Did you know that October 26 is National Pumpkin Day? Did you also know that more than half of the 24 million pumpkins carved for Halloween in Britain this year will not be eaten?! That's one scary statistic! Help cut down on food waste by baking your furry friend some delicious pumpkin treats! We've found the best pumpkin-based recipes for both cats & dogs, why not give them a try?
For Dogs
We love feeding our pups new and exciting treats! When we saw this delicious recipe from Okonomi Kitchen we knew we had to give it a try. Not only are these dog treats super easy to make, they are also great for using up any leftover pumpkins from Halloween! We love making our own dog treats as it means we know exactly what's going into them so you can customise them to your pup's own tastes. Making your own treats can also be a great way to save some money as you can make a large batch and freeze some for a later date. These super simple treats only take 4 ingredients and a food processor to make and they are Hiro + Wolf approved!
Ingredients
- 185g pumpkin puree (from a tin or make your own)
- 60g natural peanut butter (no salt, sugar or sweeteners)
- 2 tbsp ground flax
- 170g oat flour (or blend oats finely)
Method
- Pre-heat your oven to 180 C
- Add the pumpkin puree, peanut butter and flax into a food processor and blend until combined.
- Add in the oat flour and process until you get a dough.
- Flour a cutting board and roll out the dough (around 1/4 inch thick). Use cookie cutters or a sharp knife to cut out your treats and place them onto a baking tray lined with baking paper.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes.
- Let them cool on a cooling rack and them store in the fridge for 1 week or freezer for 2 months.
For Cats
Looking for a simple, healthy, grain-free, no-bake recipe for the ultimate pumpkin cat treats? This one by Leili Farzaneh ticks all the boxes! Pumpkin is a fantastic food for our feline friends as it is high in fibre, as well as vitamins A and C which help to support your kitties immune system and zinc which is great for their skin and fur.
Ingredients
200g cooked & drained pumpkin
75g cooked turkey or chicken meat
Enough gelatin powder or gelatin leaf to set 100ml of liquid
Method
- Place your pumpkin and turkey in a food processor and blend it together until it forms a paste.
- Place your mixture in a tea towel and squeeze out as much liquid as possible. Reserve the liquid for later!
- Take a small saucepan and gently heat your gelatine along with your pumpkin and turkey mixture on low. Add a little of the reserved liquid to prevent the mixture from getting too dry. Aim for around toothpaste consistency.
- Once the gelatin has melted completely into the mix, remove from the heat immediately.
- Leave to cool for around 10 minutes, or until the mixture is cool enough to handle.
- Take small, pea-sized amounts and gently roll into balls. Place each ball onto a lined baking tray
- Place the tray into the fridge to set, we recommend leaving them for 24 hours.
- Once fully set, pop your turkey and pumpkin cat treats into an airtight container, and store in the fridge for up to 1 week.