Make your dog's day by baking some healthy, 3 ingredient, wheat-free & dairy-free Sweet Potato Dog Treats!
It's not only me that loves sweet potatoes. My dog Chester does too. Whenever I cook them I always share some with him.
He loves my Peanut Butter & Banana Dog Cookies but I decided to change things up a bit and make him some with sweet potato. It was a good decision because he goes absolutely nuts for these Sweet Potato Dog Treats.
Because he enjoys them so much I thought that those of you with dogs might appreciate the recipe too. With only three ingredients they are super easy to make and are much healthier for your dog than many of the store bought, processed varieties available.
SWEET POTATOES
Sweet potatoes are not only very nutritious for us, they are also extremely good for your dog. They are full of vitamins and minerals and are also high in antioxidants which aid healing and help to protect against cancer. They are also a great source of dietary fibre which is good for your dog's digestive system and bowels.
Chester suffers from chronic ear infections and we have been advised by our vet to not feed him anything with wheat in it as it can make the problem worse. Because of this I usually make his cookies with oats as the grain component.
OATS
Oats are a well tolerated grain for most dogs and rarely trigger allergies. They contain anti-inflammatory and skin-soothing properties and are rich in silicon which helps make bones strong. They help prevent high blood pressure and clogged arteries and boost the immune system.
HOW TO MAKE THESE SWEET POTATO DOG TREATS
These Sweet Potato Dog Treats are very easy to make.
- Process the oats in a food processor until they are like coarse flour
- Add the sweet potato and coconut oil
- Process until well combined and add just enough water to bring it all together into a dough
- Roll out with a rolling pin, then cut into cookies with a cookie cutter or just use a pizza cutter to cut into pieces.
- Bake
That's it! So easy!
This is the food processor that I use when making this recipe. It handles dough like this really well:
And here are some super cute dog cookie cutters:
MODERATION IS KEY
As with all cookies, remember that moderation is key (as much as your dog might disagree!) These cookies are designed as a treat and should not be fed as a complete meal.
If you make these Sweet Potato Dog Treats for your dog, Chester and I would love to know what they both think of them. You can leave your feedback in the comments below and rate the recipe by hitting the yellow stars. I would love it if you could share some pictures with me too. I want to see your fur-babies eating their cookies! I am @avirtualvegan on Instagram and Twitter. If you use the hashtag #avirtualvegan I won't miss them.
Oh, and if you love sweet potato too, treat yourself with these Vegan Sweet Potato Pancakes with Caramel Sauce. They are divine!
Sweet Potato Dog Treats
Ingredients
- 180g / 2 cups rolled oats or quick oats
- 100g / ½ cup cooked sweet potato
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil
- 2 - 3 tablespoons water
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F
- Add the oats to a food processor and process until they are a course flour like consistency.
- Add the cooked sweet potato and the coconut oil.
- Process until well combined.
- Add the water 1 tablespoon at a time, pulsing in between each addition, until the mixture can be squeezed into a dough with your fingers,
- Tip out and knead together a bit so it's all in a big firm ball.
- Roll out to about 3 - 4 mm thick. I rolled mine out on a silicone mat but if you don't have one you might need to sprinkle some flour on the surface to stop the dough sticking. If your dog is wheat intolerant be sure to use oat flour (just process a few more oats until they are flour). You can also roll it out between two sheets of parchment paper if you prefer.
- Cut out into cookie shapes using a cookie cutter or just cut the dough into even pieces with a knife or pizza cutter.
- Carefully transfer the cookies to a cookie sheet and bake in the oven for 20 - 25 minutes. Keep an eye on them towards the end as they go from ok to slightly over done very quickly.
- Cool on a cooling rack and store in an airtight container.
Notes
Estimated nutrition per serving:
Jo says
I just made a batch of these for my two cockers they absolutely loved them,, the recipe is so natural and easy! I added pureed carrot and coriander to the recipe and baked them for a tad longer (30 mins) . Trouble is I have eaten a third of them and will have to make some more!!!!
Great wholesome natural recipe thank you!!
A Virtual Vegan says
Ha ha! So glad you and your dogs are enjoying them. I must admit to stealing Chester's on occasion too!
