You know those days when you look at the treat jar and realize you’re completely empty? It happens to me all the time, especially since my dog, Buster, will whine at my feet until I deliver the goods. That’s why I rely on recipes that are practically foolproof. Forget complicated steps and long ingredient lists; if it takes more than a quick stir, Buster’s not getting it! This is where my absolute favorite discovery comes in: 3-Ingredient Banana Pumpkin Baked Dog Treats. Seriously, three things! They bake up beautifully with that wonderful fall scent, and Buster goes absolutely bonkers for them. I feel great knowing exactly what he’s eating, and you’re going to love how fast they come together. For more super simple ideas, check out my guide on six of the best 3-ingredient dog treats.
Why You Need These 3-Ingredient Banana Pumpkin Baked Dog Treats
Listen, you don’t need to stress over keeping your pup happy. These treats are my go-to because they solve all the problems in one small, tasty package.
- It’s just three ingredients—no weird fillers, ever!
- They smell amazing while baking, even though they are for the dog.
- Buster never leaves a crumb behind when I make these 3-Ingredient Banana Pumpkin Baked Dog Treats.
- They come together faster than running to the store!
If you are looking for more quick recipes, I put together a list of 14 easy homemade dog treats you should try next!
Gathering Ingredients for Your 3-Ingredient Banana Pumpkin Baked Dog Treats
The best part about these treats, remember, is that the list is tiny! We are only grabbing three things, and you probably have two of them sitting on your counter right now. First up, grab one large, very ripe banana. I mean, let it get almost black—that extra sweetness is exactly what we need once it’s mashed up perfectly. Next, you need half a cup of pure pumpkin puree. And I cannot stress this enough: this absolutely must be the plain puree; don’t grab the pumpkin pie filling bottle because that stuff is loaded with sugar and spices that aren’t great for our pups. Finally, measure out one and a half cups of whole wheat flour. Make sure you have a little extra set aside because you might need it for dusting your counter later. You can read more about how pumpkin helps your dog over on my post about pumpkin puree dog energy boosts if you’re curious!
Essential Equipment for Making 3-Ingredient Banana Pumpkin Baked Dog Treats
You don’t need any fancy gadgets for this recipe, which is another win in my book! When you’re keeping things this simple, you just need the sturdy basics. Make sure you have a nice big mixing bowl ready for kneading everything together. You’ll also need a good, sturdy baking sheet—the flatter the better—and line it with parchment paper first, trust me on that one later!
Grab your rolling pin! We need to get that dough nice and flat so the treats bake evenly. Finally, I always pull out my collection of fun cookie cutters. Buster loves the bone shapes the most, but honestly, whatever shape you choose, he’s happy as long as he gets a treat!
Step-by-Step Instructions for Perfect 3-Ingredient Banana Pumpkin Baked Dog Treats
Okay, ready to make some magic? This is the exciting part where everything comes together. This process is straightforward, but paying attention to the dough feel is what separates a good treat from a great one. We’re aiming for sturdy, simple 3-Ingredient Banana Pumpkin Baked Dog Treats that Buster will go nuts for. If you want a great reference as you bake, I always link back to my general guide on homemade baked dog treats!
Preparing the Oven and Pan
First things first, get that oven humming! You need to preheat it to 350°F, which is about 175°C. While it’s warming up, grab that baking sheet you found earlier and lay down a piece of parchment paper. This simple step prevents any sticking, and trust me, you won’t want to scrape baked banana off your pan!
Mixing the 3-Ingredient Banana Pumpkin Baked Dog Treats Dough
Time to bring out the bowl! Start by giving your mashed banana and the pumpkin puree a good mix until they look like one happy, mushy orange substance. Now, this is important: add that whole wheat flour gradually. Don’t dump it all in at once or you’ll end up with a dusty mess! Mix it until you form a nice, stiff dough. Now here’s my little secret: if that dough is still looking way too gooey—and sometimes the riper the banana, the stickier it gets—just stir in an extra tablespoon of flour until it firms up enough to handle.
Rolling, Cutting, and Baking Your 3-Ingredient Banana Pumpkin Baked Dog Treats
Lightly flour your clean countertop, and then use your rolling pin to flatten that dough. I aim for about a 1/4 inch thickness across the whole sheet. Thicker treats take longer to bake, so keep it even! Now use those cookie cutters to punch out all your shapes. Arrange your cute little biscuits on the parchment-lined tray. Pop them into that hot oven for about 20 to 25 minutes. You’ll know they’re done when the edges look firm and are just starting to get a kiss of brown color. Once baked, you have to let these 3-Ingredient Banana Pumpkin Baked Dog Treats cool completely on a rack before serving, or they’ll crumble!
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions for 3-Ingredient Banana Pumpkin Baked Dog Treats
We need to talk seriously about these ingredients because using the wrong thing can definitely mess up the recipe, and more importantly, what we feed our pups! Remember that pumpkin puree? It absolutely cannot be the pumpkin pie filling. Pie filling has cloves and nutmeg, which are big no-nos for dogs, so double-check that can label! I always keep a few cans of plain pumpkin dog cookies backup just for this recipe.
As far to the flour goes, whole wheat is hearty, but if you happen to run out, I’ve experimented a little. Oat flour works out wonderfully and gives a nice texture to the 3-Ingredient Banana Pumpkin Baked Dog Treats. Just make sure whatever you swap in, it’s completely plain. These simple ingredients are what make this recipe such a winner for a wholesome treat!
