Day in and day out our dogs show us unconditional love. Their energy for giving seems endless. At this Thanksgiving holiday, let’s show them our “thanks for giving” by making them this yummy Pumpkin-Apple Cookie treat.
Your home will fill with the autumn aromas of apples, cinnamon and pumpkin as you make this grain-free and gluten-free treat. These healthy cookies are made with coconut flour which can improve the condition of your dog’s skin and coat. Cinnamon offers many benefits including soothing the stomach, regulating blood sugar, improving digestion and alleviating inflammation. The unsweetened applesauce is packed with nutrition, and the pumpkin puree can improve digestion, add fiber for better stool production and soothe an upset stomach.
This recipe makes approximately 50 large cookies, but you can easily reduce it in half for a smaller batch. The larger quantity allows you to send some home with your holiday guests for their dogs or to give out to your friendly neighborhood dogs.
Pumpkin-Apple Dog Cookies
2 1/2 cups of coconut flour
1 cup of unsweetened applesauce
1 1/2 cups of pure pumpkin puree (NOT pie filling)
1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon
4 eggs
Preheat your oven to 350° Fahrenheit. In a large bowl add your coconut flour, pure pumpkin puree, unsweetened applesauce, cinnamon and eggs. Combine all 5 ingredients and mix thoroughly.
Roll the dough onto a floured surface. Cut the cookies with your favorite cookie cutter shape and place them on a baking pan lined with parchment paper.
Bake in the oven for 25 minutes.
Baking Notes
Coconut flour can be a bit tricky to work with because it absorbs a large amount of liquid and can be crumby at times. If your dough is too dry, add more applesauce and pumpkin 1/4 cup at a time. If it is too moist, add more coconut flour 1/4 cup at a time. Eggs are your binder, so if it is too crumby, add another egg. Coconut flour dough will roll out differently than wheat flour dough. Just work with it, and you’ll end up with a nice soft dog cookie. If you want a crunchier cookie, try cooking it at 250° F for 45-60 minutes, or put the soft cookie in a dehydrator.
Storage Notes
This recipe has no preservatives, so the cookies must be refrigerated for storage up to two weeks. Cookies can be taken out and left at room temperature for two days at a time. These cookies also freeze well.
Related: Healthy Thanksgiving Meals for Dogs
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