Thanksgiving does not have to mean slipping your dog seasoned table scraps under the table. With a few dog-friendly ingredients like turkey, pumpkin, sweet potato, apple, and cranberries, you can make festive treats specifically for them.
These eight homemade Thanksgiving dog treats include crunchy biscuits, frozen treats, no-bake bites, a Thanksgiving pupcake, and even a stuffed Kong for keeping your dog busy while the kitchen gets hectic.
Quick Look: Which Thanksgiving Dog Treat Should You Make?
| If You Want… | Start With… |
|---|---|
| A classic Thanksgiving biscuit | Turkey & Sweet Potato Biscuits |
| The easiest crowd-pleaser | Pumpkin & Peanut Butter Biscuits |
| A festive frozen treat | Cranberry & Turkey Frozen Treats |
| No oven required | Sweet Potato & Oat No-Bake Balls |
| A celebration centerpiece | Pumpkin Thanksgiving Pupcakes |
| A colorful fall biscuit | Apple, Pumpkin & Cranberry Biscuits |
| Holiday enrichment | Turkey & Pumpkin Kong Stuffing |
| A simple make-ahead chew | Dehydrated Sweet Potato Chews |
A Quick Note About Treat Portions
Even homemade treats count toward your dog’s daily calories. A useful guideline is to keep treats to around 10% of your dog’s total daily calories, with the remaining calories coming from a complete and balanced diet.
That matters even more on Thanksgiving, when several family members may be tempted to offer your dog “just one more.”
If you’re not sure how much is too much, this guide on how many treats your dog can have each day explains the 10% rule with practical examples for different dog sizes.
8 Thanksgiving Dog Treat Recipes to Make This Holiday
1. Turkey & Sweet Potato Thanksgiving Biscuits
These are probably the most Thanksgiving-looking treats in the entire guide. Plain turkey supplies high-quality protein and essential amino acids, while sweet potato contributes fiber, potassium, beta-carotene, and other carotenoids.
Use turkey, leaf, or pumpkin-shaped cutters to make them feel especially festive.
🥕 Ingredients
Makes approximately 28 to 30 biscuits.
- ½ cup cooked, mashed sweet potato
- ½ cup cooked turkey, very finely minced
- 1 egg
- 2 cups whole wheat flour
- ¼ cup low-sodium chicken or turkey broth with no onion or garlic
- 1 tablespoon dried parsley
👩🍳 Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Mix the mashed sweet potato, turkey, egg, and broth until combined.
- Add the flour and parsley and mix until a firm dough forms.
- Roll the dough to approximately ¼-inch thickness on a lightly floured surface.
- Cut into seasonal shapes.
- Bake for 20 to 24 minutes, until golden and firm.
- Cool completely before serving or storing.
❄️ Storage
Because these biscuits contain fresh turkey, refrigerate them once cooled. Freeze extras for longer storage.
💡 Leftover Turkey Tip
Plain roasted turkey can work perfectly here, but only if it has no skin, bones, gravy, garlic, onion, or heavy seasoning.
If your Thanksgiving turkey is already seasoned, cook a small portion of plain turkey separately for your dog.
For another turkey-based option beyond the holiday, these ground turkey dog food recipes offer easy homemade meal ideas using ground turkey.
2. Pumpkin & Peanut Butter Thanksgiving Biscuits
Pumpkin and peanut butter are a reliable dog-treat combination for good reason.
Plain pumpkin adds fiber, moisture, beta-carotene, potassium, and other micronutrients, while peanut butter adds flavor, fat, protein, and vitamin E.
These are also easy to make in larger batches before Thanksgiving.
🥕 Ingredients
Makes approximately 30 biscuits.
- ½ cup plain canned pumpkin
- ¼ cup xylitol-free peanut butter
- 1 egg
- 2½ cups whole wheat flour or oat flour
- ¼ teaspoon Ceylon cinnamon
- 1 to 2 tablespoons water as needed
👩🍳 Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Mix the pumpkin, peanut butter, and egg until smooth.
- Add the flour and cinnamon.
- Mix into a firm dough, adding a little water only if needed.
- Roll to approximately ¼-inch thickness.
- Cut into fall or Thanksgiving shapes.
- Bake for 22 to 25 minutes, until firm and lightly golden.
- Cool completely.
💡 Nutrition Note
Use plain canned pumpkin, not pumpkin pie filling.
Pumpkin pie filling may contain added sugar and spices that do not belong in homemade dog treats.
Always check the ingredient list on peanut butter too. Xylitol is extremely toxic to dogs.
