When it comes to decorating dog treats, pet owners have a lot of creative options to make their furry friends’ snacks more fun and appealing. Using edible decorations is a great way to jazz up plain treats and make them more enticing for your pup. There are many easy homemade decorations you can use or you can purchase pre-made decorations. Just make sure any toppings you use are dog-safe.
Frosting
Frosting is one of the most popular options for decorating dog treats. Frosting comes in many colors and flavors so you can get creative with decorating treats to look like flowers, bones, paw prints, etc. Make sure to use pet-safe frosting, not regular frosting which contains ingredients like xylitol that are toxic to dogs. Canned frosting, yogurt frosting, peanut butter frosting, and carob frosting are all dog-safe choices.
Here’s a simple frosting recipe to decorate treats with:
- 1 cup plain yogurt (or vegan yogurt)
- 1 tbsp honey
- Food coloring (optional)
Mix together the yogurt and honey. For color, add in a few drops of food coloring and mix until fully incorporated. Spoon the frosting into a piping bag or ziplock bag and snip a corner to pipe onto treats. Let treats sit 20-30 minutes to allow frosting to set before serving.
Sprinkles
Sprinkling some fun sprinkles onto treats is an easy way to make them more exciting. Use sprinkles made specifically for pets that do not contain xylitol or other potentially toxic ingredients. Look for sprinkles colored with natural dyes. Here are some good pet sprinkle options:
- Cheetos Natural Dog Bones treats
- Milk-Bone Sugar Free Dog Treats
- Cloud Star Dynamo Dog Natural Dog Treats
Crumble up the selected pet treats into sprinkle consistency and toss onto homemade or store-bought treats for a festive look. You can also use a sprinkle blend like Charlee Bear Dog Treat Sprinkles which come in fun colors.
Crumbled Treats/Toppers
For an easy topping, you can use crumbled up dog treats! Crush up treats into smaller pieces and sprinkle them on top of treats before serving. Some good options:
- Crumbled up Milk-Bone Original Dog Treats
- Crumbled Zuke’s Mini Treats
- Crumbled up Blue Buffalo Biscuits
You can also use crunchy human cereals or granola made pet-safe by ensuring they do not contain xylitol, raisins, or chocolate. Look for brands that are whole grain and low in sugar.
Fresh Fruits and Veggies
Slices of fresh fruits and vegetables make colorful, healthy toppings for dog treats. Make sure to only use dog-safe fruits and veggies. Some good options include:
- Bananas
- Blueberries
- Strawberries
- Apples
- Carrots
- Sweet potatoes
Wash, peel, and slice fruits/veggies into small pieces and gently press them into the tops of treats to decorate. You can also make fun shapes using cookie cutters. Fruits like bananas can be mashed then piped onto treats as well.
Peanut Butter
What dog doesn’t love peanut butter? Use peanut or other nut butters to decorate treats. Spoon peanut butter into a piping bag or plastic bag, snip the corner, and drizzle onto treats. You can pipe peanut butter in fun patterns like zig zags, swirls, or stripes. Peanut butter helps adhere other toppings too like crushed treats or fruit.
Yogurt
Plain yogurt makes a healthy, tasty treat topping. Non-fat and Greek yogurt work best. Simply spoon yogurt over treats and use a spoon to spread evenly. You can also put yogurt in a sandwich bag, snip the corner, and pipe it onto treats. Sweeten plain yogurt a bit with a touch of honey if needed.
Cheese
Grating cheese over treats adds flavor and calcium. Stick to low-fat varieties. Cheddar, mozzarella, monterey jack, and cottage cheese are good options. Grate cheese using a box grater or food processor, then sprinkle over treats before serving. Melting the cheese briefly in the microwave makes the cheese stay on better.
Herbs
Fresh herbs like parsley, cilantro, dill, basil, oregano, and rosemary can add flavor and visual appeal. Finely chop the fresh herbs, then sprinkle them onto wet treat dough or pressed lightly into frosting. Dry herbs can work too but will have less flavor.
Cacao Powder
For chocolate-loving dogs, dust treats lightly with unsweetened cacao powder which is safe for dogs. It provides a chocolatey flavor without the dangers of actual chocolate. Sprinkle cacao powder on treats or whisk a teaspoon into yogurt frosting.
Carob Chips/Powder
Carob is a chocolate alternative that is safe for dogs. Look for carob chips and carob powder to melt onto treats or blend into frosting for a chocolate-like decoration. Carob contains nutrients including calcium, B vitamins, and fiber.
