Today officially heralds the beginning of Autumn (or for our US readers, fall)! It’s finally time to enjoy jumping in piles of reddish-brown, crispy leaves, collecting conkers along the way (anyone else still do this?) We just love taking long walks in the fresh, firewood-scented air with our pups on a weekend. When the (short) day comes to an end, we just cosy up at home with a hot toddy chocolate, and, not forgetting our four-legged friend, a special autumn dog treat!
After a super-long walk our pups deserve their very own delicious, autumn dog treat, so we’ve gathered our five favourite autumn dog treat recipes for you to try out at home. Trust us, they’re super-easy to make!
1. Crunchy cinnamon & pumpkin truffles
Nothing screams Autumn like pumpkin and cinnamon! These delicious, crunchy truffles are super easy to make and, as an added bonus, are healthy. Pumpkin aids digestion if your dog’s got either diarrhoea or constipation.
Recipe:
- Preheat your oven at 160ºC (325ºF).
- Mix 180g pumpkin purée (100% pumpkin), 140g oats, 70g pumpkin seeds (optional), 1 egg and a teaspoon of ground cinnamon in a bowl. Stir until combined, gradually adding in 35g whole wheat flour.
- Using clean hands, roll the mixture into bite-sized balls and place them onto a baking sheet lined with grease-proof paper.
- Bake the goods for 25-30 minutes, then turn the oven off and leave them in 10 more minutes.
- Remove and let the truffles cool down completely (do not give them to your dog hot!)
These amazing dog treats can be kept in an airtight container in the fridge for about a week and can be enjoyed by humans too!
2. Chewy sweet potato fillets
These are the simplest treats on our list, as they only require two ingredients and very little preparation! Your dog will love them regardless, and sweet potato is a food staple of Autumn.
Recipe:
- Preheat your oven at 120ºC (250ºF).
- Slice up one large, organic sweet potato into thin strips using a knife.
- Lightly coat the sweet potato slices with olive oil, spread them out on a baking sheet lined with greaseproof paper and sprinkle them with ¼ teaspoon of cinnamon.
- Bake the sweet potato strips for 2 ½ to 3 hours and let them cool completely before giving them to your dog.
These natural and healthy treats are chewy and will keep your dog busy for a while! They will also fill your house with the most amazing scent (no need to buy all those expensive scented candles, then!)
3. Pumpkin Spice Puppuccino
There’s no reason why your dog can’t enjoy Starbucks’ most-loved seasonal exclusive! While Pumpkin Spice Lattes aren’t dog friendly, it’s easy to make a version for your pooch so you can share that special Pumpkin Spice moment together.
Recipe:
- Combine 160ml (unsweetened) coconut milk, ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon and 120g pumpkin purée (100% pumpkin).
- Blend until well mixed, and serve! Preferably in an adorable, small Starbucks cup.
Expert tip: why not hide a treat at the bottom of the puppuccino for an extra surprise?
4. Fruity apple & cranberry biscuits
Apples and cranberries are also much loved seasonal flavours that your dog can enjoy. Cranberries are a great source of vitamins and antioxidants for your dog.
Recipe:
- Preheat your oven at 175ºC (350ºF).
- Combine one chopped apple and 150g cranberries in a blender until smooth.
- Pour your fruit mixture into a bowl and add 85g molasses and a ¼ teaspoon cinnamon. Add 350g whole wheat flour gradually as you;re stirring to make a dough.
- Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface and cut the biscuits in your desired shape (you will need a bone shaped cookie cutter to make them like the ones in the picture).
- Bake the biscuits for 20 to 25 minutes, then turn off the oven and let them dry out for another 45 minutes to an hour. Let them cool completely before serving!
These adorable bones can be kept in an airtight jar for a couple of weeks, and are easy to carry around to share at the park or to use as a reward for training sessions!
5. Creamy peanut butter & pumpkin pupcakes
Don’t they look just amazing? Perfect for a puppy playdate or a doggie birthday party!
Recipe:
- To make these special autumn themed dog-friendly cupcakes, simply follow our pupcakes recipe, but replace the yogurt with 100% pumpkin purée for step 3.
- For the icing, stick with just yogurt and smooth peanut butter, as pumpkin will make the mixture too thick to pipe.
You can sprinkle bits of very finely chopped carrot or dried pumpkin on top to make them even prettier.
Which of these treats are you going to try first for your dog? Share your recipes and ideas with us in the comments!