ByThese pumpkin carrot dog cookies use four ingredients: whole wheat flour, pumpkin puree, egg and grated carrot. They take about 40 minutes. The key safety step is using 100% pure pumpkin puree, never pumpkin pie filling.
Recipe Snapshot
- Prep time: 15 minutes
- Cook time: 18-20 minutes
- Total time: About 35-40 minutes (plus cooling)
- Yield: About 30 cookies (2-inch cutter)
- Difficulty: Easy
- Storage life: 1 week in the fridge, 2 months in the freezer
Key takeaway: Read the can. The label should list one ingredient: pumpkin. Pie filling has added sugar and spices that don’t belong in dog treats.
Every fall, I buy extra cans of pumpkin. It’s the easiest dog treat base I know. Add a little carrot, and you get a soft, orange cookie that smells like autumn. My dog barks at the oven when these bake.
Are pumpkin and carrots safe for dogs?
Yes. Plain cooked pumpkin and plain carrots are common dog-treat ingredients. Serve them plain, without butter, salt or spices. If your dog has a sensitive stomach, introduce them slowly. For a full safe-food guide, read what treats dogs can eat every day.
How do I make pumpkin carrot dog cookies?
Recipe Card: Pumpkin Carrot Dog Cookies
Ingredients
- 2 cups whole wheat flour, plus extra for rolling
- ⅔ cup 100% pure pumpkin puree
- 1 large egg
- ⅓ cup finely grated carrot
- 1-2 tablespoons water, only if the dough is dry
Steps
- Heat your oven to 350°F.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Add the flour, pumpkin, egg and carrot to a large bowl.
- Stir with a spoon until the flour is mostly mixed in.
- Use your clean hands to work the dough together.
- Add water 1 tablespoon at a time only if it crumbles.
- Dust your counter with flour.
- Roll the dough about ¼ inch thick.
- Cut shapes with a 2-inch cutter.
- Place cookies on the baking sheet.
- Bake 18-20 minutes (a few minutes longer for crunchier cookies).
- Cool completely before serving.
⚠️ Dog-Safe Ingredient Check
- Pumpkin: The only ingredient should be pumpkin. No “pie filling,” no spice blend.
- No xylitol in anything you add (peanut butter, yogurt, sweeteners).
- No salt, sugar or nutmeg.
- Grate the carrot finely so it mixes into the dough and is easy to chew.
Pro Tip: Squeeze the grated carrot in a paper towel before mixing. Less water makes rolling easier.
What if I only have canned pumpkin pie filling?
Don’t use it. Pie filling has sugar and spices. Buy a can labeled “100% pure pumpkin” or “pumpkin puree” instead. If the ingredient list has anything besides pumpkin, put it back.
How many pumpkin carrot cookies can my dog have?
Treats should stay around 10% of daily calories. To work out calories per cookie:
- Add up calories from the flour, pumpkin, egg and carrot labels.
- Divide by the number of cookies.
- Ask your vet for your dog’s daily calorie goal.
As a starting guide from my own kitchen, give 1 cookie to small dogs and 2-3 to large dogs. For a deeper look, read how many treats a dog should have a day.
Vet Tip: If your dog has pancreatitis or needs a low-fat diet, ask your vet before adding any new treat.
Substitutions and variations
- Grain-free: Oat flour is gluten-free if certified, but not grain-free. For a grain-free dough, ask your vet which flour fits your dog, since the texture changes.
- Egg-free: Replace the egg with 2 tablespoons unsweetened applesauce.
- Wheat-free: Use oat flour. Add a little extra flour if the dough is sticky.
- Peanut butter lovers: Add 2 tablespoons xylitol-free peanut butter. See easy peanut butter oat dog treats.
- Small dogs: Cut tiny ¾-inch shapes.
- More pumpkin ideas: Try pumpkin dog biscuits for beginners and pumpkin and banana dog treats.
- Other veggies: See easy carrot dog treat bites.
Want a nutrition boost? Some owners add a dog supplement, but ask your vet first. Short on time? Ready-made dog treats are an easy backup.
Can I freeze pumpkin dog cookies?
Yes. Cool them completely. Then freeze them in a sealed container for up to 2 months. In the fridge, they last about 1 week. These cookies have no preservatives, so toss any that look moldy.
FAQ
Q: Is pumpkin safe for dogs? A: Plain, 100% pure pumpkin is a common dog-treat ingredient. Avoid pie filling.
Q: Can I use pumpkin pie filling? A: No. It has added sugar and spices.
Q: Are carrots OK for dogs? A: Plain carrots are a common treat. Grate them finely for dough.
Q: Can I freeze them? A: Yes, up to 2 months in a sealed container.
Q: How many can my dog have? A: Keep treats to about 10% of daily calories. Start with 1 small cookie.
Source for xylitol label checks: AKC: Can Dogs Eat Peanut Butter?
