Amazing 30 Apple Banana Holiday Dog Rounds

The holidays are supposed to be joyful, right? And for us pet parents, that means spoiling our furry best friends rotten! But I always have this internal tug-of-war, especially when it comes to treats. I want to celebrate with my dog, but I hate loading her up with the mystery ingredients you find in so many store-bought snacks during the rush of December.

That’s why I developed these incredibly simple, wholesome baked goods. These are incredibly soft, gentle treats perfect for my older pup who needs something easy on her gums, or for those little guys with sensitive tummies. Trust me, these Apple Banana Holiday Dog Rounds are a game-changer. Much like how I approach my own food philosophy, I wanted something clean for her, too—simple fruit and whole grains. It just feels right to nourish them well during celebrations!

Who Should Make These Apple Banana Holiday Dog Rounds

Okay, let’s talk about who really needs these rounds in their life. If you look at your dog and think, “You deserve the best, but your jaw can’t handle bricks,” then these are for you! Seriously, these are amazing if you have a senior dog whose teeth aren’t what they used to be, or maybe a tiny little guy or gal who’s still working on big chompers.

We made sure these apple and banana round cookies crafted for soft biting. They aren’t hard or crunchy; they bake up tenderly, which means less stress on their mouths. If you’re tired of finding half-chewed, rock-hard biscuits, you’re in the right place. These are designed to be gentle, delicious, and easy to manage, no matter the age of your best buddy!

The Gentle Tone of Our Apple Banana Holiday Dog Rounds Recipe

When I bake for my dog, the tone in the kitchen shifts completely. It’s less about rigid standards and more about pure, gentle love! That’s the vibe I want you to bring to these Apple Banana Holiday Dog Rounds, too. Forget the stress of complex measuring or worrying about weird fillers.

We are keeping this super clean and simple here. The recipe leans heavily on whole foods—just banana, apple, and rice flour. This is intentional because I know how easily our pups can get an upset tummy from processed junk, especially when we introduce new things during the holidays. It’s encouraging, easygoing baking, ensuring every bite supports your dog’s wellness!

My Experience Baking Apple Banana Holiday Dog Rounds

You know, when I first started Melt It Clean, it wasn’t just about my health; it was about Leo, my overly pampered Beagle. He’s always been sensitive—if I ate something too rich, he seemed to feel it the next day, too! The holidays were the worst; everyone was giving him these big, crumbly biscuits that made him a little gassy, bless his heart.

I kept thinking about how hard I work to keep my own diet clean—supporting my body instead of restricting it—and I realized Leo deserved that same intentional care. So, one dreary afternoon, probably right after I’d cleaned out my fridge of experimental wellness snacks, I decided to adapt some basic fruit purees into dog dough. I wanted something that felt festive but definitely wasn’t going to upset his system.

When I pulled the first batch of Apple Banana Holiday Dog Rounds out of the oven, the smell was incredible—just sweet fruit and a hint of cinnamon, nothing artificial. Leo went absolutely bonkers for them! He just needed that gentle texture, and I felt so much better knowing exactly what I was feeding my best friend. It reinforced my whole philosophy: good ingredients make everything better, including dog snacks!

Essential Ingredients for Your Apple Banana Holiday Dog Rounds

When you’re making treats for your dog, you really need to focus on what you’re putting in there—it’s just like when I started cleaning up my own nutrition journey. We aren’t adding anything weird or unnecessary here; it’s all about simple, nourishing flavors that dogs adore. You only need six things, and because we are using real fruit, the flavor is huge!

For the fruit base, you absolutely must mash that banana until it’s completely smooth—no big lumps allowed, trust me! The apple needs to be finely grated. I mean tiny. This releases the moisture we need for that soft texture we’re aiming for, so don’t just eyeball it; grate it finely! The peanut butter adds binding and helps mask the cinnamon just enough so it’s a subtle holiday background note, not a spice bomb.

We are using rice flour here because it’s generally easier on sensitive dog tummies, and it helps create that perfect bendy, soft cookie texture. If you want to see how these fresh elements combine, check out some other real homemade dog treats ideas!

• 1 large banana: Make sure it’s mashed until smooth, smooth, smooth.
• 1 cup apple: This needs to be finely grated. We want moisture, not chunks!
• 1/4 cup peanut butter: Make sure it’s xylitol-free, always! That’s non-negotiable.
• 1 large egg: Just a standard binder.
• 2 cups rice flour: Plus a little extra for dusting your counter later!
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon: Just a kiss of holiday warmth.

