Easy 4-Ingredient Pumpkin Dog Biscuits

These are the biscuits we bake every October: four ingredients, one bowl, and a dough sturdy enough for any cookie cutter.

Plain pumpkin purée does most of the work. It binds the dough, adds fiber, and gives the biscuits their color, so there is no sugar or oil to add.

Why your dog will love this

• The smell of warm pumpkin and peanut butter fills the kitchen
• A loud, satisfying crunch that lasts
• Small enough to break in half for training

Ingredient notes

• Whole wheat flour Safe

  Whole wheat flour is fine for most dogs. Use oat flour if your dog has a wheat allergy.

  Fine baked into treats unless your dog has a wheat allergy.

• Plain pumpkin purée Safe

  Use 100% pumpkin, never pie filling, which contains sugar and nutmeg.

  Plain cooked or canned pumpkin adds fiber. Avoid pumpkin pie filling, which contains sugar and nutmeg.

• Xylitol-free peanut butter Caution

  Read the label: xylitol is sometimes listed as birch sugar.

  Only use brands without xylitol (also sold as birch sugar). High in fat.

• Eggs Safe

  Serve fully cooked.

See every ingredient in the safety guide

How to make Easy 4-Ingredient Pumpkin Dog Biscuits

Easy 4-Ingredient Pumpkin Dog Biscuits takes about 1 hour 45 minutes from start to finish and makes 36 biscuits. It is an easy recipe. You will need a rolling pin, bone-shaped cookie cutter and rimmed baking sheets. Read through every step once before you start, and set out all the ingredients so nothing is missed.

Ingredients and why they are here

You need 4 ingredients. Each one is checked against the ingredient safety guide for dogs.

• 2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour: Whole wheat flour is fine for most dogs. Use oat flour if your dog has a wheat allergy. Fine baked into treats unless your dog has a wheat allergy.
• 3/4 cup plain pumpkin purée: Use 100% pumpkin, never pie filling, which contains sugar and nutmeg. Plain cooked or canned pumpkin adds fiber. Avoid pumpkin pie filling, which contains sugar and nutmeg.
• 1/3 cup xylitol-free peanut butter: Read the label: xylitol is sometimes listed as birch sugar. Only use brands without xylitol (also sold as birch sugar). High in fat.
• 2 large eggs: Serve fully cooked.

Step-by-step instructions

1. Heat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment.
2. Whisk the pumpkin, peanut butter and eggs until smooth.
3. Stir in the flour a cup at a time until a stiff dough forms. Add water a tablespoon at a time if it is too dry.
4. Roll 1/4 inch (6 mm) thick on a floured counter, cut into shapes and space on the sheets.
5. Bake until firm and dry to the touch. Allow about 30 minutes.
6. Turn off the oven and leave the biscuits inside to crisp, then cool completely. Allow about 1 hour.

Tips for success

• Chill the dough for 15 minutes if it sticks to the cutter; cold dough cuts cleaner edges.
• Roll every biscuit to the same thickness so the whole tray finishes baking at the same time.
• For extra crunch, prick each biscuit with a fork before baking so steam can escape.

How to store it

Let everything cool completely before you pack it away, since trapped steam causes sogginess and mold. Keep it at room temperature for up to 7 days, in the fridge for up to 3 weeks, or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Cool completely before storing in an airtight container. If anything smells off or shows mold, throw it out.

How much to serve

Medium dogs (30–50 lb) can have 1–2 biscuits a day. Break biscuits in half for small dogs and puppies. Count treats toward the 10% daily treat allowance. Each biscuit has about 34 calories. Treats and toppers should stay under 10 percent of your dog’s daily calories, so cut back their regular food a little on days you serve extra.

Swaps and variations

No whole wheat flour? Use oat flour for a wheat-free biscuit. No plain pumpkin purée? Use mashed cooked sweet potato. No xylitol-free peanut butter? Use unsalted sunflower seed butter. No eggs? Use 2 tbsp ground flaxseed + 6 tbsp water. Change one ingredient at a time so you can tell how each swap affects the texture.

Safety notes

Peanut Butter: Only use brands without xylitol (also sold as birch sugar). High in fat. Never add onion, garlic, chocolate, grapes, raisins, xylitol or salt, and check the safety guide before trying a new ingredient with your dog. This recipe is general information, not veterinary advice.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use canned pumpkin?

Yes, as long as the label says 100% pumpkin. Pumpkin pie filling has sugar and nutmeg, which dogs should not have.

Can I make these without peanut butter?

Yes. Replace it with the same amount of extra pumpkin, or unsalted sunflower seed butter.

How many biscuits can my dog have a day?

Treats should be no more than 10% of daily calories. Use the portion calculator in the recipe card for your dog’s weight.

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