My dog Waffles has never once turned down food in her life.
She’s eaten a sock. She’s eaten a candle. Last year she somehow got into a bag of coffee grounds and Silas had to call the vet at 11pm just to make sure she’d be okay (she was fine, just annoyingly awake all night).
So when I tell you Waffles goes absolutely feral for these pumpkin biscuits, that actually means something. 🐾
I started making these because I got tired of reading dog treat labels I couldn’t pronounce. Turns out you only need 4 ingredients, one bowl, and about 10 minutes of actual effort to make something way better than what’s on the shelf at the pet store.
Silas thought I was being extra when I started baking dog treats from scratch. He’s since eaten one himself (on a dare, don’t worry, I stopped him after that). His verdict? “Actually not bad.” High praise from a man who once ate gas station sushi and called it fine.
Here’s the thing about store-bought dog treats that bugs me. You flip the bag over and half the ingredients read like a chemistry test. I’m not saying every bagged treat is bad, but when the homemade version costs less, takes 10 minutes, and uses stuff already sitting in your kitchen, why not just make it yourself?
These biscuits are cheap, they store forever, and your dog will act like you personally hung the moon every time you pull the treat jar out. Waffles now does this specific spin move the second she hears the pantry door open, which is either adorable or slightly unhinged depending on your mood that day.
Let’s get into it.
Why This Recipe Works
You don’t need a long ingredient list to make your dog happy. You really don’t.
Pumpkin is genuinely good for dogs. It’s packed with fiber, it’s easy on their stomach, and most dogs love the taste on its own.
Peanut butter is the ingredient that makes these feel like a real treat instead of a sad health snack. Dogs are obsessed with it, and it adds a little healthy fat too.
Oat flour keeps everything gluten free, which matters if your pup has a sensitive tummy. And the egg binds it all together while adding some protein.
No fillers. No weird preservatives. No mystery meat byproducts. Just 4 things you can actually read and understand.
What You’ll Need
| Ingredient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Canned pumpkin puree (plain, not pie filling) | 1 cup |
| Natural peanut butter (xylitol-free) | 1/2 cup |
| Oat flour (or whole wheat flour) | 2 1/2 cups |
| Large egg | 1 |
Quick note: Always double check your peanut butter label. Some brands sneak in xylitol, which is toxic to dogs. If the ingredient list has anything you don’t recognize, skip it and grab a different jar.
Tools You’ll Need
- Large mixing bowl
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Rolling pin
- Cookie cutters (bone shaped if you’re feeling cute, or just a knife works too)
- Baking sheet
- Parchment paper
- Wire cooling rack
Pro Tips
- Use plain pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie filling. Pie filling has added sugar and spices like nutmeg, which is actually toxic to dogs in larger amounts. This trips people up constantly.
- Roll the dough thicker than you think you need to. These biscuits are meant to be hard and crunchy, kind of like a dog biscuit should be. Thin dough just makes weird chewy bites that fall apart.
- Let them cool completely before storing. Any leftover warmth turns into moisture in your container, and moisture is how you get mold. Nobody wants that.
- Size the biscuits to your dog. Waffles is a 60 pound lab mix, so she gets the big bone shapes. If you’ve got a tiny dog, go with a smaller cutter or just cut squares with a knife.
- Bake low and slow for maximum crunch. A lower oven temp over a longer time dries these out properly instead of just cooking the outside and leaving the middle soft.
How to Make Pumpkin Dog Biscuits
Step 1: Preheat and Prep
Preheat your oven to 325°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Step 2: Mix the Wet Ingredients
In a large bowl, stir together the pumpkin puree, peanut butter, and egg until smooth. It should look like a thick, orange batter.
Step 3: Add the Flour
Add the oat flour a little at a time, stirring as you go. Once it gets too thick to stir, use your hands to bring it into a dough ball.
Step 4: Roll It Out
On a floured surface, roll the dough to about 1/4 inch thick. Don’t go thinner than that or your biscuits will lose their crunch.
Step 5: Cut Your Shapes
Use your cookie cutters to cut out biscuits. Gather the scraps, re-roll, and keep cutting until you’re out of dough.
Step 6: Bake
Place the biscuits on your lined baking sheet about an inch apart. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, until they’re firm and lightly golden.