Linda Barry says
Just wanted to say thank you for sharing this recipe, I have two kerry blue terriers and I'm always looking for healthier options for them,they really loved them. So quick and easy to make. Thanks a million.
A Virtual Vegan says
You're welcome Linda. I'm so glad your dogs are enjoying them!
Lynnea says
I was wondering if anyone has frozen these? I was thinking about making them for a craft fair & it would be nice to make them ahead & freeze them.
A Virtual Vegan says
There is no need to freeze them. They keep for months in a sealed container so you can make them well in advance if you need to. I make Chester a massive batch about once every 2-3 months and they are still perfect come the end. Just make sure you bake them until they are really dry and hard so here is no moisture left in them.
Lisa says
Could I substitute the coconut oil for another oil you would recommend?
A Virtual Vegan says
I haven't tried it but I would imagine any other oil would work. Olive oil or flax seed oil would probably be good choices. You could probably even get away with using 2 tablespoons of peanut butter. If you do though be sure it is one with no additives. Peanuts should be the only ingredients. There are some additives in some peanut butters that are toxic to dogs and a lot of them have salt in too which isn't advised. Hope that helps!
Lynne says
I just made these sweet potato dog treats. I love making them as they are so quick and easy. Your tips on using a food processor and rolling the dough out using parchment paper made this task so simple. Clean up was a breeze. I have a 3 1/2 year old German Shepherd Dog, weighing 90 lbs. I have been making Ty's dog food for years, but just started making his treats, as he has developed some allergies and I want to know everything he puts in his mouth. I have made several treats, but none came out so perfect as these and he just loves them! Because, Ty, is a large dog he goes through treats quicker than his smaller doggie friends and I need to be able to make them as fast as he eats them, of course, he also shares them with his playmate friends. This is one recipe I can double up and make quickly.
But... the best part is I enjoy watching him crunch away on his new treats. This recipe is now our#1 top treat to make.
A Virtual Vegan says
Oh Lynne that's great! I am thrilled you and Ty like them so much and thank you for coming back to leave feedback. I really appreciate it. If Ty fancies a chance at any point I have a Peanut butter Banana Cookie recipe that he might like too. You can find it here https://avirtualvegan.com/peanut-butter-dog-cookies-2/
Jessica says
My three pits ..abbie rose..jaxson.and raider loved these, banana pb ones and the pumkin o es you have!! Abbie would sit at oven and talk to me cause she could smell them ..
I also use 1c yougurt 3/4 cup each blye berries and strawberries put in mold and freeze in deep freeze for two hrs pull out and put in butter dish in reg freezer..they like em and so do i:) with your pb oat and banana one i add kittle more ob and xtra banana and hqnd full of mini choc chips and bake same way..but u do round cut outs lol
A little tip for your ppl.
I ground my oats in tge ninja we use to make smoothies abd then i cream the pb and banana w two tblapoons of water it creams really easy in a bowl and takes alot of stress away .makes it enjotable to do while u have paws under your feet
Charlotte Campbell says
I made the Sweet Potato Dog Treats. My 2 year old Cane Corso loves them. I will be trying more of your recipes, I like knowing what I'm putting in my baby's body. Thank you from both, Samson and myself.
A Virtual Vegan says
I'm so glad Samson enjoyed them. Thank you for coming back to let me know. I really appreciate it!
Simon says
My dog love them. Thanks!
Marina says
After all the horrible news lately re: what is not good for our 4 legged friends ( chicken necks: & supermarket brand treats) I was so happy to find a simple and safe recipe for treats for my 5 month old puppy.
He made no hesitation in trying one before it cooled down.
A Virtual Vegan says
I'm so glad he enjoyed them Marina!
Amy says
Hi, I’m really excited to try this recipe because my chocolate lab is allergic to wheat and a lot of other grains but can eat oats. I was wondering if I could add some blueberries or other fruit to it because Kodi loves sweet potato mixed with blueberries. Thanks!
