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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!

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Olive was very patient in letting me photograph her before eating these cookies. They are her new favorite treat!IMG_1928

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

Yield: About 2 dozen small treats

Total Time: 35-40 minutes

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 30-40 minutes

Print Recipe

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:

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
  2. In small bowl, stir together the flour, oats, and cinnamon.
  3. In a separate large bowl, whisk together the eggs, pumpkin and peanut butter until combined. Stir wet ingredients into dry.
  4. Pour onto a floured surface and roll dough out to 1/2 thick. Cut out using cookie cutter.
  5. 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.
  6. Place on cooling racks and let cool thoroughly. They will harden as they cool.

For Sweet Potato Treats:

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
  2. Stir ingredients together in a large bowl until dough forms.
  3. Roll dough into small balls and place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.
  4. 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:

  1. Preheat oven 350°F.
  2. Mix ingredients together until dough forms.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
All images and text ©

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294 Comments

  1. Camille says:

    About how long do you bake the sweet potato treats?

    Reply
    1. Lindsay says:

      Camille,

      Depending on the size you make the treats, bake them between 30-40 minutes. Take them out when they are golden brown and fairly hard. When you cool them they will harden more. Have a great day!

      Lindsay

  2. Jessica says:

    Hi Lindsay,

    Just wanted to pop over and say thank you so much for the great recipes! I made a double batch of both the Peanut Butter – Pumpkin, and Apple-Carott treats last night. I am so pleased with them! I made the mistake of letting our dachshund Ralphie try one from the first tray… he sat and cried at the oven while the next 6 trays baked! HE ABSOLUTELY LOVES THEM!

    I am so glad to have a healthy and cost effective alternative to store bought treats, especially given all of the recent press about toxic pet treats!

    Here’s a link to a photo of Ralph waiting for his new favourite snack, and a jar of the finished treats!

    https://jessicamargetts.jux.com/1789769

    https://jessicamargetts.jux.com/1789762

    Thanks again,

    Jess

    Reply
    1. Lindsay says:

      Jessica,

      He is SO cute! Thank you so much for sharing the pictures, they are great! I’m so happy that you can share a healthy treat with him!

      Lindsay

  3. Natalie says:

    Thank you so much for your simple and grain free dog treat recipes. We tried the sweet potato ones today. Our dog and my husband loved them ;) I work with Children with Autism, one of my students has a therapy dog, who is on a restricted diet due to the child’s own allergies, these are perfect and a great bonding activity to do. I will be sharing with parents.

    Reply
    1. Lindsay says:

      Natalie,

      That’s wonderful to hear! I’m so happy that your dog (and husband) loved them and, I’m thrilled that your sharing the recipe for the therapy dog. Thank you so much for the feedback and have a great day!

      Lindsay

  4. Homemade Dog Food Lover says:

    Hey there Lindsay,

    I don’t usually leave comments on blogs but when I saw that close up picture of Olive and the treat hanging out I started cracking up. That was awesome! Plus, your treats look amazing. Like chef quality treats or something like that.

    Keep on working hard on your site and your baking skills… It looks like you’re doing alright! Thanks again,

    Homemade Dog Food Lover!

    Reply
    1. Lindsay says:

      Thank you so much! I’m lucky to have such a patient model for pictures :). Have a wonderful day!

      Lindsay

  5. Tayla says:

    This is awesome!!! I am using fresh sweet potato, so how will I need to prepare it (slice, puree, etc.)???

    Thanks :)

    Reply
    1. Lindsay says:

      Tayla,

      You will need to cook and purée the sweet potatoes. Thanks so much!

      Lindsay

  6. Connie says:

    Just made the apple carrot using brown rice flour as I am gluten free. My Teddy loves them (he does love everything) and since I make his own food, this is great!!!! Especially after the latest scare! Thank you!

    Reply
    1. Lindsay says:

      Connie,

      That’s great to hear! I’m glad to hear that he is doing well and loved the treats!

      Lindsay

  7. Cg12 says:

    Hi,
    I am in process of making the Apple, Carrot dog treat and followed directions. but its not turning dough like. Am I suppose to cook the rice first or not. We grated carrots and apples sauce and put baking powder as called but am i missing something to why its not dough like?

    Reply
    1. Lindsay says:

      Hi, sorry for the misunderstanding but the treats call for whole wheat, brown rice, or gluten free flour, not actual brown rice. Brown rice flour is a gluten free substitute and can be found at most grocery stores.

      Lindsay

  8. Morgan says:

    I’m excited to try these recipes. Do the treats keep for a while? I’d like to make all the recipes at once but wanted to make sure the treats wouldn’t go bad before I used them all. Thanks!

    Reply
    1. Lindsay says:

      Morgan,

      They will last about two weeks in a ziploc or airtight container. If you want them to last a little longer you try refrigerating them or try cutting the recipe in half. We’ve been sharing with some of our friends pups :).

      Lindsay

  9. Jennifer says:

    My boys love anything that comes out of the oven, so when i pulled out treats for them i have never seen their eyes get so big! They love these!

    Reply
    1. Lindsay says:

      Aw, so cute! I’m so happy that the treats are such a hit!

      Lindsay

  10. Cathy Bannon says:

    Hi! I love how easy it seems to make treats for my dog except that mine won’t go anywhere near peanut butter or sweet potatoes. Can you suggest something that I csn use that is just as healthy? I know that anyone who loves their pets calls them their children but I can say mine is like a child as he refuses to eat any form of dog food.

    Reply