Homemade dog biscuits: 8 easy recipes for Christmas
Eight tried-and-tested basic recipes with few ingredients and real gram amounts – from the classic with chicken liver and mini biscuits from the baking mat to grain-free biscuits for dogs with allergies. Every recipe shows how many kcal one biscuit has and how many of them your dog can have a day.
Updated on
- 8 recipes in grams
- kcal per biscuit
- No sugar or salt
In short
You bake dog biscuits from three or four ingredients: oats or wholemeal flour, an egg and something for flavour such as banana, cooked chicken liver or tuna – with no sugar, salt or spices. Depending on the recipe, a regular-sized biscuit has 16 to 21 kcal. Treats should make up no more than 10% of daily calories: a neutered, normally active 10 kg dog can have about 63 kcal in treats, and at around 19 kcal per biscuit that's 3 biscuits a day.
Dog biscuit recipes in grams
- Classic4 ingredientsDog biscuits with rolled oats, egg and chicken liverRolled oats, egg and cooked chicken liver – without salt or spices.≈ 21 kcal/biscuit45 biscuits1 hr
- 3 ingredientsMeat-freeBanana dog biscuits with just 3 ingredientsRipe banana, rolled oats, egg – perfect for your very first bake.≈ 19 kcal/biscuit40 biscuits40 min
- Baking matTrainingDog biscuits on a baking mat with baby foodA jar of vegetable purée, spread it smooth, done: around 200 mini biscuits for training.≈ 2.2 kcal/biscuit200 biscuits35 min
- With fishSavouryTuna dog biscuits: savoury and quick to makeA tin of tuna, an egg, flour – savoury biscuits for true fish fans.≈ 16 kcal/biscuit40 biscuits40 min
- For cutting outNuttyPeanut butter dog biscuits without xylitolNutty and crunchy – with pure peanut butter, guaranteed without xylitol.≈ 21 kcal/biscuit45 biscuits45 min
- ChristmasFor cutting outCut-out Christmas biscuits for dogsStars and trees made from apple, carrot and wholemeal flour – without sugar or spices.≈ 20 kcal/biscuit50 biscuits55 min
- With cheeseLow in lactoseCheese biscuits for dogs with ParmesanA little Parmesan, lots of aroma: cheese biscuits made from rolled oats and egg.≈ 19 kcal/biscuit40 biscuits40 min
- Grain-freeFor allergiesGrain-free dog biscuits for dogs with allergiesChickpea flour, pumpkin and egg – without wheat, spelt or oats.≈ 19 kcal/biscuit35 biscuits50 min
Biscuit calculator: how many biscuits your dog can have a day
Choose the biscuit, enter weight and age – the number updates instantly.
- If your dog gets other treats or chews that day, give fewer biscuits accordingly.
- Reduce the daily ration by these 58 kcal – that's about 16 g of dry food.
How the number is worked out
Resting energy requirement 70 × 10 kg^0.75 ≈ 394 kcal × factor 1.6 ≈ 630 kcal a day. No more than 10% of that for treats = 63 kcal. 63 kcal ÷ 19 kcal per biscuit = 3.3 → rounded down to 3 biscuits.
The 10% rule comes from the WSAVA's guidance on treats.
Result · Adult
Up to 3 biscuits
Regular-sized biscuits a day
Treat budget 63 kcal (10% of 630 kcal) · 1 biscuit ≈ 19 kcal
The DoggoMeal app works out main meals in grams per ingredient to suit your dog.How we calculate the biscuits
kcal per biscuit = total kcal of all ingredients ÷ number of biscuits. The nutrient values per 100 g come from USDA FoodData Central (SR Legacy). Water evaporates during baking – the biscuit gets lighter, but not lower in calories.
Daily requirement = 70 × body weight (kg) to the power of 0.75 × a factor for life stage, exercise and neutering – the same calculation as in the calorie calculator. Of that, no more than 10% for all treats combined, as recommended by the WSAVA. The number of biscuits is rounded down.
What can go into dog biscuits – and what can't
Dog biscuits don't need sugar, salt or spices. Some typical Christmas baking ingredients are even toxic to dogs – here are the most important ones at a glance.
Never in the dough
- Xylitol (birch sugar, E 967)Even small amounts can be life-threatening – often found in sugar-free products and some nut butters.
- Chocolate and cocoaContain theobromine, which is toxic to dogs – this includes baking cocoa and couverture chocolate.
- Raisins and grapesCan damage the kidneys even in small amounts. Sultanas and currants too.
- Onion, garlic, leekDamage the red blood cells – also as a powder or in sausages and stock.
- Macadamia nuts and nutmegTypical Christmas ingredients, both unsuitable or even toxic for dogs.
- Sugar, salt and spicesA dog biscuit doesn't need them. No honey, no syrup, no stock cubes, no gingerbread spice.
Good choices
- Rolled oats and wholemeal flourWheat, spelt or oats as the base – for dogs with allergies, chickpea or coconut flour.
- EggBinds the dough. One egg is enough for a whole tray.
- Banana, apple, carrot, pumpkinAdd flavour and moisture. Apple without the core, pumpkin cooked.
- Tuna in waterNot in oil, ideally without added salt.
- Pure peanut butterMade from 100% peanuts only – without sugar, salt or xylitol.
- A little hard cheese or cooked liverParmesan is low in lactose but salty. Cook chicken liver all the way through and use it sparingly – it contains a lot of vitamin A.
The full list with reasons is in foods that are toxic to dogs. If your dog has eaten any of these, call your vet straight away.
From the recipe collection and the magazine
Frequently asked questions
How many dog biscuits can my dog have a day?
All treats together should make up no more than 10% of daily calories. With biscuits of around 19 kcal, that's about 1 biscuit a day for a neutered, normally active dog weighing 5 kg, about 3 biscuits at 10 kg and about 6 biscuits at 25 kg. Puppies, seniors and very active dogs need different amounts – the biscuit calculator on this page takes that into account.
Which ingredients must never go into dog biscuits?
Xylitol (birch sugar), chocolate and cocoa, raisins and grapes, onion, garlic and leek, macadamia nuts and nutmeg. A dog biscuit doesn't need sugar, salt or spice mixes either.
How long do homemade dog biscuits keep?
Thoroughly dried biscuits keep for about two weeks in a biscuit tin. Biscuits with fish, banana or pumpkin stay softer inside and belong in the fridge, where they keep for about a week. Frozen, all varieties keep for around three months.
Can I bake dog biscuits in an air fryer?
Yes. Small rounds need about 10–14 minutes at 150–160 °C, in a single layer and turned halfway through. Air fryers heat differently, so check after 8 minutes the first time. Then let them cool and dry thoroughly.
Which dog biscuits are suitable for dogs with allergies?
For dogs that don't tolerate grain, the grain-free biscuits with chickpea flour. For dogs allergic to poultry or beef, the tuna or banana biscuits. During an elimination diet, treats are only given after talking to your vet.
Do I need a baking mat for dog biscuits?
No, baking paper works for every recipe. A silicone baking mat with small cavities is handy for very small training treats: you simply spread the dough over it, and one tray makes around 200 mini biscuits.
Bake biscuits, keep track of the daily ration
The DoggoMeal app knows your dog's weight, age and activity and shows recipes for main meals with grams per ingredient.
- Dog profile
- Recipes with gram amounts
- Allergy warnings
- Cooking with video
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