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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!
My dogs went crazy for theses. It was easy for them to eat because Yorkies have terrible teeth problems. I lost the recipe, so I was glad to find it to make for my “granddogs”.
Made the peanut butter and oatmeal treats, my gal Ellie loved them. Taking two bags to share with my sisters dogs and my nieces dogs as well. Next I’m going to try the sweet potato treats as she loves those! Great recipes, thank you!
I have been using your treat recipes with my fifth graders! They make the sweet potato and pumpkin peanut butter recipes for shelter pets each year with great success. We bake for seven local shelters and rescues who rave about them. This teaches them many valuable lessons, and gives them an opportunity to support organizations in need! (Any requests for recipes are directed to your site. All credit for recipes given and information is cited in communication.)
My own Shih Tzu will only eat these treats! She turns her nose up at anything else.
Thanks for sharing these recipes!
So happy to hear you and your fifth graders enjoy baking these treats, Leigh. Thanks for stopping by and leaving your feedback.
-Jamie
Jamie, sorry to bother you, but I have a few questions. After a long summer of our 2 year old cocker throwing up all over the place, we had her tested again for food allergies. She has 16 different food allergies. It makes it really hard to feed her and our other cocker. I have the time and desire to make her food, but I need some help adjusting recipes.
Chaco is now allergic to Chicken, corn, flax, green peas, oat, rice spinach, tomato, bean mix, berry mix, coconut, soybean, squash mix, and sunflower. The second cocker, Mocha, is allergic to flax, peanut, rice and wheat
This list pretty much means we can’t use commercial food for her or them.
I need to check and see what squash mix includes, but the list specifically says pumpkin and sweet potato are ok.
I would like to find some home made, dry dog food recipe that I can feed to both.
Both of them can tolerate barley. Can I substitute barley flour for any other flours? Any other suggestions. Thanks for any help you can offer. Ellen
Hi Ellen-
I haven’t tried the barley substitute, but if you do, please let us know how it works out.
-Jamie
Oh what a cute dog. Thanks for sharing these tips! Great read.
My doggy is excited to try it! I’m going to cook this weekend!
Thanks so much for stopping by, Kris! I appreciate you taking the time to comment. Happy Baking!
-Jamie
Great recipe, I will try it this holiday season. My pit loves peanut butter :)
Thanks so much for stopping by! I appreciate you taking the time to comment. Happy Baking!
-Jamie
WOW, I’m impressed,Hopefully, my furbabes will be as well.
Thanx, a bunch!
Love to make these dog treats & my dog loves them to! Where can I get a bone cookie cutter? Is there an icing to put on the treats for the holidays?
Thank you so much for the recipes!!!
Thanks so much for stopping by, Carol! I appreciate you taking the time to comment. Happy Baking!
-Jamie
I have never tried giving my dog treats, but this looks delicious and im sure she would love this. Will let my wife make this. Thanks for this
Thanks so much for stopping by! I appreciate you taking the time to comment. Happy Baking!
-Jamie