It’s National Pet month! We have a brand new addition to our family, Yuki, a Great Pyrenees. To celebrate, I’m sharing a recipe for Baked Honey Cinnamon Dog Treats!

Baked Honey Cinnamon Whole Wheat Dog Treats

Disclaimer: Before making any homemade dog treats for your pets, make sure they are not allergic to any of the ingredients BEFORE feeding these to your dog. If you aren’t sure, talk to your vet to ensure the recipe is safe for your pet to consume and how many treats should be given to your dog daily.

How to Make Baked Honey Cinnamon Dog Treats

Ingredients

Whole wheat flour – If you don’t have or don’t want to buy whole wheat flour, all-purpose flour can be substituted. Yes, dogs can eat all-purpose flour in small amounts, but it doesn’t have any nutritional value. Using whole wheat flour will supply added fiber, protein, and minerals that aren’t supplied by all-purpose flour. [1]
Plain Whole oats – Oats are a great source of fiber to help keep your dog regular and vitamins for a healthy coat. Since it has lots of fiber, make sure you regulate the amount of treats given daily or it could upset your dog’s stomach. Quick oats can be substituted, but lacks any nutritional value. [2]
Ground flaxseeds – Flaxseeds have Omega 3 & Omega 6 fatty acids, which are good for a shiny coat and healthy skin. It also has anti-inflammatory properties and can help dogs lower blood pressure, improve kidney function, and help with joint issues. Might also help with both loose stool and constipation in dogs. [3][4] Note: Ground flaxseeds and Flaxseed meal are different. If you only find whole flaxseed, just use a food processor to grind up the flaxseeds. Then, take a mortar and pestle to grind it a bit more.
Cinnamon – Cinnamon is not toxic to dogs and is okay in baked goods. Of course, like anything else, it’s not advised to give large amounts of cinnamon to dogs. [5] The healthy benefits aren’t concrete, but there are studies that show cinnamon might be able to help stabalize blood sugar levels in diabetic dogs. It also has anitbacterial benefits and can help with food spoilage. [6]
Non-fat Plain Greek yogurt – Dogs can have plain Greek yogurt that are free of added sugars or sweetners. Especially check that there is no Xylitol, which is toxic to dogs. Note that the lactose in yogurt can cause gas, upset stomach, and vomitting. If these symptoms occur, consult your vet. [7]
Coconut Oil – Coconut oil has been increasingly used by holistic vets. The jury is out on all the health benefits of coconut oil for dogs, but it isn’t toxic to dogs in small quantities. When choosing a coconut oil, look for unrefined or cold press oil. [8]
Honey – Dogs can eat small amounts of honey. Most dogs can consume up to 1 tsp. per day and up to 2 tsp. for dogs over 50 lbs. If your dog is allergic to bee stings, is obese, or has other health issues, consult your vet before giving them honey. [9]
Water

Equipment and Tools Needed

Large Mixing Bowl – Bowl should be large enough to easily mix 4-5 cups of ingredients.
Measuring Spoons & Cups – Both are needed for measuring out the ingredeints.
Rubber Spatula or Mixing Spoon – For combining all the ingredients.
Rolling Pin – Dough needs to be rolled out prior to cutting.
Silpat – If you can roll your dough and cut it on your counter, this is not needed.
Cookie Cutter – bone shape or your choice of shape
Parchment Paper – Use to line the baking sheet so the dog treats won’t stick and there is no need to grease.
Baking Sheet – A large baking sheet for baking the treats.

Making Honey Cinnamon Whole Wheat Dog Treats

Overhead shot of all dog treat ingredients — Not all ingredients shown

Add all the ingredients into a large mixing bowl, except for the water. Optional – If the coconut oil is solid, melt it in the microwave for 10-15 seconds. If you skip melting the coconut oil, it should melt when the dough gets kneaded.

Mix ingredients for dog treats into a crumble forms

Mix ingredients until it becomes crumbly.

Add in water, a tablespoon at a time, until it forms into a dough. Note: If melting the coconut oil in the microwave was skipped and there are bits of coconut oil, use your fingers to break down the bits.

Roll out dough into 1/4″ thickness and use cookie cutter to cut out the treats. When no more treats can be cut out, roll the dough up into a ball and roll out again to cut more treats out. Note: This recipe will make about 38-40 treats if using a 3″ dog bone cookie cutter.

Place cut out dog treats on a parchment lined baking sheet. Bake at 350℉ for about 20 minutes. Then, turn off the oven and remove the baking sheet. Flip the dog treats over and place the sheet back into the oven (oven should be turned off) for another 10-15 minutes. This allows any excess moisture to evaporate in the warm oven. If you want a harder dog treat, leave the baking sheet in the oven longer.

How to Store Dog Treats

First, make sure the dog treats are fully cooled before storing. Any heat will cause condensation and moisture build-up, which in turn will speed up spoilage. Cooling can sometimes take 2-3 hours, so don’t rush this step or all your hard work will go to waste.
Store dog treats in an airtight container for up to 7 days at room temperature.
Any treats that cannot be consumed before the 7 days should be frozen in airtight containers and can be kept for several months.

Dog Biscuits

Name: Dog Biscuits
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 1 h
Yield: 38
Ingredients: 2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour; 3/4 cup non-fat plain Greek yogurt; 1/2 cup whole oats; 1/3 cup honey; 2 1/2 T. ground flax seeds*; 1 T. cinnamon; 3 T. coconut oil, melted; 5 T. water

Yield: 38-40

Prep Time: 25 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Additional Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour

How to make baked honey cinnamon whole wheat dog treats. A tasty treat for your dog.

Ingredients

2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
3/4 cup non-fat plain Greek yogurt
1/2 cup whole oats
1/3 cup honey
2 1/2 T. ground flax seeds*
1 T. cinnamon
3 T. coconut oil, melted
5 T. water

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350℉.
Optional - If the coconut oil is solid, melt it for 10 - 15 seconds in a microwave-safe bowl. This can be skipped and the coconut oil can be used in the solid state.
Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl, except for the water.
Mix the ingredients until it comes together and looks clumpy.
Add water, a tablespoon at a time, until dough forms into a ball and isn’t falling apart. Use your hands to knead for a minute, trying to incorporate any dry ingredients at the bottom of the bowl. If melting the coconut oil was skipped and there are bits of solid coconut oil in the dough, break them up with your fingers.
Use a rolling pin to roll out dough to about 1/4” thickness. Use a 3" bone-shaped cookie cutter or your chosen shape to cut out the dog treats. Once there is no more room to cut out shapes, ball the dough up and proceed to roll out and cut again. See notes.
Place treats on a parchment paper lined baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes on the center rack.
Turn off oven. Remove the baking sheet and flip treats over. Place the baking sheet and treats back into the oven for 10 -15 minutes (oven should be off). Remove from the oven to cool on the baking sheet. If you prefer harder treats, leave the tray in the off-oven for a bit longer. Note that cooling can take 2-3 hours.
To store, keep in an airtight container for up to a week. Any treats that can't be consumed within a week should be frozen in an airtight container. Frozen dog treats should last several months and can be taken out as needed.

Notes

For smaller dogs, roll dough out to 1/4" thickness and use a smaller cookie cutter. Bake treats for 20 minutes and check for desired hardness. Bake a bit longer if you prefer harder treats.

*If you cannot find ground flaxseeds, you can purchase regular flaxseeds and pulse them in a food processor for about a minute. Then, use a mortar and pestle to smash it. It won't be a fine ground, but it will be fine to use in the recipe.