How to Make Peanut Butter Lollipop Dog Treats

Reward good dogs with peanut butter pops.

Chances are your dog loves peanut butter. The sticky, protein-packed treat is as popular with pups as it is with humans, and, as it does with humans, peanut butter adds variety to a dog's diet -- along with minerals and unsaturated fat. Many fancy dog boutiques sell pricey peanut butter-based biscuits, but you can create a far less expensive version at home, adding parsley for breath control, oats for dietary fiber and banana for extra phytonutrients. Placing the treats, lollipop-style, on a rawhide stick adds chewing satisfaction.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Hand soap
• 1 peeled banana, crushed
• 1 cup rolled oats
• 1/2 cup natural peanut butter
• 1 egg, cracked and beaten
• 1/2 cup chopped parsley
• Mixing bowl
• Wooden spoon
• Baking parchment paper
• Cookie sheet
• Potholders
• 12 thin rawhide sticks

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F, and wash your hands with soap and water.

2. Mix banana, oats, peanut butter, egg and parsley in the mixing bowl using the wooden spoon.

3. Line the cookie sheet with a layer of parchment paper.

4. Form batter into 12 equal-sized balls and place on the cookie sheet, evenly spaced.

5. Bake for 35 minutes. Using potholders to protect your hands, insert a rawhide stick into each ball, so it looks like a lollipop.

6. Allow the lollipops to cool completely. Store in a covered container for a maximum of five days.

References

• Whole Foods Market: Homemade Peanut Butter and Banana Dog Treats
• Paw Nation; 10 Human Foods Dogs Can Eat; Mary Kearl