Making dog treats at home doesn’t just feel rewarding—it’s also better for your dog.
Bananas provide natural sweetness without added sugar, while their low-calorie content makes them a healthy option.
Plus, baking your own treats means you control the ingredients, avoiding unnecessary fillers or preservatives.
These muffins are a fun way to spoil your furry friend while keeping them happy and healthy.
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Ingredients for Banana Dog Muffins
When it comes to homemade treats for your dog, what goes in the bowl (or muffin tin) matters just as much as what doesn’t.
Banana dog muffins use simple, wholesome ingredients that are safe and healthy for your dog. Each ingredient plays a role in flavor, texture, and nutrition, making this recipe not just a treat, but a thoughtful option for your furry friend.
Main Ingredients
Here’s a breakdown of the key ingredients you’ll use to whip up these banana dog muffins:
- 1/2 Cup Whole Wheat Flour
Provides a rich, nutty flavor and more fiber than regular flour, keeping your dog’s digestion healthy. - 1/2 Cup All-Purpose Flour
This balances the texture of the muffins, ensuring they’re soft enough for dogs to enjoy. Think of it like the glue keeping everything just right. - 1/4 Teaspoon Baking Powder
Helps the muffins rise slightly, so they’re light and airy. It’s dog-safe in small amounts like this. - 1/4 Teaspoon Baking Soda
Balances the acid from the banana and applesauce, ensuring the muffins bake evenly. Tiny quantities like this are perfectly fine for your dog. - 1 Egg
Acts as the binder in the recipe while adding protein. - 1/2 Cup Mashed Banana (About 1 Large Banana)
Bananas are packed with potassium, a mineral that supports your dog’s heart and muscles. Plus, they add natural sweetness without artificial sugars. - 1/2 Cup Applesauce
Applesauce is a great alternative to oils or butter that keeps the muffins moist while adding vitamins and a touch of sweetness. - 1/4 Cup Creamy Peanut Butter
Choose a natural peanut butter that’s free from xylitol (a harmful sweetener for dogs). It adds a flavor most dogs can’t resist.
Each of these ingredients works together to create muffins that are nutritious, easy to prepare, and, most importantly, tail-waggingly good.
Step-by-Step Recipe for Banana Dog Muffins
Banana dog muffins are easy to make and packed with healthy ingredients your dog will love. Here’s how to prepare, bake, and store these homemade treats so they come out perfect every time.
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 350°F.
Choose either a mini muffin pan or regular size muffin pan. Line it with cupcake liners. Do not use non-stick spray unless you have a dog safe variety (not all common cooking sprays are safe for dogs). If you don’t have paper liners for the size muffins you want, you can try baking them without preparing the pan, but they will stick and be difficult (but not impossible) to get out of the pan.
In a mixing bowl, mash one large ripe banana (about ½ cup). Make sure to get out as many lumps as possible.
Add in the rest of the wet ingredients, ½ cup of unsweetened applesauce, 1 egg, and ¼ cup of all-natural peanut butter (no xylitol!). Combine until smooth.
In a separate bowl, mix ½ cup whole wheat flour, ½ cup all-purpose flour, ¼ teaspoon baking powder, and ¼ teaspoon baking soda.
Add the dry ingredients to the banana mixture.
Stir gently until fully incorporated.
Fill each muffin cup about ¾ full.
Bake mini muffins for 10 to 15 minutes or full-sized muffins for 25 to 30 minutes. Keep an eye on them during the last few minutes.
Insert a toothpick into the center of a muffin. If it comes out clean or with dry crumbs, they’re ready! If there’s batter on the toothpick, give them another couple of minutes and check again.
Once baked, allow the muffins to cool in the pan for 5 to 10 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack.
Once cooled, give one to your dog and store the rest in an airtight container for a couple of days or in the fridge for up to 5 days.
For longer storage, freeze in a freezer bag or other freezer safe airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge or microwave for a few seconds to soften.
If microwaving, make sure there are no hot spots before giving it to your dog.
Serving Suggestions
Always consult your veterinarian before giving your dog new foods.
These should be fed to your dog as a special treat and only given occasionally.
Also, limit the size based on the size of your dog. Small dogs should be given a mini muffin or less.
Large dogs can have up to a regular-size muffin depending on just how large they are and if they are on a diet.
Since Luna is always on a diet (the vet wants to keep her from getting overweight again) I give her no more than half a regular-size muffin or a mini muffin just like Morgan and not every day.
I have to watch Morgan’s weight as well, but not as closely as Luna’s since she isn’t predisposed to hip issues like Luna is.
Regardless of the size of your dog, treats are supposed to take up no more than 10% of their diet daily.
Baking Soda and Baking Powder: Are They Safe for Dogs?
When baking banana dog muffins, you might wonder about the safety of certain ingredients like baking soda and baking powder. These leavening agents are common in recipes, helping baked goods rise and achieve a fluffy texture.
But when it comes to dogs, understanding their safety is key.
What Do Baking Soda and Baking Powder Do in Recipes?
Both baking soda and baking powder are leavening agents. They create gas when mixed with acidic or liquid ingredients, making baked goods rise. Here’s how they function in your dog muffin recipe:
- Baking Soda: Reacts with acids (like bananas or applesauce) to create carbon dioxide gas. This gas creates air pockets, leading to a lighter texture.
- Baking Powder: Contains both an acid and a base, so it doesn’t need an external acid to activate. It’s often used to provide a more consistent rise.
Safe Amounts for Dog Treat Recipes
In low amounts, baking soda and baking powder are safe for dogs.
A pinch or two, like the 1/4 teaspoon in this recipe, is well below harmful levels. Why is this important? Dogs are smaller than humans, so they process these ingredients differently.
If you stick to dog-specific recipes, the levels used are carefully controlled to prevent harm.
Always measure precisely and avoid overdoing it to keep your dog safe.
For more information, the American College of Veterinary Pharmacists has a chart with the toxic levels of baking soda for various sizes of dogs.
Banana muffins for dogs are more than just a treat, they’re a guilt-free treat you can give your dog.
Banana Dog Muffins
Easy banana muffins for dogs.
Ingredients
- 1/2 c mashed banana
- 1/2 c applesauce
- 1/4 c peanut butter
- 1 egg
- 1/2 c whole wheat flour
- 1/2 c all purpose flour
- 1/4 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp baking soda
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F.
- Line a muffin pan with paper liners (use either a mini or regular muffin pan)
- In a mixing bowl, mash one large ripe banana (about ½ cup). Make sure to get out as many lumps as possible.
- Add the rest of the wet ingredients, ½ cup of unsweetened applesauce, 1 egg, and ¼ cup of all-natural peanut butter (no xylitol!). Combine until smooth.
- In a separate bowl, mix ½ cup whole wheat flour, ½ cup all-purpose flour, ¼ teaspoon baking powder, and ¼ teaspoon baking soda.
- Add the dry ingredients to the banana mixture.
- Stir gently until fully incorporated.
- Fill each muffin cup about ¾ full.
- Bake mini muffins for 10 to 15 minutes or full-sized muffins for 25 to 30 minutes.
- Insert a toothpick into the center of a muffin. If it comes out clean or with dry crumbs, they’re ready!
- Allow the muffins to cool in the pan for 5 to 10 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack.
- Once cooled, give one to your dog and store the rest in an airtight container for a couple of days or in the fridge for up to 5 days.