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Apples, Cinnamon, Sweet Potatoes, Pumpkin…these are the flavors of the season. We go crazy for lattes, pie, cookies, candles, everything and anything containing those ingredients or scents. All the while, someone close to you is feeling very left out. Your best friend! Staring at you with those big eyes (I have an expert beggar on my hands), hoping you’ll be kind enough to share a bite.
Don’t leave your dog out when you’re celebrating the tastes of the season! Apples, sweet potatoes, and pumpkin are actually all very common ingredients in homemade dog treats. Dogs love these flavors and they are really healthy for your pup. Homemade dog treats are super simple to make and you can easily tailor the recipe for any special diets. So next time you’re in the baking mood, whip up a quick batch of healthy homemade dog treats for your pooch!
Olive was very patient in letting me photograph her before eating these cookies. They are her new favorite treat!
I just know your pooch will love these biscuits as much as Olive did, so don’t let fall pass without baking them up at your house too. They’re also great as hostess gifts for pet-loving pals. Imagine the delight when your friends get to indulge in pumpkin cheesecake trifles and their pooch gets a mason jar full of homemade dog treats!
Homemade Dog Treats
Ingredients:
For Peanut Butter Pumpkin Treats:
- 1 cup pumpkin puree
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 cup oats (optional if your dog is on a grain free diet, sub an extra 1/4 cup grain free flour)
- 3 cups whole wheat flour, brown rice flour, or gluten free flour
- 3 tablespoons of all natural peanut butter
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)
For Sweet Potato Treats:
- 1 cup of canned sweet potato (you can sub fresh if you want)
- 1 3/4 cups whole wheat flour, brown rice flour, or gluten free flour
- 1 egg (beaten)
For Apple Carrot Treats:
- 1 cup of whole wheat flour, brown rice flour, or gluten free flour
- 1 cup of grated carrots
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup unsweetened apple sauce
Directions:
For Peanut Butter Pumpkin Treats:
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- In small bowl, stir together the flour, oats, and cinnamon.
- In a separate large bowl, whisk together the eggs, pumpkin and peanut butter until combined. Stir wet ingredients into dry.
- Pour onto a floured surface and roll dough out to 1/2 thick. Cut out using cookie cutter.
- The dough will be a little sticky, a dusting of flour for your hands and the rolling pin will help! Bake for 30 to 35 minutes until golden brown.
- Place on cooling racks and let cool thoroughly. They will harden as they cool.
For Sweet Potato Treats:
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Stir ingredients together in a large bowl until dough forms.
- Roll dough into small balls and place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Press dough down slightly so the biscuits are about about 1/4 inch thick. Bake until golden brown and let cool on a wire rack.
For Apple Carrot Treats:
- Preheat oven 350°F.
- Mix ingredients together until dough forms.
- Roll dough into small balls and place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Press dough down slightly so the biscuits are about about 1/4 inch thick.
- Bake until golden brown and let cool on a wire rack.
Notes:
Peanut Butter Pumpkin Treats:
- These are the treats that are pictured.
- 1/2 teaspoon of salt can be added to these treats to help extend the shelf life but, it is optional.
- Cinnamon is fine to use in recipes for dogs, however do not use a pumpkin spice blend or anything that could contain nutmeg. It is toxic to dogs and even in small amounts can make them sick.
Sweet Potato Treats:
- 1/2 teaspoon of salt can be added to these treats to help extend the shelf life but, it is optional.
For Apple Carrot Treats:
- If the dough is really sticky, add a few more tablespoons of flour.
- 1/2 teaspoon of salt can be added to these treats to help extend the shelf life but, it is optional.
- Peanut Butter Pumpkin Treats are adapted from Sweet Pea's Kitchen.
- Sweet Potato Treats are adapted from Brown Eyed Baker.
- Apple Carrot Treats are adapted from For the Love of Pooch.
Follow Jamie on Instagram. We love to see what you're baking from MBA! Be sure to tag @jamiemba and use the hashtag #mbarecipes!
I work with a rescue and we are having a reunion for all foster dogs past and present. I volunteered to make doggie goodie bags for everyone to take home. I first tried these on my 3 dogs and they absolutely loved them! Just wanted to let you know all three of these will be going in the goodie bags for all the fur babies to take home with them!! Thank you so much!
Beth-
I’m so glad you got the chance to try these and to share! Thanks for visiting.
-Jamie
I just finished preparing the dough for the pumpkin cookies and got called into work. Would it be best to freeze the dough or will it keep in the fridge for a day or two?
Thanks a lot!
Amanda-
It should be fine in the refrigerator as long as you wrap it in plastic wrap or foil. I hope this helps.
-Jamie
Have you ever used beets in a recipe? My dogs go nuts when I roast a whole beet and they get to have some in their kibble. I might try to add beets into my next batch.
Barb-
I haven’t tried adding beets but let me know how it turns out if you try it. Thanks for visiting.
-Jamie
My dog loves pumpkin treats!!!! Now if I could just find a good ,easy pumpkin recipe that my family would eat we could share a can of pumpkin puree.
I was at the store and grabbed some rice flour, but got home and found the carrot applesauce treats called for BROWN rice flour…do I have to return it or will it work?
Ann-
The white rice flour will work just fine. Thanks for stopping by.
-Jamie
I made the sweet potato dog treats Friday night and today Sunday they have turned a darker color.. Maybe I didn’t cook them long enough and I did put them in an air tight container but did not put it in the refrigerator so am making them again today, will cook them a little longer and store them in the frig. I might also add the salt to help.
Deena-
I hope they turn out better for you this time. Thanks for stopping by.
-Jamie
Making these this weekend for doggy Christmas gifts :) Can’t wait!! They look great, and so easy!
I love this idea, Haley! So fun, I hope the pups love them!
-Jamie
I have just made the sweet potato treat using fresh sweet potatoes. I also did Gluten free using tapioca flour. I had to double the flour. They feel like rubber. Is that normal? THANkS
Heidi,
I have never made them with just tapioca flour. I made them with brown rice flour and they were crispy. Next time try brown rice flour or a gluten-free flour blend, you should have better results!
Lindsay
I have made the pumpkin treats a couple times and my dog loves them. But I was wondering if you know why they get air bubbles when they bake?? I followed directions exactly. Thanks.
Cindy-
I honestly have no idea why there would be air bubbles, sorry I am not more of a help.
-Jamie
Great recipes.. thanks for posting them.
Have you tried these in a dehydrator? i just got a jerky gun and have been making homemade jerky treats without all the added crap in the commercial stuff, but wondered if you had tried them?
Thanks again!
Steven-
I haven’t tried the dehydrator, but I’d love to know how it turns out if you try it.
-Jamie