Super Bowl Sunday is almost here and it’s time to figure out what will be on the menu for the big day. If you have furry family members, you’re probably celebrating the 19th annual Puppy Bowl too. Luckily, there are some Super Bowl snacks that your dog can eat too so they can be included in the celebration.
As you create your dog-friendly Super Bowl menu, for any of the recipes that you intend to share with your dog, make sure that you are choosing ingredients that are safe and not harmful or toxic for dogs.
We have the purrfect Super Bowl dog treat recipe for you. It has ingredients considered safe for most dogs, including tasty peanut butter and pumpkin puree.
The recipe and preparation are simple for these peanut butter pumpkin Super Bowl cookies. In no time you’ll have a tasty treat for your Puppy Bowl and Super Bowl celebration. And in case your dog is a social pupperfly, the recipe yields plenty of tasty, peanut butter, football shaped dog treats so you can have as many furry friends over to celebrate to your heart’s desire.
Our dog friend, Ella, agreed that these treats smelled puptastic!
Homemade Pumpkin Peanut Butter Dog Treat Recipe
Yields: 35 cookies
Prep: 15 minutes
Bake: 20 minutes
Recipe Ingredients:
- 1 cup whole wheat flour (see note)
- ⅓ cup all-natural peanut butter (see note)
- ½ cup all-natural pumpkin puree (plain puree, not pumpkin pie filling!)
- ¼ cup unsulphured blackstrap molasses (optional, see note)
- 6 tablespoons water
- Plain Greek yogurt (for the frosting)
Baking tools needed:
- Large mixing bowl
- Silicone Spatula
- Measuring cups + tablespoon
- Cookie sheet
- Parchment paper
- Cutting board
- Rolling pin
- Football shaped cookie cutter
- Piping bag or Ziplock sandwich baggy for the frosting
Recipe Instructions:
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- Add the flour, peanut butter, pumpkin puree, and molasses to a large mixing bowl.
- Using a spatula, mix the ingredients together and add in the 6 tablespoons of water. You can use the spatula as well as your hands to fully incorporate the ingredients together.
- Once you have a nice dough formed, separate it into two equal pieces of dough.
- Place a layer of parchment paper on a large cutting board or you can also use a cleared space on your countertop. Take half of the cookie dough and place it on the parchment paper.
- Place another piece of parchment paper on top of the dough.
- Use a rolling pin to roll the dough out to ¼ inch thick.
- Cut out football shapes with the football shaped cookie cutter and place them on the cookie sheet. If you don’t have a football shaped cookie cutter, you can use a butter knife to cut out football shaped cookies by hand.
- Roll out the other half of the dough to ¼ inch thick and repeat the steps above.
- Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 20-35 minutes. If you want a soft cookie, 20 minutes is perfect. You can bake for longer if you want the treat to be crunchier. Once done, set aside to cool.
- For a simple and healthy frosting, we used plain Greek yogurt. Add yogurt to a piping or a Ziplock sandwich bag. Once the cookies are cool, pipe on the decorations.
- Be sure to let your dog taste-test the cookies to see if they are pup-approved for game day!
- Store in an airtight container.
Important Recipe Notes:
Some dogs are allergic to wheat or need to be grain-free for health reasons. If you need to make a grain-free dog treat recipe, you can use cassava flour or oat flour instead of wheat flour. Only use dog-friendly peanut butter that does not contain xylitol. Be sure to read the label.
Some dogs should not eat molasses, such as dogs that are sensitive to sugar due to health issues like diabetes. Not all molasses types are made equal. Be sure to avoid light and dark molasses (the type you will find easily at your grocery store) because it has a high sugar content. Unsulphured Blackstrap molasses is made from boiling down dark molasses and has a lower sugar content that is safer for pets. Consult with your vet before giving your pet molasses.
Check the label on all of the ingredients and make sure there are no additives or sweeteners, such as Xylitol, which can be toxic to pets. For example, do not get canned pumpkin pie filling but instead get plain, all-natural canned pumpkin puree and check the label to make sure there are no additives or sweeteners. Always consult with your vet before changing your dog’s diet or giving your pet new foods.
Celebrate the Super Bowl and Puppy Bowl
Once you’ve made the Super Bowl dog treat recipe, it’s time to get ready for the Puppy Bowl that airs on Super Bowl Sunday earlier in the day before the big game starts.
First things first, take the necessary precautions to make it a fun and safe event for your dog. When you’re shopping for snacks for the big game, be sure to buy some Super Bowl dog-friendly snacks too!
There are lots of snacks that you can buy to munch on during the big game that are “human foods” your dog can also safely eat. Again, we can’t repeat it enough, always remember to check the ingredients on packaged foods intended for humans before sharing them with your dog.
Most of the time, the healthiest options will be recipes you’ve made yourself that you know are safe or fresh fruits and vegetables that your dog can eat. Download our free What Can Dogs Eat list so that you know what your doggo can and can’t eat on Super Bowl game day.
Below we will list out some fun and tasty snacks that you can consider sharing with your pup on game day. However, check with your vet first!
Super Bowl party snacks that are safe for dogs:
- Blueberries
- Strawberries
- Sliced bananas (peels removed)
- Sliced apple (seeds removed)
- Popcorn (plain, unbuttered, unsweetened)
- Veggie tray (cucumbers, carrots, and green beans)
- Pretzels (plain, unsalted)
- Rotisserie chicken (be sure to never give your dogs cooked (or uncooked) chicken bones as they can be a choking hazard)
Your dog might want to invite some pet pals over to celebrate with on Super Bowl Sunday. This homemade Super Bowl peanut butter dog treat recipe will be perfect to make and share with all your furry guests.
Step up your Puppy Bowl gathering by making a dog-safe charcuterie board that includes the snack ideas listed above and the dog treats you made from our recipe.
Remember, all things in moderation. While the above snack options are considered “safe” for your doggo, this doesn’t mean your dog should eat them all in one sitting or have large quantities of any dog snack for that matter. These dog snacks and treats should be given in moderation, occasionally to your doggo and in addition to their nutritious dog food (these treats and snacks are not meant to replace your dog’s normal meals).
Now that you’re ready to celebrate the Puppy Bowl and the Super Bowl, you can focus on which team you’re rooting for, or woofing for! We hope that you and your doggos have fun on game day and enjoy this tasty football shaped dog treat!
Don’t forget that Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, steal the heart of your furever Valentine (your doggo that is!) with this heart-shaped Valentine’s Day dog treat recipe.