Food Coloring
Liquid food coloring allows you to get creative with decorating dog treats in fun colors. Use food coloring made especially for pets that uses natural color derived from ingredients like fruits and veggies. A few drops mixed into yogurt frosting, peanut butter, or baked treat dough will color it. Look for colors like carrot orange, spinach green, beet red, turmeric yellow, and blueberry blue.
Pumpkin Puree
Canned pumpkin puree makes a healthy topping and pairs perfectly with pumpkin or peanut butter flavored treats. Make sure the pumpkin puree contains no added sugar or spices. Simply spoon or pipe pumpkin puree onto treats and spread evenly. Refrigerate treats after decorating to allow the pumpkin to set.
Sweet Potato Puree
For an orange treat topping, use mashed sweet potato! Cook sweet potato until soft, then mash. Add a splash of water if needed for a smoother consistency. Spoon or pipe onto treats and decorate with sprinkles for a sweet fall treat.
Beef Broth
For savory baked treats like homemade dog biscuits, brush the tops with beef broth before baking. Lightly brushing with broth gives treats a shiny, appetizing look and added meaty flavor.
Egg Wash
An egg wash made from whisking an egg yolk with a teaspoon of water creates a golden sheen on baked goods. Lightly brush egg wash onto treats before baking for a glossy finish.
Dog-Safe Dyes
Opt for natural dyes to decorate treats that will not harm your dog. Here are some options:
- Turmeric – Adds vibrant yellow color
- Beet powder – Provides a rich pink or purple color
- Paprika – Infuses treats with a reddish orange hue
- Spinach powder – Creates a green color
Mix a small amount of the powdered spice, fruit, or vegetable with water to make a liquid dye. Stir the dye into treat dough or brush lightly onto treats before baking.
Stencils
Use cookie cutters or stencils to decorate treats with fun shapes. Press the stencil lightly into treat dough or frosting to leave an imprint. Lift stencil carefully without smudging the shape. Paw print, bone, fire hydrant, and heart shapes are fun options.
Sprinkle Blends
For easy decorating, use a premixed sprinkle blend made for pets. These usually contain a festive mix of colors and tiny shapes that adhere nicely to treat frosting or dough.
- Zippy Paws Party Poppers
- Charlee Bear Dog Treat Sprinkles
- Milk-Bone Yogurt Frostin’ Sprinkles
Just sprinkle them on frosted treats for an instant festive look!
Coconut Flakes
Toasted coconut flakes add texture and flavor to treats. Their white color contrasts nicely with darker treats. Coconut oil is also beneficial for dogs’ skin and coat. Just look for unsweetened coconut without added sugar.
Crushed Dog Treats
An easy decoration technique is to crush up a few dog treats and use the crushed bits as sprinkles on frosted or soft treats. This adds extra flavor too. Any hard dog biscuit can be placed in a ziplock bag and crushed with a rolling pin.
Edible Glitter
For a sparkly effect, edible glitter designed for human foods is safe to decorate pet treats with too. It comes in colors like gold, silver, blue, and red. Use gluten-free, edible glitter without sugar. Brush on some light corn syrup or honey first so the glitter sticks. Shake on glitter and let set before serving treats.
Flaxseed
Ground flax seeds add healthy omega-3s and fiber. Sprinkle them onto treats, mix into doughs, or blend them into frosting. Flaxseed has a mild, nutty flavor dogs love.
Tips for Decorating Dog Treats
Here are some helpful tips when decorating treats for your pup:
- Use new, clean utensils and equipment only for food
- Wash all fruits and vegetables before use
- Read ingredient labels carefully and avoid anything potentially toxic for dogs like xylitol
- Use homemade treat recipes from reputable pet sources
- Avoid adding too much coloring or toppings that make treats unappealing
- Refrigerate perishable decorated treats like those with yogurt or fresh fruit
- Adjust seasoning for your dog’s preferences
- Decorate right before serving for best texture and appeal
Storing Decorated Treats
Here are some storage guidelines for decorated treats:
- Frosted treats will stay fresh 1-2 weeks in an airtight container in the fridge
- Baked treats with dry toppings like herbs or crushed treats will keep 2-3 weeks in an airtight container at room temperature
- Treats with fresh fruit should be consumed within 3-4 days and kept refrigerated
- Let treats come to room temperature before serving for best flavor and texture
Conclusion
With so many edible, pet-safe ingredients to choose from, the options for decorating homemade dog treats are endless. Get creative with different colors, shapes, textures, and flavors to make treats your pup will LOVE. Just be sure to use dog-appropriate ingredients. Decorating treats is a fun project to do with kids too. Whip up a batch of unique treats your furry best friend will get tail wags over!