These homemade pumpkin dog cookies are an easy and wholesome way to treat your pup to something special. Made with just four simple ingredients, they’re full of flavor dogs can’t resist. Whether you’re baking for fall, the holidays, your dog’s birthday, or just because, these crunchy cookies are a fun way to show your furry friend some extra love!
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Why You and Your Dog Will Love This Recipe
Homemade treats are a great way to control what your dog is eating, and this recipe makes it super easy.
The cookies are easy to make. Just stir, roll, cut, and bake.
They’re made with just 4 simple ingredients. All pantry staples, all dog-safe, and all easy to find.
Pumpkin is great for dogs. It’s full of fiber and nutrients that support healthy digestion.
They’re crunchy and satisfying. Dogs love the texture, and the smell of pumpkin will have them doing tricks just to get one.
Ingredients
This recipe combines four simple ingredients to create a delicious cookie your dog will love. No fillers, no fuss, just wholesome basics that make baking dog treats a breeze. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Oat flour – A gentle, gluten-free flour that’s easy on a dog’s tummy.
- Canned Pumpkin puree – Not only is it tasty, but it also helps with digestion and adds moisture to the dough.
- Peanut butter – Adds healthy fats, and dogs go crazy for the flavor!
- Egg – Helps bind the dough and adds a little protein boost.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
This recipe is super flexible, but here are a few things to keep in mind as you prep your dough.
You can use homemade pumpkin puree instead of canned. You can use mashed sweet potato or butternut squash instead of pumpkin. Do not use pumpkin pie mix because it may contain spices that are toxic to dogs.
Make sure your peanut butter doesn’t contain xylitol, which is toxic to dogs. Natural, unsweetened peanut butter is the way to go.
You can substitute peanut butter with unsweetened almond butter or sunflower seed butter, just make sure they’re xylitol-free.
If you don’t have oat flour, you can make your own by blending old-fashioned oats in a food processor or blender until they reach a flour-like texture. 1 cup of oats makes about 3/4 cup of flour.
Want a different flour? You can use rice flour, all-purpose flour, or a 50/50 mix of all-purpose and whole wheat, but you may need to adjust the amount depending on the absorbency.
Equipment Needed
You probably have most of the kitchen items you need to make these cookies. You can use any cookie cutter, but cookie cutters for dog treats make them so cute.
You can use a biscuit cutter or a pizza wheel if you don’t have cookie cutters.
How to Make Pumpkin Dog Cookies
Making these cookies is super simple. Here’s what to do from start to finish:
- Place peanut butter, pumpkin puree, egg, and oat flour in a mixing bowl.
- Mix until it’s well combined and you can form a dough ball.
- Place the dough on parchment paper.
- Roll out the dough to about 1/2 inch thickness.
- Cut the treats and place them on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet.
- Bake at 350°F for 20 to 25 minutes.
- Transfer the baked treats to a wire rack to cool.
Recipe Tips
A few tips to make your baking experience even smoother:
- Let the dough rest for a few minutes if it feels too sticky. This helps it firm up and roll more easily.
- Dip your cookie cutter in flour to prevent sticking.
- Adjust bake time based on cookie size. Thinner or smaller cookies may need a little less time, so keep an eye on them toward the end.
Serving Size
How many cookies should you give your dog? That depends on their size, activity level, and daily diet. Treats should not exceed 10% of your dog’s daily caloric intake.
If your dog hasn’t had pumpkin or peanut butter before, start with a small piece to check for any sensitivities. When in doubt, ask your vet about appropriate portions.
How to Store the Cookies and How Long They Last
Store the dog cookies in an airtight container at room temperature or in the refrigerator. They will last up to 5 days at room temperature or 1 week in the fridge.
For more extended storage, you can freeze them for up to 4 months. Thaw them at room temperature or give them as a frozen treat.
Can you eat these dog cookies?
Yep! These cookies are totally safe for humans. They’re not sweet like traditional cookies, but if you’re curious, give one a nibble. They have a mild, nutty, pumpkin flavor that’s surprisingly pleasant. Just remember, they were made with your dog in mind!
Popular Homemade Dog Treat Recipes
Want to make more treats for your dog? Check out these recipes:
- Apple Carrot Dog Treats
- Carob Dog Treats
- Christmas Cookies for Dogs
- Dog Breath Treats
- Frozen Yogurt Dog Treats
- Oatmeal Pupcakes
- Peanut Butter Dog Biscuits
- Pizza for Dogs
- Pumpkin Dog Muffins
Find more easy recipes for pumpkin dog treats here on Spoiled Hounds!
