Pumpkin and Peanut Butter Dog Biscuits
Five years ago today, I took home a sweet puppy from the animal shelter in Hattiesburg, Miss. I had no idea what to expect, but I was prepared for it. (At least, I thought I was because I’d been a dog owner before. I also purchased all the necessary puppy/young dog supplies. And I even read a book, to boot.)
To be honest, I was just thrilled at the thought of having a friend who would be excited to see me every morning and every night, as being new in town was hard. To top that off, I hadn’t made any friends yet and didn’t have people to hang out with when not working during those first few months. I also worked crazy hours for my job as a newspaper photographer, so I thought I needed a little consistency in my life. I seemed to think a dog would provide that.
Lucy (who was originally called “Nancy” at the animal shelter) provided all that and more than I could have ever imagined.
Other dog treats your pup might like: Peanut Butter Pumpkin Pupcakes / Milkbone Apple Pupcakes / Sweet Potato and Apple Pupcakes
Learn more about my Lucy: For the pup / Sunday Snippets: The Pup-iversary Edition / FAQs
Five years later, a lot has changed. We’ve moved several times… from Mississippi to Tennessee to Louisiana to Texas. I’ve changed jobs several times, too. I got married. Lucy now has a father who she loves dearly, but who she was not so sure about at first. (True story.)
Lucy’s remained consistent throughout all these life changes. And I’m not ashamed to say I am still crazy about her still, even though she drives me nuts sometimes. Like last year when she rolled in grossness and nipped my chin on the pup-iversary. Or most mornings when she stands on my back and wakes me up with frantic barks that I translate to, “Get up! Get up! Get up!”
Five years is a long time, and to commemorate this pup-iversary, I whipped up some homemade dog treats for Lu earlier this week. She stood by my feet as I whipped up the dough, just like she does whenever I’m cooking anything that could be of interest to her (read: everything), though she didn’t know these was for her.
I rolled out the cookies, cut them into the shape of sheep while cackling (because I’m easily amused) and popped these treats in the oven.
And when Lucy realized they were for her as they were cooling?
Let’s just say she couldn’t contain her excitement and squeaked around the house. (Because I have a sheep dog who legit squeaks and cries when she gets excited. Not quite sure where that comes from, but it’s endearing.)
Here’s how you make ’em:
Pumpkin and Peanut Butter Dog Biscuits
Ingredients
- ¾ cup pumpkin puree
- ¼ cup unsweetened peanut butter smooth
- ¼ cup water
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened applesauce
- 1 cup whole wheat flour
- ½ cup old fashioned rolled oats
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
Equipment
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Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper (or spray with nonstick cooking spray), and set aside.
- Combine the pumpkin, peanut butter, water and applesauce, stirring until smooth.
- Measure in the flour, oats, baking soda, baking powder and cinnamon. Mix until combined into a sticky dough.
- Flour a surface in the kitchen, and roll the dough into a 1/2"-1/4" layer, then cut the biscuits out in the shape of your choice.
- Place on the prepared baking sheet, and bake for 25 minutes or until the biscuits have hardened.
- Let cool, then give a few to your dog!
Notes
Nutrition
… I mean, how can you say no to that face? (Y’all should know that Lucy ate about 10 biscuits after these photographs were made because I’m a crazy/awesome dog mama. Also, because it’s our pup-iversary, and how could I not?)
Have you ever baked for your dog?
About the Author:
Erin Parker is a Southern gal living in Texas with her husband and two daughters. She started The Speckled Palate to share what she was cooking as a newlywed… and over the years, it’s evolved to capture her love for hosting. Specifically, the EASIEST, lowest key entertaining because everyone deserves to see their people and connect over good food. Learn more about her…
Thanks for this recipe! My puppy goes through dog biscuits like water lol. It’ll be nice to be able to whip some up at a moments notice.
I may have to try these. My dog doesn’t usually like biscuit type treats, but he is allergic to chicken, so it is really hard to find the others and they are sooooo expensive!
I’ll be interested to hear what your pup thinks! Lu has a sensitive tummy, too, and these haven’t seemed to bother her at all.
Thanks for this recipe! My puppy goes through dog biscuits like water lol. It’ll be nice to be able to whip some up at a moments notice.
Thanks, Brittany! I’ll be interested to hear what your pup thinks of these treats if you do, indeed, whip them up! I think it’s a fun thing to be able to make something like this for them every once in a while.
That is seriously one adorable baby! Now I’m always going to imagine her in the background of all your pictures begging for treats 🙂
Aww, thanks, Kelly. And what you’re going to imagine is basically what happens every day that I’m photographing food. It’s just so darn cute, even if she sometimes gets a little grabby and attempts to snatch cookies (or other foods) out of my hands. Ha.
Maybe she learned the squeaking from Maverick. That is his most popular form of communication.
Ha. She’s been squeaking for a long while now, but I bet the squeaks are why she and Mav are such good friends. Either way, it’s super cute, no?
