Cranberry dog treats recipe (2024)

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Cranberry dog treatsare an easy way to spoil your pup. This seasonal dog biscuit recipe is a great way to treat your dog to holiday cookies, with ingredients that are safe for them. These homemade treats also make a lovely gift during the holiday season to pups of friends, family and neighbors.

I’ll give you variations and substitutions where I can, plus helpful tips and tricks for success. Read on for this info as well as the recipe. If you’d like to skip straight to the recipe, use the jump to recipe button at the top of the post.

You may also be interested in myChristmas dog treatsand myoatmeal pumpkindog treat recipes. For ease of browsing, you can find all of my dog treats recipes in one place.

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Why you should make this recipe

Seasonal– During the holiday season, this is an easy, and special treat you can make for your pup.
Inexpensive– The ingredients for this cranberry dog biscuit recipe total less than a package of store-bought treats.
Make ahead– You can make the dough ahead of time and bake the next day. You can also bake these treats and store them in the fridge or freezer.

Cranberry dog treats

This recipe for cranberry dog biscuits is easier than making a batch of cookie dough – no mixer required! Just a bowl, a whisk and a sturdy spatula are all you need to make the dough.

I’ve rolled them out and cut shapes, but you can simply cut them into squares with a knife or a pizza cutter, if you prefer.

Ingredients

These homemade cranberry dog treats require pantry basics, no special equipment, and about 20 minutes of active time.

Ground oats– I ground up old-fashioned oats in the food processor for this recipe. If you have a powerful blender, you can also use that to grind oats.
Almond flour – This adds protein and a slightly nutty flavor to the treats.
Egg– Eggs provide moisture and structure to the dough.
- Substitution: If your pup has an egg allergy, replace with a chia seed “egg”. Directions below.
Coconut oil– Solid at room temperature, melt coconut oil in the microwave.
Cranberries – Chopped fresh cranberries add a seasonal flavor to the biscuits.
Water – You’ll need to add a bit of water to the dough.
Honey – A touch of sweetness (not too much) to balance the tartness of the cranberries.

How to make

Here’s a quick summary of how to make cranberry dog treats. Please see the recipe card at the bottom of this post for the full recipe.

Prep – Preheat oven to 350°F // 180°C. Whisk dry ingredients together in a medium mixing bowl. Whisk wet ingredients together in a separate bowl. Combine, then fold in chopped cranberries.
Roll – Roll the dough out to about 1/8 – 1/4 inch thick. Use a cookie cutter to cut out treats.
Bake – Bake treats for 22 – 25 minutes.
Cool – Remove treats from oven and let them cool slightly on the tray before transferring to a cooling rack to cool completely.

Fair warning –the dough will be a little sticky. If you want to roll it out and cut cute bone shapes, you’ll need to flour the countertop or cutting board first. You can also grind extra oats to use as your flour.

After you’ve cut as many treats as you can out of the dough, gather it up and re-roll it to cut out more treats. I used a 3″ cookie cutter, and got 2 dozen treats.

Cranberry dog treats FAQ’s

Can dogs eat cranberries?

Yes! Fresh cranberries are safe for dogs. If feeding your pup fresh cranberries: whole cranberries are a potential choking hazard, especially for small dogs, so cut them in half to avoid any risk. Also, feed in moderation to avoid upset stomach.

Can dogs eat dried cranberries?

Yes, they can, but in small quantities. Most dried cranberries contain a lot of sugar, which is not good for dogs. Double check the label to make sure they do not contain xylitol, which is a sugar substitute, and toxic to pups.

What is the best way to store homemade dog treats?

If you live in a cooler, less humid climate, you can store these treats in a cutedog treat jaron the counter for a couple of days. Because I live in a warmer, humid climate, I store them in the refrigerator.
You can also freeze them and take out a few at a time, which is what I do most of the time.

