade dog treats beat store bought every single time.

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DIY dog treats make great homemade gifts too. I like to make smalldog treat bagsto give away to friends and neighbors who have pups.

Dog treat ingredients

Here’s what you need to make these dog biscuits, along with a few substitutions:

  • All purpose flour – You can also use whole wheat flour, if you prefer.
  • Old-fashioned oats
  • Apple – any firm variety will do.
  • Cheddar cheese – I prefer to grate it myself to avoid the coating on pre-shredded cheese.
  • Dried curly parsley – You can swap with fresh curly parsley if you have it.
  • Egg – Replace chicken egg with flax or chia egg by mixing 1 tbsp. of flax or chia seeds with 3 tbsp. water.
  • Coconut oil
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How to make apple dog treats with cheddar

First, add the oats to a food processor or apowerful blender to break them up into a flour. You can leave them whole, if you prefer, but the texture of your treats will be different.

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Then, mix everything up in one bowl. Use your hand to work in all of the flour in the bottom of the bowl, until dough is fairly uniform.

Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and roll out to roughly 1/8″ thick.

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Use a small cookie cutter to cut the treats out of the dough and place them on parchment paper-lined baking sheets.

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Because Sugar is a senior dog and has trouble chewing hard biscuits, I don’t make these super crunchy. Baking them at 18 minutes gives me the perfect texture for her. You may find that you need a few more minutes, or a bit less, depending on your oven.

Store your homemade dog biscuits in anairtight treat container. I like this one because it’s easy to get into and it seals really well, keeping the treats fresh. Here is a list forall things dogthat you can check out.

That’s all there is to it. Quick and easy cookies made just for your special furry family member.

FAQ’s about homemade dog biscuits

How can I extend the life of homemade dog treats?

To make treats more shelf stable, you need to remove moisture. This means extending baking time, at a lower temperature. Removing moisture from the treats will make it harder for bacteria to grow (but not impossible!), however, in doing so, you’ll also end up with a crunchier treat.

Can I use a dehydrator to make treats extra crunchy?

Yes – you can use a dehydrator to pull even more moisture out of homemade biscuits.
As each model is different, check your manual for your specific dehydrator.

What is the best place to store treats?

Because homemade treats do not contain preservatives, they will spoil. The best place to store them is in the refrigerator or freezer, for extended periods. I live in a warm, humid climate, so proper storage is a must for me.

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What do I need to make these dog treats?

Here is a list of helpfultools and equipment for making dog treats. Below are the items that I use most often.

  1. Bone shaped cookie cutters– this is the exact same set that I have.
  2. Rolling dowel– Used in almost every recipe for dog biscuits.
  3. Asmall cookie scoop– make drop style cookies instead of rolling cutout treats.
  4. Mini food processor – for grinding oats.
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More homemade dog treat recipes

Here are a few more of Sugar’s favorite dog cookies:

  • Banana pumpkin treats
  • Fresh breath biscuits
  • Peanut butter banana treats
  • Oatmeal pumpkin dog treat
  • Butternut squash dog treats

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Yield: 70 small treats

Easy cheddar apple dog treats recipe

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Easy cheddar apple dog treats are a quick homemade dog biscuit made with only a handful of ingredients.

Prep Time15 minutes

Cook Time18 minutes

Total Time33 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 cup old-fashioned oats
  • 1 1/2 cup all-purpose flour + extra for rolling out
  • 1 egg
  • 2 tbsp. coconut oil, melted and cooled
  • 1 small apple, peeled and grated
  • 1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese
  • 2 tbsp. dried curly parsley - or use fresh curly parsley * see note
  • 1/2 cup water

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F / 177°C / Gas mark 4.
  2. Grind oats in a food processor until almost a fine flour. It's ok if there are small pieces.
  3. In a medium mixing bowl, combine ground oats, flour, egg, coconut oil, grated apple, grated cheddar, parsley and water.
  4. Stir to combine until it comes together. Use your hands to work it into a uniform dough - do not add more water.
  5. Lightly dust the countertop with flour, then turn out dough and press into a rough rectangle.
  6. Flour the top of the dough and a rolling pin (dowel), then roll out dough to about 1/8" thick.
  7. Use a 2-inch cookie cutter to cut treats out, then place on parchment-lined baking sheet.
  8. Bake for 18 - 20 minutes. Cool completely before feeding to your dog.

Notes

For EXTRA crispy treats, bake for an additional 5 - 8 minutes, then turn off oven and crack the door open. Let the treats dry out in the oven as it cools for about 20 minutes.

Parsley must be CURLY parsley, other varieties can be harmful.

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Nutrition Information:

Yield:

70

Serving Size:

1 treat

Amount Per Serving:Calories: 23Total Fat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 3mgSodium: 7mgCarbohydrates: 3gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 1g

Nutrition information calculated by a third-party company as a courtesy. It is intended as a guideline only.

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Easy cheddar apple dog treats recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the best cheese for dog treats? ›

Mozzarella and cottage cheese are lower in fat than other types of cheeses, making them a good snack for dogs. Swiss cheese is low in lactose, which is easier on your pet's digestive system. Cheddar is a common household cheese and has a relatively low level of salt, so it is safe in small doses.

