Preheat your oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. This ensures your treats won't stick and gives you even heat distribution for consistent baking.

Pour the oats into a food processor and blend for 30-60 seconds until they break down into a flour-like consistency—you want a texture somewhere between coarse flour and sand, not ultra-fine powder. Transfer the processed oats to a mixing bowl and stir in the cinnamon and flour. This pre-mixing of dry ingredients helps them distribute evenly throughout the dough.

In the food processor (no need to rinse), add the ripe banana, peanut butter, and egg. Blend until you have a smooth, well-combined mixture with no visible chunks of banana—this becomes the base that binds everything together. I like to use bananas with brown spots because they're naturally sweeter and more flavorful for the dogs.

Pour the wet ingredient mixture from Step 3 into the dry ingredient mixture from Step 2 and stir until a shaggy dough begins to form. If the dough seems too dry and crumbly, add the water a tablespoon at a time until it comes together into a cohesive dough that holds its shape but isn't sticky. The goal is a dough similar in texture to thick cookie dough—moist but not wet.

Turn the dough out onto a clean counter and gently knead it a few times to ensure everything is evenly distributed. If it's sticky, dust the work surface and your hands with a bit of flour. Using a rolling pin, roll the dough to about 1/8 inch thick, then use dog-bone-shaped cookie cutters or any fun shapes to cut out your treats. Place each cut piece on your prepared baking sheet, spacing them about an inch apart so they can bake evenly.

Bake for 8-9 minutes, then flip each treat over and bake for another 8-9 minutes (about 16-18 minutes total) until the treats are firm and lightly golden on the edges. Flipping halfway through ensures even browning and prevents one side from getting too dark while the other stays pale.

Remove the treats from the oven and let them cool completely on the baking sheet for at least 15-20 minutes before serving to your pup. They'll firm up as they cool, making them crunchier and more satisfying for chewing.