Baking dog biscuits at home: how to do it with and without a baking mat, including recipes

That look! The unmistakable puppy eyes when a treat is within reach – pure hope, eager anticipation, maybe even a touch of drama: Is there something? Of course there is: crispy, home-baked dog biscuits – free from unhealthy additives, packed with wholesome ingredients and made with plenty of love. Because the way to the heart is through the stomach – even for dogs. 

In this article, we're serving up our top favourite recipes for home-baked dog biscuits. You'll find everything you need to know about baking with and without a baking mat. Of course, our LuckyChef dogs tested every single recipe with great enthusiasm (and more than a little drooling anticipation). Verdict: super tasty and easy to digest. Our specialist veterinary nutrition team found the nutritional side rather more exciting than the dogs did: calorie and nutritional information is provided for every recipe. 

So, tie on your apron and get your hands in the dough – your dog's eyes will shine brighter than the kitchen spotlights.    

With or without grains?

The first step to healthy and delicious dog biscuits? The right ingredients! Not every dog tolerates everything well – some have intolerances or allergies, particularly to gluten. If you're unsure, it's best to go for a grain-free option. Before you start baking, decide what's right for your four-legged friend: dog biscuits with or without grains? 

Grain-free – for sensitive dogs & allergy sufferers:

• Buckwheat – not a grain & packed with nutrients 
• Coconut flour – high in fibre & easy to digest  
• Rice flour – gluten-free & particularly gentle  
• Potatoes & sweet potatoes – natural binders & easy to digest 

With grains – for dogs without intolerances:

• Oats – low in gluten & good for digestion
• Wholegrain spelt flour – a nutrient-rich alternative to wheat

Suitable ingredients for sensitive dogs

Does your dog react to certain ingredients? Luckily, there are plenty of healthy alternatives: 

Gluten-free flours – for a gentle, easy-to-digest base:

• Rice flour – easy to digest & gentle
• Coconut flour – high in fibre & good for digestion
• Potato flour – gluten-free & ideal for sensitive dogs

Easily digestible carbohydrates – filling & gentle:

• Sweet potatoes & potatoes – cooked & mashed as a natural flour substitute 

Natural sweetness – without artificial additives:

• Mashed banana, apple, coconut flakes and honey – adds a gentle sweetness & extra nutrients

Hypoallergenic proteins – for dogs with meat intolerances:

• Horse, lamb or duck – easy to digest & rich in nutrients

Fun shapes & colours for your dog biscuits: no artificial colours or preservatives  

Home-baked dog biscuits are pure love – and they come with one big advantage: you know exactly what's in them! No artificial colours, preservatives or flavourings, no artificial binders or fillers – just wholesome, natural ingredients that your dog can enjoy without a worry. 

Want your home-baked biscuits to be bursting with colour? These natural ingredients will make your treats beautifully vibrant: 

• Yellow with turmeric – not only creates a vibrant colour, but also provides valuable antioxidants. 
  Dosage: maximum 0.2 g per kg of body weight per day.  Example: a 10-kg dog can have a maximum of 2 g of turmeric per day.  
• Red with beetroot powder – delivers a rich colour and is packed with valuable nutrients. 
  Dosage: up to 0.1 g per kg of body weight per day.  Example: a 10-kg dog can have a maximum of 1 g of beetroot powder per day.  
• Green with spinach or blue-green with spirulina – natural colouring with an added boost of vital nutrients. 
  Dosage for spirulina: maximum 0.1 g per kg of body weight per day.

That way, your dog biscuits are a healthy treat and a real eye-catcher – completely free from artificial additives.  

The secret weapon for perfectly shaped dog biscuits? The baking mat! Whether hearts/half-spheres, bones or cute mini donuts – with a baking mat you'll have beautiful, evenly shaped treats in no time. 

Simply press the dough into the moulds, smooth it off with a silicone spatula, and pop the mat straight into the oven. It saves time and ensures perfectly shaped treats.  

Not every dough is suitable for the baking mat. To spread easily, it shouldn't be too firm – that way you can fill the moulds and smooth the surface without any trouble.  For our four-legged friends, the baking mat should also be made from high-quality material. Make sure your baking mat is made from food-safe, BPA-free silicone. 

