Pumpkin spice and everything nice is the popular theme when it comes to fall recipes. But there are plenty of other autumn-inspired menu items, including sweet potatoes, turkey, and cranberries. Plus, fall feasts aren’t just for humans. Preparing a few pet-friendly recipes for your furry friend is a perfect way to enjoy the season together.
Meatless Fall Treats Your Pet Will Love
Feeding your pet table scraps is a no-no, but that doesn’t mean they can never have human foods. However, it’s essential to recognize that, just like with your diet, your pet needs to eat sweets and treats in moderation. These yummy snacks should be served occasionally, keeping your dog or cat’s caloric limits in mind.
1. Peanut Butter and Zucchini Dog Treats
(from Doggy Dessert Chef)
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of grated zucchini
- ½ cup whole wheat flour
- ½ cup of peanut butter (make sure it is all-natural and xylitol free)
- ½ tsp. cinnamon (optional, cinnamon can irritate dogs)
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Mix all of the ingredients in a large bowl, adding one at a time, to form a dough.
Knead the dough and roll it onto a floured surface to about ½-inch thickness. Use your favorite fall cookie cutters to make seasonal shapes.
Bake the treats for 10 to 15 minutes. Allow to cool, then refrigerate in a sealed container.
2. Sweet Potato Chews for Dogs
(from Plates + Pairings)
Ingredients:
Just sweet potatoes!
Slice the sweet potatoes lengthwise into thin slices (approximately ⅓ of an inch). Lay them out on a lined baking sheet and place them in your oven on the lowest setting.
Let the chews cook for about six hours, flipping halfway through. Leave them in the oven as it cools so they can continue to dry out.
Once out of the oven, let them cool. Store the chews in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
3. Carrot and Catnip Snacks
(from epicuricloud)
Ingredients:
- 2 tbsp. olive or coconut oil
- 1 ¼ cups oat flour
- 1 tbsp. Dried catnip (optional)
- ¾ cup of carrots (finely shredded)
- 1 large egg
- cold water
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit, and line a baking sheet with parchment. Mix one cup of flour and the oil in a medium bowl to form a sandy consistency.
Stir in the carrots and catnip. In a separate small bowl, lightly beat the egg then add it to the flour mixture. Add flour as needed if the dough is too sticky.
Flour your work surface and roll out the dough to ¼-inch thick. Prick the dough with a fork and cut into ½-inch squares.
Place the squares on a single layer on a baking sheet and bake for 12 minutes or until browning. Let cool, then store in a sealed container or freeze for long-term storage.
Pet-Approved Meaty Snacks for Fall
If your pet has a preference for meat-flavored treats, put one of these flavorful fall goodies in their food bowl. Even though the ingredients may be healthy, that doesn’t mean your pet gets a free-for-all. Keep the portions small and give them to your pet as a special treat.
1. Turkey and Cranberry Dog Bones
(from Allrecipes)
Ingredients:
- 3 ½ cups of whole wheat flour
- 1 tsp. baking powder
- 1 tbsp. olive oil
- 1 cup dried cranberries
- 1 cup shredded turkey (cooked)
- 1 egg
- 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
Whisk the flour and baking powder together in a large bowl, stir in the dried cranberries and cooked turkey.
Make a well in the flour mixture and break the egg into the center. Add the olive oil and about half of the broth. Mix until a soft dough forms, adding more broth in small amounts if it’s too dry.
Flour your work surface and knead the dough for one to two minutes before rolling it out to ¼ of an inch thick. Use a dog-bone-shaped cookie cutter to cut out your shapes.
Bake for about 25 minutes, until the treats brown, then turn off the oven and leave the treats inside for another 30 minutes. Remove them from the oven and allow them to cool before serving to your pup. Refrigerate leftover treats in an airtight container.
2. Sweet Potato Salmon
(from 12Tomatoes)
Ingredients:
- 1 ½ cups of baked, mashed sweet potato
- 1 ½ cups old-fashioned oats
- 1 14-ounce can of wild-caught salmon
- ¼ cup fresh parsley
Mix the salmon and sweet potato in a large bowl, breaking up the salmon into small pieces with a fork. Use a food processor to grind the parsley and oats together, then add them to the salmon mixture.
Combine everything well, then spoon the mix into a silicone mold in fun shapes like fish or milk bones (or use a silicone ice-cube tray). Place the mold in the freezer for the treats to set (about two to three hours). Alternatively, spread some of the mixture onto a licking mat for your pet to enjoy.
3. Chicken Pot Pie
(from The Hallmark Channel)
Ingredients for Crust:
- 1 cup of oat flour
- 1 tbsp. cold butter
- 1 large egg
- 4 tbsp. ice water
Ingredients for Filling:
- 1 13-ounce can of chicken breast
- ½ cup of frozen broccoli
- ½ cup of diced sweet potato
- ¼ cup of water
- 1 tbsp. oat flour
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Pulse the butter and flour together in a food processor until the butter breaks apart into small pieces, then put the mixture in a large bowl. Knead the flour, adding one tablespoon of water at a time to form a sturdy dough.
Sprinkle some flour onto your work surface and roll out the dough to ¼ of an inch thick. Cut two circles from the dough using a 4-inch ring cutter or mold. Use a knife to cut an “X” into each circle.
Break the egg into a small bowl and stir or whisk to create an egg wash. Brush the egg wash onto your crust circles, and bake the two dough rounds on a lined baking sheet for about 15 minutes.
Start on your filling while the crust bakes. Cook the chicken, broccoli, and sweet potato over medium heat in a skillet. Once broccoli is cooked, add the water and flour, stirring to coat all ingredients.
Spoon the mixture into two ramekins. Place a baked dough round over each and put the pies in the oven for 10 minutes. Allow to cool before serving.
Delicious Fall Favorites Your Pet Can Eat
These lip-smacking goodies will have your pets’ mouths watering all autumn long. Were you surprised that none of these fall snacks included pumpkin? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered with these tantalizing pumpkin treats.
Remember, when preparing tasty recipes for your pet, always keep their health and safety in mind. Make sure your pet doesn’t have any allergies to the ingredients and cross-check recipes with your vet. Serve in moderation and keep your pet’s daily calorie needs within the recommended parameters.
For other tasty homemade treats and more fun ideas of how to spend fall with your pets, check out the rest of the Neater Pets blog.