Gummy Dog Treat Recipes
This gummy dog treat recipe can be made using a whole variety of delicious and healthy ingredients, so your dog will never get bored with his gummies and you'll feel good about making them for him!
Bone Broth & Turmeric GummiesIf you want to skip right to the recipe, use these quick links:
The Benefits of Gelatin for Dogs
The 'active ingredients' in gummy treats are collagen (a protein) and Glycine (an amino acid) which are both found in gelatin.
Collagen is great for your dog's skin, coat and digestive system.
Glycine is anti-inflammatory and helps protect his bones and joints as well as being beneficial for brain health.
In the wild, dogs eat gelatin naturally as it's found in the skin, bones, tendons and cartilage of their prey.
Your good boy can get his share of healthy and nutritious gelatin in any of the dog gummy recipes on this page.
Of course the other ingredients in dog gummy recipes should all bring their own benefits and nutrients which, when combined with gelatin, make these tiny, wobbly, fun little treats nutrient-dense as well as delicious.
Choose the right gelatin for your dog's gummy treats
When you're buying gelatin to make gummies for your dog please be sure to avoid any that contain sugar or other natural/artificial sweeteners, or other colors or additives. None of these are good for your dog.
Look for unflavored and unsweetened gelatin. I like the Knox brand powdered gelatin (you can find it in most grocery stores or online at Amazon).
Also, NEVER give your dog anything which contains Xylitol as it is poisonous to dogs and just a little could be fatal.
Basic Gummy Dog Treat Recipe
Making gummies for your dog is super simple and can be done in a couple of different ways. I've found this to be the simplest (and most foolproof) method and you can adapt it to make savory or sweet treats depending on the ingredients you use.
Below you'll find two recipes, one for savory gummies and one for sweet ones. Each uses 2 tbsp powdered gelatin to 3/4 cup liquid and then has additional ingredients for color/flavor. This works for pretty much all combinations!
After each individual recipe I've also added a list of possible substitutions/alternative ingredients so you can mix-and-match to make your own dog gummy creations.
This is very helpful for dogs who have allergies, digestive system problems or specific health conditions and of course it also allows you to tailor your dog's gummy treats to his personal taste!
These recipes make dog gummies which are mid-range in terms of jiggly-ness. For firmer treats increase the gelatin a little, for softer ones reduce it a little. If you use too little gelatin the treats won't set so I wouldn't suggest using less than 1 tbsp for 3/4 cup of liquid.
Silicone Molds are Fun & So Easy to Use!
The most versatile items in my dog treat baking cupboards are my collection of silicone molds. They're the absolute best way to make dog gummies but they're also perfect for frozen dog treats, soft treats and pupcakes. I have heart shapes, paw prints and dog bones as well as round ones and mini cupcake sizes. I'm planning on adding some tiny teddy bears and some dinosaurs next!
 
