Pretty? Tasty? Pretty tasty? These naturally pink dog treats are perfect for a special homemade Valentine’s Day treat. They only take a few minutes to make (plus set time) and gummies are something that I feel great about giving to our boys as a treat since they are jam packed with healthy goodness. Here’s the recipe for our all natural hot pink gelatin gummy dog treat and how they’re made.
Love and Treats
Love doesn’t need to be moderated, but treats do. Even healthy delicious gummies. With gummies, however, I can feel great about sharing a few tasty treats with the boys. Unlike a lot of dog treats that are just meant as special snacks, I started making gummies to actively add gelatin to our dogs’ diet. Gelatin gummies are sort of like turning our supplements into treats. The dogs love them and I love being able to give them a guilt-free treat. Gummies are also super simple to make. Pawfect.
Pretty and Pink
These gummies use beetroot powder as an all natural dog treat tint. In a plain gummy base, the beetroot will look red, like these naturally red gelatin gummy dog treats. By adding yogurt to our base, the red becomes all natural hot pink. Pawfect for Valentine’s Day. Dogs see colour differently than people, and so they don’t see pink or red like we do. Still, we crazy humans can have a little fun! These yummy gummies are just one of the many doggone delicious (and pretty) ways to make naturally pink dog treats. See our post on colourful ingredients for dog treats for more ideas.
All Natural Hot Pink Gummy Dog Treat Recipe
Homemade Gelatin Gummy Dog Treats with Yogurt and Beetroot Powder
Treat Ingredients:
- 3/4 cup cool water or pale chicken stock (or alternative dog-friendly liquid)
- 3 tbsp quality powdered gelatin
- 1/4 cup plain low-fat yogurt, kefir, or similar
- 1 tsp beetroot powder (adjust quantity to suit preferences for flavour and/or colour)
The creaminess of the white yogurt or kefir takes these naturally pink dog treats from ravishing red to pretty pink. You can use more water/stock and less yogurt if you prefer, but you need at least enough to turn the base whitish if you’re aiming for pink. Keep the total liquid ratio at 1 cup per 3 tbsp of gelatin.
Making the Treats:
- 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.
- Measure your yogurt into a suitable container for mixing and pouring.
- Check that your liquid temperature is below 50C (120F) to protect your probiotic content (allow to cool a little if needed), then slowly combine the prepared gelatin with the yogurt. Stir as you incrementally dilute the yogurt to avoid lumping or clumping.
- Once fully combined, add the beetroot power to tint (see below). Mix thoroughly.
- Pour into a glass pan (cut and slice) or silicone moulds (shapes).
- Chill to set.
Beetroot powder can be added at any time. I normally prefer to measure the powder into my mixing vessel, make a paste, and then add the rest of the liquid. It’s easy mixing, but doesn’t give you as much tint control. You’re all in from the start. Adding it last allows you to see the colour for customisation, but it may be more difficult to mix without clumping. Do whatever works best for you. The dogs will be happy no matter what the colour!
Gummy Dog Treat Making Tips and Tricks
- See our comprehensive post on making and storing homemade gelatin gummy dog treats for additional information.
- These treats should be kept refrigerated and can be frozen for longer storage, although freezing can affect consistency.
Recipe and Ingredient Tips and Tricks
- 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 / weaker. Find a ratio that works for your preferences and, of course, your dog.
- Remember to go natural or take care when shopping to avoid artificial sweeteners in ingredients like yogurt for your dogs. Xylitol (sweetener E967) is particularly dangerous for dogs.
- If your dog is sensitive to dairy, you can use a milky dog-safe non-dairy ingredient instead of the yogurt. Check out our other gummy recipes for alternative ideas. If it isn’t probiotic, you can alter the method above to simplify prep, if you wish.
Hungry for more tasty treats? There are all sorts of homemade dog treat ideas in our blog archives. You can 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.
