Autumn is here and Halloween is right around the corner. It’s a perfect time to make some healthy homemade Halloween dog treats for your dog to enjoy. No tricks, just treats! We have a healthy and tasty homemade Halloween dog treat recipe that is easy for you to prepare and bake.
It has all the good stuff and no scary ingredients. Below, we will detail the recipe and then share information about the healthy ingredients that we chose for this recipe. Grab your doggy baking assistant and get ready for a spooky fun time!
Homemade Halloween Dog Treats: Pumpkin Cookies
Prep: 15 minutes
Bake Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Yields: 29 treats
Servings: 29
Recipe Ingredients:
- 1 cup cassava flour
- 1 egg
- 1 tablespoon molasses
- ½ cup pumpkin puree
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ cup chopped apple (no peel)
Tools needed:
- Large mixing bowl
- Small bowl
- Whisk
- Silicone spatula
- Measuring cups
- Tablespoon
- Teaspoon
- Cutting board
- Cookie sheet
- Parchment paper
- Rolling pin
- Cookie cutters
Recipe Instructions:
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- Add the 1 cup of flour and ½ teaspoon of cinnamon to a large mixing bowl.
- In a separate smaller bowl, beat the egg with a whisk and then add it to the large mixing bowl.
- Add the pumpkin puree and molasses to the mixture and fold it in until it’s well incorporated.
- Add the ¼ cup of chopped apple and fold it into the dough.
- You want the dough to be moist but not too wet. No other liquid is needed unless you are using a different type of flour. Depending on the type of flour you use, you may need to add water.
- Once the dough is mixed well, form the dough into a ball with your hands.
- Line a cutting board (or you can use your counter or kitchen table) with parchment paper. Place the ball of dough in the middle of the parchment paper. Place another piece of parchment paper on top.
- Lightly dust the parchment paper with flour. Put a small dusting of flour on top of the dough ball.
- Using a rolling pin, roll the dough out to ¼ inch thick.
- Use a cookie cutter to cut out shapes and place them on the cookie sheet.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes until the cookies are a light golden brown.
- Set aside to cool. Once they are fully cooled, store them in an airtight container.
Make sure you let your furry friend taste test once the treats are cool.
These treats break apart very easily, so they are perfect for dogs of all sizes. You can break them into smaller pieces depending on the size of your dog.
These treats can be stored in an airtight container for about 5 days.
We hope you and your dog enjoy making these homemade Halloween dog treats. These pumpkin dog cookies have nutritious ingredients that are beneficial for your dog’s overall health.
They don’t have all the added unhealthy filler ingredients that are often found in commercial dog treats. If your dog has any food allergies, homemade treats are a great choice because you can choose ingredients that you know are safe for your dog.
Let’s dive into the ingredients that we used in this recipe and what alternatives you can use if needed.
Info on the ingredients used in this recipe
Pumpkin
We chose pumpkin since it’s seasonally appropriate and beneficial for your dog’s health. Pumpkin is especially great for the digestive system and dogs with upset stomach. In fact, if your dog has an upset stomach, check out this sick dog food recipe!
You can use plain, canned pumpkin for the recipe or even bake your own pumpkin. Make sure that you get the canned pumpkin that has no added ingredients, like sugar or xylitol, which can be poisonous to dogs!
If you are baking your own pumpkin, simply measure 1/2 cup of baked pumpkin for this recipe. Be sure the skin and seeds are removed.
Benefits of pumpkin for dogs:
- High in Vitamin A and Vitamin C
- Great source of fiber
- Low in fat
- A healthy dose of calcium, potassium, and magnesium
- Dogs love the taste!
If for some reason your dog can’t have pumpkin or you want to use a different ingredient, you can substitute the pumpkin with sweet potato. You can find canned sweet potato at most grocery stores, or you can bake your own.
Apple
We added some chopped apple to the recipe for texture and flavor. Apples are a great source of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, and dietary fiber. Quercetin is a potent antioxidant that can relieve allergies and it’s found in high concentrations in apples.
The skin of the apple is particularly high in quercetin so be sure to leave the peel on if your dog can chew the apple skin. For senior dogs with dental issues, it may be best to peel the skin of the apple before sharing a piece with them.
Apples are a healthy treat for dogs in moderation. Dogs should not consume apple stems or seeds. The apple is an optional ingredient, and the recipe works fine without it.
Cassava Flour
We chose cassava flour because it’s easy to digest and it’s both grain-free and gluten-free. For dogs with sensitive stomachs, cassava flour is a great choice. It also works really well in a variety of recipes, making it a versatile staple for your baking needs.
If your pup needs to stick to gluten-free, you can try out one of our other gluten-free recipes like our Gluten-Free Apple, Banana & Carrot Cookie!
If you know that your dog can tolerate other flours, you can substitute them in place of the cassava flour. Some other flour options include whole wheat flour, oat flour, brown rice flour, and chickpea flour.
Cinnamon
For a bit of flavor and additional health benefits, we added a teaspoon of cinnamon to this recipe. Cinnamon is safe for dogs to eat and it’s both anti-inflammatory and heart healthy.
Molasses
Molasses adds a nice flavor to these homemade Halloween dog treats and is a good source of Vitamin B-6 and Iron.
Enjoying homemade Halloween dog treats with your pup
If your dog enjoys these homemade Halloween dog treats, then be sure to check back because we have more fun recipes in the works. Autumn can be such a fun time of year for you and your dog.
We hope that you are able to find time to enjoy crunching in the leaves, baking, decorating, and even dressing up with your pup. Some cities have dog-friendly pumpkin patches and festivals that have doggy Halloween costume parades and contests. However you choose to celebrate, we hope you have a fun and safe Halloween!