|
 
|
 
|
 
|
How to store dog gummy treats...
Your gummy dog treats need to be stored in the refrigerator to prevent them from becoming soft and sticky. They also have a tendency to mold quickly so it's important to check them regularly.
If you add a few drops of mold inhibitor to your recipe that will help too.
To help gummies keep their shape/texture longer I'd recommend spreading them out on a plate, tray or sheet of wax paper and leaving them uncovered in the refrigerator for several hours of overnight before storing in an airtight container.
Or, try tossing them in cornstarch to absorb any extra moisture and make sure they don't stick to each other, before putting them into an airtight container in the refrigerator.
You can freeze your dog's gummies too! They keep for months that way but are best offered to your dog frozen as they'll get sticky and soft if left to defrost first. Your dog will just think they're frozen treats that taste yummy!
Bone Broth & Turmeric Dog Gummies
Bone broth is liquid gold in terms of nutrition! It contains a host of valuable nutrients (including gelatin) which play a role in joint, digestive system and immune system health. It's also easy to digest and helps the body rid itself of toxins by supporting healthy liver function.
You can make bone broth yourself at home or buy it ready made. I've done both. If you buy it ready made, choose the organic option and make sure it doesn't contain other unnecessary ingredients.
Turmeric is a spice which contains curcumin which has strong anti-flammatory properties, it's also been shown to have anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-cancer and anti-oxidant effects. So, another superfood.
Your dog's body absorbs curcumin much (up to 2000% better according to Dr. Michael Greger MD) when it's combined with black pepper so I include a dash of freshly ground pepper in the ingredients for these dog gummies.
Bone broth, turmeric and gelatin combine to make a gummy dog treat recipe that no dog can resist... and you'll know how good for him those yummy treats really are.
Ingredients List
- 3/4 cup bone broth
- 2 tbsp powdered gelatin
- 1/8 tsp turmeric
- Dash of black pepper
Yield:
This recipe makes approximately thirty-six, bone shaped dog gummy treats
Instructions
- Pour 1/2 cup of the bone broth into a small saucepan
- Stir turmeric and pepper into broth in saucepan
- Use moderate heat to bring broth to a boil
Meanwhile...
- Sprinkle gelatin over remaining 1/4 cup of bone broth
- Allow it to sit for 4 to 5 minutes for broth to absorb the gelatin
- Put silicone molds onto baking tray for stability
Powdered gelatin is absorbed by cold liquid a little differently than you might expect, but although it may look slightly odd rest assured this is totally normal. This process is sometimes called 'softening' or 'blooming', expect it to look something like this....
- Once the broth in saucepan comes to the boil, remove it from heat and allow to stand for 30 seconds to one minute
- Slowly pour hot broth into cold broth/gelatin mixture and whisk well until thoroughly blended
- Fill silicone molds to the top with broth
- Allow to cool,then refrigerate for at least 3 hours until gummies are firm and 'set'
- Pop carefully out of molds and store in refrigerator for 5 - 7 days* or for up to four months in your freezer. See HERE for more info. on storing dog gummies.
* Depending on ingredients your dog gummy treats may keep well for between five and seven days. Some mixtures stay firmer longer than others.
Savory gummy dog treat recipe variations
I always use bone broth as the liquid in my dog's gummies because it's so healthy and nutritious, but you could also use chicken, beef or vegetable stock or bouillon as alternatives, or low sodium broth.
When it comes to what else you can add to your savory dog gummies you can use any of these, either alone or in combination:
- Finely chopped fresh parsley
- Finely chopped fresh mint
- Kale leaves (I'd suggest pureeing these first)
- Grated carrot
- Finely shredded chicken or turkey breast
- Pureed sweet potato
- Pureed pumpkin
- Savory stage one baby food
- Creamy peanut butter (works in both savory and sweet gummies)
- Nutritional yeast (fine powder works better than flakes)
- Ground flaxseed
Fruit Juice & Honey Dog Gummies
This sweet gummy dog treat recipe combines all natural fruit juice with raw honey for a nutritious and delicious result.
Fruit juices contain a variety of vitamins and minerals, depending upon the fruit. They're also naturally sweet so choose unsweetened varieties.
Pure, raw honey contains a range of vitamins, minerals and enzymes. It also has antiviral, antibacterial and antioxidant properties.
Ingredients List
- 3/4 cup pear juice
- 2 tbsp powdered gelatin
- 1 tsp raw honey
Yield:
This recipe makes approximately thirty, paw-print shaped gummies
Instructions
- Pour 1/2 cup of the pear juice into a small saucepan
- Use moderate heat to bring juice to a boil
Meanwhile...
- Sprinkle gelatin over remaining 1/4 cup of pear juice
- Allow it to sit for 4 to 5 minutes for juice to absorb the gelatin
- Put silicone molds onto baking tray for stability
Then...
- Once the juice in saucepan comes to the boil, remove it from heat and allow to stand for 30 seconds to one minute
- Slowly pour hot juice into cold juice/gelatin mixture and stir to mix
- Stir honey into warm mixture and whisk until fully blended
- Fill silicone molds to the top with juice/honey mixture
- Allow to cool,then refrigerate for at least 3 hours until gummies are firm and 'set'
- Pop carefully out of molds and store in refrigerator for 5 - 7 days*
Sweet dog treat gummy variations
When it comes to sweet gummy dog treats, fruit juice is an obvious choice for the liquid part of the recipe, but not all fruit juices are okay for dogs, or work well in gummies.
Apple and pear juices are my go-to choices for dog treat gummies.
Also make sure the juice you choose doesn't contain a lot of sugar or artificial sweeteners.. and NO XYLITOL it's highly toxic to dogs. Grape juice is also poisonous to dogs so don't use that!
Pineapple juice will prevent the gummies from setting properly.
Other possibilities for the liquid part of sweet dog gummies include coconut water or coconut or almond milk, or skim dairy milk. You can even use just plain water, especially if you're pureeing fruit as part of the recipe.
Now the fun part, the additional ingredients you can use in your sweet dog gummy treats:
- Pureed, mashed or chopped fruit*
- Finely shredded unsweetened coconut
- Grated apple
- Peanut butter
- Almond butter
- Cinnamon or ginger add a little zing
- Carob powder
- Pumpkin puree can work in sweet gummies too
- Plain, fat-free yogurt
*Favorites are bananas, strawberries, pears, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries and watermelon.
Crushed pineapple is good too but it might interfere with the way the gummies set, making them a little softer. Increase the gelatin by 1 tsp to help with this.
Avoid grapes (poisonous to dogs) and citrus fruit
If you want to add a little extra sweetness, instead of honey try:
- Maple syrup
- Barley malt syrup
- Coconut nectar
Your Favorite Gummy Dog Treat Recipes
Do you have you're own favorite gummy dog treat recipe?
Is there one combination of yummy ingredients that your dog simply can't resist?
If so, you have the perfect opportunity to share it with other dog owners by creating your own page on my site!
Share Your Favorite Gummy Dog Treat Recipe
Do you have your own favorite recipe for homemade gummy dog treats? If so, you can have it featured right here on this site!
You Might Also Like These Recipes...
- Home
- Easy Dog Treat Recipes
- Gummy Dog Treat Recipes
- Home
- Gluten-Free Dog Treat Recipes
- Gummy Dog Treat Recipes