Lucy is sooooo cute!! So sweet of you to rescue her! I love this recipe. I need to do it for my dog, Pocahontas.
Whitney
Whitney J Decor
Aww, thank you, Whitney! She is really cute, and it was the ears that sold me on her when I first saw her picture online all those years ago. 🙂 What kind of dog is Pocahontas? And have you made her treats before?
Your pup is so adorable. Happy pup-versary to her. Dogs really are a gift to us from God.
Thanks for sharing this recipe. I will be stashing it away to make treats for my sweet pup.
Aww, thank you so much, Aubrey! Lu is pretty fabulous, and we’re celebrating big here today with LOTS of treats. Haha. And you’re right — dogs really are a gift. They’re incredible creatures and friends.
I hope your pup enjoys this recipe as much as mine does!
Ohemgee, Lucy is too adorbs! And those treats look good enough (for anyone) to eat 😉
Aww, thanks, Lola. And funny that you say that because when my husband got home from work the day I baked these, he wanted to know where the treats were. And if I hadn’t told them they were for the pup, he would have for sure tried one. Haha.
THAT FACE! I want to hug her. So cute.
I KNOW. The face gets me every time… and gets her out of SO much trouble, girl. Thanks!
Your doggy doo is so pretty! I want to bury my face into her awesome coat. One day when I’m ready (or when I see a face like that) I might settle into being a dog momma. One day.
Aww, thanks, Jayne! She’s got a fantastic coat… and she’s a great snuggler/hugger. I’m excited for you to become a dog momma when you’re ready. It’s a blessing and makes life so interesting.
OH MY cutest dog ever!! I wish I had a dog I could bake for. I did have one for 18 years and he would rip open XMAS gifts under the tree and eat entire things of chocolate. Not good at all lol
Aww, thanks, Natalie! I think she’s pretty darn special and gorgeous.
I love that you baked for your pup for 18 years. They’re such special friends to have around, and that’s too funny that he’d rip into Christmas presents. Not so good about eating the chocolate, though!
Happy 5th to your sweet, squeaky dog (love it). I know how special she is to you and I’m happy you have a wonderful dog in your heart and home. I’m going to have to try this recipe and see if Pearl likes it! Absolutely dying over the sheep cookie cutters, and perhaps I should make them for Pearl in a shape she loves/hates… a running child, perhaps? haha.
Thank you, Katherine! It was an awesome 5th pup-iversary for us. 🙂 You’re too sweet. And I agree — I’m so glad I have a wonderful pup in my heart and home.
Please let us know what Pearl thinks about this recipe. And I bet we can TOTALLY find a cookie cutter in the shape of a running child… or person… or anything, really. (Says the girl with camera cookie cutters because that’s how I roll!)
So so so so soooooo sweet (says one rescue doggy mama to another)!
Hooray for rescue doggies!
I love her sweet dog face. Mine are monsters too, but they’re my monsters. They don’t get baked for though. Mostly cause I’m lazy and it’s too hot out for heating things in the oven.
Thanks, lady! I love her sweet face, too, and echo your sentiment about your animals being YOUR monsters. And I can’t say I blame you about the heat and laziness. If it hadn’t been for this big pup-iversary, I wouldn’t have been baking at all…
I’ve baked for my mutts and bought a dog bone shaped cookie cutter 🙂
Happy pupiversary!
OMG I have NO idea how you make those once you’ve got the sticky dough. I’m not a baker, so even with a flour-covered counter… I had dough everywhere. Hands, Rolling Pin, Cupboard, handle of the sink, probably in my hair….. it stuck to everything. I ended up making oatmeal cookies instead of the cutouts. LOL! I’m terrible.
Oh no! I’m so sorry that everything was so sticky, Amy. 🙁 I’ve found that mixing additional flour into the dough if it’s super sticky will sometimes help, but I don’t remember these being that sticky. I’ll have to run another tester to see if I can figure out the problem. Thanks for letting me know these didn’t work.
I have tried so many treats. Most recipes try using flours or binders without gluten. Thought I would try these with whole wheat flour. Fantastic! 1st sticky dough. 2nd consistent mixing. 3rd rolled out nicely. Even though I have two dogs I bought a set of small cookie cut out for halloween five in set threw out two because of the shape. Kept the cat, pumpkin and some other round shape no clue what it is. Rolled out dough on floured board and started pressing I used 1/4″ thickness and that made more than three dozen. Finally bake time was correct also. Fun fact the ears on the cat fit exactly into tips left when you use rounds so that so very little left over dough to re-roll. As I say above tried many without the gluten and these wonderful crisp cookies both dogs loved them. Well maybe the little one but the heeler doesn’t chew she just swallows whole, she must have been a pig in a former life. Five stars and will definitely post about this recipe. Thanks again, Zoey and Tika’s mom.
i made these and i don’t have small cookie cutters and i used a scoop to cut them out and got almost 700 of them this recipe can make way more than a dozen depending on how big you make them