Pumpkin Dog Cookies
Ingredients
- 2½ cups Oat Flour
- ½ cup Canned Pumpkin Puree
- ¼ cup Creamy Peanut Butter natural and unsweetened
- 1 Egg
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Place all ingredients in a large bowl.
- Mix the ingredients together to form the dough.
- Place the dough on parchment paper.
- Roll out the dough until it is ½ inch thick.
- Cut out shapes with a cookie cutter.
- Place the cutouts on a greased or parchment paper-lined baking tray.
- Gather the dough scraps, re-roll, and cut until there is none left.
- Bake for 20 to 25 minutes.
- Remove the treats from oven and transfer them to a wire rack to cool.
is there any other recipe to make pumpkin cookies for dog(s) because my dog can not have peanut butter and any kind of nuts
You can use SunButter (sunflower seed butter) instead of peanut butter to make these pumpkin cookies.
These are very easy to make. My dogs absolutely love them, too. I add a little cinnamon to the dough.
I just finished cooking 2 pumpkins for pies, soups, etc.
My dogs love peanut butter pumpkin cookies.
The 1st time, before I made them, I wanted to see which pumpkin they preferred: canned or fresh.
I gave them some fresh cooked pumpkin. They gobbled it quick. I gave them some canned pumpkin. They turned their nose up.
So glad I did that 1st.
So, I make sure to get 4-6 pumpkins every season to get the seeds, flesh and pumpkin water. I freeze most of it for later use.
My dogs are so cute sitting by the oven waiting for me to take the baked pumpkins out.
Also, when I making and baking these cookies, all 3 dogs will stay in the kitchen until I’m done. One of our dogs will whine the second I take them out.
It’s torture, her having to wait til they’re cool. 🤣
How adorable that they stay in the kitchen until they cookies are done! I’m so glad they are enjoying the treats.
Interesting that they like homemade pumpkin instead of canned. I’ll have to make some and see how Milo and Luke like it.
What is the best way to store the dog treats? Should they be a little soft or crispy?
Store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 7 days. You can freeze them for up to 4 months. They should be a little crispy after baking. But just like human cookies, you can make them softer or crispier by baking them a little less or longer.
What is the best way to store the dog treats? Should they be a little soft or crispy when they come out of the oven?
I made a batch of the dough today and baked about 24 very small treats for my dog. Can the dough be frozen? I’m not sure I can use it all up at once since my dog is small and she’s on a limited diet due to a stomach tumor.
She loved the couple of treats I gave her!
I haven’t tested it, but I think it would be okay to freeze the dough. Just thaw it in the refrigerator overnight. Alternatively, you can freeze the treats and just take a few at a time out of the freezer.
My dogs love these cookies. I add cinnamon, turmeric + black pepper and ginger with a pinch of salt. I also let the cookies cool on the sheet in the oven. It helps to dry and crisp them up. The crunchier the better (for my labs!)
I’m so glad your dogs enjoy the cookies! And thanks for the great tips for additions and making them crunchier.
Hello hello 😊! My cookies are a bit soft inside. Is this normal? My dog loves them 👌😊✨!
Grtzz
It’s okay for them to be a little soft on the inside. But if you are concerned about it, you can either roll the dough out thinner or bake them a little longer.
Can I substitute rolled oats (oatmeal) for the oat flour? Or perhaps all-purpose wheat flour?
If you don’t have oat flour, you can make your own by blending uncooked old-fashioned oats in a blender or food processor. 1 cup of oats will yield about ¾ cup of oat flour.
You can swap oat flour all-purpose flour or a 50/50 mix of all-purpose and whole wheat flour.
I added 1/2 cup blueberries and a dash of cinnamon. The second time I made them with whole wheat flour because I ran out of oat flour. Dogs loved them both ways. The blueberries made the dough softer, so cookies were soft, not crisp. I tasted them and they aren’t bad.
Thank you for sharing your tweaks! Blueberries and cinnamon are a nice addition, and you’re exactly right – the extra moisture from the blueberries will make the cookies softer. It’s also great to hear that whole wheat flour worked well as a substitute when you ran out of oat flour. I really appreciate you sharing what worked for you.