Just in case it wasn’t clear enough in the headline these delectable easy pumpkin peanut butter dog treats are for your beloved Fido not for humans. They are technically consumable for humans, but I don’t imagine them tasting as good for us as one would hope. Either way our dogs love them, even the picky eaters who won’t even touch peanut butter. (I know, we have a broken k-9, who doesn’t love peanut butter?) These treats are so easy to make, and you know exactly what’s in them. Your pup will be very pleased with your baking skills if you make him/her this tasty treat.
I like to use a pizza roller to cut my treats as its fast and easy. I typically make a few 1-inch treats for my big dogs and then some smaller ones for the little dogs and for training. They don’t have to be perfectly all the same size as over baking a little bit won’t hurt them at all. In fact, if I’m not sure whether or not they are baked well enough I will just add another 5-10 minutes to be on the safe side. Make sure your rolling surface is well floured before rolling out so that the treats don’t stick. If the rolling pin begins to stick sprinkle a little flour onto the top of the dough and it will help.
One of the great things about making homemade treats is that you can add extra healthy ingredients to them. If you have a dog that is known for their queasy stomach substitute some of the flour for ginger powder. You can also substitute some flour for turmeric powder for a bit of an anti-inflammatory effect. If you do this make sure you don’t give them too many treats. If you’re unsure how much your dog should be getting a day consult your veterinarian or a pet nutritionist. I will often sprinkle in a multi vitamin powder and egg calcium. (Dried eggshells ground into a fine powder.) I prefer using whole wheat flour because it is more nutrient dense, but you could use regular all-purpose flour in a pinch, but you may have to add extra.
It’s really important that these get baked all the way through so that they don’t spoil. It’s equally important that they cool completely before storage. If you put them in a container while warm the condensation will make the treats mold. I like to actually leave mine out on the counter overnight just to be on the safe side.
Easy pumpkin peanut butter dog treats
Ingredients
- 3 1/2 cups whole wheat flour + extra
- 3 large eggs
- 3/4 cup canned plain pumpkin
- 3 tbsp natural peanut butter
- 3/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 cup ground flax seed
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
- In a large bowl mix together the salt, pumpkin, peanut butter and eggs.
- Slowly stir in the whole wheat flour until a smooth dough forms.
- Knead the dough until smooth. Separate the dough into workable sections.
- On a floured surface roll the dough out to 1/4 inch thick.
- Use a cookie cutter or a pizza roller and cut the dough into the size of treat you want. I do 1/4-inch bites and 1-inch bites.
- Spread the dough onto a parchment lined baking sheet and bake for 40-50 minutes or until hard and golden brown.
- Cool completely before storing. Can be stored in airtight container for up to 3 months or frozen.
