Pumpkin Cookies – For 4 Legged Friends

I’d like you to meet our 4-legged son Tug.  He’s a 2 1/2 year old Lab/Pit mix.  I know I know, just reading the word Pit makes you cringe and believe me, it makes me too, but Tugs only Pit-likeness is his short hair.  He’s the sweetest dog ever.  How could you not love that face?

Today I decided to experiment with making dog treats.  I had an opened can of pumpkin that needed to be used up and the end result was 4 paws up!  (2 from the cat).  Apparently dogs aren’t the only 4-legged creatures that like Pumpkin Cookies.  It only took about 5 minutes to put together the dough and another 20-24 minutes to bake and VOILA – homemade dog treats.

You could get all giggy with it and use your Spritz Cookie maker.  You know, the one your Grandma gave to you because she never used it?  Yes, that one!

I just used a pastry bag fitted with the star tip and made circles.  I figured my 4-legged son wouldn’t critique me on perfection.

Ooooohhh purty!  I had to tell the kids not to eat them.  Not that they would get sick, but I bet it wouldn’t taste all that great.

Cooked and cooling.  20 minutes at 300 was all it took.  They need to cool for a while to get stiff, but the dog and the cat were happy with them slightly cooled as well.

Here’s Milo – The Helper Catten, he was really digging them.  What you can’t see is Tug standing in front of me with big droopy eyes and the look of “why are you giving the cat MY treats?”

I hope you give these a try for your Furbabies.  They will love you even more if you do.

4 Legged Pumpkin Cookies
{Printable Recipe}


1 15 oz can plain pumpkin puree (not the spiced kind)
1/2 cup nonfat powdered milk
1/2 cup cream of wheat cereal (uncooked 2 1/2 min type)
1/4 cup Mixed Grain baby cereal

1 Preheat the oven to 300.  Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
2 Mix all ingredient in a medium bowl.  Drop by teaspoonfuls onto prepared baking sheet, or use a pastry bag to pipe shapes.
3 Bake for 20 minutes or until the outside is firm.  Cool completely.
4 Store in a zip top bag for up to a week or freeze smaller portions indefinitely.