These homemade apple cinnamon training bits are a simple way to turn basic pantry staples into a batch of small dog treats without spending boutique-bakery prices. The dough mixes quickly, rolls out easily, and bakes into score-and-break pieces that are handy for training sessions, treat jars, or small rewards throughout the week.
If you like making practical pet basics yourself, this is the kind of budget-friendly project that earns its keep. One batch yields about 1 1/2 pounds of treats using whole wheat flour, cornmeal, grated apple, and cinnamon, so you can portion them out instead of buying tiny bags at premium prices.
- 🧰 Materials You'll Need
- 🔧 Tools & Equipment
- 🛠️ How to Make Apple Cinnamon Training Bits
- 🎨 Customization Ideas
- 🛠️ How to Use Apple Cinnamon Training Bits
- 🛡️ Safety and Care
- 📦 Storage
- 💸 Estimated Cost
- 🛍️ Need Help Finding Everything?
- ❓ Frequently Asked Questions about Apple Cinnamon Training Bits
- 📌 Love this Apple Cinnamon Training Bits? Pin it!
- 🖨️ Print-Friendly How-To: Apple Cinnamon Training Bits
Materials You’ll Need
- 4 cups whole wheat flour
- 1/2 cup cornmeal
- 1 egg
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 small apple, grated
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 1/3 cups water
- Light dusting of flour for the work surface
- Nonstick spray for the baking sheet
Tools & Equipment
- Large mixing bowl
- Box grater or fine grater
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Rolling pin
- Straight edge or bench scraper for scoring
- Baking sheet
How to Make Apple Cinnamon Training Bits
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
- In a bowl, combine the whole wheat flour, cornmeal, egg, vegetable oil, and cinnamon.
- Grate the small apple directly into the mixture, then add the water.
- Mix until the dough starts forming together.
- Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead well.
- Roll the dough out to a thickness of 1/4-inch to 1/2-inch.
- Using a straight edge, score the dough horizontally and then vertically to make a grid of 3/4-inch squares. Be careful not to score the dough so deeply that it completely cuts through.
- Place the scored dough on a baking sheet that has been sprayed with a nonstick spray.
- Bake for 1 hour.
- Cool completely, then break along the scored lines into small training bits.
Customization Ideas
- For smaller dogs: Roll the dough closer to the 1/4-inch thickness so the finished bits break into thinner pieces.
- For larger dogs: Roll it a little thicker, closer to 1/2-inch, for a sturdier reward.
- For gifting: Package the cooled bits in a clean jar or treat tin and pair them with a practical pet extra like this DIY Pet Canned Food Cover.
- For seasonal variety: If your pet enjoys homemade treats, you can rotate these with another simple option like Fall Pumpkin Treat for Pets.
How to Use Apple Cinnamon Training Bits
- Use them as small rewards during short training sessions.
- Keep a few in a treat pouch for walks or recall practice.
- Break any larger squares into smaller pieces for portion control.
- Offer them in moderation as treats, not as a complete meal.
Safety and Care
Because this dough includes fresh grated apple and egg, treat the finished bits like a homemade baked food rather than a commercial shelf-stable biscuit. Let them cool completely before storing, and keep them in a sealed container so they stay fresher longer. For an extra safety baseline on storing pet food and treats at home, the FDA recommends storing pet treats in a clean, dry container and handling them with the same basic care you use for food in your own kitchen.
- Use a seed-free, core-free apple. Grate only the edible apple flesh into the dough.
- If the dough seems dry, mix thoroughly before adding anything extra. The moisture from the grated apple matters here.
- If you score too deeply, the dough can separate before baking. A shallow grid works better.
- Always supervise pets with treats sized for their breed and chewing habits.
Storage
- Store fully cooled treats in an airtight container.
- For short-term use, keep them refrigerated.
- For longer storage, freeze portions and thaw as needed.
- If they develop moisture, off odors, or visible mold, toss them.
Estimated Cost
Estimated consumable cost: about $3.64 per batch, or roughly $2.43 per pound, based on common U.S. grocery pricing for whole wheat flour, cornmeal, egg, vegetable oil, apple, cinnamon, and nonstick spray. Actual cost will vary by brand, store, and season.
🛍️ Need Help Finding Everything?
- Whole wheat flour at Walmart
- Cornmeal at Walmart
- Ground cinnamon at Walmart
- Vegetable oil at Walmart
- Eggs at Walmart
- Apples at Walmart
- Bench scraper on Amazon
- Rolling pin on Amazon
Frequently Asked Questions about Apple Cinnamon Training Bits
You can, but the original method works better if you only score the dough. That way the sheet stays together while it bakes, and you can break the pieces apart neatly after it cools.
Grated apple spreads moisture more evenly through the dough, which helps everything mix and bind without leaving chunky wet spots.
Mix it thoroughly first, because the grated apple releases moisture as you work. If it still won’t come together, add water a little at a time until the dough holds when pressed.
Use a lightly floured surface and keep the extra flour light. Too much flour can make the finished bits drier and tougher than you want.
Stick with the original range of 1/4-inch to 1/2-inch. Thinner dough makes smaller, crisper training bits. Thicker dough makes a sturdier chew.
Yes, especially if you’re training a small dog. Just keep the cuts shallow enough that the dough doesn’t separate before baking.
Because these are homemade treats with fresh apple and egg, refrigeration is the safer short-term choice. If you made a big batch, freezing portions is the easiest way to stretch them without waste.
Absolutely. They’re just sized conveniently for training. You can use them as small rewards anytime, or break larger pieces down for quick treats.
If the treats feel damp after storage, smell off, or show any visible mold, pitch them. Homemade pet treats are cheap to remake, and this is not the place to get thrifty in the wrong direction.
📌 Love this Apple Cinnamon Training Bits? Pin it!
Did you try these apple cinnamon training bits? Tell us how you sized them for your dog or what helped most when you rolled and scored the dough.
🖨️ Print-Friendly How-To: Apple Cinnamon Training Bits
Apple Cinnamon Training Bits
Equipment
Materials
- 4 cups whole wheat flour
- ½ cup cornmeal
- 1 egg
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 small apple grated
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 ⅓ cups water
- Light flour for dusting work surface
- Nonstick spray for baking sheet
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
- In a bowl combine all ingredients except the apple and water.
- Grate apple into mixture and add water.
- Mix until it starts forming together.
- Turn out on a lightly floured surface.
- Knead well.
- Roll out to a thickness of 1/4-inch to 1/2-inch.
- Take a straight edge and score the dough horizontally then vertically to make a grid of 3/4-inch squares.
- Be careful not to score the dough so that it completely cuts through the dough.
- Place on a baking sheet that has been sprayed with a nonstick spray.
- Bake at 325 degrees F for 1 hour.
- Cool completely and break apart along the scored lines.
- Homemade Apple Cinnamon Training Bits Pinterest image: https://www.budget101.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/homemade-apple-cinnamon-training-bits-recipe.jpg
- This recipe includes fresh apple and egg, so store finished treats in a sealed container in the refrigerator for short-term use.
- Freeze extra portions for longer storage.
- Use only the edible flesh of the apple. Do not add seeds or core pieces.
- Estimated cost reflects consumable ingredients only, not reusable tools or equipment.
i make my own dog treats all the time. going to try this for my happy pappy!!
can this be made without corn and wheat?