„Strawberries provide vitamin C, coconut delivers easily digestible fats and the beef mince adds high-quality protein – a snack that tastes great and actually does something. For the final test, our dogs took over: verdict – delicious."
Strawberry & coconut bites – what's inside
Does your dog love treats? Then they'll wolf down these strawberry and coconut bites from the baking mat. The recipe combines fruity strawberries with fine coconut flakes and hearty beef mince – a mix that wins over even fussy eaters. Thanks to the baking mat, the bites turn out evenly shaped and are perfect for the next walk or as a reward in between.
The recipe is one of our top recipes and was developed by our team of vets. When you bake them yourself, you know exactly what's inside: no colourings, flavourings or preservatives – just natural ingredients your dog tolerates well.
Ingredients for the strawberry & coconut bites
Only the best goes into the treat jar – a combination of high-quality, natural ingredients:
- 100 g beef mince (raw)
- 1 tsp coconut oil
- 80 g strawberries (fresh or thawed)
- 100 g cooked sweet potato (alternatively: potato flour)
- 1 small banana (approx. 80 g)
- 1 egg
- 10 g honey
- 50 g desiccated coconut
- 70 g grain-free flour (e.g. coconut, chestnut or buckwheat flour)
- 60–100 ml water, unsalted broth or coconut milk (to adjust the consistency)
approx. 140 kcal per 100 g of strawberry and coconut bites. Count treats as part of the daily ration – as a rule of thumb, snacks shouldn't exceed around 10 % of the daily calories.
Step-by-step preparation
Just a few simple steps and the perfect bites for your dog are ready:
- Preheat the oven
Preheat the oven to 160 °C (fan). While your dog waits expectantly outside the kitchen, you can get started right away.
- Gently cook the mince
Heat 1 tsp coconut oil in a pan and cook the beef mince over low heat until it's just done. That keeps it juicy and full of flavour.
- Prepare the dough
Blend the strawberries, cooked sweet potato, banana, egg and honey into a smooth purée with a hand blender. Add the cooled mince and blend until fine.
- Stir in coconut and flour
Stir in the desiccated coconut and your grain-free flour of choice until you get a spreadable consistency. If the dough is too firm, gradually add water, unsalted broth or coconut milk.
- Spread into the baking mat
Use a dough scraper to fill the mixture evenly into the wells of the baking mat and smooth it off.
- Bake and dry
Bake at 160 °C (fan) for about 25 minutes until golden. Then release the bites from the mat and dry them in the oven for 60 to 120 minutes at 50 to 80 °C with the door slightly ajar. Drying time varies by oven – check now and then and adjust the time or temperature as needed.
- Let them cool
Even if your dog is getting impatient: the bites need to cool completely before they go into the treat jar.
Baking mat tips
A baking mat gives you evenly shaped bites in no time – whether hearts, bones or donuts. To spread the dough well, it should be spreadable but not too runny.
- Adjust the consistency: too firm? Add a little water or coconut milk. Too runny? A spoonful of coconut or potato flour.
- Bake in batches: fill several mats at once and you'll always have a stash ready while saving time and energy.
- Safe material: make sure your mat is food-grade, BPA-free silicone – after all, your dog eats from it.
No baking mat? No problem: roll out the dough and cut out shapes, roll small balls, or spoon portions onto a baking tray. The thicker the bites, the longer the baking and drying time.
Storage & freezing
Homemade bites contain no preservatives – which also means they don't keep forever. Here's how to keep them fresh:
- In the fridge: airtight, ideally only once the bites are fully dried.
- Freezing: portion the cooled bites into a freezer bag or container – that way they keep for months. Thaw individual portions as needed.
Because there's meat in the dough, check regularly. If a bite smells off or feels different from freshly baked, throw it out. When in doubt: bake a fresh batch.
Why homemade is better
Many shop-bought snacks contain unnecessary additives, preservatives or even sugar – nothing your dog needs. Bake them yourself and you know exactly what's inside, and you can tailor the ingredients to your dog's needs.
Whether as a reward after a walk, as a training snack, or simply in between: these bites are a real treat for your dog – and good for them at the same time.
Handy too: baking mats & dough scraper
LuckyChef Baking Mat Starter Kit (set of 3)
LuckyChef Baking Mat for Dog Biscuits – Hearts with Hemispheres
LuckyChef Baking Mat for Dog Biscuits – Donuts
Baking Mat for Dog Biscuits – Large Bone | LuckyChef
LuckyChef Baking Mat for Dog Biscuits – Small Bone
LuckyChef Dough Scraper
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Yes. In moderation, strawberries are well tolerated by dogs and provide vitamin C and fibre. In this recipe they're finely puréed and used sparingly – ideal for a fruity snack.
Yes. Roll out the dough and cut out shapes, roll small balls, or spoon portions onto a baking tray. The thicker the bites, the longer the baking and drying time.
Coconut flour (very absorbent, high in fibre), chestnut flour (slightly sweet) or buckwheat flour (good for allergy-prone dogs) all work well. Coconut flour needs a little more liquid – adjust the consistency with water or coconut milk.
Yes. For sensitive dogs you can switch to easily tolerated protein sources such as turkey, lamb or horse. Introduce new ingredients in small amounts and watch how your dog tolerates them.
Well dried and stored airtight in the fridge, they keep for a few days. To build a stash, freeze them in portions – that way they last for months. Because they contain meat, always check the smell and texture before feeding.