Variations and substitutions

Old-fashioned oats can be swapped for quick-cooking oats. You can swap out quick cooking oats for regular old fashioned oats. Do not swap out for flavored oatmeal. Those little packets are not good for your dog.
Oil– Swap olive oil for coconut oil, if needed.
Make drop-style dog biscuits. If you don’t want to roll out the treats, use asmall cookie scoop. Then flatten the tops with a fork. The good news is this – your dog does not care if the treats are cute bone shapes or not. Your dog just wants a cookie.
Chia seeds can be swapped for one egg. Combine 1 tbsp. chia seeds with 3 tbsp. water and let it gel for about 5 minutes.

Helpful tools and equipment

Heavy dutysheet pansthat hold up to high temps without warping.
Parchment paper sheetsare MUCH easier to use than tearing pieces off of a roll.
Bone shaped cookie cutters– This is the same set I have.

Check my list ofrecommended tools for making making dog treats.

More dog treat recipes

Looking for another homemade dog biscuit recipe? Most of these treats use only three or four ingredients, making them incredibly fast and easy.

Pumpkin peanut butter dog treats
Oatmeal applesauce dog treats
Chicken dog treats
Banana pumpkin dog treats
Soft pumpkin treats
Peanut butter banana treats

If your pup loves this recipe, please give it 5 stars!

I hope your dog loves this cranberry dog treat recipe! When you do make this recipe, it would be so helpful if you could rate it and leave a comment. I appreciate your feedback, and it helps other readers as well!

Cranberry dog treats

Cranberry dog treats are an easy, seasonal biscuit for your pup.

Prep Time15 minutes

Cook Time25 minutes

Total Time40 minutes

Ingredients

2 1/2 cups ground oats // 270g (measured after grinding)
1/2 cup almond flour // 48g
1 egg
2 tbsp. honey
2 tbsp. coconut oil, melted and cooled
1/3 - 1/2 cup water // 80 - 120ml
1 cup chopped fresh cranberries // 100g

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F / 180°C / Gas mark 4. Line baking sheet with parchment paper, and set aside.
Grind oats in a food processor, or blender, then measure 2 1/2 cups. (You'll need about 3 cups whole oats). If you prefer to leave the oats whole, the dog biscuits will have a coarser texture.
In a medium mixing bowl, combine oats and almond flour. Whisk to combine.
In a smaller mixing bowl, whisk egg with honey, coconut oil and 1/3 cup (80ml) water. *You may need more water, reserve the remaining water for now.
Pour the wet ingredients over the oat mixture and stir with a sturdy spoon or rubber spatula.
Fold in cranberries and work them into the dough. If dough feels dry, add in a tablespoon or two of the reserved water. The dough should hold together when you squeeze it in your hand.
Lightly flour the countertop, and use a rolling pin to roll the dough out to 1/8 - 1/4 in. thick. Use a cookie cutter to cut out the treats and place them on the prepared baking sheet. Re-roll the dough and cut out treats until all of the dough is used.
Bake for 22 - 25 minutes, until golden brown. Remove from the oven and let the treats cool slightly on the baking sheet before transferring them to a cooling rack to cool completely. *Never feed your dog treats hot from the oven.

Notes

To store treats: Store treats in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks, or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Because these treats do not contain preservatives, they will mold faster than store-bought biscuits.

Homemade dog treats make an excellent giftfor the pups of your friends and family!

*Grind oats in food processor or blender until fairly fine. Once oats are almost a flour consistency, remove them from the bowl of the processor and measure out 2 1/2 cups for recipe. Do not measure whole oats and then grind, the amounts will not be the same. 3 cups of whole oats yielded me the 2 1/2 cups I needed for the recipe.

*For EXTRA crunchy treats, increase bake time to 30 minutes. You can also turn the oven off after the baking time, crack the oven door open and let them dry out in the warm oven.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 75Total Fat: 3gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 8mgSodium: 4mgCarbohydrates: 10gFiber: 2gSugar: 2gProtein: 2g

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

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