Soft pumpkin dog treats are perfect for older dogs or dogs with dental issues. Homemade pumpkin dog treats without peanut butter are low fat, which is also good for older dogs who aren’t as active.
These 4 ingredient pumpkin dog treats are similar to the banana pumpkin dog treats that I made a few years ago. I have yet to meet a dog (or human!) who doesn’t like them.
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Soft treats for older dogs
My dog turned 13 last year. She’s a senior dog and I lovingly call her my old lady. She’s also had a few teeth pulled and isn’t quite as active as she used to be.
I’ve been making treats for her since she was a puppy, but when I don’t have time to make them, I buy them.
I started to notice recently that she was having trouble with really crunchy or hard treats from the pet store, so I set out to create a soft dog treat for older dogs.
DIY dog biscuits
DIY pumpkin dog treats, like this oatmeal pumpkin dog treat recipe, are less expensive than store-bought treats and I feel better knowing exactly what is in them.
Making dog biscuits is (or should be) really easy, and these are very easy.
Just a bit of mixing, rolling out and cutting cute dog bone shapes. They are the easiest cookies you’ll ever make.
soft pumpkin dog treats
This is a soft dough. It is very easy to work with and also quite forgiving. Which is helpful, because let’s be honest – we want to make these treats but we also don’t want it to be a huge hassle.
These soft pumpkin treats will puff up a bit when they are baked and they stay soft. The applesauce helps to make them moist and just a touch sweet.
Like these homemade dog treats with rolled oats, there are no preservatives in this dog biscuit recipe. You can leave them out on the counter for a few days, but after that, they should be refrigerated.
how to make pumpkin dog treats
You’ll need a few tools to make this recipe. The good news is that you probably already have everything. Just in case you don’t, this is what you’ll need:
- a heavy wooden spoon or other sturdy spoon
- a medium mixing bowl
- a baking sheet
- parchment paper (very helpful, but not mandatory, if you have nonstick cookie sheets)
- a rolling pin
- dog bone cookie cutters – or any cookie cutters you have already
In a medium bowl, you’ll mix the applesauce, pumpkin and egg together. Then stir in the flour until it forms a soft dough.
Lightly flour the counter or a cutting board, roll out the dough and cut shapes. Bake and cool before giving to your dog.
That’s it!
You can refrigerate these dog treats for a few weeks or freeze them for a few months.
Homemade dog biscuits
These pumpkin dog treats make great homemade gifts too. I like to make small dog treat bags to give away to friends and neighbors who have dogs.
If you see the same neighbors walking their dogs in the neighborhood or at the dog park, getting homemade dog biscuits would be a welcome gesture.
And it’s something nice to do for someone (which we could all use a little more of). Plus, I guarantee their dogs would love it.
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Soft pumpkin dog treats
Soft pumpkin dog treats are perfect for older dogs or dogs with dental issues. They are also low fat, making them a great treat for less active dogs.
Ingredients
- 3 1/2 cups flour
- 1 cup pumpkin purée
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup applesauce
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C).
- In a medium bowl, stir egg, applesauce and pumpkin together. Add flour and mix until all the flour is incorporated.
- Lightly dust the counter with flour and knead the dough a few times to make sure it is uniform.
- Lightly flour a rolling pin, then roll out dough to approximately 1/8" and cut out treats.
- Lay on a baking sheet and bake for approximately 18 minutes. Cool completely before giving to your pup!
Notes
I used a 2" cookie cutter because my dog is small. If you use a larger cutter to make treats for a larger dog, you will need to increase baking time and the yield will be less than 85.
Make sure you buy 100% pumpkin purée and not pumpkin pie filling. Check the can carefully!
Apple sauce should be plain, no added sugar. Ingredients should be apples, water, vitamin C.
These pumpkin treats are perishable - there are no preservatives. After a few days on the counter in an airtight container, you should refrigerate them for up to a few weeks.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
85Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 22Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 2mgSodium: 1mgCarbohydrates: 4gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 1g
Nutrition information calculated by a third-party company as a courtesy. It is intended as a guideline only.
Thanks for stopping by! Have a delicious day 🙂
By flour you mean all purpose flour or wheat flour ?
I used all purpose, but you can use whatever you have.