How to prepare apples for dogs? ›

Cut apples into slices or small cubes so that your dog can easily eat them. Peeling the apple will make it easier for your dog to digest. Keep the seeds far, far away from your dog. The seeds contain a small amount of cyanide, a toxin, which can harm your dog in large doses.

How do you dehydrate apples for dog treats? ›

Place the cookie sheet of apples into your oven, and set your oven at 175 Fahrenheit. Now comes the hard part, waiting 5 – 6 hours for the apples to be done! After your 5 – 6 hour wait, the apples will be nice and dehydrated into chips! Some of them may be crunchy, and some might be a bit more chewy.

Should you dehydrate homemade dog treats? ›

Dehydrated dog treats tend to be excellent for training, since they're typically high-value and low calorie. Clark notes that dehydrated treats are especially good for smaller dogs, who can only have a limited number of calories in a day but need a lot of training treats.

What cheese can dogs not eat? ›

The simple answer to whether or not dogs can eat cheese is that it depends on the individual dog. Cheese itself isn't poisonous or toxic to dogs (except blue cheese, see below). But some cheeses do have added ingredients that could cause a dog harm, such as onion, garlic, herbs or other additions.

What is the easiest cheese for dogs to digest? ›

Therefore, it's better to feed your dog low-fat cheeses, like mozzarella, cottage cheese, or a soft goat cheese. Cottage cheese is lower in fat and sodium than other cheeses, helping reduce the risk of obesity. Cottage cheese is also lower in lactose, thus reducing the likelihood of intestinal upset.

Is applesauce ok for dogs? ›

Yes, dogs can eat apple sauce provided it's plain. Homemade apple sauce is essentially just apple (which is not toxic for dogs) in its cooked form, so this is safe for your dog to enjoy as an occasional treat.

Can I give my dog apples with skin? ›

The skin is safe to eat and high in fiber, however eating too much can lead to digestive upset. Apple skin usually contains pesticides, so you'll want to wash it thoroughly with warm, soapy water before treating your dog. If you're looking for a pesticide-free alternative, look for organic apples at the supermarket.

Can dogs have honey? ›

Is Honey Safe for Dogs? Honey is safe for dogs to eat in small quantities. It contains natural sugars and small amounts of vitamins and minerals.

Do you have to pretreat apples before dehydrating? ›

Treat apples before drying to prevent excessive browning. The treatments also help to preserve the flavor and vitamins of the fruit. The simplest pre-treatment is to soak freshly cut slices for 10 minutes in a solution of one part bottled lemon juice to one part water.

Is cinnamon good for dogs? ›

Cinnamon is safe for dogs when ingested in small amounts, and a dog that has inhaled a little powdered cinnamon shouldn't require veterinary care, says Dr. Renee Schmid, a senior veterinarian toxicologist at the Pet Poison Helpline. However, dogs who eat too much cinnamon can have serious health problems.

Are dried apples ok for dogs? ›

Dogs can eat dried apples in moderation, which may be even more enticing to them due to the extra crunchiness, according to Dr. Cindy Zhang, DVM, veterinarian at Small Door Veterinary, a chain of veterinary clinics in the Northeast.

Is it cheaper to make your own dog treats? ›

Easy Homemade Dog Treats are made with just 3 ingredients! All it takes is banana, peanut butter, and oats and you can make these cute cookies for your pup, or for a doggy friend of yours. Not only are these easy to make, but they are so much more affordable than store-bought treats and dogs LOVE them!

What is the shelf life of dehydrated dog treats? ›

When safely stored in a vacuum-sealed package in a cool, dark spot, dehydrated pet treats can expect to have a shelf life of up to 2 years. If the package shows any condensation or other signs of moisture, if it looks unusual or smells funny, it's likely to have spoiled.

What foods are safe to dehydrate for dogs? ›

Meat-based products, including organ meats, for example dehydrated chicken breasts, animal liver, pig ears, salmon skin and much more. Various fruits and vegetables,2 for example dried apple, green beans and sweet potato.

What is the best spreadable cheese for dogs? ›

Types of Cheese and Their Suitability for Dogs:
  • Cottage Cheese: A Nutrient-Rich Option.
  • Mozzarella: Moderation is the Key.
  • Blue Cheese: Caution is Advised.
  • Goat Cheese: A Digestible Alternative.
  • Cheddar Cheese: Enjoy in Moderation.
  • Cream Cheese: Easy to Spread.
  • Feta: Low-Lactose Option.
  • Swiss Cheese: Watch the Weight.
Nov 19, 2023

Can I use cheese as dog training treats? ›

In most cases, yes, dogs can eat cheese. When given in moderation, it can make a great high reward training treat (particularly when there's lots of distractions). Most dogs adore the taste of it too! It's important to remember that some cheeses have added ingredients, which need to be avoided.

Is cheese a high value treat for dogs? ›

Examples of high value treats include: Chunks of meat like chicken or lamb. Cubes of cheese.

Are cheese chews OK for dogs? ›

While these are natural and safe chews, they are recommended for puppies over four months old. Waiting until after four months makes sure the puppy has all of its teeth in and can handle the solid chew.

References

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