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 4 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.
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 loosing 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.
So let’s get to making some dog treats for our furry friends!
To make Pumpkin & Peanut Butter Dog Treats: 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!
So easy to make. Perfect gift for your furry friends.
- 1 cup oats (old fashioned, 1-minute oats, or instant) , plus more if needed- see instructions
- 1/3 cup pumpkin pureé (not pumpkin pie filling)
- 1/4 cup natural peanut butter
- 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. (I used brown rice flour because my dog is sensitive to wheat, but if yours is not you could use 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 fo 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.
Bon puppategan!
Sam.
I have a 12 year old McNab and a 7 year old boston/staffordshire that have joint problems. I add in a tablespoon of organic tumeric and a teaspoon of black pepper and they LOVE them. The boston, Rocky MacPhearson, is back to chasing rabbits and tennis balls on the farm, even saved the chickens from a fox the other night. Thanks for sharing the recipe!
Wow! Amazing! So happy it’s helping them too 🙂
Hello there! I just made them today for my Mom’s two small dogs. I put the oats in the blender to make them into a flour then put in a small bowl with the peanut butter and pumpkin. I then mixed it together with my hands. Super easy, fuss free, and made in no time. Luci and Precious loved the treats so much! Thank you for this awesome recipe that we’ll be using from here on out It was our first time making them treats, so we’re excited for our Lil family members. .
Thrilled they were a hit 🙂
Hi Sam,
I have a ? on the Pumpkin& Peanut butter Recipe. How long do the treats last and what is the best way to store them?
Thanks yu!
Lisa
They are pretty dried-out, so I just kept mine in a jar in the cupboard for about a week. I’m sure they would last even longer in the fridge or freezer. Enjoy!
I have a 15 year old Boston and a 1 year old, 5 pound, chihuahua with a liver condition. I feel so good giving them these cookies, knowing exactly what’s in them, and they LOVE them!
I use natural peanut butter that literally contains nothing but peanuts. I’ve been making them consistently all year and it always comes together so easily.
Oh that’s so perfect, Natalie! So happy your dogs love them so much. My Chickpea still goes crazy for them too 🙂
What can I do if ir don’t have a food processor
You could buy oat flour and use that instead of oats, then just stir by hand. You will probably need slightly less oat flour as it is more compact than whole oats.
I don’t have a food processor per se either, but I do have an electric chopper/mini food processor that I’ve been using for 20 years. You can get them at places like Walmart or the Dollar General store for around $10. Works perfectly for this recipe, which I LOVE, by the way. Or I guess I should say my dogs LOVE!
.
Haha! Perfect! So happy your pooches love it 🙂
Hello there! I just made them today for my Mom’s two small dogs. I put the oats in the blender to make them into a flour then put in a small bowl with the peanut butter and pumpkin. I then mixed it together with my hands. Super easy, fuss free, and made in no time. Luci and Precious loved the treats so much!
Yay! So happy your pooches loved them 🙂
Every time I make these I have to make double batches as my kids as well as my fur babies, 9 yr old shih tzu and 3 month old Boston mix, absolutely love these treats.
Ahahaha! A treat for the whole family. Love it.
Great recipe and so simple. My dog – JoJo and my husband love these treats. Thanks for sharing.
You’re most welcome! 🙂
Have you ever tried freezing any of the treats
So I made these today… pups seem to love them… my husband who has some sort of dementia thinks that these are cookies for him… I’m glad they are safe!!
Hahaha! I don’t think they make particularly scrumptious human cookies, but I am glad they are loved either way!
im making these and some other delicious looking treats this morning for my 185 pound Leoonberger, Chester :O) He goes through the home made treats soooo fast, as you can imagine. I had to write because my hubby has dementia and I have to tell him “no honey these are Chesters’, you get the fresh Oatmeal cookies!” LOL….. I love my boys and I can’t make a treat for one of them without making sure there is a treat for the other one ….. Chester out weights both of us by 20 and 40 pounds! I love these recipes because they are quick and very economical compared to store bought treats. I’m going to send samples w/the the recipe to my granddogs, I know they will love them too! I’m thrilled they are “human” safe too! I love watching my boys enjoy their treats together. Oh, hubby usually gets Oatmeal Rasin cookies….LOL.
Haha, I love that story! So cute that you love baking so much for both of your boys. 😀
Easy to make and the dogs love them! Even gave a little piece to my cat and she seemed to enjoy it.
Ooo I didn’t know cats would enjoy them! Good to know 😀
How long do these treats keep? Thanks!
About 3-4 weeks when kept in an air-tight jar at room temperature.
