Skip to main content

PawTracks may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

Homemade Valentine’s Day treats for dogs: Biscuits, frozen yogurt, and more festive favorites

DIY Valentine's Day treats for dogs that are easy to make

With Cupid’s special day just around the corner, it’s important to think ahead when it comes to sweets and treats. You might have cards and candy ready for your coworkers, or even your kid’s school — but have you thought of anything for your furry friend? That’s right — there are plenty of ways to spoil your dog this Valentine’s Day, though almost any pup will appreciate a special something to eat.

Valentine’s Day treats for dogs come in all flavors and textures, but these DIY recipes are some of our favorites. You can make these dog treats from the comfort of your own kitchen — and your four-legged sous chef can be ready to do the sampling. After a little bit of cooking, your dog will be in for a delicious surprise!

A golden retriever wearing a bandana lies on his back and gets belly rubs
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Conversation heart biscuits for your four-legged Valentine

Nothing screams “Valentine’s Day” quite like conversation heart candies, and now you can make some for your dog, too. Rover’s The Dog People has a great recipe for “conversation heart biscuits” that uses only six ingredients and takes only an hour of your time. It doesn’t get much easier than that!

For this recipe, you’ll need:

  • 2 cups of oat flour
  • 2 cups of all-purpose flour
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 tablespoons of melted coconut oil
  • 1 cup of unsweetened applesauce
  • Natural food coloring

If you thought the ingredients were simple, wait until you see the directions! According to The Dog People, you’ll start by preheating your oven to 35o degrees Fahrenheit and combining all ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Once your dough forms, you can divide it and add the food colorings you like, or simply move on to rolling it out for the next step. Then, just cut out your hearts with your favorite cookie cutter, and bake for 20 minutes.

To add the “conversation” to the heart, The Dog People suggest using food-safe dye pens or canine-safe icing. This is the time to get creative!

An Australian cattle dog sits in the snow wearing a red scarf
Shutterstock

Strawberry and apple ‘jerky’ is a sweet, vitamin-packed treat for anyone in your home

Dried fruit isn’t just delicious — it’s also a healthy treat for anyone in your home. Any dog-safe fruit can be dried in your oven to create a fruit “leather” or “jerky,” though you may want to consider strawberries, apples, and raspberries for a Valentine’s Day theme.

According to cuisine queen Martha Stewart, oven-dried fruit should be baked at 225 degrees Fahrenheit. She recommends lining a baking pan with parchment paper and placing each piece of fruit 1/2 to 1 inch apart. Remember not to add any sugar to your fruit like she does, as extra sugar isn’t healthy for our furry friend.

The fruit dries in the oven for about 2 to 4 hours, though you’ll know it’s ready when the fruit has shriveled and the edges have dried.

A shih tzu wearing a pink bow in their hair and a read heart on their collar sits on a white surface
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Fruity frozen yogurt dog treats are just as easy to make as they are to eat

This fruity frozen yogurt recipe from Stylish Paws is another easy one that will take just a few minutes to put together. The hard part is waiting for them to freeze! All you’ll need to do is gather your ingredients, blend them in your blender, and then pour the mixture into ice cube trays or silicone molds. Why not choose a heart shape to make it festive?

The ingredients you’ll need include:

  • 1 banana
  • A handful of strawberries
  • 2 tablespoons of plain yogurt

That’s it! Of course, you can swap the fruits to include anything your dog likes, but a strawberry banana flavor is perfect for Valentine’s Day.

A shar-pei dog wearing a red party hat looks at a hand holding a heart-shaped lollipop
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Heart-shaped cookie cutters can make any biscuit — like this peanut butter treat — perfect for Valentine’s Day

If you’re short on time this February, you can use a heart-shaped mold or cookie cutter to customize just about any recipe or snack. Anything from frozen chicken broth cubes to basic dog biscuits could work!

One of our favorite classic biscuit recipes is the American Kennel Club’s peanut butter dog treat. They’re as simple to make as a batch of cookies!

You’ll need:

  • 2 eggs, beaten
  • 2 tablespoons of canola oil
  • 1/2 cup of peanut butter or peanut butter powder
  • 1/2 cup of all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup of tapioca flour
  • 1/2 cup of water

After preheating your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, combine all your ingredients together in a large mixing bowl. Transfer your dough mixture to any baking pan or mold, and then bake for 12 minutes — or until the edges begin to brown.

Sounds easy, right? None of these homemade treats for dogs are hard to cook up; it’s all a matter of finding what works for you and your pup. Try our frozen yogurt idea if you have spare room in your freezer, but if your pup prefers the taste of peanut butter, try the biscuits. The fruit jerky is great for whenever you have time to kill, and you can never go wrong with good-old conversation heart treats.

Which of these recipes is your favorite? More importantly — which of these will be your dog’s favorite this Valentine’s Day?

Editors' Recommendations

Gabrielle LaFrank
Gabrielle LaFrank has written for sites such as Psych2Go, Elite Daily, and, currently, PawTracks. When she's not writing, you…
Can dogs eat seafood? Yes, if you follow these tips
If your pup likes it, then why not make it a snack for them?
A brown French bulldog lies on the floor next to their black food dish

Dog food isn’t just chicken and rice. As healthy as these staples may be, variety is just as important when it comes to creating a balanced meal for your fur baby. There are many safe and nutritious protein alternatives to chicken or your regular dog food, including turkey, beef, eggs, and even fish. Yep — fish.
Many people foods are known to be safe for dogs, but seafood doesn’t usually make the list. Fish certainly isn't the most popular food for dogs, which might have left you wondering: Can dog eat seafood? Is seafood bad for dogs?

Can dogs eat seafood?
Absolutely! Dogs can eat seafood, but only when it’s prepared correctly. The meat of many fish species contains healthy fats and nutrients such as omega-3s that are great for a dog’s coat, but you must be extremely careful not to feed your dog certain parts of the fish, including bones — or shells, in the case of shellfish. Any seafood your pup gets also needs to be completely cooked, or you run the risk of bacterial or parasitic infection.

Read more
Can dogs eat Christmas foods? Here’s what to share and what to skip this holiday season
Most common Christmas foods you can and can't share with your dog
A border collie wearing reindeer antlers looks over the dinner table

It’s the most wonderful time of the year -- for festivities and for food! From peppermint everything to Mom's famous roast turkey, there’s no shortage of delicious Christmas delicacies for to enjoy. Here’s where it gets complicated, though: These recipes aren’t necessarily safe for everyone in your family. Only some human foods are safe for dogs. Since canines have their own dietary needs and preferences, there are many festive treats they should stay away from.

Many of these are known no-nos for dogs -- chocolate, grapes, alcohol, etc. -- but a few may surprise you. We’ll cover popular holiday snacks, main courses, and even a few sweet treats, though a quick online search will help you learn about any ingredients we might have missed. When in doubt, you'll never go wrong buying your dog their own holiday treats!

Read more
Is your old dog not eating? It probably has nothing to do with hunger
Older dog not eating? Common explanations and what you should do
Overhead shot of dog paws and a bowl of kibble

Your dog is not only your best friend, but also a member of your family. That's why it can be so special to watch them grow up and grow old. Sharing your life with a senior dog is a joy and a privilege, especially when you've been through so much together. But caring for an older pet won't be without its challenges.

Just like the bump in health issues we see in human senior citizens, an increased risk of health problems is also common in senior dogs. Older dogs frequently experience changes in their eating and sleeping patterns, such as snoozing more often or a decrease in appetite. While small, gradual shifts are to be expected, sudden changes are worth looking into.

Read more