Peanut Butter Dog Donuts make six soft, baked treats with a plain Greek yogurt dip. You mix the batter in one bowl, pipe it into a donut pan, and bake it at 350°F.
Ingredients
- 1 cup whole wheat flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/3 cup natural xylitol-free peanut butter
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/3 cup plain Greek yogurt, for dipping
- Nonstick cooking spray, for the pan
Yield: 6 donuts. Prep: 15 minutes. Bake: 12 to 15 minutes at 350°F. Cool: 30 minutes.
Instructions
1. Preheat the Oven and Grease a Donut Pan
Set your oven to 350°F and lightly coat a six-cavity donut pan with nonstick cooking spray. Turn the pan as you spray so the center posts and outer edges get an even coating. The cavities should have a faint sheen, with no visible pools of spray.
2. Whisk the Flour and Baking Powder
Add 1 cup whole wheat flour and 1 teaspoon baking powder to a mixing bowl. Whisk until the baking powder is spread through the flour and you no longer see small white patches. Run the whisk around the bottom of the bowl, where dry pockets can collect, until the mixture looks even.
3. Mix the Peanut Butter Batter
Add 1/3 cup natural xylitol-free peanut butter, 1 large egg, 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce, and 1/4 cup water to the flour mixture. Stir until the flour disappears and the batter is thick and smooth enough to hold soft ridges. Scrape the bottom of the bowl to bring any dry flour into the batter.
4. Pipe the Batter Into the Pan
Spoon the batter into a piping bag or a sturdy plastic bag with one corner snipped off. Pipe an even ring into each of the six prepared cavities, moving around the center post as you squeeze. Smooth any high spots with a spoon so the rings look level.
5. Bake Until Golden
Place the pan in the 350°F oven and bake for 12 to 15 minutes. Look for lightly golden tops that spring back when you touch them gently. Check that the surface looks set around each center post, then remove the pan from the oven and set it on a rack.
6. Cool the Donuts
Leave the baked donuts in the pan briefly, then lift them onto a wire rack and let them cool for 30 minutes. As they cool, the tops should feel dry to the touch and the centers should lose their heat. Arrange the cooled rings on a plate for dipping.
7. Dip in Yogurt
Spoon 1/3 cup plain Greek yogurt into a shallow bowl and stir it until smooth. Press the top of each cooled donut lightly into the yogurt, then lift and turn it upright. The dip should leave a thin white coating across the top while the donut’s center hole stays visible.
Donut Holes, Minis and Toppings
You can use the same batter for smaller shapes or give the yogurt-dipped donuts a light topping. Smaller molds need closer watching in the oven.
Mini Donuts and Holes
If you use a mini donut pan, pipe the batter around each center post without filling the cavities to the rim. Smaller rings rise quickly, so look for set tops and lightly golden edges as they bake.
For donut holes, portion the batter into a small round mold and leave room for it to rise. Let the pieces cool before adding yogurt; warm treats make the dip slide off.
Dog-Safe Toppings
A few thin banana pieces add a soft topping that sticks to the yogurt. For a different flavor, use a small dab of plain pumpkin purée. Pumpkin and peanut butter also pair in these baked pumpkin peanut butter dog treats.
Keep toppings light so you can still pick up each donut without losing the dip. For a neat finish, spread the yogurt with a spoon and add the topping while its surface is wet.
Tips for the Best Results
Thick batter holds the ring shape in the pan. If your peanut butter has separated, stir it well before measuring so the batter mixes evenly. A bag with a snipped corner gives you more control around the center posts than spooning the batter into the cavities.
Fill each cavity evenly for donuts that bake at the same rate. Wait until the donuts have cooled before dipping them so the yogurt forms a clear coating.
Substitutions and Safety
Use peanut butter whose label confirms it is xylitol-free; xylitol is toxic to dogs. Choose plain, unsweetened applesauce and plain Greek yogurt without added sweeteners.
If your dog has a known wheat, egg, peanut, or dairy allergy, this recipe is unsuitable without advice from your veterinarian. You can read more about food allergies in dogs.
Serve the donuts as occasional treats in portions that suit your dog’s size and diet. Refrigerate yogurt-dipped leftovers in a covered container, and discard them if the dip develops an off smell or visible mold.