No baking mat to hand? No problem! You can also roll out the dough and use cookie cutters to shape your biscuits, or simply roll small balls by hand. Alternatively, you can drop small portions onto the baking tray with a spoon. Please note: the thicker the biscuit, the longer the baking time.

Our practical tips:  

• The dough shouldn't be too runny so that it rolls out well. If needed, you can add a little coconut flour or potato flour to firm it up. 
• The thicker the dog biscuits, the longer they should dry after baking to make sure they turn out nice and crispy.
  

To get the perfect texture, follow these baking guidelines: 

• Baking temperature: 180 °C fan  
• Baking time: 25 to 30 minutes  
• Drying: Leave to cool on a wire rack after baking
  

How to make the biscuits last: 

• Remove the biscuits from the silicone mould and dry them at 50 to 80 °C fan for approximately 60 to 120 minutes with the oven door slightly ajar (tip: simply wedge a wooden spoon in the oven door). This allows any remaining moisture to escape. Drying time may vary depending on your oven and mould. Check in between to see whether they have reached the desired texture, and adjust the time and/or temperature as needed.
• Alternatively, you can dry the biscuits in fruit or laundry nets – ideal in a warm, dry spot such as above a radiator.

Our LuckyChef specialist veterinary team has developed simple and healthy dog biscuit recipes – complete with calorie counts and nutritional tables. Our dogs are crazy about them, and yours will love them too! 

Here are our dog biscuit recipes

1. Dog biscuits with oats 
2. Dog biscuits with liver sausage

Three freshly baked varieties are ready and waiting: oat biscuits, liver sausage biscuits and strawberry-coconut bites from the baking mat. Our LuckyChef office dogs can hardly wait – and they're taking their job very seriously: which biscuit tastes best? The suspense is building!

Sniff, taste, enjoy. There's chomping, chewing and drooling all round. Every biscuit gets its chance – and Archie makes them disappear faster than you can blink.

And the winner is ... The liver sausage dog biscuit won over every single taster – even the fussy Archie! Not a crumb left behind. Time to bake another batch!

Home-baked dog biscuits are so irresistibly delicious that your four-legged friend will wolf them down faster than you can say "sit!" So it makes sense to bake a good batch while you're at it!  

With handy baking mats, it couldn't be easier: simply mix your dog's favourite dough, fill the moulds – and just like that, one baking session gives you three full mats of delicious treats! It saves time, saves energy, and means you always have a crispy reward on hand. 

And to keep your treat stash nice and fresh, here are a few storage tips.

Storing dog biscuits

Home-baked dog biscuits are delicious, but they don't last forever – and that's a good thing! After all, they contain no artificial preservatives. How long your treats stay fresh depends on the ingredients. As a general rule: stored airtight in a cool, dry place, they will keep for several weeks.  

 But watch out, snack fiends (or rather: snack hounds)! Check your stash regularly – you want to give your four-legged friend only the best, not accidentally serve up vintage biscuits. If a biscuit smells off or feels different from when freshly baked, it's best to let it go.

Cool and dry storage:

• Store the biscuits in a paper bag or airtight container in a cool, dry place.  
• If they still have a little residual moisture, a paper bag will help to regulate it. 

Refrigerator storage:

• Only worthwhile if the biscuits are completely dry.  
• Store in an airtight container or plastic bag to prevent condensation. 

Freezing the treats

You've baked a whole batch of wonderfully fragrant dog biscuits – your dog is in snack heaven and ready to demolish them in record time. Hold on! Before everything vanishes in one go, here's a better idea: into the freezer! Simply let the biscuits cool completely, pack them in portions into an airtight container or freezer bag, and make sure they don't stick together – otherwise, instead of individual treats you'll end up with one giant biscuit lump. That way you always have a little stash of treats ready whenever you want to give your dog a special surprise! 

• Allow the biscuits to cool completely.  
• Freeze in an airtight container or freezer bag.  
• Defrost in portions as needed.