It’s that time of year — the time of “pumpkin everything:” pies, lattes, scented candles and . . . wait for it . . . dog treats! These seasonal treats are a highly nutritious addition to your pooch’s day and super easy to make (no baking required). Start with a delicious seasonal ingredient for your pup: Pumpkin! Add in oatmeal and peanut butter to hold it all together. And don’t forget the star ingredient, the Mini Naturals Ghosts!
Howl-o-ween Pumpkin and Ghost Bites
Note: When cooking pumpkin treats for your dog, be sure to use all-natural pumpkin puree instead of pumpkin pie filling, which has added sugar and other ingredients. Since we use some maple syrup (or honey if you prefer) in this recipe to bind the treats together, we don’t want to add any more sugar!
Ingredients
3 cups dry, uncooked oatmeal
1 cup all-natural pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling, which has added sugar)
1 cup all-natural peanut butter (or almond butter)
½ cup pure maple syrup or honey
½ tsp cinnamon
½ tsp pumpkin pie spice
4-6 tbsp flaxseed powder (you can sub coconut flour or chia seed flour)
1 cup Mini Naturals Ghosts (plus extra for toppings)
Directions
- Combine all ingredients together in a medium bowl until very thoroughly mixed
- Roll into balls about 1” in diameter
- Top with extra Mini Naturals Ghosts
- Place on a cookie sheet covered in parchment paper and freeze one hour
- Store in airtight container and keep refrigerated for up to 1 week
All the Reasons for Pumpkin This Season
Pumpkin is truly a super food. Rich in vitamin A, beta-carotene and other carotenes, regular inclusion of pumpkin in the diet supports vision, skin health, and mucus membrane and immune system health (just in time for cold and flu season). Despite its inherent sweetness, pumpkin is high in fiber, which is not only great for blood sugar regulation, but also keeps things moving properly through the digestive tract. This latter one is particularly helpful if you are one of those who “accidentally” feeds your furry friend scraps while doing your holiday cooking. Pumpkin is also a prebiotic that feeds the friendly microbes that reside in your mutt’s gut.
For the dog and her person that is enjoying the season out of doors, pumpkin is great for supporting muscle recovery due to the high potassium content. Add to that a bit of vitamin C to stay healthy while playing outside and you both are set for the season.
