Doggone delicious pumpkin gummy dog treats. We love experimenting with interesting treat recipes and playing with fun shapes, designs, layers, and other decorations. However, quick, simple, and wholesome is still a go-to for treat making, even in our treat crazy kitchen. The dogs don’t care about looks, just deliciousness. Like this easy but doggone delicious recipe for pumpkin gelatin gummy dog treats.
Go-To Gummies
We almost always have some sort of gummy dog treats in the fridge. They’re often just simple stock gummies (they’re one of my go-to treats), either plain or boosted with spices and herbs. Every now and then, I’ll make them with pureed fruits or veggies as well. On rare occasions, I get a little crazy and creative. Just for fun!
With healthy homemade gummies, I can feel great about giving a few tasty treats to the boys. Unlike a lot of treats that are just special snacks, I started making gummies to actively add gelatin to our dogs’ diet. Essentially, turning our supplements into treats. Guilt free snacks! Our dogs love them and can I feel good about giving them a treat or two. Gummies are also super simple to make. Pawfect.
We’ve used pumpkin in gummy treats before, including out layered Pumpkin Pie Gelatin Gummy Dog Treats and Pumpkin Spice Latte Gelatin Gummy Dog Treats, but this recipe brings it back to basics for those of you wanting a simple healthy pumpkin-based treat.
Pumpkin for Pups
Pumpkin is delicious and nutritious, both for people and dogs. As with all foods, moderation is important. Pumpkin is a high-fibre food that can help with weight management and healthy digestion, including soothing both diarrhoea and constipation, but too much can throw the system out of balance and have the opposite effect. It’s also very high in certain vitamins. Too much of anything is never a good thing.
Unlike many of the dog-friendly fruits and veggies my foraging beasts nibble in our garden, pumpkin is best shared cooked. I like to roast entire pumpkins and then divide it into small portions and freeze for future use (both for us and for the dogs). It’s easy and efficient to do the prep work all at once and have ready-use pumpkin on hand in the freezer. It’s economical, too! Alternatively, if you’re cooking veggies for a meal, you can also set some aside or save the leftovers for treats, as long as they’re unseasoned.
Pumpkin Gelatin Gummy Dog Treat Recipe
Gelatin Gummy Dog Treats with Stock and Pureed Pumpkin
These gummies were made using food moulds (affiliate link) as individual shaped treats, but they can also be made as set-and-slice treats in a pan. The process is the same for either method, other than slicing of course. We’ve included two recipe methods below, as example adaptations depending on how pumpkin-rich you’d like your treats and if your pumpkin needs a little extra liquid to puree smoothly.
Treat Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup cool unsalted unseasoned stock or water (or alternative dog-friendly liquid)
- 3 tbsp quality powdered gelatin
- 1/2 cup of cooked pureed pumpkin
This recipe can be easily adjusted to use more liquid and less pumpkin if you prefer, just keep the total liquid/puree ratio at 1 cup per 3 tbsp of gelatin. More starter liquid can be easier for blooming. I also like to use a pan instead of a pot, as it’s easier to sprinkle the larger surface area to hydrate and bloom.
Making the Treats:
- Measure the stock into a small pan.
- Sprinkle the surface with gelatin powder.
- Wait and let sit for approximately five minutes or longer for the gelatin powder to bloom / gel.
- Once the gelatin has bloomed, gently stir the mixture over low heat until the gelatin is completely dissolved. Take care not to shortcut with high temperatures or overheat. Heat can reduce the setting strength of gelatin.
- Remove from heat.
- Measure the pumpkin puree into a suitable container for mixing and pouring. Stir to combine.
- Add your prepared gelatin mixture and stir to thoroughly combine.
- Pour (or spoon) into a glass pan (cut and slice) or silicone moulds (shapes).
- Chill to set.
Alternative Method for Preparing Pumpkin Gummy Dog Treats
For a lighter treat (or if your pumpkin is dry and difficult to puree smoothly) you can dilute your cooked pumpkin with water (or stock) when prepping the puree. The following alternative pumpkin gummy dog treat recipe combination is an example:
Treat Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup cool unsalted unseasoned stock or water (or alternative dog-friendly liquid)
- 3 tbsp quality powdered gelatin
- 1/4 cup of cooked pureed pumpkin
- 1/4 cup additional stock or water
Making the Treats:
Gummy Dog Treat Making Tips and Tricks
- See our comprehensive post on making and storing homemade gelatin gummy dog treats for additional information about making gummy treats including helpful gummy making tips, troubleshooting, and safe treat storage.
- These treats should be kept refrigerated and can be frozen for longer storage, although freezing can affect consistency.
Recipe and Ingredient Tips and Tricks
- My dogs like gummies in just about any way I can imagine to create for them, including plain, but a tasty boost of stock never goes astray. Read more about stock in our FAQ post on stock for making homemade dog treats.
- In my experience, 3 tbsp of gelatin powder per cup of liquid makes firm gummies. If you prefer, you can use more gelatin for added supplementation or less for a jigglier jelly treat with lower gelatin content. Individual gelatin powders may be a little stronger / weaker. Find a ratio that works for your preferences and, of course, your dog.
Swapping Pumpkin for Other Dog-Friendly Fruits or Veggies
This gummy making approach works with many different dog-friendly vegetables, fruits, or just about anything you might like to puree for a gummy treat. For many other fruits and vegetables, however, I’d probably keep the quantity ratio at 1/4 cup of puree with 3/4 cup water or stock. Pumpkin is something that I’d happy feed my boys as a cooked cube or small spoonful, but some other fruits or veggies are better shared in smaller portions.
Beware that some fruits have enzymes that affect the gelling process. See our introduction to making gummy treats for dogs for tips or check out our other gummy dog treat recipes for inspiration.
For even quicker treats, you can use a ready-made puree, like our Spiced Apple Gelatin Gummy Dog Treats. Just make sure that all of the ingredients are suitable for dogs. Many ready made purees contain sweeteners, salt, or seasonings that aren’t appropriate for pets.
Hungry for more tasty treats? There are all sorts of homemade dog treat ideas in our blog archives. You can use the category and tag labels to find other recipes that might be of interest or use our internal search tools to find something specific. Remember, treats (bought or homemade) are for spoiling your pup in moderation. We share ideas from treats that we’ve made ourselves for our pets, but different animals have different preferences (likes/dislikes), just like people. Some pets may have special dietary requirements and/or food allergies/intolerances. If you are ever in doubt or have questions about what’s suitable for your pet, have a chat with your trusted vet.
