There are so many festive fall foods, but finding the perfect homemade dog treat recipe for your autumn gathering can be trickier than you think. Luckily, many of this season’s freshest crops and ingredients are healthy, nutritious autumn additions to your dog’s diet. Pumpkin, apple, even cinnamon … these flavors practically scream “fall.”
Even if you don’t have any big plans, baking up some cute and healthy homemade dog treats is a great way to bond with your dog when the weather gets cozy. Food-motivated pups will especially appreciate these DIY dog treats, and you’ll love the sweet, cozy vibes you’ll get from cooking for your fur baby. It’s the perfect night in!
How to prepare pumpkin spice for dogs — because even dogs should get a taste of this autumn delicacy
While you’re sipping on a pumpkin spice latte, there’s no reason your furry friend should miss out. Luckily, there’s a dog-safe recipe for pumpkin spice that you can make from home.
However you want to prepare these autumnal ingredients, you should know a few things about pumpkin spice for dogs. Pumpkin on its own is full of nutrients, such as vitamins and iron; plus, its high fiber content can regulate finicky digestive systems (via American Kennel Club). Just ensure your dog doesn’t get added sugars with her pumpkin, as this isn’t good for her.
When preparing your spice mix, remember to avoid nutmeg. This ingredient isn’t healthy for pups, and it can easily be substituted for a similar flavor. Instead, a mix of cinnamon, ginger, allspice, clove, and a dash of vanilla extract will do. Use these ingredients to spice up nearly any biscuit, yogurt, or pumpkin-flavored dog treat–for you or your pup!
Oat, cinnamon, and apple dog treats are just as easy as they are delicious
These cookies from Three Olives Branch look so delicious that you might be tempted to try one yourself. With ingredients like oats, ground cinnamon, and honey, we wouldn’t blame you! Here’s what you’ll need:
- 3 cups of oats
- 2 apples
- 2 teaspoons of ground cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon of flaxseed
- 2 tablespoons of honey
After grinding the oats in a food processor, do the same with your apples until they look more like applesauce. Combine all the ingredients in a large mixing bowl until you reach a doughy consistency. You can use cookie cutters or place them in rounds on a floured cookie sheet, then bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 15 minutes. Easy, right?
Sweet potato and carrot “jerky” can make a savory treat for any pup
Jerky is an easy-to-make — albeit time-consuming — snack for any time of year, though many ideal ingredients are in season in the fall. Sweet potatoes and carrots both make excellent, flavorful jerky for your pup, so you can see which your fur baby likes best.
Here’s the best part: You don’t need a food dehydrator for this snack. All you need to do is place thinly sliced sweet potatoes or carrots on a cookie sheet, then cook them at your oven’s lowest setting for up to 10 hours. You’ll know your jerky is ready to cool off when it takes on a dark color and leathery look.
Pumpkin and peanut butter bites make a delicious, sweet treat for any time
This super easy treat, courtesy of the American Kennel Club, requires only three ingredients and about an hour of your time. Here’s what to gather before you begin:
- 1 cup of canned pure pumpkin
- 1/2 cup of xylitol-free peanut butter
- 2 cups of all-purpose flour (you can use a dog-safe flour substitute)
Heat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Mix your pumpkin and peanut butter together in a bowl. Slowly mix your flour before rolling out your dough on a flat, floured counter or baking sheet. Here’s the fun and festive part: Cut out cookie shapes of your choice! Bake for 12 minutes. Let cool before serving.
Brie’s Turkey and Cranberry Dog Bones are a Thanksgiving staple for canines
Shoutout to The British Baker for this creative recipe — it’s like Thanksgiving dinner in a biscuit! You’ll use ingredients like dried cranberries, shredded turkey, and chicken broth (you can even make this at home), so you can rest assured knowing your dog is being fed only the best.
First, heat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and prep your baking sheet with grease or parchment paper. In a mixing bowl, combine your dry ingredients before adding the shredded turkey and dried cranberries. Once these are all mixed, stir in your wet ingredients until you have a thick dough in your bowl. Your last ingredient should be the chicken broth, which you’ll add one tablespoon at a time until your dough is the perfect texture.
Bake these biscuits for 25 minutes. When that time is up, you can turn off the oven and leave the cookies inside to cool for another half-hour. This will give them a much drier consistency, though unnecessary. It just depends on what your pup likes!
Fall weather can still be warm, but a frozen ‘pup-sicle’ with seasonal ingredients will hit the spot
Frozen dog treats are often a summertime staple, but the autumn sunshine can keep temperatures just as warm. If you’re still ordering your pumpkin spice latte iced instead of hot, your pup might appreciate a cool treat too.
You can combine any number of dog-safe ingredients to freeze, but seasonal ingredients will make a frozen morsel appropriate for fall. The dog mom behind Little Cooper Bear found success with blueberries, bone broth, and pumpkin puree. She blended 1 cup of blueberries, 1 cup of unsweetened pumpkin puree and 1 package of Stella & Chewy’s bone broth topper (that’s about 1 1/2 cups); then poured the mixture into a mold for freezing. Several hours later, Cooper had a refreshing fall treat ready to go!
When you’re cooking for your dog this fall, don’t forget to double-check your ingredients to make sure they’re safe. Artificial sweeteners and other digestive irritants hide everywhere in people’s food, which is why it’s so important to be careful. With a watchful eye, you and your furry friend are in for a fun and yummy fall!
