Pumpkin Dog Treats with Applesauce (Easy Homemade)

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These pumpkin dog treats are the ones my dog gets ridiculous about. I pull a batch out of the oven, the whole kitchen fills up with warm pumpkin, and he is already parked by the counter waiting for one. He acts like they are the best thing he has ever had.

Bone-shaped pumpkin dog treats scattered on a table with a pumpkin in the background.

The thing I like about this dough is how cleanly it holds a shape. The bones come out with sharp edges instead of spreading into blobs the way softer doughs do, so they actually look like the cutter you used. That is what sold me on this version for gifting and for my own dog.

What sets these apart is the applesauce. It keeps the treats moist and adds a little natural sweetness, so they are not loaded down with peanut butter the way a lot of recipes are. You can also make them soft or crunchy depending on what your dog likes best.

One thing before you start: check with your veterinarian before you give your dog any new treat, especially if your dog has allergies, a sensitive stomach, or any health condition. I am sharing what works for my dog, and you know yours best.

MY DOG’S FAVORITE

The Homemade Treat I Feel Good Handing My Dog

I keep making these because I like knowing exactly what goes into every batch. No mystery ingredients, no long list I cannot pronounce, only pumpkin, applesauce, peanut butter, and a few pantry staples. My dog gets a treat he is excited about, and I get to be the one who made it. That trade has kept these in my regular rotation for a long time.

The One Thing I Always Tell People

Mix the dough just until it comes together. If you keep beating it after the flour is in, the dough turns tough and it fights you when you try to roll it out. Stop as soon as there are no dry streaks left, and knead it a couple of times by hand if it needs help coming together.

The bake time is where you decide the texture. Pull them at the shorter end and they stay a little softer, which is easier on dogs with tender teeth. Leave them in longer and they firm up crunchy. Watch them the first time so you learn what your oven and your dog like.

What Goes Into These

Pumpkin puree: Use plain canned pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie filling. Pie filling is loaded with added sugar and spices that are not meant for dogs. Check the label and make sure the only thing in the can is pumpkin.
Applesauce: This is what makes these treats what they are. It adds the moisture and the little bit of natural sweetness the recipe leans on. Use unsweetened applesauce with no added sugar so there is nothing extra in there.
Peanut butter: Read the label and make sure it does not contain xylitol, which is toxic to dogs even in small amounts. It shows up in some no-sugar-added brands, so check every time. If peanut butter is your dog’s favorite part, my homemade peanut butter dog treats lean all the way into it.
Egg: The egg binds everything together and holds the shape when you cut the treats. Without it the dough crumbles instead of rolling out clean.
Baking soda: This helps the treats firm up, but it is optional. If you would rather leave it out, the treats still set up fine without it.

Important: Check with your veterinarian before you give your dog any new treat

Rows of baked pumpkin dog treats on parchment paper, close-up angle.

How to Make Pumpkin Dog Treats

Step 1: Heat the Oven and Line the Pan Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a sheet pan with parchment paper. The parchment keeps the treats from sticking so they lift off clean once they are baked.

Step 2: Beat the Wet Ingredients Using a stand mixer or hand mixer, beat the pumpkin puree, applesauce, peanut butter, and egg until smooth. You want it fully combined with no streaks of pumpkin or peanut butter. Pumpkin dog treat batter in a glass bowl with flour and salt nearby.

Step 3: Mix in the Dry Ingredients Add the whole wheat flour, salt, and baking soda. Beat just until it comes together into a dough. Turn it out onto a floured surface and knead it a couple of times by hand if it has not fully come together. Ball of pumpkin dog treat dough on a marble surface with bone-shaped cutters.

Step 4: Roll and Cut Roll the dough out on the floured surface and cut it with a bone-shaped cookie cutter. Space the treats out evenly on the prepared pan so they bake at the same rate. Rolled out pumpkin dog treat dough being cut into bone shapes.

Step 5: Bake to the Texture You Want Bake for 15 to 25 minutes, until the treats reach the hardness you want. Shorter for softer, longer for crunchier. Let them cool completely before you hand one to your dog. Baked pumpkin dog treats arranged in rows on a parchment-lined baking sheet.

A Few Things Worth Knowing

Roll them out evenly. If some treats are thick and some are thin, they will not bake at the same rate and you will get a mix of soft and hard in one batch. An even thickness gives you an even bake.

Let them cool completely before you store them. Warm treats sealed in a container make condensation, and that trapped moisture is what turns them soft or moldy early. Cool them all the way on the pan first.

Start small with a new treat. The first time, give your dog one and see how it sits before making these a regular thing. Any new food is worth introducing slowly.

Bone-shaped pumpkin dog treats arranged on a white platter next to a pumpkin.

How to Store Them

Store the cooled treats in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. They also freeze well, so you can keep a batch in the freezer for a few months and pull out what you need. I like making a big batch and freezing half so there is always a treat ready to go.

If you want a cold treat for a hot August afternoon, my frozen pupsicles for dogs are an easy one to keep in the freezer alongside these.

Overhead view of bone-shaped pumpkin dog treats piled in a metal tin next to a pumpkin.

Questions I Get About These Treats

How many of these treats can my dog have?

Treats are an extra, not a meal, so keep them to a small part of what your dog eats in a day. Portion size depends on your dog’s weight, so ask your veterinarian what makes sense for your dog if you are not sure.

Are these treats okay for every dog?

Most dogs do fine with pumpkin and peanut butter, but every dog is different. If your dog has a health condition, a sensitive stomach, or any dietary restriction, check with your veterinarian before adding these to the mix.

Can I make these smaller for a little dog?

Yes. Use a smaller cutter, or cut the rolled dough into little squares with a knife. Smaller treats bake a bit faster, so start checking them a few minutes early.

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