You might not think of cheesecake as doggy health food, but this delicious special occasion dog treat is pretty darn close! Our cheesecake recipe for dogs features low-fat cottage cheese and Greek yogurt, and the crust is crafted from hearty rolled oats, which are high in fiber and easy to digest. These homemade dog treats are ideal for dog birthday celebrations or for mixing up a picky dog’s treat routine. Bon appetit!
Cheesecake for dogs recipe video
High-Protein Cheesecake Treats for Dogs
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 47 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hours 2 minutes
- Yield: 24 mini cheesecakes 1x
- Category: Special Occasion
Ingredients
For the crust
- 1 1/2 cups rolled oats
- 1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
- 2 tbsp coconut oil
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp honey
For the cheesecake
- 2 cups low-fat cottage cheese
- 1 cup plain low-fat Greek yogurt
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract
- 3 tbsp light coconut milk
- 1 large egg
- 3 tbsp flour (we used whole wheat)
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350º
For the crust
- In a food processor, pulse coconut and rolled oats together to mix well.
- Add remaining ingredients and pulse just to combine.
- Spoon crust mixture into greased cheesecake or mini muffin tins and tamp down firmly.
- Bake for 12 minutes or until just golden.
Set aside to cool.
For the cheesecake
- In the food processor, pour the cottage cheese and mix until all the curds are smoothed out.
- Add the yogurt and pulse to combine.
- Add the remaining ingredients, and pulse until smooth and combined.
- Pour into cooled tins, filling to just under the top edge of the molds.
- Bake for 35 minutes or until just starting to brown and pull away from the edges of the mold.
Let cool on the counter until you can touch the pan, then turn out cheesecakes to chill in the fridge for a few hours before serving.
Enjoy!
All about dogs and dairy
Just like humans, some dogs are incapable of digesting lactose, a sugar found in dairy. Also like humans, lactose intolerance in dogs can be very mild or severe. Trust us, if your dog can’t tolerate dairy, you’ll know. If you’ve never fed your dog milk or cheese before, caution is best. Test with a small amount of cheese first, lest you face the stinky wrath of a dog’s upset belly—which, trust us, no one wants to deal with.
If your dog begins showing signs that they’re having an allergic reaction, stop feeding them anything dairy until you can determine if it really was the cheese that caused the reaction. A consultation with your vet may also be in order to avoid any dangerous reactions.
Most dogs are perfectly fine after eating some dairy. Do make sure to avoid giving your dog sweetened dairy products, especially anything with artificial sweeteners. Generally speaking, low-fat options are easier to digest, too. We like plain Greek yogurt for dogs in particular thanks to its high protein content.
More great homemade dog treats
Going homemade is easier than you’d think, and often more affordable. Plus, you’ll rest assured knowing you’re providing your dog the most wholesome options free of scary fillers. Dogs, like humans, thrive on whole foods.
Learn more about Chef Kiki here and find tons of homemade dog treat recipes at her YouTube channel, Kiki’s Canine Kitchen.