A Virtual Vegan says
Chester loves blueberries too! He likes to eat frozen ones as treats. Yes you could add them to these cookies but if you add them to the food processor they will get blitzed up which you and Kodi might not mind, and if you don't add them to the food processor the dough is really, really stiff so it will be hard to mix them in. If you do blitz them up you might need to add a little more oat flour to firm the dough up enough to roll it out. I suppose you could make the cookies and just push a few blueberries into the dough after you have rolled it out too. Chester likes to eat the dough uncooked like cookie dough balls so you could give Kodi some like that as well with some blueberries pushed in. The dough will keep uncooked in the fridge for a week. A few options for you! Cooked apple in place of the sweet potato works too and would be great with the blueberries.
Alice says
My Benji has been diagnosed with chronic kidney failure. I want to give him treats but they have to be low on protein and phosphorus. Is your sweet potato good or any suggestions. He also does not have many teeth left and son a vet prescribed renal suppot diet food.
Thanks
A Virtual Vegan says
Poor Benji. So sorry to hear that. There is about 1 gram of protein per cookie. I have no idea about phosphorus levels though. I have a feeling oats may be quite high? If sweet potatoes are ok, then you could make the cookies with refined white flour instead of oats if necessary. It will be more absorbent than oat flour so you will probably find that you need to add a little extra water to bring the dough together. Any cooked soft vegetable pureed up would work instead of the sweet potato if you need to swap that out too.
Chester absolutely loves frozen blueberries as a treat. I just googled them and they are apparently good because they are full of fibre and low in phosphorus and sodium. You might want to see if Benji likes them. He could have fresh ones if he can't manage chewing up the frozen ones. Kale stalks are a popular treat here too if the lack of teeth don't cause difficulties.
After writing this, I did just find this http://dogaware.com/health/kidneytable.html It seems to suggest that sweet potatoes might be ok? Looks like oats aren't though. Cooked macaroni looks like it could be an option as a treat. It might give you some more ideas.
Sorry I can't be of more help and I wish you both all the best.
Anj says
Thank you for your this recipe! I added two tbsp of flaxseed meal (and a little more sweet potato) and substituted the water with apple cider vinegar. My boy sat in the kitchen and watched the whole process. I used a bone cookie cutter and was able to stamp his initial in the middle too. They looked great and he was very excited to try his first one (it was gone in a blink!).
A Virtual Vegan says
Aaaw so glad he likes them! Love that he has his initials on them. So cute!
Alicia says
Can these be frozen? How long do they last? Do they need to be refrigerated?
A Virtual Vegan says
I have never tried freezing them. You probably could freeze them prior to baking. I would imagine if you did after they were baked they would get a bit soggy. And no they don't need refrigerating. Just keep them in an airtight container. They last like that for months.
Kimmie says
I always freeze my baked dog treats, and so far have not had any become soggy
A Virtual Vegan says
These cookies will not become soggy. They are really dry and hard and last for a couple of months in a sealed jar. There is no need to freeze them.
Shari Klinkerfuss says
My dogs love sweet potatoes for a snack, I have wanted to make them dog treats made with sweet potatoes instead of buying them already made which are so expensive. I will try these and let you know how they turn out. Also I have a dehydrator any ideas for it! Thanks
A Virtual Vegan says
I hope your dogs enjoy them! I have never used a dehydrator but I bet you could cut thick slices of sweet potato and dehydrate them so they are really tough and chewy. Apple slices too. I have done it in the oven but I bet the dehydrator would do a better job!
Kimmie says
I do sweet potatoes in dehydrator weekly for my pup, they’re her favorite treat! I cut them about 1/4”, and then depending on width of the potato (I live in ththe south and we get big sweet potatoes down here!) , I cut the slices in half. My dog likes hem chewy so I start checking after about 6 hours, then it’s just to your dog’s liking of chewy, crisp, or in between! And of course u can cut how vet u want, but I find the 1/4” thickness works best regardless of if sliced lengthwise, width wise etc!
Hailey A says
My chocolate lab ended up having a blood clot on her spine and I feel absolutely terrible having to force her to take her medication! So I made these, didn't have normal oatmeal so I used some baked apple instant oatmeal and she loves it! I poke a hole in the treat, put her treat in and she'll gobble it all down. Thank you!
A Virtual Vegan says
Aaaww the poor thing. Having had 2 blood clots in my leg this year I can really sympathize with her. They are incredibly painful. I'm so glad my treats are helping and I hope she makes a full recovery soon!