Pumpkin Dog Biscuits

With just 5 days left until Halloween, pumpkins are everywhere! You may know that pumpkin is packed with powerful nutrients. But did you know that these nutrients are beneficial to your dog, too? The fiber in pumpkins has long been a cure for dogs with gastrointestinal issues. But many of the vitamins and minerals found in this popular squash work the same way in dogs as they do humans. Vitamin C helps boost immune function, potassium promotes bone strength, Beta- and Alpha- carotenes help ward off cancer, and Vitamin A protects eyes from cataracts- a big concern for older dogs.

I love my dogs like family, so I wanted to create a healthy treat for them to enjoy. In light of the upcoming holiday, I decided to make these Pumpkin Biscuits. They're really easy to make, and very healthy too- no fat! Just make sure to let the family know they're for the pets, because they look identical to cookies! If you get a lot of tag-along canine trick-or-treaters, these make wonderful treat bags. Just wrap a few biscuits in cellophane, and tie with orange and black ribbons. The dogs will love them, and the kids will be just as excited. Happy Halloween!



Pumpkin Dog Biscuits
2 1/4 cup whole wheat flour
1/4 cup old fashioned oats (uncooked)
1/4 cup cornmeal
1/2 cup canned pumpkin
2 egg whites
pinch cinnamon

Preheat oven to 275. In a large mixing bowl, combine dry ingredients. In a separate bowl combine pumpkin and egg whites. With a large spoon, mix wet ingredients into dry ingredients. Once the mixture has come just come together, use your hands to incorporate all the ingredients together and form a large ball. The dough should be slightly tacky but not sticky. Knead more flour into the dough if it is too sticky. Roll out the dough with a rolling pin to about 1/8 inch thick. Use cookie cutters (I used pumpkins, and maple leaves) to cut out shapes. Bake the biscuits on a foil or parchment lined cookie sheet for about 1 to 1 1/2 hours, or until hard. Cool the biscuits on a cooling rack.