How to Make Banana Dog Treats Without Flour
Short answer: Yes, you can make great banana dog treats without any flour. Ripe bananas, xylitol-free peanut butter, and rolled oats bind together into a soft, bakeable dough on their own, so there's no need for wheat or all-purpose flour. Below is the simple recipe we use, plus why flourless works well for dogs with grain sensitivities.
Why skip the flour?
Plenty of dogs do fine with grains, but some are sensitive to wheat or gluten and get itchy skin, ear issues, or an upset stomach from it. If your dog scratches more or has loose stools after wheat-based treats, cutting the flour is an easy first experiment. Bananas and oats give you enough natural stickiness and structure to hold a treat together, so the flour was never really doing much work in the first place. Before making a bigger change to your dog's diet, it's worth a quick chat with your vet — the American Kennel Club notes true food allergies in dogs are less common than owners assume, and a vet can help you pinpoint the real trigger.
Are bananas safe for dogs?
Yes. Bananas are safe for most dogs in moderation and are a good source of potassium, fiber, and vitamin C and B6. Because they're relatively high in natural sugar, they're best as an occasional treat rather than a daily staple — the AKC recommends treats make up no more than about 10% of your dog's daily calories. For most dogs, a couple of small banana treats a day sits comfortably inside that limit.
The recipe
Ingredients
- 2 ripe bananas
- 1/4 cup peanut butter (xylitol-free — see the safety note below)
- 1 cup rolled oats (use certified gluten-free oats if your dog is sensitive)
- 1/4 cup ground flaxseed (optional, for extra fiber and omega-3s)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 300°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Mash the bananas in a bowl until smooth.
- Stir in the peanut butter until fully combined.
- Add the oats (and flaxseed, if using) and mix into a thick dough.
- Spoon teaspoon-sized portions onto the sheet and press each into a flat cookie shape.
- Bake 15–20 minutes, until the edges are golden.
- Cool completely before serving. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week, or freeze for longer.
Is the peanut butter safe?
Only if it's xylitol-free. Xylitol is a sugar substitute found in some "sugar-free" and "no sugar added" peanut butters, and it is toxic — even fatal — to dogs. The FDA warns owners to check the label before sharing any peanut butter with a dog. Stick to a plain, unsalted, xylitol-free peanut butter and you're good. If you want more homemade peanut butter treat ideas, we walk through several in our guide to peanut butter dog treats.
Why these treats work
They're allergy-friendlier than wheat-based biscuits, made from simple ingredients you can actually pronounce, and nutrient-rich thanks to the banana and oats. Just as important, you control exactly what goes in — no mystery additives or fillers. That's the same thinking behind everything we make at Bully Sticks Central: real ingredients, nothing you have to look up.
Rotate treats to keep it interesting — and balanced
Homemade banana treats are a great everyday snack, but variety keeps your dog engaged and rounds out their nutrition. We alternate soft baked treats like these with long-lasting natural chews. Our bully sticks are 100% natural, single-ingredient, 100% real meat, fully digestible, and contain no rawhide — they're ethically sourced from grass-fed American and Argentinean farms. If you're new to natural chews, start with our rundown of single-ingredient dog chews, and if you have a puppy, see whether bully sticks are safe for puppies. Pairing a soft baked treat with a satisfying chew covers both the quick reward and the long, tiring chew session most dogs crave.
The bottom line
Banana dog treats without flour are easy to make, gentle on sensitive stomachs, and built from ingredients you already trust. Bake a batch, keep the portions small, double-check that your peanut butter is xylitol-free, and you've got a healthy homemade snack your dog will get excited about. Everything we sell is 100% high-quality guaranteed, and we'd hold a homemade treat to the same standard — real food, made simply.
This post was last updated at August 6, 2026 23:38
