Kia Pai Te Kai: 3-Ingredient Treats for Kuri

With the summer holidays in full swing, we’ve been spending more time at home with our newest pup, Billy. Since he’s not fully vaccinated yet, we’re keeping things low-key and sticking close to home. Today, I decided to try something fun—baking homemade dog treats! It’s a simple, healthy, and budget-friendly way to treat Billy, and I thought I’d share the recipe with you.

These homemade treats are made with just three ingredients—things I already had in my cupboard. Not only are they easy to make, but they’re also a much healthier alternative to store-bought options. Plus, they cost less than $6 to make a double batch with over 50 treats per batch! Billy and I both loved them, and I’m sure your pup will too.

For those in Northland, I highly recommend YourShelf in Kaitaia for fresh, high-quality ingredients. I love being able to grind my own peanut butter in-store, ensuring it’s free from added salts or preservatives. The organic oats I used came from there too, making it even easier to create these wholesome treats.

Kia Pai Te Kai: 3-Ingredient Treats for Kuri

Recipe: 3-Ingredient Dog Treats

Ingredients:

1. 2 ripe bananas (medium)

2. 1 and ½ cups of oats (organic preferred)

3. ½ cup of unsweetened peanut butter

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 180°C.

2. Mash the bananas in a bowl until smooth.

3. Add the peanut butter and mix until combined.

4. Stir in the oats (I blitz mine in a food processor to make the oats finer) until the mixture forms a dough-like consistency.

5. Roll out the dough to approximately 1 cm thick on a lightly floured surface.

6. Use a cookie cutter (I used a small star-shaped one for extra cuteness!) or cut into bite-sized squares.

7. Place the treats on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

8. Bake for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown – check the underneath to make sure it’s browned as well.

9. Let the treats cool completely before serving them to your pup.

These treats are perfect for spending a relaxing day at home, especially when you're looking for an easy and cost-effective way to spoil your dog. They’re made with wholesome ingredients, and I love that I can control exactly what goes into them.

After baking, I store them in an airtight container, and they last up to 2 weeks in the fridge, making them perfect for having treats on hand without the worry of preservatives.

Billy loved them, and I can’t wait to see how your pups like them too!