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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!
Thanks for the recipe! I have a boxer named Olive, as well! Aren’t boxers the best? :)
Amy,
Aw, that’s great! They are the best!
Lindsay
These smell wonderful while baking! I made mine with all oat and brown rice flour, and added some dried cherries. Mine drool when I am making biscuits- the buggers know it’s for them. Thank you! Sassy and Oni, my two Bostons, thank you too!
Marianne,
You’re welcome! I never thought about adding dried cherries, great idea. Thanks so much for stopping in to share!
Lindsay
I am looking for a soft biscuit for my 11 year old pug, Mr. Bocci, who recently had to have four teeth removed and is finding it hard to chew the hard biscuits. Are yours soft biscuits? If not, do you know where I can purchase or make soft biscuits at home? Thanks — and Mr. Bocci thanks you too!
Lynn,
You can make them softer by baking them for less time, however it may affect the shelf life of the treats.
Lindsay
This recipe looks great! I am thinking of making the peanut butter cookies (1st recipe) as gifts for my furry friends and just wondering how well they keep and how far ahead I could make them.
Thanks
Jacqueline,
They don’t last as long as store bought treats since they don’t have preservatives. They will last about two weeks if baked til hard.
Lindsay
Hi question I see in one of your recipes it calls for baking powder,everything that I have read states that baking powder is not good for dogs HSS anyone ever made the treat above that calls for this without it?
Bambi,
I haven’t heard of that. I did a little research and found that only in large amounts is it bad for dogs…a small amount in the treats would be fine. If you’d like to leave it out completely to be safe that would be okay. It is just in there to help the treats raise a little and I’m sure your pup wouldn’t mind it being left out :). Thanks so much for asking and letting me know about that!
Lindsay
I’m making a double batch. Is there any problem freezing them?
Coral,
I haven’t tried freezing them, but I don’t think there would be a problem doing it! Thanks so much!
Lindsay
Lindsay,
Great recipe! My little girl boxer, Phoebe, absolutely loves these. I also added graham cracker crumbs to mine. She goes crazy for her “treats”.
Tyson,
That’s great to hear! I’m glad there’s another happy boxer out there :).
Lindsay
Nice dog treat recipes and healthy! I altered the recipe using a mix of pumpkin, sweet potato, carrot, and pea. The purée smelled great. I think I might eat one. I’m sure my little doggies are going to love them!
Janet,
That combo sounds great! I’d be tempted to eat one too! Thanks so much!
Lindsay
I just made the peanut butter pumpkin treats for my Van. :) He’s a picky catahoula with a sensitive stomach, but he loves these! He has been hovering in the kitchen since the first one he ate. I’ll be making all the family dogs these treats for Christmas! Thanks for the great recipes.
Amy,
Thanks so much for stopping back to let us know! I’m so happy Van loved the treats!
Lindsay
Hi Lindsay,
These sound wonderful. Can I freeze the dough if I don’t want to bake them right away?
\Thank you
Cindy,
I haven’t tried freezing the dough. I would freeze it in small portions rolled up in plastic wrap, so when it thaws you can easily cut round “cookie” portions. Please stop back and let us know your experience with it, if you choose to do so. Thank you so much for stopping by!
Lindsay