Step-by-Step Instructions for Perfect Apple Banana Holiday Dog Rounds

Alright, let’s get baking! This part is super straightforward, which is exactly what I need when I’m juggling my own meal prep during the busy season. You don’t need any fancy mixer attachments here; a sturdy bowl and a spoon will do the trick. We’re aiming for results that feel homemade and loving—no fuss required.

First things first: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). That’s a standard temperature for these kinds of wholesome bakes, and have a baking sheet ready with parchment paper. Trust me on the parchment paper; it saves you so much scrubbing later, and we don’t want any sticking!

Get your banana mashed thoroughly in a big bowl. Then toss in the egg, that peanut butter, and your finely grated apple. Stir that wet mixture until everything is happy and combined together. It might look a little rustic, but that’s totally fine!

Now, for the dry stuff. Sprinkle in your tiny bit of cinnamon—that’s what gives it that hint of holiday magic—and then start adding that rice flour gradually. Keep mixing it in until it starts teasing you into thinking it’s actual dough. Once it firms up enough to handle, dust your counter lightly with some extra rice flour.

This is where you roll it out! You want the dough about ¼-inch thick. Get your favorite cutter—a bone shape is festive, but honestly, even a simple circle works just fine. Cut out your shapes and pop them onto that lined baking sheet. These are great as a gentle Christmas treat for smaller or older dogs because the dough stays very pliable.

Slide them into the oven and let them bake for about 20 to 25 minutes. You’re looking for them to be set and just starting to look golden around the edges. When you pull them out, the most important part is patience: let them cool completely on a rack before giving them to your pup. They firm up as they cool down, giving you that perfect bite!

Tips for Success When Making Apple Banana Holiday Dog Rounds

Baking for our pets, especially when we’re trying to keep things clean and simple like we do here at Melt It Clean, sometimes requires a little extra finesse. Don’t panic if your dough feels a bit sticky initially; that’s just the moisture from the fresh fruit talking! It’s all about learning to listen to the dough, which is a huge part of building those real wellness habits.

If your dough is too wet to handle even after chilling for ten minutes—usually because your banana was extra ripe—don’t reach for a ton of extra flour right away. That can make them too hard once baked! Instead, try mixing in a tablespoon of unsweetened shredded coconut or a teaspoon of ground flaxseed. These absorb moisture beautifully and add a little extra fiber benefit, which is always a win for digestion. I talk a lot about ingredient swaps like this over on my easy homemade dog treats post!

Now, if your treats come out too crumbly after baking, it usually means you didn’t get enough binding agent. If you often find your rolled-out shapes break when transferring them to the sheet, try adding half an extra teaspoon of peanut butter next time. Peanut butter is our secret glue here! It helps hold those fruit chunks together so they don’t crumble into dust when cold.

And this might sound silly, but work fast when you’re cutting them out. Rice flour doesn’t absorb moisture as quickly as wheat flour, but the dough will start to soften, especially if your kitchen is warm. Cut quickly, place them on the sheet, and get them into the hot oven ASAP so they set properly before they have a chance to melt into one big, sticky puddle on your counter!

Storage and Serving Suggestions for Apple Banana Holiday Dog Rounds

So you’ve got this gorgeous batch of Apple Banana Holiday Dog Rounds cooling on the rack. Awesome work! Now, we need to keep them fresh for your pup. Because these are packed with real fruit moisture, they don’t have the shelf life of those crunchy, shelf-stable biscuits you buy at the store. This is the trade-off for using clean, real ingredients, but it’s totally manageable!

For treats you plan to use within a week, an airtight container at room temperature is perfectly fine. I usually keep mine on the counter at room temperature, but if your kitchen runs warm, tossing them in the fridge is a better bet to keep that fruit freshness locked in. If you’re feeling like a super planner—which I totally am sometimes when I’m deep into a wellness batch—you can freeze these bad boys!

Pop them in a freezer-safe bag, making sure they are completely cool first, and they’ll keep great for up to three months. When a craving hits, just pull a few out and let them thaw on the counter for about 15 minutes. They come back almost as soft as homemade!

Remember, these are designed as apple and banana round cookies crafted for soft biting. If you have a really senior dog, maybe one who has a hard time gripping, don’t hesitate to break the rounds in half or even into quarters before serving. Sometimes, I even warm a treat for about five seconds in the microwave—just enough to bring out that little bit of banana aroma. It makes them irresistible without heating them up too much. They are just so easy to customize for whatever your dog needs at that moment!

