Pumpkin seems to be everywhere, especially once fall is upon us! Pumpkin pie, pumpkin spice lattes, pumpkin cookies and if you’ve been to Trader Joe’s, then you know there’s no shortage of anything pumpkin that your heart desires. With all of these delicious pumpkin treats waiting for you to enjoy, you may be wondering if pumpkin is something that your pup can indulge in, as well.
Well, we are happy to tell you YES! Pumpkin is great for dogs and includes several benefits like supporting urinary health, weight loss, and constipation. Along with several other beneficial nutrients, dogs LOVE the flavor of pumpkin. During the fall we can’t resist pumpkin, so why should they!
Check out our top five favorite pumpkin treat recipes for dogs that yours is sure to enjoy!
- No-Bake Pumpkin Dog Treats
These 2-ingredient pumpkin treats are great when you’re in a hurry or don’t feel like using your oven. They’re easy to make and sure to excite your dog.
Ingredients
- Pumpkin Purée (not pumpkin pie filling)
- Yogurt Dog Treats
Directions
- Mix them together… like I said, EASY!
- Pumpkin Spice Puppy Kisses
Ingredients
- ¾ cup all-natural almond butter (or peanut butter with no artificial sweeteners)
- 1/3 cup canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling)
- 1 large egg
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground ginger (dry/powdered)
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a medium sized mixing bowl, mix together all ingredients until well combined.
- Spoon mixture into a piping bag or large ziplock bag and snip off the corner with scissors. Squeeze teaspoon sized drops/kisses onto the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes or until cooked through.
- Let cool and store in airtight container in refrigerator for up to 5 days. May also be frozen.
- Pumpkin Dog Bones
Ingredients
- 2 cups of Flour
- 1 Egg
- ¾ cup of Pumpkin
- 1/3 cup of Peanut Butter
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees
- Mix your egg, peanut butter, and pumpkin in a mixing bowl
- Once your wet ingredients are mixed slowly start mixing in your flour
- Flour your counter and roll your dough into a ball and begin flattening it out on your counter
- Find your favorite cookie cutter and start cutting out your cookies to whatever thickness you desire
- Lay them onto a cookie sheet and bake for about 20-30 minutes.
- Once they’re cooled, share them with your pup!
- Pumpkin Doggy Donut Holes
Ingredients
- 1 cup of Flour
- 1 large Egg
- 2/3 cup of Pumpkin Purée
- ½ teaspoon Baking Soda
- ¼ teaspoon Salt
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350
- In a medium bowl, beat the egg and pumpkin until smooth. You can whisk by hand or use an electric mixer
- Fold (by hand) in the flour, baking soda and salt
- Mix well until fully combined and a soft dough forms
- Refrigerate for about 10 minutes or until dough can easily be rolled into balls
- Roll into desired sized balls and place on a cookie sheet
- Bake for about 15 minutes or until golden brown
*We recommend storing in an airtight contains for up to 2 weeks.
- Pumpkin Sweet Potato Bites
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups of brown rice flour
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 cup mashed sweet potato
- ½ cup 100% pure pumpkin purée
- ½ cup water
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon organic maple syrup
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together brown rice flour and cinnamon.
- In a separate bowl, mash sweet potato.
- Add pumpkin, water, egg, and maple syrup to sweet potato and mix until thoroughly combined.
- Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and mix together with a spoon until you’re left with a thick batter
- With your fingers, pinch off a small amount of the mixture (approx. ¾ teaspoon) and roll into balls. Place the balls on the baking sheet, spacing them about an inch apart.
- After treats are placed on the baking sheet, take a fork and flatten the little ball to around a ¼” thick.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.
- Flip them over and continue baking for another 10 minutes.
- Transfer to a wire rack to cool.