That brown, spotty banana on your counter is perfect for banana dog treats. Ripe bananas mash easily, sweeten dough naturally and bind ingredients together, so you need only a few pantry staples. This banana dog treats recipe guide has two options, crunchy peanut butter banana biscuits and no-bake frozen banana bites, plus treats per day by weight, storage times, swaps for oat-free or peanut-free kitchens, and the one label you must check.
Recipes: baked peanut butter banana biscuits, frozen banana yogurt bites • Prep: 15 minutes • Cook: 18–22 minutes baking, or 3 hours freezing • Yield: about 40 biscuits or 30 bites • Difficulty: easy • Storage: biscuits 1 week airtight or 2 weeks in the fridge, freezer 3 months
Before you start: make sure your peanut butter and yogurt contain no xylitol.
Table of Contents
Why Bananas Work in Dog Treats
Bananas are safe for dogs in moderation and bring potassium, vitamin B6 and fiber. A medium banana has about 105 calories and 14 grams of natural sugar (USDA FoodData Central), so they’re better as a treat ingredient than a big snack. Our can dogs eat bananas guide covers portions of plain banana.
In baking, the riper the banana the better: brown speckles mean softer flesh that mashes smoothly and needs no added sugar. Spread across a whole batch, one banana adds only a little sugar to each treat.
Recipe 1: Peanut Butter Banana Dog Treats (Baked)
Baked Peanut Butter Banana Dog Treats
Ingredients
Method
- Heat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking tray with parchment.
- Mash the banana, then beat in the peanut butter and egg until smooth.
- Stir in the oat flour a half cup at a time until the dough no longer sticks to your fingers.
- Roll to about 1/4 inch thick between parchment sheets and cut with a 1 1/2-inch cutter. Reroll the scraps.
- Bake 18 to 22 minutes, until firm and golden at the edges.
- For extra crunch, leave the biscuits in the switched-off oven with the door ajar for an hour.
Notes
The batch adds up to about 1,180 calories using USDA values, so each biscuit is roughly 30 calories. Break them in half for small dogs.
Recipe 2: No-Bake Frozen Banana Dog Treats
No oven, no flour and no peanut butter. These are ideal for summer or for dogs that can’t have nuts.
Frozen Banana Yogurt Dog Bites
Ingredients
Method
- Blend the banana and yogurt until smooth.
- Spoon into a mini silicone mold or drop teaspoon-size dollops onto a lined tray. Press in a blueberry if you like.
- Freeze at least 3 hours, then move to a freezer bag.
Notes
Each bite is about 9 calories. If your dog doesn’t handle dairy well, blend the banana with plain canned pumpkin instead of yogurt. More cold ideas are in our frozen dog treats collection.
How Many Banana Dog Treats Per Day?
A good rule of thumb is that all treats together stay a small part of what your dog eats in a day. These amounts sit comfortably inside that limit for a healthy adult:
| Dog’s Weight | Est. Daily Calories | PB Banana Biscuits (~30 kcal) | Or Frozen Bites (~9 kcal) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 lb (4.5 kg) | ~350 kcal | ½–1 | 2–3 |
| 25 lb (11 kg) | ~690 kcal | 1–2 | 4 |
| 50 lb (23 kg) | ~1,160 kcal | 2–3 | 6–7 |
| 75 lb (34 kg) | ~1,580 kcal | 3–4 | 8–10 |
| 100 lb (45 kg) | ~1,960 kcal | 4–5 | 10–12 |
Our estimates for a typical neutered adult (70 × body weight in kg0.75 × 1.6), staying under the treat limit in the WSAVA treat guide. Choose one recipe per day, and count other treats too.
Storage and Shelf Life
| Treat | Room Temperature | Fridge | Freezer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crunchy, extra-dried biscuits | Up to 1 week, airtight | Up to 2 weeks | Up to 3 months |
| Softer biscuits | 1–2 days | Up to 1 week | Up to 3 months |
| Frozen banana bites | Serve straight from frozen | Not recommended | Up to 3 months |
Homemade treats have no preservatives. Throw out any that smell off or show mold.
Swaps: No Oats, No Peanut Butter, Grain-Free
- No oats: use whole wheat flour one-for-one, or about ½ cup coconut flour, which soaks up much more liquid.
- No peanut butter: replace it with ¼ cup plain canned pumpkin (not pie filling) and add a little extra flour; see our pumpkin dog treats for more ideas.
- Grain-free: chickpea flour or coconut flour both work. Add flour slowly until the dough holds together.
- Egg-free: skip the egg and add an extra 2 tablespoons of mashed banana or pumpkin.
- Lower calorie: cut smaller shapes, or try the frozen bites, which are about a third of the calories.
Love peanut butter? Our peanut butter dog treats recipe goes all in on it.
Puppies and Dogs With Health Conditions
Puppies can have a small piece of biscuit or a softened frozen bite once they’re eating solid food. Dogs with diabetes should only get banana treats with their vet’s approval, because of the natural sugar. Overweight dogs do better with the frozen bites in small numbers. Dogs with kidney disease may need to limit potassium or phosphorus, so ask your vet first.
Are banana treats okay for diabetic or overweight dogs? Use them sparingly, or choose the frozen bites, which have fewer calories.
How do you check for xylitol? Read every peanut butter label, including "birch sugar".
Is plain yogurt fine? Small amounts are fine for most dogs. Some get loose stools, so start with a little.
— Dr. Sarah Miller, DVM
Banana Dog Treats: Quick Guide
✓ Do
- Use ripe, spotty bananas
- Choose xylitol-free peanut butter and yogurt
- Dry biscuits well for a longer shelf life
- Break treats smaller for small dogs
✕ Don’t
- Add sugar, chocolate or raisins
- Share banana bread made for people
- Use sweetened or flavored yogurt
- Give a full handful at once
Every dog is different. Dogs with diabetes, weight issues or kidney disease should get their vet’s okay first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are banana dog treats healthy?
They can be, when made with simple ingredients and given in small amounts. Banana adds natural sweetness and fiber, but it also adds sugar, so these are treats, not a daily snack bowl.
Can I make banana dog treats without peanut butter?
Yes. Swap the peanut butter for plain pumpkin in the baked recipe, or make the frozen banana and yogurt bites, which have no peanut butter at all.
Can I make banana dog treats without oats?
Yes. Whole wheat flour works one-for-one, and coconut or chickpea flour make a grain-free version. Add flour gradually until the dough holds together.
Can dogs have banana bread?
Banana bread made for people usually contains sugar, butter and sometimes chocolate chips, raisins or nuts. It’s best not to share it. These homemade dog treats with banana are a safer alternative.
How long do homemade banana dog treats last?
Crunchy biscuits keep about a week in an airtight container, two weeks in the fridge and three months in the freezer. Frozen bites keep about three months in the freezer.
Can puppies have banana dog treats?
Yes, in small pieces once they’re eating solid food. Keep their puppy food as nearly all of their diet.
Find your next bake in our homemade dog treats guide, sorted into baked, frozen, meaty and holiday recipes.
The Bottom Line
Banana dog treats are an easy way to use up ripe bananas. Bake crunchy peanut butter banana biscuits or freeze simple banana yogurt bites, check every label for xylitol, and keep portions small because of the natural sugar. Find more easy recipes in our Homemade Treats section. This article is general information, not veterinary advice; see our Veterinary Disclaimer.
References & Sources
Written by CPD Nutrition Desk using the sources below. We are not affiliated with these organizations, and this guide is not a substitute for advice from your veterinarian.
- WSAVA — WSAVA treat guide
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration — Paws xylitol its dangerous dogs
- ASPCA — ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center