Frequently Asked Questions About Apple Banana Holiday Dog Rounds

I get so many great questions whenever I post about making homemade goodies for the dogs. It’s awesome to see so many people focused on using clean ingredients, just like I insist on in my own wellness journey! Here are a few things I hear often about these soft snacks.

Are Apple Banana Holiday Dog Rounds safe for puppies?

That’s a great question, especially during the holidays when everyone wants to share! Because these Apple Banana Holiday Dog Rounds are so soft, they are mechanically great for puppies who are teething and might not want hard biscuits that hurt their gums. However, because they contain a little more natural sugar from the fruit compared to some puppy kibbles, I recommend waiting until your puppy is a little older than 12 weeks, if possible. Even better, if you’re serving them to a tiny pup, just cut the rounds in half—no need to give them a full cookie when a half is plenty!

Can I make these Apple Banana Holiday Dog Rounds grain-free?

Absolutely, you can adapt them! I used rice flour because it’s generally easy to digest, but if you need to go completely grain-free, swapping it out is simple. Think about using chickpea flour or even almond flour. If you use almond flour, you might need to reduce the amount slightly, maybe by about a quarter cup, because it behaves a bit differently when mixed. You’ll still get those beautiful apple and banana round cookies crafted for soft biting, just with a different grain profile!

What if I don’t have peanut butter? Can I skip it?

Well, I LOVE peanut butter in this recipe. It’s the glue that helps everything stick together, and the dogs adore the flavor payoff! If you absolutely cannot use it—maybe due to allergies—you should replace that 1/4 cup with either pumpkin puree (the pure stuff, not pie filling!) or maybe even mashed sweet potato. Both add moisture and act as a binder, though you might need to add just a tiny bit more rice flour to firm up the dough if you use pumpkin.

Are these treats festive enough for a Christmas treat?

They definitely are, especially because they fit the secondary description of being a gentle Christmas treat for smaller or older dogs! While I kept the ingredients clean, that quarter teaspoon of cinnamon gives them that unmistakable warm spice scent that screams ‘holiday baking.’ If you want to amp up the visual holiday factor, use a star-shaped cutter instead of a bone shape. They look super cute lined up on a platter!

Estimated Nutritional Values for Apple Banana Holiday Dog Rounds

Okay, this part is important—just like making sure my own nutrition is transparent, you should know what’s going into your dog’s mouth! Now remember, since these Apple Banana Holiday Dog Rounds are made with whole, fresh ingredients and we aren’t adding any fillers or preservatives, these numbers are simply estimates based on the standard USDA data for those specific ingredients.

We made about 30 treats in total, so when you look at these numbers, you’re seeing what’s in just one, single, delightful little round. They are wonderfully low in fat and sugar, which aligns perfectly with my philosophy of feeding bodies what they need without overloading them!

• Calories: Approximately 60 per treat
• Fat: About 1 gram
• Protein: Around 1 gram
• Carbohydrates: Right around 11 grams
• Fiber: 1 gram (Hello, healthy digestion!)
• Sugar: Only about 1 gram (Mostly natural sugar from the fruit!)

This low-sugar, low-fat profile is why these are fantastic for daily enjoyment or as special holiday rewards, especially if you’re managing your pup’s weight or monitoring their sugar intake. Never substitute the peanut butter with sweetened varieties; keeping that sugar low is key to keeping your dog feeling as good as you do when you nail your clean eating goals!

By EMILIA, the founder of MeltItClean.com – your digital space for natural weight loss, real wellness habits, and clean-living inspiration that actually fits your life.

For years, I struggled with the ups and downs of dieting. I tried everything — juice cleanses, low-carb crazes, fitness challenges — but I always ended up back where I started: tired, bloated, and frustrated. I didn’t just want to “lose weight” — I wanted energy, mental clarity, glowing skin, and confidence without sacrificing my joy or sanity.

After years of experimenting, learning, and unlearning, I discovered a simple truth: your body is already powerful — it just needs support, not restriction. That’s when I created Melt It Clean — a site dedicated to real transformation through clean, intentional, and nourishing daily habits that anyone can follow.

My goal was simple: build a place where people could feel informed, supported, and empowered without being overwhelmed by wellness fads.