3 Easy Homemade Peanut Butter Pumpkin Dog Treats

Peanut butter and pumpkin are two nutritious ingredients that dogs love. Enhance their taste and nutrition by making homemade treats with our 3 easy peanut butter pumpkin dog treats recipes.

Benefits of Making Dog Treats at Home

Homemade dog treats are healthier and cost-effective alternatives to store-bought dog snacks. Pawrents tend to be more food-conscious about the ingredients used in these recipes.

Hence, it is easier to avoid harmful additives such as artificial flavoring, food dyes, and chemical preservatives.

Another great thing about making dog treats at home is it grants flexibility in swapping out ingredients. It is very useful if your dog has food sensitivities or is a picky eater.

How to Make Homemade Dog Treats

To make homemade dog treats, the first step to do is to acquire dog-friendly ingredients and mix them accordingly.

Then place them in the oven if they require baking. Serve the homemade treats for Fido once they are cool.

On the other hand, no-bake dog treats only need to be put in the fridge to set before feeding them to your dog.

3 Homemade Peanut Butter Pumpkin Dog Treats Recipes

No-Bake Mini Peanut Butter Pumpkin Tarts

Traditional pumpkin tarts are unsuitable for dogs because they are packed with sugar and contain unhealthy ingredients.

Create a safe version of this human food for your dog with the help of this peanut butter pumpkin dog treat recipe:

Ingredients:

For the crust:

• 1 tablespoon maple syrup
• 2 tablespoons melted coconut oil
• 1 cup cashew nuts

For the filling:

• 4 tablespoons almond milk
• ¾ cup pitted Medjool dates
• ¼ cup all-natural peanut butter
• ¼ cup melted coconut oil
• 1 cup pumpkin puree

Instructions:

1. Line a muffin tin with parchment paper and set aside.
2. Combine the ingredients for the pumpkin tart crust in a food processor or a blender. It should have a crumbly yet sticky consistency.
3. Place 2 tablespoons of the tart crust mixture into each round pocket of the lined muffin tin.
4. Press the mixture firmly to the sides and bottom of the pan to make them stick.
5. Freeze the crusts for 1 hour or until fully hardened.
6. Use the food processor or blender to mix all the ingredients for the filling. Combine until smooth.
7. Take out the muffin tin from the freezer. Scoop 2 tablespoons of the peanut butter and pumpkin filling into each crust.
8. Even out the surface of the tarts by gently tapping the muffin tin on the counter.
9. Place these peanut butter pumpkin dog treats in the fridge for 3 to 4 hours.
10. Let them thaw for 10 to 15 minutes before Fido snacks on them.

Notes:

• If your dates are too tough, soak them in warm water for 10 minutes. This process will soften them, allowing for easy blending.
• Always check the ingredients list of the peanut butter. It should not contain xylitol, which is an artificial sweetener that is highly toxic to dogs.
• Be sure to use pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie filling. The latter is loaded with sugar, which is unhealthy for dogs.
• Some pumpkin pie fillings also use potassium metabisulfite as a preservative. This compound has caused allergic reactions in dogs.

Peanut Butter Pumpkin Baked Oatmeal

Pumpkin and oatmeal are loaded with fiber, which promotes good gut health in dogs. Adding peanut butter to the mix will make these homemade dog treats mouthwatering for your furry friend.

Ingredients:

• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ½ tablespoon cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed
• 3 tablespoons melted coconut oil
• ⅓ cup fresh cranberries
• ½ cup all-natural peanut butter
• 1 cup pumpkin puree
• 1 cup almond milk
• 2 cups rolled oats

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Use a tablespoon of coconut oil to grease a baking sheet.
3. In a large bowl, mix the dry ingredients until well-incorporated.
4. Add the wet ingredients one by one. Stir until both wet and dry ingredients are properly combined.
5. Pour the mixture onto the greased baking sheet.
6. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes until the top turns golden brown.
7. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 5 to 10 minutes.
8. Slice it into 1½ inch big homemade peanut butter pumpkin dog treats. Then serve them to your furry friend.

Baked Peanut Butter Pumpkin Donut Holes

Donut holes are typically deep-fried in oil, so they contain too much fat. Make this human food healthy treats for your dog by skipping the frying and baking them instead.

Ingredients:

• ¾ teaspoon baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon dry ginger powder
• 1 tablespoon cinnamon powder
• ½ cup pumpkin puree
• ½ cup all-natural peanut butter
• ½ cup almond milk
• ¼ cup sunflower oil
• 1½ cups all-purpose flour
• 2 eggs

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Use a nonstick cooking spray to grease a mini muffin pan or a doughnut hole pan if you have one.
3. Combine all the dry ingredients first in a large bowl. Once properly mixed, pour the wet ingredients.
4. Stir until there are no dry patches in the batter.
5. Fill the pockets of the mini muffin tin or doughnut hole pan halfway with it.
6. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
7. Take these peanut butter, and pumpkin dog treats out of the oven. Wait for them to cool to room temperature.
8. Brush them with sunflower oil and coat them evenly with cinnamon powder. Once done, feed them to your canine companion.

FAQs About Peanut Butter Pumpkin Dog Treats

1. What are the unhealthiest dog treats?

The unhealthiest dog treats contain unnecessarily large amounts of salt and sugar. Apart from that, using artificial food coloring and chemical preservatives also makes them bad for your dog’s health.

Many commercial dog treats are composed of unhealthy ingredients. You can avoid them by making your own doggy snacks at home using safe and nutritious food.

2. Do you have to refrigerate peanut butter pumpkin dog treats?

Yes, you have to refrigerate peanut butter pumpkin dog treats if there are leftovers. Refrigeration will help them last longer and keep you from making another batch of homemade dog treats.

3. How long does peanut butter pumpkin dog treats last?

Peanut butter pumpkin dog treats can last for about a week at most when kept in the fridge. If placed in the freezer, you can have them around for up to 2 to 3 months.

However, keep in mind that these are merely estimations. Some types of pumpkin peanut butter dog treats have a shorter shelf life.

So always check homemade doggy snacks for molds, maggots, or foul odor. These are indicators that they have spoiled.

4. How to make dog treats without peanut butter or pumpkin?

You can make dog treats without peanut butter or pumpkin by swapping them with a different ingredient.

Starchy vegetables such as carrots, sweet potatoes, and any squash varieties are good substitutes for pumpkins. On the other hand, chickpea butter and sunflower seed butter are suitable replacements for peanut butter.

Summary

Homemade peanut butter pumpkin dog treats are not only delicious but also nutritious for your dog. If you’re interested in making other healthy dog snacks, check out our 6 Healthy Dog Treat Recipes or 8 Easy-to-Make Dog Cookie Recipes for more inspiration.