Luke my lab absolutely ADORES these!! Thank you so much.. he just stands in the kitchen and watches me make them.. like “but WHY do they take so long to bake??” Lol
Hahahahahaha! Chickpea does the same thing. So happy your pooch loves them!
Just curious, how did you figure out the nutritional content of the treats and is there a % of daily value for dogs?
I have a doggie on a wheat free diet. Thank you!
I just popped the info into my regular nutrition data analysis tool. So the % of daily value is actually for humans, not pooches, but I hoped it would give a rough estimate of how healthy the treats are.
Yay, my Louis-boy loved them! I want to find that cookie cutter and gift them to friends and families dogs! And it’s so easy 🙂
So happy he loved them too! I found my cookie cutters at my local bulk food store, but you can buy them here on amazon as well. Enjoy!
These doggy treats are a super idea.
But what about kitty treats. Do you think I could use these, just smaller?
Or is there another recipe?
Hi Hilda!
Your welcome to try them but I don’t have a cats so I have no idea if your kitty will enjoy them!
she loved these 😀 we have a 6 month old rescue staffy
Awww So happy she loved them too!
Great idea Sam… can’t forget the doggy family members! Made these, super easy and I was okay allowing the 3 year old girl to have one as she pretended to be a doggy! Of course, our chocolate lab loves them too. 🙂
Haha! A couple of my friends sampled them as well, apparently they want to taste EVERYTHING I make! Hahaha. The review was that they were extremely dry. Good for the doggies tho!
I baked these treats today, and they came out great….not dry at all. Hope next time works better for you!
great idea for holiday gifts for my doggy clients! Thanks.
You’re very welcome! Doggies love them!
Aw, my dogamous will love these.
Yay!!! 🙂
Love this!! Can’t wait to make them for my babies Nala and Vega. Your chickpea is adorable! 🙂
Thank you 🙂 I hope Nala and Vega (cute names!) love them as much as Chickpea does!
What a cutie pie she is!!!
(Haha, I wouldn’t mind eating a treat myself 😉 )
Haha, a couple friends of mine have sampled them, (friends are always sampling my food!) and the opinion is that they are very dry. They do smell yummy tho! Haha.
Thanks for this! Coincidentally, last weekend I stumbled upon a dog treat kit we’d bought some time ago, but all the recipes called for meat. I’ll definitely be trying these for our dogs!
Wohoo! I hope you pup likes them 🙂
This is adorable! Chickpea is so cute and such a lovely name 🙂 I also am working from home atm and my pup Doc is now two and a half years (he was just 8 weeks old when we adopted him!) and he is truly my best friend. There is nothing quite like the love, friendship and companionship of our pups!
I wanted to ask you if you are making yourself the vegan dog food at home or if you are buying it. I’ve been considering it for a while but the brands I have available here are really really expensive (like almost 90€ a bag for 3 months)! I’ve been cooking him rice and liver (which gives me the creeps to cook) as he is having some tummy issues for the last weeks and we’ve set the kibble apart for now. Do you have any advise on vegan dog food? Homemade or storebought? Thank you so much 🙂
Thank you so much, Lee! Yes, there is no love quite like the love between dog and caregiver.
I’m currently buying the dog food, although I do give Chickpea treats from the kitchen. Some of her favourites are bananas, baked sweet potato, pumpkin, and peanut butter (hence the dog treats). The brand I am currently feeding her is Natural Balance (both wet and dry). My vet recommended Royal Canin. V-Dog is not yet available in Canada, but when it is I will look forward to trying that one as well. Not sure if any of those are available in the UK. I haven’t tried any of the recipes myself but here, here, and here are a couple of vegan dog food recipes you could try. Hope that helps!
Thanks for your reply! I didn’t know some of these brands. I live in Portugal and sometimes it can get quite hard to find vegan products… My pup loves carrots, sweet potato, apples and peaches 🙂 Must try to give him bananas!
Ah yes, I’m afriad I don’t know much about the vegan products in Portugal. Hopefully the recipes help! 🙂
Just made dog treats for my dog yesterday (mix of pumpkin puree, peanut butter, eggs, oats and flour). He loves them! Though I need to invest in one of those cute dog bone cut outs!
Haha! I think mine cookie cutter was 99 cents, so it’s a pretty solid investment 🙂
Yes I’d say so! I’ve been using a shot glass in place of a cookie cutter!
Haha! That works too! I don’t think dogs really care what shape they are tho, so whatever you have works great!
Lizard would have eaten them all in one go!!
Hahaha awwwww Lizard dog. 🙂