Mmm…peanut butter! Cue the drool! That smell is just so doggone irresistible! Today we’re sharing the scoop on how to make peanut butter gummy dog treats. Here’s our easy homemade peanut butter gummy treat recipe, as well as instructions for creating a uniform melted peanut butter and gelatin mix for better gummies.
No Quite Perfect Peanut Butter Gummy Treats
When I first tried peanut butter in a gummy treat, things didn’t work out quite as smoothly as I had hoped. Although the peanut butter gummy treats smelled (and probably tasted) great, there were small bits of unblended peanut butter that settled out of the mixture, making them not quite perfect when popped out of their moulds. The dogs didn’t care and the treats were still thoroughly enjoyed, but I wanted to do better. I also wanted to keep it simple. Hmm. How to blend things better to avoid settling in future treats?
Naturally oily peanut butter can be tricky to melt uniformly into a water-based gelatin mixture. Peanut butter is already an emulsion of sorts, and the usual melting points are warmer than the ideal heating point for gelatin gummy making (overheating reduces the setting strength). So, I put my human cooking knowledge and nerdy skills to use on a revised method. These gummy treats split the prep work, making it easy to create a nice uniform peanut butter gelatin mix that sets beautifully. Yay! Here’s how they’re made.
Peanut Butter Gelatin Gummy Dog Treat Recipe
Gelatin Gummy Dog Treats with Smoothly Melted Peanut Butter
These peanut butter gummies were made in moulds (affiliate link) as individual shaped treats, but they can also be made as set-and-slice treats in a pan. The process is the same for either method, other than slicing of course.
Treat Ingredients:
- 3/4 cup cool water (or alternative dog-friendly liquid of your preference)
- 3 tbsp quality powdered gelatin
- 2 tbsp smooth peanut butter
- 2 tbsp boiling hot water
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 peanut butter into a suitable container for mixing and pouring. I’ve tried a variety of methods over the years, but nowadays, I like using a coffee milk jug when I make gummies.
- Incrementally add small amounts of boiling hot water to the peanut butter, stirring it into the peanut butter until it melts together.
- Add your warm prepared gelatin to the melted peanut butter mixture and stir to thoroughly combine.
- Optional: To help avoid any lingering bits from settling and making it difficult to cleanly separate the gummies from the molds, you can allow the mixture to cool to just above its setting point before pouring into the moulds. Slowly, stirring often, allow the mixture to cool and thicken. You can do this at room temperature, or speed it up by using the fridge or an ice bath, if you prefer.
- When the mixture has thickened enough, spoon/pour the finished gelatin mixture into a glass pan (cut and slice) or silicone moulds (shapes).
- Chill to set.
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
- Take care when shopping and always check your labels to avoid artificial sweeteners in ingredients like peanut butter when used for your dogs. Xylitol (E967) is particularly dangerous for dogs.
- Peanut butter is more than enticing enough for my boys, but if you want an even more irresistible scent and flavour, a tasty boost of stock never goes astray. 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 / weaker. Find a ratio that works for your preferences and, of course, your dog.
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.