Tips for Success When Making 3-Ingredient Banana Pumpkin Baked Dog Treats
Getting these treats right is all about those little details before they even hit the oven. Trust me, one extra minute of prep saves hours of worrying later!
First, the banana really must be mushy. If you think it’s ripe enough, leave it out for one more day! We want maximum sweetness and moisture in our 3-Ingredient Banana Pumpkin Baked Dog Treats. Second, rolling the dough too thin means they might burn or just turn into crunchy crackers; aim for that nice 1/4 inch to keep them delightfully chewy.
Finally, if you want extra crispy edges—which Buster loves—just leave them in the oven for an extra three minutes past the 20-minute mark. You can find more banana hacks in my guide on the dog biscuit banana recipe!
Storage and Making Ahead with Your 3-Ingredient Banana Pumpkin Baked Dog Treats
You’ll want to make a big batch because these disappear fast, but don’t worry about them going bad! Once the 3-Ingredient Banana Pumpkin Baked Dog Treats are completely cool, tuck them into any airtight container. At room temperature, they stay fresh for about a week. I always keep some frozen, though! Popping them in the freezer extends their life way longer. If you need a refresher list of other batch-baking ideas, take a peek at my post on 15 easy homemade dog treats. Now you’re set for the week!
Frequently Asked Questions About These Simple Dog Treats
I get so many questions when people start baking these, and that’s awesome because it means you care about what you feed your pup! Here are a few common things readers ask me when they are trying out their first batch.
Are these treats safe for puppies?
That’s a great question because puppies have much more sensitive stomachs than adult dogs! Generally, yes, they are safe for most puppies once they’ve been fully weaned, since the ingredients are all very plain. However, because they are sweet and dense, I would only offer them as a very small training reward for young pups. For a full guide on the littlest ones, you should absolutely check out my post on the 10 best puppy treat recipes to make sure you are meeting their specific needs.
Can I use all-purpose flour instead of whole wheat?
You totally can! If you don’t keep whole wheat flour stocked, all-purpose flour works just fine as a direct substitute. The texture might be slightly lighter, but honestly, your dog probably won’t notice the difference once it’s baked. Just remember, since this recipe is so simple, avoiding any experimental swaps until you get the hang of the dough consistency is best!
Why are my treats turning out really soft, not crunchy?
Oh, I see this happen sometimes, and it’s almost always down to one of two things: either your dough was rolled too thick—remember, we are aiming for 1/4 inch—or you needed to bake them for a few minutes longer. If you want them super crunchy, just let them stay in the oven until the edges are truly dark brown, maybe even 5 minutes past the recommended time. They crisp up nicely once they cool down completely!
Does the pumpkin need to be cooked first?
Nope, never! That’s the beauty of using the puree concentrate. Since you are using plain, canned pumpkin puree—not the pie filling, remember!—it is already processed and ready to go. You just stir it right in after mashing your banana. It’s all about keeping those steps ridiculously easy around here.
Estimated Nutritional Snapshot for 3-Ingredient Banana Pumpkin Baked Dog Treats
I always get asked about the nutritional side of things, which is fair! When you’re making homemade snacks, you want to keep track of what your furry friend is consuming. I ran some rough numbers based on the core ingredients—banana, pumpkin, and whole wheat flour—to give you a general idea of what’s in each bite of these 3-Ingredient Banana Pumpkin Baked Dog Treats.
Now, I have to give you the homeowner’s disclaimer here: this is just an estimate. Depending on how ripe your banana was or if you use a different brand of flour, the final spread can shift a bit. This snapshot is based on yielding about 30 treats, just like the recipe suggests.
For a single treat, here is my best guess on the breakdown:
- Calories: Around 45-55 calories per treat. Not too heavy, which is perfect for daily training rewards!
- Fat: Very low, usually under 1 gram. We aren’t adding any extra oils here!
- Protein: Roughly 1.5 to 2 grams, mostly coming from the whole wheat flour.
- Carbohydrates: This will be the highest number, usually around 8 to 10 grams.
I think this balance is fantastic for a wholesome snack, giving them a bit of energy for their walk without too many empty calories. If you want to dig deeper into why these basic elements are actually great for your dog’s diet overall, check out my thoughts on the dog biscuits health benefits for dogs page. It’s good to know you’re serving up something healthy with your 3-Ingredient Banana Pumpkin Baked Dog Treats!
Share Your Success with These 3-Ingredient Banana Pumpkin Baked Dog Treats
I always love hearing from you guys when you try out one of my easy recipes! Did Buster approve? I sure hope so. Please take a moment to leave a rating for these 3-Ingredient Banana Pumpkin Baked Dog Treats—let other readers know if you gave them five stars!
If you snapped a picture of your cute, freshly baked cutouts, come over to the blog and share it in the comments. Seeing your successes really makes my day!
3-Ingredient Banana Pumpkin Baked Dog Treats
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a mixing bowl, combine the mashed banana and pumpkin puree until they are well mixed.
- Gradually add the whole wheat flour to the wet ingredients. Mix until a stiff dough forms. If the dough is too sticky, add a small amount of extra flour.
- Lightly flour a clean surface. Roll the dough out to about 1/4 inch thickness using a rolling pin.
- Use cookie cutters to cut out desired shapes. Place the cutouts onto the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the edges are firm and lightly browned. Baking time may vary based on thickness.
- Let the treats cool completely on a wire rack before serving them to your dog or storing them.
