The Easiest Homemade Dog Applesauce Recipe

The easiest homemade dog applesauce ever – wash, chop, cook and serve. Easy, healthy, low-calorie and your dog will love it!

I was looking for a new homemade filling recipe for Odin’s and Finn’s canine enrichment toys because peanut butter and plain yogurt were getting a little boring for them.

The point of canine enrichment is to keep a dog interested and busy but after a few months of switching out the treats inside, I was stuck finding a new filling.

That’s when it hit me to make a batch of homemade dog applesauce!

Odin and Finn love apples and making homemade applesauce is SO easy so it was a win-win!

I’ve made applesauce before so this wasn’t anything new and the only thing I omitted was the sugar and added some hemp honey.

I chose green Granny Smith apples because they are said to contain the least amount of sugar.

Granny Smith Apples

1 Granny Smith apple contains about 9 grams of sugar depending on the size of the apple and rumor has it that Granny Smith apples are THE healthiest apples you can bite into.

According to a study in 2014, “the high content of fiber and polyphenols in Granny Smith apples promotes the growth of friendly bacteria in the colon, and reported that these compounds “actually changed the proportions of fecal bacteria from obese mice to be similar to those of lean mice.” The study suggests that this change could help prevent some obesity-related disorders, including the low-grade, chronic inflammation that can lead to diabetes. This follows research showing that the balance of bacterial communities in the colon of obese people is disturbed, resulting in microbial byproducts that lead to inflammation and influence the metabolic disorders associated with obesity.”

There’s really no bad choice when choosing which apple to use when making homemade applesauce for dogs just make sure to remove the seeds. Apple seeds contain a trace amount of cyanide which is toxic to dogs. Your dog would have to eat quite a few seeds to cause cyanide poisoning but it’s always best to err on the side of caution.

Hemp Honey

The other ingredient I used in this homemade applesauce recipe was hemp honey. Any raw honey will do or you can omit it if you don’t have it on hand. Honey is safe for dogs to eat in small amounts and is packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants but it does contain sugar so diabetic dogs should always have approval from their veterinarian before consuming honey.

The honey I always use is Colorado Hemp Honey. I buy the honey sticks from a small local pet store.

Ceylon Cinnamon

Cinnamon is not toxic to dogs when given in small quantities and it also can serve many benefits to dogs such as combating inflammation and slowing the growth of bacteria.

There are four varieties of cinnamon, but Ceylon cinnamon and Cassia cinnamon are the most popular. Ceylon, also called true cinnamon, is sweeter, lighter in color, and more expensive than Cassia, which is the darker type of cinnamon more commonly found in your local supermarket. Ceylon Cinnamon has low levels of coumarin. Coumarin is a natural organic chemical compound that can be found in many plants. Cassia Cinnamon has higher levels of coumarin.

Nutmeg can be toxic to dogs so never use that in your homemade dog treat recipes!

Ingredients Needed For Homemade Dog Applesauce

4 Granny Smith Apples
1/4 Tsp Ceylon Cinnamon
1 Tbsp hemp honey (or regular raw honey)
1/2 cup of water (you don’t have to submerge the apples in water, you just need enough water to help them simmer)

Directions For Homemade Applesauce For Dogs

Wash and dry apples
Peel apples
Remove seeds and cut apples into cubes
Add apples to crockpot
Add honey, cinnamon and water
Cook on high for 2-4 hours. My slow cooker cooks high and fast so my recipe was done in 2 hours but time may vary depending on your cooker. I also stirred mine after an hour
Let cool
Serve! I use our applesauce to make frozen applesauce and peanut butter treats and as a filler in our West Paw Toppls.
Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week

Benefits of Homemade Dog Applesauce

Applesauce is said to have many benefits for dogs including but not limited to:

Low in sodium, fat and calories
Amy improve memory and heart function
Full of antioxidants that help protect against free-radicals
Contain calcium and phosphorus
Vitamin C that may help with degenerative joint conditions
Vitamin A for healthy coat and skin
High insoluble fiber
Unprocessed apples may help to promote weight loss
Contain pectin which aids in keeping cholesterol levels down
May reduce the risk of diabetes

If you want your homemade dog applesauce to be unsweetened-you can omit the honey and cinnamon.

Remember to always check with your veterinarian before adding any new food to your dog’s diet and always feed in moderation!

Yield: Serving size will vary

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 3 hours

Ingredients

4 Granny Smith Apples
1/4 Tsp Ceylon Cinnamon (no nutmeg)
1 Tbsp hemp honey (or regular raw honey)
1/2 cup of water (you don't have to submerge the apples in water, you just need enough water to help them simmer)

Instructions

1. Wash and dry apples

2. Peel apples

3. Remove seeds and cut apples into cubes

4. Add apples to crockpot

5. Add honey, cinnamon and water

6. Cook on high for 2-4 hours. My slow cooker cooks high and fast so my recipe was done in 2 hours but time may vary depending on your cooker. I also stirred mine after an hour

7. Let cool

8. Serve! I use our applesauce to make frozen applesauce and peanut butter treats and as a filler in our West Paw Toppls.

9. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week

Notes

If you want your homemade dog applesauce to be unsweetened-you can omit the honey and cinnamon.

Remember to always check with your veterinarian before adding any new food to your dog's diet and always feed in moderation.

Nutrition Information

Yield

Serving Size

1
Amount Per ServingCalories 37Total Fat 1gSaturated Fat 0gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 0gCholesterol 0mgSodium 1mgCarbohydrates 8gFiber 1gSugar 6gProtein 1g

This calculation is based on an equal serving size of treats. Depending on the size of the molds that you use the calories per treat will vary. Other varying factors include different product types, different brands, etc. can change nutritional information. Always speak to your veterinarian before adding new food to your dog's diet. These dog treats are meant to be fed in moderation.

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The Easiest Homemade Dog Applesauce Recipe - Droolicious Dog Treats (2024)