Author: And now one for the pooches-Pumpkin & Peanut Butter Dog Treats. For some reason, it still feels like I just got my dog Chickpea, but I realize now that I wrote the post introducing her almost four months ago! My, how time flies when you have an adorable little pooch in your life.
She pretty much instantly became the cutest and bestest little dog ever! I know, I know, you may be thinking that your pooch is the cutest and bestest ever, but that's why dog caregivers are awesome-we all love our dogs the most, no questions asked.
FEATURED COMMENT:
My dogs LOVE LOVE LOVE these, along with every dog that I have given them to! I have passed your recipe on so many times. It's a dog treat revolution 🙂 - Dona
I'm thrilled to update you, that Chickpea is thriving on her vegan diet. Her fur has grown in thick, soft, and shiny (she had some bald spots when I first got her, and those have grown in too). Her coat has even gotten brighter and whiter (I'm not making this stuff up!)
She is bouncing around with energy and is the fastest and most playful dog in the park (for reals). Her eyes which had big tear stains when I first got her have cleared right up. She is so super smart and basically seems to understand what I'm saying at all times. I couldn't be happier! I don't think she could be either, as she is always smiling and wagging her tail at me.
Focus... focus...don't blink or it may disappear....
Chickpea has really been living it up these last four months. She learned how to play with toys (she was scared of the ones that squeaked at first). She has even learned how to play fetch! So sad that she clearly had no one to play with for her first mystery year of life. She follows me everywhere I go, and eagerly watches me while I cook, waiting for food scraps to drop to the floor. Aside from playing with other dogs, squirrel chasing is her favourite outdoor hobby, she even tries to climb the trees! She's a monkey dog, I'm telling you. (Luckily she never catches the squirrels).
She also learned to bark. Yep, for the first 2 months she didn't make a peep, but now proudly has one bark and a short growl at the mailman... before she runs and hides upstairs. Guard dog skills, amIright?
There are some vegan dog treats for purchase in the pet stores, but these Pumpkin & Peanut Butter Dog Treats are so easy to make and so much cheaper. On top of that, Chickpea goes crazy for the homemade treats. Isn't homemade food always better?
She was seriously losing her mind when I had these on the floor setting up a photoshoot. I'm really not sure how she knew they were for her, but she kept peeking around my light reflectors like this, so very tempted to be a bad dog. Too cute.
To make Pumpkin & Peanut Butter Dog Treats:
So let's get to making some dog treats for our furry friends!
Begin by adding the oats to a food processor.
Grind them until you reach a fine powder.
Now add the pumpkin and peanut butter.
And blend to combine until you make a sticky dough.
Roll the dough out on a lightly floured surface. I used brown rice flour as Chickpea is sensitive to wheat, but if your dog isn't you can use wheat flour. You could alternatively set aside some of the ground oats to use for this as well.
Use a small cookie cutter, (I used a small bone cookie cutter), but any shape will do, or just use a knife to cut small squares.
Lay them on a parchment paper lined baking sheet and bake until dry and firm.
Once cool, store them in an airtight container at room temperature. They would make a great gift for any of your furry friends! They should keep at least a week at room temperature, two weeks in the fridge, or you can freeze them.
If you try this recipe let us know by leaving a comment, rating it, and don't forget to tag @itdoesnttastelikechicken on Instagram.
Bon appetegan!
Sam Turnbull.
(click stars to vote)
Pumpkin & Peanut Butter Dog Treats (just 3 ingredients!)
Servings: small treats
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Ingredients
- 1 cup oats (old fashioned, 1-minute oats, or instant), , plus more if needed- see instructions
- ⅓ cup pure pumpkin, (not pumpkin pie filling)
- ¼ cup natural peanut butter
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 300F (150C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Add the oats to a food processor and grind until they reach a fine powder.
- Add in the pumpkin and peanut butter and blend until a sticky dough is formed.
- Remove from the processor and roll out on a lightly floured surface. (Use whole wheat flour, more ground oats, or another flour that you have on hand). Cut out cookies using a small cookie cutter of any shape, or alternatively just cut into squares with a knife.
- Lay the treats on the prepared baking sheet and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until the treats are dry and hard. Let cool before giving to your pup and then store in an airtight container. They should keep at least a week at room temperature, two weeks in the fridge, or you can freeze them.
Anna says
THEY WERE AWESOME! By the way I am starting a dog treat business soon and can't wait to play around with new recipes and feed other cute dogs! (THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE RECIPE IDEAS I'LL TRY EVERY SINGLE ONE TO SEE HOW THEY WORK OUT FOR MY FRIENDS DOG( I am also only 13 so it will be extremely fun!!!))
Anna Efimova says
by the way it is gonna be called THE CHEW CHEW EXPRESS!
Sam Turnbull @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
That’s amazing, Anna! Wishing you so much fun and success with your dog treat business 🐶💛
Sam Turnbull @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
Haha I love that name, Anna!! So cute 🙂
Andi says
These are the best, my girls love them as does my husband! Great recipe
Sam Turnbull @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
Yay!! So happy your whole family loved them, Andi! 🙂
Charlotte Klein says
My 15 year old Australian Labradoodle loves these! I either cut them into rectangles or make round cookies with the cross fork design on top. Keep half in fridge and other half in freezer. Also am freezing the pumpkin puree to use for future cookies. Thank you! 🐕
Sam Turnbull @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
That’s so sweet, I love that! So glad your pup enjoyed them, Charlotte! 🙂
Belinda S Boysel says
could not understand the measurements. had to find a different recipe. Thanks anyway.
