Our Great Dane, Magnus, and his doggie friends can’t get enough of these Homemade Dog Cookies with Kale! Made with dog-friendly ingredients, this easy recipe is both healthy and flavorful for your pup.
Perfect for any occasion, these wholesome treats are free from artificial additives and packed with nourishing goodness. Whether you’re celebrating or just rewarding your furry friend, these cookies are a delicious way to keep them happy and healthy.
I made these homemade dog cookies for our St. Patrick’s Day celebration along with our St. Patrick’s Day Dog Cupcakes (Pupcakes). Yes, we are “those dog people” that love to celebrate with our pups. Ours are super-sized pups so they really give us no choice 😂. I love incorporating these treats are they are free from artificial additives and packed with nourishing goodness.
Ingredients
Kale: 1 cup of finely minced fresh kale. Mince kale in a food processor or use a sharp knife to chop fine. Kale is the main ingredient in this recipe as it provides vitamins (such as Vitamin C, A and K), minerals including calcium. If you do not have kale you can substitute with frozen chopped spinach that has been defrosted and water squeezed out.
Flour: 1 ½ cup whole wheat flour. You can substitute with oat flour if your pup has a wheat allergy.
Peanut Butter: ½ cup all natural creamy peanut butter with no added sugars. It’s important to ensure it does not contain xylitol which can be dangerous for dogs to consume.
Egg: 1 large egg.
Applesauce: ½ cup no added sugar plain applesauce. It’s important to use applesauce that has no added flavorings as well, as ingredients such as cinnamon and nutmeg can cause digestives issues in some dogs.
Baking soda: ¼ tsp. Baking soda. This gives the cookie a bit of a lift.
Instructions
Yields about 28 3-inch treats
Preheat oven to 350℉. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or oil baking sheet to prevent sticking.
In a medium mixing bowl add the wet ingredients (egg, applesauce, peanut butter). Using a hand-held mixer blend until peanut butter mixes in until smooth.
In a large bowl, whisk to together the dry ingredients (flour and baking soda).
Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix together until combined and forms into dough.
Using a rolling pin, roll dough out onto a floured surface into 1/2 inch thickness. Cut the dough into fun shapes using a cookie cutter or use a knife to cut dough into shapes. I like to use these shapes for dog-bone shapes and these for St. Patrick’s Day cookie shapes.
Place cut out treats on the prepared baking sheet and place in the preheated oven for 12 minutes. The dog treats should be slightly golden brown on the bottom.
Transfer baked treats to a cooling rack.
Once cooled, serve to your pup to enjoy!
Storage
Store these dog cookies in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 7-10 days, or in the freezer for 3 months. I usually store half of my batches of dog treats in the freezer so that I always have some on hand for Magnus. However, I can’t open the freezer door without his nose in there looking for a treat! 😂
Serving size
Serving size truly depends on the dog’s weight, age and activity level. For Magnus, our Great Dane, he gets a variety of a few treats a day.
I would recommend checking with your vet for serving portions.
Is Kale Safe for Dogs?
Kale is a leafy green that is rich in Vitamins A, C, E and K along with minerals. Kale is safe and beneficial for healthy dogs when given in moderation. However, if a dog has health issues, especially kidney or digestive issues, it is best to check with your vet before adding kale into a dog’s diet.
As always, we recommend checking with your vet first before adding any new food to your dog’s diet.
Benefits of making your own dog treats
- You control the ingredients and know exactly what you are giving your pup. You can ensure there are no harmful ingredients such as preservatives, additives or sugars.
- Added nutritional benefits – adding leafy greens provides helpful vitamins and minerals for your dog’s health.
- You can keep a batch, or batches like us, in the freezer so you always have some on hand.
- Making your own homemade dog cookies is significantly less expensive than buying packaged treats at the grocery store.
- By rotating with different homemade dog treats for your pup that are made with quality ingredients you are able to add to a well-balanced diet.
If you enjoy making your own dog cookies, you might also like try our Dog Treat category that includes our Peanut Butter and Banana Dog Treats, or Bacon Cheddar Treats. We also make our own homemade dog food. Here are a few favorites using an Instant Pot to check out – Instant Pot Homemade Chicken Dog Food and Beef Dog Food.
Equipment
- Baking trays
- measuring spoons and cups
- handheld mixer &/or whisk
- Mixing bowls
Ingredients
- 1 cup kale, minced
- 1 ½ cup whole wheat flour
- ½ cup creamy peanut butter, no added sugar or xylitol
- ½ cup applesauce, no added sugar or flavors
- 1 egg, large
- ¼ tsp baking soda
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 ℉. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or oil baking sheet to prevent sticking.
- In a medium mixing bowl add the wet ingredients (egg, applesauce, peanut butter). Using a hand-held mixer blend until peanut butter mixes in until smooth.
- In a large bowl, whisk to together the dry ingredients (flour and baking soda).
- Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix together until combined and forms into dough.
- Using a rolling pin, roll dough out onto a floured surface into 1/2 inch thickness. Cut the dough into fun shapes using a cookie cutter or use a knife to cut dough into shapes.
- Place cut out treats on the prepared baking sheet and place in the preheated oven for 12 minutes. The dog treats should be slightly golden brown on the bottom.
- Transfer baked treats to a cooling rack.
- Once cooled, serve to your pup to enjoy!
