1. Pumpkin Oatmeal Spice Treats
If your dog is mad because you won’t give him any candy corn, put some of these season-appropriate pumpkin and spice and everything nice treats in his trick-or-treat bag.
Ingredients
½ cup water
½ cup organic canned pumpkin puree (do NOT use pumpkin pie mix)
2 tablespoons olive oil
½ cup organic steel cut oatmeal
½ teaspoon cinnamon
2 ½ cups whole wheat flour
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a large bowl, mix together water, pumpkin, oil, and cinnamon. Gradually mix in oatmeal and flour to form a stiff dough (a dough that is dry rather than moist). Roll out dough on a floured surface until it is about ¼ inch thick. Cut into shapes with cookie cutters. Place on a non-stick cookie sheet, and bake for 30 to 40 minutes. Let cool before treating.
2. Oatmeal-Turkey Dog Biscuits
This recipe is appropriate for Thanksgiving — because your dog obviously likes turkey too. They are easy to make, and your dog will thank you!
Ingredients
1 ¾ cups whole wheat flour
2 ½ cups quick cooking oats
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup turkey (or chicken) broth
1 ½ cups shredded turkey (or chicken)
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and grease a cookie sheet so it’s ready. Mix the flour, oats, and baking powder in a large bowl. Using a food processor or blender, blend the broth and shredded turkey (make sure there are no bones in the turkey) until it’s pureed smooth. Add this mixture to the dry mix in the large bowl, and blend together well. On a floured surface, knead the dough. This will take some elbow-grease! (If you’ve never kneaded dough, check out one of the many YouTube videos online). Then roll out the dough and cut into shapes with a cookie cutter. Leaving some room between biscuits, place on greased cookie sheet. Bake until they are golden brown, about 25 minutes. Let cool before serving. Keep leftovers in the refrigerator.
3. Healthy Pumpkin Dog Treats
These delicious treats can be made fast and easy — or not, depending on whether you make or buy pumpkin puree. Again, never use pumpkin pie mix for dog treats as it contains too much sugar.
Ingredients
½ cup of pureed pumpkin (canned or fresh)
2 tablespoons of coconut oil, softened
4 tablespoons of water, plus more if needed
2 cups of whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon of cinnamon
¼ teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon of baking powder
1 egg
For those who want to make their own pumpkin puree: Slice the pumpkin in half. Scoop out the pumpkin seeds and fibers. You can either roast the pumpkin halves until you can easily insert a knife (usually around 30 to 45 minutes), or peel, cut the pumpkin into cubes, put in a pot of water, and bring to a boil. If you roast the pumpkin, remove the roasted flesh with a spoon and puree in a food processor or blender until the mixture is smooth. If you boil the pumpkin, drain and allow to cool, then use a blender or food processor to make the puree.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix the pumpkin puree, softened coconut oil, and water together in a large bowl. Then add the flour, cinnamon, baking soda, and baking powder. Mix together. Add the egg, and stir until the dough is mixed well (you may have to add more water). The dough should be slightly sticky. Roll out the dough on a floured surface until it’s ¼-inch thick. Cut out with cookie cutter, place on a lined or greased cookie sheet, and bake for 30 minutes until the biscuits are hard. Let cool.
4. Sweet Potato Dog Chews
This is a one-ingredient treat, but it takes all day in the oven to bake. All you need for this recipe is:
Ingredients
2 sweet potatoes
Preheat oven to 250 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Wash the skin of the potatoes well. Cut the ends off, and then slice using a sharp knife or a mandolin. You can do coin shape if your dog is small, or lengthwise, if you have a bigger pup. Make sure they are at least 1/4 inches thick, otherwise, they will be too hard. Place the slices on the baking sheet and bake for about 3 hours, flipping over halfway between. Turn off oven, but leave the chews inside the oven as it cools. These will keep in a sealed container for up to one to two weeks.
5. Pumpkin and Peanut Butter Treats
This recipe is easy and fast, and your dog will love them! All you need is three ingredients and a bone-shaped cookie cutter.
Ingredients
1 cup oats, plus more if needed
1/3 cup pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)
1/4 cup natural peanut butter
Make sure that the peanut butter does not have xylitol, a sweetener that is extremely toxic to dogs. Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Put the oats in a food processor and pulse until you have a fine powder. Add the pumpkin puree and peanut butter and mix until a sticky dough forms. Roll out dough on a floured surface and cut into shapes with a cookie cutter. Place on baking sheet and bake for 25 to 30 minutes until the treats are hard. Let cool. Store leftovers in an airtight container.
Reference: This Dog's Life.
