Last Updated on August 23, 2020 by Kimberly Stroh

I absolutely love fall baking. It’s one of my favorite cozy things to do in the fall season and the kids love to help me in the kitchen every weekend. That’s the only problem though – I bake myself treats every weekend! I had to find a solution to help my waistline, but still enjoy baking. That’s how I started making these homemade pumpkin dog treats recipe. Our dog, Maru, loves them and they’re so EASY to make. Plus, they make the house smell ah-mazing!

Related: Pumpkin Butter Oatmeal Cookies (For Humans)

Homemade Pumpkin Dog Treats Recipe

If you’ve never made homemade dog treats, they’re very easy. You don’t need to be an experienced baker to make them. Dog love them crunchy, so even if you over-bake them, you’ll be good. I love that they save us money too. If you have multiple dogs, the money that you spend on dog bones can add up easily.

Plus, I never know what the store brands put into their products. I know there are great dog treat brands on the market, but I don’t always have time to read and research what we’re buying. This takes the guesswork out of it.

I’ve been making these treats for our dog since he was a pup. Since they’re made from wholesome ingredients, you don’t have to worry about your dog’s age. They can enjoy them at any age.

 

Pumpkin Dog Bone Ingredients

You can find everything you need at the store. In fact, you probably have most of these ingredients already in your pantry too. What you probably don’t own already is a Dog Bone Shape Cookie Cutter – you can order it through Amazon. Here’s what else you’ll need:

• Canned Pumpkin
• Whole Wheat Flour
• Vegetable Oil
• Nutmeg
• Cinnamon
• Old-Fashioned Oatmeal
• Water

A few other things that you’ll want is wax paper, a rolling pin and silpat (or parchment paper). You’ll roll out the dough in-between two sheets of wax paper for easy clean up. I adore my silpat and use them every time I bake. However, you can easily substitute parchment paper sheets and they’ll work too. They keep the dog treats from sticking to the sheet as they bake.

How To Keep Your Homemade Dog Treats Fresh

After you bake them, and they’ve cooled, you want to store your dog treats in an airtight container. They won’t go bad easily, but it will help keep them fresh for as long as possible. Typically, they’ll last for six months in a sealed container. Good luck having any left by the six month mark though. I promise that you’ll be making more by then!

Give Homemade Dog Bones As A Gift

Not only do I make these for our dog, but I also give them out as a gift. People are always impressed and nobody realizes how easy they are to make. If you know someone who just got a puppy, it’s a nice accompaniment to a dog toy. Or maybe make a big batch for your next agility meet – the possibilities are endless.

Step-By-Step Instructions For Homemade Pumpkin Dog Treats

Preheat your oven to 375º. In a medium mixing bowl, add 1/2 cup of canned pumpkin. 

Add your water, nutmeg, cinnamon and vegetable oil to the pumpkin. Stir well.

In a separate bowl, mix together the whole wheat flour and the oatmeal. Stir well. Slowly, in small increments, add the flour mixture to your wet bowl ingredients to form a dough. You may need to use your hands to fully combine the two mixtures.

Place the dough between two pieces of wax paper. Using your hands, press the dough firmly down. Next, roll the dough between the wax papers with a rolling pin to 1/4 inch thick.

Cut out your individual dog bones, using the cookie cutter, and place onto a prepared baking sheet (with parchment paper or silpat). 

Bake at 375º for 40 minutes. Bones will be hard. Let the bones cool on the cookie sheet for five minutes before transferring to a towel or cooling rack. Store in an airtight container.