Treat man's best friend to these drool-worthy homemade Pumpkin Oatmeal Dog Treats! They're made with five wholesome, natural food ingredients -each of which plays a role in a nutritious, well-balanced doggie diet.
Treating your dog to delicious freshly baked treats is a great way to show them they're loved like family. This pumpkin dog biscuit recipe is adapted from the Bubba Rose Biscuit Company's Organic Dog Biscuit Cookbook -and to our canine companions, these treats are the best!
You'll make a batch of healthy dog treats from scratch with a handful of whole food ingredients, including oatmeal flour, brown rice flour, and a can of pumpkin. I should add -yes, you're more than welcome to eat them, but I can't guarantee you'll enjoy them as much as the dog.
That said, you're better off making something more appetizing for human consumption like pumpkin spice-baked oatmeal or cupcakes, but first - let's make these oatmeal pumpkin dog treats!
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- There are only five ingredients with no additives or preservatives you may already have on hand.
- They're made with oatmeal and brown rice, so they're a great alternative to store-bought treats for dogs with an intolerance to wheat.
- You can make these treats with a can of pumpkin or make your own pureed pumpkin.
- Great gift for the pet parents in your life. These treats are dog-approved and guaranteed to get those tails wagging.
Ingredients You'll Need
For these homemade dog treats, you'll only need five ingredients (which, conveniently, you may already have on hand!):
- Oat flour - Oat flour is ground oats pulverized into powder and is a good source of wheat-free fiber. According to American Kennel Club, oatmeal can help maintain strong skin and a healthy coat.
- Brown rice flour - Rice flour is a good source of protein, fiber, and vitamin B, especially for dogs sensitive to wheat. If your dog doesn't have any wheat sensitivities, you can use whole wheat flour here.
- Pumpkin puree - Homemade or canned pumpkin (NOT pumpkin pie filling!) adds even more beneficial fiber, vitamins, and minerals to these treats, and dogs LOVE it!
- Egg - Our four-legged furry friends are omnivores, after all. Eggs are a great source of animal protein and nourishing fatty acids.
- Cinnamon - Just because these cookies are for dogs doesn't mean they should lack flavor. Cinnamon also helps extend the shelf-life.
- Water - The liquid element that adds moisture to the dry ingredients to make a tender, pliable dough.
Equipment recommendations: Flattening balls of dog cookie dough with a fork and making a crosshatch design on the top is less work, but your dog will appreciate the extra effort if you use a cookie cutter to shape the treats into dog bones 😉. Our German Shorthaired Pointer, Brownie, gave these treats a big paw's up!
How To Make Pumpkin Dog Treats with Oatmeal
Step 1: Prepare for baking dog biscuits. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and set it aside.
Step 2: Make the dough. Mix oat flour, brown rice, flour, pumpkin, cinnamon, egg, and water in a large bowl until a soft, cohesive dough forms.
Step 3: Roll dough. Roll the dough into 1" balls, placing them on the prepared baking sheet as you work through the entire batch. Then, press the balls down with a fork (creating a crosshatch pattern).
Step 4: Bake, cool, and store. Transfer the cookie sheet to the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes. Remove from the oven, and let cool completely. Then, store in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer.
Recipe Tips
- Make sure you have a can of pureed pumpkin and not a can of pumpkin pie mix. The latter has added sugars and flavorings.
- Instead of rolling the dough into balls, roll it to a 1" thickness on a lightly floured surface. Then, cut it into dog-themed shapes using fun cookie cutters.
- Don't worry about overcrowding the cookie sheet. The treats won't expand, so you can arrange them side-by-side on the cookie sheet.
- For a firm but chewy dog treat, bake for less time -and for a hard, crunchy dog biscuit, bake the biscuits a few minutes longer.
Variations
I don't recommend straying too far from the recipe as it's written, but there are a few modifications you can make:
- Omit half of the pumpkin puree and use mashed banana, pureed sweet potato, pureed butternut squash, or applesauce instead. You can also add peanut butter as long as it's xylitol free.
- Feel free to add about a ¼ cup of one of the following dog-friendly fruits to your dog cookie dough; fresh or frozen blueberries, apple, cantaloupe, mango, or strawberries.
- You can also add veggies like kale, spinach, carrots, and green beans.
Storing & Freezing
Storing: Keep homemade pumpkin dog biscuits in a shallow airtight glass container or zip-top bag in the fridge for up to a week.
Freezing: Feel free to double or triple the recipe and keep a batch or two in the freezer for 2-3 months—no need to thaw before serving (unless your dog has a preference!).
FAQ
Like anything else, pumpkin is a good treat for dogs given at the recommended daily amount. It's packed with soluble fiber, which promotes healthy digestion and can calm an upset stomach.
Sugar-free plain rolled oats, steel-cut oats, and oat flour are a beneficial addition to a dog's diet in moderation. Oats provide healthy fiber, vitamins, and minerals.
Chocolate, avocados, onions, garlic, dairy, added sugar, and salt should never be fed to dogs. Please refer to your vet for the complete list of unsafe foods for canine consumption.
Pumpkin Treats for People
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Ingredients
- 1 cup oat flour
- 1 cup brown rice flour
- 1 cup canned pumpkin
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 egg
- ⅓ cup water
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Mix all ingredients well in a large bowl until a soft dough forms.
- Roll into 1" balls and press down with a fork (creating a criss-cross pattern) or pat to about 1" thickness and cut with a cookie cutter to desired shape.
- Place on a parchment lined cookie sheet and bake 20-25 minutes.
- They won't expand, so you can place them close together.
- Remove from oven and let cool.
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Notes
- Make sure you have a can of pureed pumpkin and not a can of pumpkin pie mix. The latter has added sugars and flavorings.
- Instead of rolling the dough into balls, roll it to a 1" thickness on a lightly floured surface. Then, cut it into dog-themed shapes using fun cookie cutters.
- Don't worry about overcrowding the cookie sheet. The treats won't expand, so you can arrange them side-by-side on the cookie sheet.
- For a firm but chewy dog treat, bake for less time -and for a hard, crunchy dog biscuit, bake the biscuits a few minutes longer.
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