Smashing Pumpkin And Carob Dog Treat Recipe

Amy Tokic
by Amy Tokic
When furry ghouls come scratching at your door, offer them a pumpkin and carob homemade treat. And maybe, they’ll save their “tricks” for someone else’s lawn!


Billy Corgan has nothing on these treats! We love the health benefits that pureed pumpkin has for our dogs, while our pups love the sweetness of carob. It’s a match made in doggy treat heaven! This was the inspiration behind our Smashing Pumpkin and Carob Dog Treat Recipe (although, I’m still a big fan of the band!).


The festive gourd, when it’s pureed, boasts a power-punch of health benefits for our dogs. Adding it to your dog’s diet (in moderation), can help relieve both diarrhea and constipation, and it’s loaded with fiber and beta-carotene. Remember to use pure pumpkin puree, and not the stuff intended for pies – that filling is loaded with sugar and spices.


Carob is a substitute for chocolate that’s safe for dogs. It doesn’t contain chocolate’s theobromine, caffeine, phenylethylamine or fromamide – all of which are toxic for dogs. Carob has a naturally sweet flavor, and has vitamins A, B, B1, B2, B3, B6 and D, calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, manganese, and protein.


I added little white candy eyes to my batty bats, but it’s not necessary for this recipe. I used a melting candy that’s safe for dogs, but I try just to use it in moderation, as it contains sugar.


Smashing Pumpkin and Carob Dog Treat Recipe

Makes 50 cookies


Ingredients:


1 cup canned pumpkin puree


1/3 cup carob chips


3 cups whole wheat flour


1 teaspoon vanilla extract


1 tablespoon molasses


1 egg


1 teaspoon cinnamon


Directions:


  1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper.
  2. In a large bowl, combine pumpkin puree, vanilla extract, egg, molasses, cinnamon, and carob chips. Mix well.
  3. Add flour to the mixture, one cup at a time, until dough is formed.
  4. Knead dough into ball and roll onto a floured surface, about 1/4 inch thick.
  5. Cut with cookie cutter and place on baking sheet.
  6. Bake for 15 minutes. You want the carob chips to melt, but not burn.
  7. Place on cooling rack overnight to harden. Store in fridge or freezer in airtight container.


Dog-Friendly Icing


Are you looking to add a little icing to your new cookies to really impress all the neighbourhood pups? Traditional human icing options are not safe for your dogs. Not only do they contain high levels of sugar, but meringue powder which is often used for decorative icings like royal icing, contains Cream of Tartar. This toxic ingredient is made from grapes and eating it could cause renal failure in your dog.


If you go shopping at a pet specialty store, you will likely find a ready-made dog-friendly icing product, however, this may come at a steep price. Speciality items like that often do. The good news is that you can quickly and easily whip up a dog-friendly icing at home.


To make your dog-friendly icing, simply combine 2 tablespoons of cornstarch, 2 teaspoons of water and a teaspoon of honey and whisk well. The mixture will seem thin, but you have to trust the process. Add food colouring to create your desired colours and decorate your cookie. The icing will harden quickly, so don’t wait too long! If you do notice your icing hardening as you’re working, simply microwave it at 10 second intervals until you see it return to a workable state. Your final product will look like a cookie made in the finest bakeries.

Amy Tokic
Amy Tokic

Amy Tokic, Editor of PetGuide.com, is a passionate animal lover and proud pet parent of Oscar, a Shih Tzu/Chihuahua cross, and Zed, a Japanese Chin. Her love of animals began in kindergarten, when she brought her stuffed dog Snoopy into class with her every day. Now, she writes about her adventures in pet ownership and tirelessly researches products, news and health related issues she can share with other animal enthusiasts. In her free time, Amy loves perusing used book and record stores, obsessing over the latest pet products available and chasing squirrels with wild abandon (a habit attributed to spending too much time with her pooches).

More by Amy Tokic

Next