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.
Melinda Warbington says
My Zoe girl is 8 pounds and loves soft treats instead of crunchy. How long should I bake them for a more soft texture.
Sam Turnbull @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
Great question, Melinda! For a softer texture, try baking them for about 10–15 minutes instead of the full time—just until they’re set but still a bit tender. Store them in the fridge for up to 1 week or freezer (and thaw) to keep them fresh. Hope Zoe loves them! 💛
Melinda Warbington says
Thank You so much. I went ahead and made the recipe as is....Zoe Approved! 😍
I will try the softer version next time.
Sam Turnbull @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
Yay! So happy to hear that 🙂
Pat says
The volume of instant and regular oats are different. What is the amount after processing, please.
Sam Turnbull @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
Hi Pat! It would be about 100 grams (3.5 oz). Enjoy!
Patty says
I have to be cautious for my 3 legged papillion as far as calories per day. I see the nutrition information for one “small” treat. Do you have the weight for what you consider a “small” treat? I have made these for KC and he loves them. I don't want to over feed him though.
Sam Turnbull @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
Hi Patty, I’m so happy to hear KC loves them! I didn’t weigh each treat individually, but the full batch contains about 720 calories total. If you count how many treats you make from the batch, you can divide 720 by that number to get an approximate calorie count per treat. That way you can portion them out based on what works best for KC.
Patty says
That helps tremendously Sam. Thank you 🙂
Yvette Tourangeau says
I love this recipe, and so do all the dogs! I make it with a vitamix (as we don't have a food processor), and it works great! For blender users- it wont mix completely at first, but folds together into a ball with just a rubber spatula and your hands. I have also tried the same recipe but with oat flour, and it was way more crumbly- definitely prefer the origional recipe. Oh- and it scales up great! I always make a double batch to share with friends- I haven't found a doggy diet yet that it does't work for!
Sam Turnbull @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
I'm so happy you love it Yvette, and thank you for sharing your tips! 🙂
Kerrie says
I make these all the time since one of my dogs will not eat most store bought dog biscuits. I use orange sweet potato instead of pumpkin as that’s what I grow in my garden. So very easy to make.
Jess @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
That sounds terrific!
Dl says
Can I omit the pumpkin and just use peanut butter? Any changes to the measurements?
Jess @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
You may want to jump over to this recipe: Easy Homemade Dog Treats
Joan Fallavena says
can I use regular oat meal? Not instant or quick?
Sam Turnbull @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
Hi Joan, yes old fashioned, rolled oats, and large flake oats are all good to use as well! Just not pre-cooked oats and not steel cut oats.
Tricia Leines says
Thank you so much! Our Fiona loves these. It was an easy transition for her to these homemade treats. I really appreciate that they are easy to make. It's a keeper!
Sam Turnbull @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
Aww that's wodnerful! So happy Fiona loves them 🙂
Tamra Russell says
I have tons of steel cut oats. Do you think I could use this instead?
Sam Turnbull @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
Hi Tamra! Great question. Steel cut oats unfortunately don’t work well in this recipe—they're much tougher and don’t grind into a fine enough flour to form a smooth dough. For best results, I recommend using old-fashioned, 1-minute, or instant oats. If you’re looking to use up those steel cut oats, they’re perfect for cooked breakfasts or slow cooker recipes. Hope that helps!
Aj says
My dogs love these
Jess @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
Wonderful! We're happy to hear that!
Devan says
Hi!I'm just 10 ten but I love making stuff.Breakfast items in particular.I'm making this for my aunt and uncles dog and I made some breakfast Idli for them I'll try to send recipe.But I wanted to make treats for they're dog so thanks!
From -Devan Shah
Sam Turnbull @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
Hi Devan! That’s amazing—you sound like a fantastic cook already! I love that you’re making treats for your aunt and uncle’s dog, and breakfast idli sounds delicious. Hope the pup enjoys the treats! 🐶😊
Esmeralda says
Hi, I’m reposting this as didn’t see my message. Thank you very much for sharing your woof woof treats. Tiki loves them immensely!
Is there a specific reason why pumkin pie filling cannot be used. It’s sugarless and i have mods of them at hand.
Many thanks.
Jess @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
We're thrilled that Tiki loves them. The recipe calls for pure pumpkin as some fillings would have additional items that could be harmful for dogs.
Raven says
My dog absolutely *LOVES* these! I’ve made them 4 times now and they are the only dog treats she’ll eat.
Sam Turnbull @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
Yay! I am so happy to hear this 🙂
Vasso Unks says
Can I substitute almond butter for peanut butter? we have a peanit alleergy in the house.
Jess @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
Almonds are not considered a safe food for dogs. You may want to have a look at this recipe instead: Apple Pie Dog Treats
Vasso says
Thanks Jess.... Appreciate the quick response.
Barb says
My pups love them!
Connie says
Can I use this recipe in a waffle maker? ?
Sam Turnbull @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
Hi Connie, I don't think this would work too well in a waffle maker, as the treats need to dry out in the oven to get crispy. But if you give it a try let us know how it goes!
Rosetta says
pumpkin and peanut butter are two of my girls most favorite flavors so I am so excited to make this recipe. I just wanted to say that I had a Jack Russell Terrier that I also rescued from the Humane Society and she was the most amazing dog I tell you she saved my life. your doggy reminds me of my Bella they're the same coloring. and of course the fact that they're both the bestest dogs. LOL I now have a pitbull who eats a lot and needs good high quality treats or she gets a tummy ache so I'm so grateful that I stumbled upon your website I think it was definitely meant to be because I also need to change my eating habits so thank you so much and have a blessed week.
Sam Turnbull @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
Aww that's wonderful!! So happy you're here Rosetta 🙂
Hawk says
Thanks Sam!
I am looking at adding supplements to the treats, and will be making squares. Can you tell me the approximate length of your cookie cutter or size of your cookie sheet please so I can make more accurate calculations?
Thanks
-H
Tiffany says
love it
Miranda Jordan says
Could I use a mold? maybe just cook a little longer?