How to Make Pumpkin Puree for Your Dog

I *love* cooking with pumpkin puree–and love that it’s so easy to make homemade pumpkin puree for dogs. Besides the fact that it’s loaded with nutrients, it also creates tasty and moist treats and entrees for our dogs.

Amazingly, pumpkin can also be helpful for both constipation and diarrhea, thanks to its fiber. It’s also another excellent food for making your dog feel full, even with diminished meal proportions, if you are trying to help your dog lose weight.

Giving Pumpkin Puree to Your Dog

Are you interested in giving your dog pumpkin puree for diarrhea and other health benefits? Fed along with a bland diet (like chicken and rice), pumpkin can help soothe your dog’s stomach.

Generally 1-2 tablespoons, depending on the size of your dog, should be fed to your dog. Some dogs like to lick it right off the spoon; other dogs prefer it be mixed in their meal.

Can I Just Use Canned Pumpkin?

You can purchase canned pumpkin puree for your dog–but never buy pie filling which includes sugar and spices. You’ll find both in the baking aisle at your grocery store so be careful to get the one that’s just plain pumpkin.

Which Pumpkin Should You Buy?

The best pumpkins to purchase for pureeing are the smaller pumpkins intended for eating rather than carving. (Not the very small decorative pumpkins.)

What You’ll Need

For this you’ll need:

• 1 large, ripe pumpkin
• 1 baking sheet
• parchment paper
• large knife
• spoon for scooping seeds

Before you start, you’ll need to cut the top off the pumpkin. This is the only difficult part of pureeing pumpkin is in this part of the process: cutting off the top of the pumpkin. Cutting into the pumpkin takes some muscle!

How to Make Pumpkin Puree

1. Wash the pumpkin.
2. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
3. Divide the pumpkin into quarters. You’ll need about 1/4 of a pumpkin for this recipe; save the remainder for more recipes!
4. Cut the quarter into smaller pieces.
5. Scoop out the seeds. Save the seeds to wash then roast!
6. Place pumpkin slices on baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
7. Bake about 45 minutes (the pumpkin flesh should be fork tender)
8. Removed from the oven to cool before removing the baked pumpkin skin (and discarding it).
9. After removing the outer skin, cut the baked pumpkin into small chunks and toss in the blender, gradually adding water to puree the pumpkin to the consistency of baby food.
10. Freeze puree into one-cup containers or in ice cube trays.

Cooking with Puree

Pumpkin puree also makes a great ingredient in dog treats any time. On DogTipper you’ll find numerous recipes that include pumpkin such as Pumpkin Doggie Ice Cream, Peanut Butter & Pumpkin Dog Treats and Bowser’s Birthday Cake. Here are more easy (and yummy) recipes for using that pumpkin puree to create healthy homemade treats.

Pumpkin Mini Muffins

• 1 2/3 cups rice flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon cinnamon
• 2 tablespoons molasses
• 1 ¾ cups pumpkin puree
• 1/2 cup canola oil
• 2 eggs, lightly beaten
• 1/3 cup water

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Spray three mini-muffin tins or line with parchment papers.

In a large bowl, mix rice flour, baking soda, and molasses then add pumpkin puree, oil, and eggs. As needed, add water until mixture is consistency of mashed potatoes.

Using a spoon, drop spoonfuls of mixture into muffin cups.

Bake for 20 minutes until toothpick comes out clean.

Cool completely before serving or refrigerating.

Pumpkin Gingersnaps

• 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
• ½ stick (4 tablespoons) butter, warmed to room temperature
• 1 egg, room temperature
• 4 teaspoons finely grated fresh ginger
• ½ cup pumpkin puree

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

In a medium bowl, combine flour and baking soda then add butter, egg, ginger, and pumpkin. Mix thoroughly.

Turn out dough on a floured surface and knead until completely combined. Roll out dough (thinner for a crisp consistency, thicker for chewier biscuits) and cut with cookie cutters.

Place cookies on a parchment-lined cookie sheet on the middle rack of the oven; bake about 15 minutes.

Remove from oven and cool on a wire rack before serving or refrigerating.

Paleo Liver Dog Treats

• 1 pound chicken liver
• 2 cups pumpkin puree
• 3 eggs
• 3 cups coconut flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 4 tablespoons butter

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease mini muffin tins or line with cupcake liners.

Puree chicken livers in blender. Once pureed, add eggs, butter, and pumpkin. In a large bowl, mix puree with flours and baking powder.

Partially fill muffin tins with mixture and bake  for 25 minutes. Remove from heat and cool completely before serving or refrigerating.

Poochie Pumpkin Pupcakes

• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon molasses
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup pumpkin puree
• ½ stick (4 tablespoons) butter, melted

Adjust oven rack to middle position. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Lightly grease muffin tin or line with cupcake baking cups.

In a medium bowl, combine all ingredients; mix thoroughly. Pour batter into cupcake holders and bake for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Remove from oven and transfer cupcakes to cool on a wire cooling rack. Cool before frosting or serving.

Looking for more recipes? Download one of our free dog treat cookbooks!

Cooks: Don’t miss our My Dog Says I’m a Great Cook™ cookbook with over 100 dog treat recipes from the publishers, readers and fans of DogTipper! This paperback book is available in our PawZaar gift store!