Jill says
How did you not understand the measurements? 1c oats, 1/3 pumpkin, 1/4 pb…
Sam Turnbull @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
Hi Belinda, you can find the recipe card most of the way down the page or by clicking the "jump to recipe" button which has the full measurements. I hope that helps!
Kathy says
what if I don't have oats can I use all purpose flour
Sam Turnbull @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
Hi Kathy! Yes you can, but the texture may vary a bit. I would start with 1/2 cup flour, adding more as needed until you reach a dough consistency. I hope they work out for you!
Melissa says
Our 14 year golden retriever and 3 year old boxer love these treats! Our boxer has a sensitive stomach and cannot digest most store-bought treats. These treats were so easy to make! Thank you!
Sam Turnbull @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
Melissa, this is so wonderful to hear!! I’m so happy your pups are loving them (especially your sensitive boxer!) 🐶💛
Paola Shepler says
If I want to keep at room temperature what oven temperature and time would you suggest? To make harder similar to store bought. With huskies harder treats work best.
Sam Turnbull @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
Great question Paola! For a harder, crunchier treat, you can lower the oven to about 250°F (120°C) after baking and let them dry out for an extra 30–60 minutes. That helps remove more moisture so they stay firm at room temp 😊
Sarah says
I had some left over pumpkin from another recipe and so I decided idea to try these. I had more pumpkin that the recipe calls for, so my dough was wet. I wanted to try to make pill pockets and it worked perfectly! I made small balls and then made a very small hole in the middle. baked about 20 minutes, so they are still soft and it worked perfectly! Thanks for the recipe!
Sam Turnbull @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
Ok this is GENIUS!! 😍 I love that you turned them into little pill pockets, and baking them a bit less so they stay soft is such a smart move. Thank you for sharing!!
Jacqueline says
These are my dogs favorite treat. Both of them absolutely love them. Since my two are beasts (75 lbs and 120 lbs) I like to roll the dough into 1/2" wide by 4" long logs and bake for about 35-40 minutes. The pups think they're getting a gourmet chew!
Sam Turnbull @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
That’s amazing, Jacqueline! 🐾 Your pups are clearly living their best lives!
Kyle K says
I accidentally added just a tiny bit of psyllium husk powder. No idea why but that made the biscuits stick together and become bouncy or rubbery-like but not in a bad way. I started adding it regularly. I found it I add even more psyllium powder like a tablespoon or more the treats come out more like jerky. My dogs need that powder regularly anyway so it works
Sam Turnbull @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
That’s really interesting, Kyle! Thanks for sharing your experiment—sounds like a great option for dogs who already need psyllium.
Beverly says
They were very crumbly. What did I do wrong?
Sam Turnbull @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
If they were crumbly, it’s usually from too much flour or not enough moisture. Adding a little extra pumpkin or peanut butter should fix it 😊
Beth says
This is an awesome recipe for dog treats. Every dog that I give these to loves them. I am a dog sitter. I am a dog mom. I love to give my pups, healthy treat alternatives compared to bag bought chemical filled “treats“. Sometimes, when I’m making big batches, if I run out of pumpkin, and I have a banana laying around and the dough is a little dry I throw that in. They are the perfect dog treats. Only ever worked for her.
Beth says
Sorry about that last sentence. I was watching Death in Pardise and had my microphone on. By the way, it’s an awesome show.
S6e7
Sam Turnbull @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
Hi Beth! I love this comment so much 🐶 Yes banana works so well like in my banana peanut butter homemade dog treats! And I’m thrilled the pups approve. Thanks for sharing and for being such a thoughtful dog mom!
Michelle says
second time making these for my Boston, and now sharing them with my friends who have fur babies! the consistency is crunchy enough, but not too hard for his little teeth! easy to make!
Sam Turnbull @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
Yay, Michelle! 🐶💛 So sweet that you’re sharing them with other fur babies too!
Gill says
I make these all the time. My whippet insists on it! I sometimes replace the pumpkin with apple and sometimes with carrot. Either way they go down a treat. I store them in an airtight container in the fridge and they last for 5 or 6 days.
Sam Turnbull @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
Hi Gill! Your whippet has excellent taste 😄 So glad these are a regular in your house!
Angela says
These are fantastic dog treats! Easy to make and they have a great consistency for our very senior pup. The store bought treat bones are too hard on the teeth he has left and these are perfect and he LOVES them! Good thing he can't open that treat container!!
Sam Turnbull @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
That’s so sweet, Angela. I’m so glad they’re a good fit for your senior pup! 😊
Deb says
Sam,
Care to share how thick this dough should be when rolled out?
Deb
Sam Turnbull @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
Hi Deb! The dough should be rolled as thick as you would like your dog treats, 1/4" - 1/2" will work well. Enjoy!
Ute says
All my dogs absolutely love these!! (I’m a dog walker, so I have a few opinions lol)
They are obsessed with them. ❤️
Will definitely make these more often. 😊
Sam Turnbull @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
That’s amazing, Ute! I love getting a professional dog walker’s seal of approval 🐕❤️
Paulette says
Learning to make healthy dog treats
Sam Turnbull @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
That’s wonderful, Paulette! Homemade treats are such a great option 🐶
Dianne says
so easy to make...the dogs at the shelter gobble them up!
Sam Turnbull @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
So sweet. Love that the shelter dogs enjoy them! Thanks, Dianne! 🐾❤️