Step 7: Cool Completely
Turn off the oven and let the biscuits sit inside for another 10 minutes with the door cracked open. This helps them dry out even more. Then move them to a wire rack to cool the rest of the way.
Substitutions and Variations
| Original | Swap | Why It Works |
|---|---|---|
| Oat flour | Whole wheat flour | Same texture, just not gluten free anymore |
| Peanut butter | Pumpkin seed butter | Good option for dogs with peanut allergies |
| Egg | Unsweetened applesauce (1/4 cup) | Works as an egg-free binder |
| Plain shapes | Add 1 tsp cinnamon | Dog-safe spice that adds a nice smell while baking |
Make Ahead Tips
These biscuits are basically made for meal prepping your dog’s snack drawer.
You can mix and roll the dough up to 2 days ahead of time. Just wrap it tightly and keep it in the fridge until you want to bake it off.
Already baked a batch? They’ll keep at room temperature for about a week, so there’s no rush to eat through them fast (well, your dog might disagree).
Estimated Nutrition (Per Biscuit)
This recipe makes roughly 24 medium biscuits. Here’s the estimated breakdown per biscuit.
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | 45 |
| Protein | 1.5g |
| Fat | 1.5g |
| Fiber | 0.8g |
| Carbohydrates | 6g |
These numbers are estimates only. Please verify using a tool like Cronometer with your exact ingredient brands, and check with your vet before adding any new treat to your dog’s diet, especially if they have health conditions.
Serving Suggestions
Treats should stay a small part of your dog’s daily food, usually no more than 10% of their total calories for the day.
For a small dog, one biscuit is probably plenty. Bigger dogs like Waffles can handle 2 to 3 without any issue.
These also work great broken into small training treat pieces if your pup responds well to positive reinforcement during walks or obedience practice.
I usually snap one biscuit into 4 or 5 little pieces for training sessions with Waffles. It stretches the treats further and she genuinely can’t tell the difference between a whole biscuit and a crumb of one. Dogs are simple creatures like that.
If you’ve got multiple dogs in the house, this recipe scales up easily. Just double the batch and you’ll have enough to keep everyone happy for a couple weeks without spending another minute in the kitchen.
Storage and Reheating
Store cooled biscuits in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week.
Want them to last longer? Pop the container in the fridge and they’ll stay good for about a month.
You can also freeze a batch for up to 3 months. Just thaw a few at room temperature the night before you want to use them. No reheating needed since they’re meant to be eaten cool and crunchy anyway.
FAQ
Can dogs actually eat pumpkin?
Yes, plain canned pumpkin is genuinely good for dogs. It’s high in fiber and can even help with mild digestive issues. Just avoid pumpkin pie filling since that has added sugar and spices.
What if my dog is allergic to peanuts?
Swap the peanut butter for pumpkin seed butter or sunflower seed butter. Both work the same way in this recipe.
Do I have to use cookie cutters?
Not at all. A butter knife works fine for cutting simple squares or rectangles if you don’t have cutters on hand.
Why are my biscuits soft instead of crunchy?
They probably need more time in the oven. Dog biscuits should be baked low and slow to fully dry out. If yours came out soft, pop them back in at 300°F for another 10 to 15 minutes.
Can I use fresh pumpkin instead of canned?
You can, just make sure it’s cooked, mashed, and drained of extra liquid first. Fresh pumpkin holds a lot of water, and too much liquid will throw off the dough.
Is oat flour necessary, or can I use regular flour?
Regular whole wheat flour works fine if gluten isn’t a concern for your dog. The texture comes out almost identical either way.
How long do homemade dog biscuits actually last?
About a week at room temperature, closer to a month in the fridge, and up to 3 months in the freezer. Since there aren’t any artificial preservatives in these, they won’t last as long as the bagged stuff, but that’s kind of the point.
Can I give these to a puppy?
Small amounts are usually fine for puppies over 8 weeks old, but every dog is different. Check with your vet first, especially if your puppy is still transitioning off a specific diet.
Wrapping Up
Waffles has strong opinions about most things, but she’s never once turned her nose up at these biscuits.
They’re cheap, they’re simple, and you already know exactly what’s in them, which honestly feels like a win these days.
If you give this recipe a try, come back and leave a comment letting me know how your pup liked them. And if you’re looking for more homemade treat ideas, check out [our full collection of dog-friendly recipes here].
