Multi-Coloured or Flavoured Small Batch Gummy Dog Treats

Variety is the spice of life! Want to sample lots of different gummy dog treats without the big batch commitment? Whether you’re creating a rainbow of gelatin gummy dog treats (like these treats for Humphrey’s 4th birthday) or want to experiment with different flavours without the commitment of a full batch, we have a simple shortcut to help. This dog treat tips and tricks post shows you how to quickly create multiple varieties of yummy gummy dog treats from a single base. It’s a very easy way of making small batch gummy treats with lots of flavour or colour variety. Pawfect!

Tinting or Flavouring the Gelatin Gummy Dog Treat Mixtures

Ingredient Options for Seasoning or Colouring Gummy Dog Treats

There are tons of options for dog-friendly gummy treat flavour and colour additions. Choice and quantities will depend on your add-in, desired colour and/or flavour level, and (of course) your individual pets. Check out our post on natural food colourings for ideas. Yummy matters more than pretty though, so keep your combos delicious. Dogs care far more about scent and taste than looks, even more so in the case of colourings as dogs don’t see colours the same way as humans.

Small quantities of water-soluble ingredients work best for adding flavour and colour to a base without altering the consistency or set of the gummies. Large quantities of added ingredients are best suited to a specific recipe instead of being added to a generic base. You can explore all of our gummy treat recipes and ideas in the blog archives.

Humphrey’s Birthday Gummy Dog Treats

For the pictured treats, I split one cup of plain water base into quarters. Then I used small quantities of carob powder (brown), turmeric powder (yellow) with a sprinkle of ground black pepper, beetroot powder (red), and kale powder (green) to add flavour, scent and colour. Read on for the full scoop on making small batch gummy treats with different add-in ingredients. It’s really easy!

Creating a Gelatin Gummy Dog Treat Base

I’ve come to love small batch gummy making. It’s quick, the dogs enjoy the anticipation of treat prep, and with small batches I don’t have to freeze treats for longer storage. To create the gummy base, I typically work with a ratio of one cup of liquid to 3 tbsp of gelatin powder. Those quantities are easily scaled to suit a different mould volumes. I usually make a single gummy flavour or recipe, but sometimes it’s fun to mix things up. Here’s how to easily make small batch gummy treats with different flavours and colours.

Treat Ingredients:

1 cup cool clear or pale dog-friendly liquid (see tips below)
3 tbsp quality powdered gelatin
Add-in ingredients and/or tints

Making Small Batch Gummy Dog Treats – Preparing the Gelatin Base

Measure the water into a small pan.
Sprinkle the surface with gelatin powder.
Wait and let sit for approximately five minutes or longer for the gelatin powder to bloom / gel.
Gently stir the mixture over low heat until the gelatin is completely dissolved. Take care not to shortcut with high temperatures or overheat. Heat can reduce the setting strength of gelatin.
Remove from heat.

Making Small Batch Gummy Dog Treats – Add-Ins and Setting:

Measure your add-ins to individual small suitable containers for mixing.
Mix a small spoonful of the prepared liquefied gelatin with the powder in each of the divided containers to dissolve/mix with minimal lumps and clumps. Once mixed, add in their portion of the remaining prepared gelatin base and stir to thoroughly combine.
Spoon or pour the finished gelatin mixture into separate moulds. Small silicon food moulds (affiliate link) are great for making gummy treats, especially if you’re separating different flavours and colours. No moulds? Gelatin gummies can also be poured into larger containers, set, and cut into treat-sized portions.
Chill to set.

Gummy Dog Treat Making Tips and Tricks

If you are using add-ins that do not completely dissolve, it can help to hold the mixtures at room temperature until they start to thicken slightly, as this can help the base hold the add-ins suspended instead of having bits settle or float as the gummy fully sets.
See our comprehensive post on making and storing homemade gelatin gummy dog treats for additional information about making gummy treats including helpful gummy making tips, troubleshooting, and safe treat storage. Gummy treats should be kept refrigerated and can be frozen for longer storage, although freezing can affect consistency.
The techniques above can be used for making gummy treats for people. You’ll want to switch up your recipe and flavours, though!

Recipe and Ingredient Tips and Tricks

My dogs like the smell of plain gelatin and will happily accept plain gummies (gelatin and water), but a little tasty boost of chicken stock never goes astray. Adding clear or strained stock works best to keep the gummies transparent, if you want them to be clear. Cloudy is fine as well, just a bit different than the pictured treats. Light stocks work better than dark stocks for tinting, as the stock can have a significant affect the colour. You can read more in our FAQ post on stock for making homemade dog treats.
In my experience, 3 tbsp of gelatin powder per cup of liquid makes firm gummies. If you prefer, you can use more gelatin for added supplementation or less for a jigglier jelly treat with lower gelatin content. Individual gelatin powders may be a little stronger or weaker. Find a ratio that works for your preferences and, of course, your dog.

Bonus Tip

I prepped these treats using glasses so that the photos would be better able to show you the process. Normally, I prefer to use something with a pouring spout. That way I can pour instead of spooning into the moulds. My current go-to method is to use one of our stainless steel coffee milk jugs (affiliate link). The jugs are a good size for a typical base batch, stain-resistant for anything I may be using in the mix (e.g. turmeric, beetroot, etc.), and can be popped in the dishwasher for easy clean-up. Very convenient.

Hungry for more tasty treats? There are all sorts of homemade dog treat ideas in our blog archives. You can also use the category and tag labels to find other recipes that might be of interest or use our internal search tools to find something specific. Remember, treats (bought or homemade) are for spoiling your pup in moderation. We share ideas from treats that we’ve made ourselves for our pets, but different animals have different preferences (likes/dislikes), just like people. Some pets may have special dietary requirements and/or food allergies/intolerances. If you are ever in doubt or have questions about what’s suitable for your pet, have a chat with your trusted vet.