If your dog loves this classic fall combination, try these homemade pumpkin dog treats and homemade peanut butter dog treats for even more easy recipe ideas.
3. Cranberry & Turkey Frozen Thanksgiving Treats
These frozen bites bring together two very Thanksgiving-friendly ingredients.
Turkey contributes lean protein, while cranberries provide vitamin C, antioxidants, polyphenols, and proanthocyanidins, plant compounds that have also been studied for their relationship with urinary tract health.
The bright cranberry pieces also make these one of the most colorful treats in the guide.
🥕 Ingredients
Makes approximately 12 frozen treats.
- ½ cup cooked plain turkey, finely shredded
- 2 tablespoons fresh or frozen cranberries, lightly crushed
- 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
- ¼ cup low-sodium turkey or chicken broth with no onion or garlic
👩🍳 Instructions
- Stir the yogurt and broth together until smooth.
- Fold in the shredded turkey and crushed cranberries.
- Spoon the mixture into silicone molds or an ice cube tray.
- Freeze for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight.
- Remove from the molds and serve frozen.
❄️ Storage
Keep frozen in an airtight freezer-safe container or bag.
💡 Cranberry Note
Use fresh or frozen unsweetened cranberries.
Skip sweetened dried cranberries and traditional cranberry sauce, which can contain large amounts of added sugar and other ingredients your dog does not need.
If your dog loves chilled treats, these frozen dog treat recipes offer more easy make-ahead combinations for warm days or enrichment.
4. Sweet Potato & Oat No-Bake Balls
If the Thanksgiving oven is already fully occupied, make these instead.
Sweet potato provides fiber, potassium, vitamin B6, vitamin C, and beta-carotene, while oats contribute additional fiber and carbohydrates.
The texture also makes these easy to break into smaller portions.
🥕 Ingredients
Makes approximately 20 balls.
- ½ cup cooked, mashed sweet potato
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 2 tablespoons xylitol-free peanut butter
- ½ teaspoon Ceylon cinnamon
👩🍳 Instructions
- Mix the sweet potato and peanut butter until smooth.
- Stir in the oats and cinnamon.
- Add a little more oats if the mixture is too soft to hold its shape.
- Roll into approximately 1-inch balls.
- Place on a parchment-lined tray.
- Refrigerate for about 1 hour before serving.
❄️ Storage
Refrigerate and use within several days, or freeze extra portions.
💡 Small Dog Tip
For smaller dogs, roll these into much smaller bites rather than serving a full 1-inch ball.
The ingredients may be wholesome, but the calories still count.
5. Pumpkin Thanksgiving Pupcakes
When you want your dog’s Thanksgiving treat to look a little more special, make pupcakes.
Pumpkin keeps the cakes moist while contributing fiber and carotenoids, while eggs add high-quality protein, essential amino acids, choline, selenium, and several B vitamins.
These also work well for a birthday or gotcha day that falls around Thanksgiving.
🥕 Ingredients
Makes approximately 18 mini pupcakes.
- ½ cup plain canned pumpkin
- 2 eggs
- ¼ cup xylitol-free peanut butter
- 1½ cups whole wheat flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ cup water
🐾 Simple Frosting
- 4 oz plain cream cheese, softened
- 1 to 2 tablespoons plain pumpkin
👩🍳 Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Line a mini muffin pan.
- Mix the pumpkin, eggs, peanut butter, and water until smooth.
- Stir in the flour and baking powder until just combined.
- Fill each muffin cup approximately ¾ full.
- Bake for 14 to 16 minutes.
- Allow the pupcakes to cool completely.
- Mix the cream cheese and pumpkin.
- Add a small dollop to each cooled pupcake.
💡 Optional Decoration
Top each pupcake with one small cranberry or blueberry for a festive finish.
A little carob can also add a darker fall color.
Never substitute chocolate for carob.
❄️ Storage
Refrigerate frosted pupcakes. You can freeze unfrosted pupcakes and decorate them after thawing.
For a larger celebration-style option, this pumpkin dog cake recipe is another easy way to turn pumpkin into a special homemade treat.
6. Apple, Pumpkin & Cranberry Thanksgiving Biscuits
This recipe combines three ingredients that immediately feel like fall.
Apple contributes fiber, vitamin C, and polyphenols, pumpkin provides additional fiber and carotenoids, and cranberries add antioxidants and bright red color throughout the biscuit.
🥕 Ingredients
Makes approximately 24 biscuits.
- ¼ cup plain canned pumpkin
- ¼ cup finely diced apple
- 2 tablespoons fresh or frozen cranberries, finely chopped
- 1 egg
- 2 cups whole wheat flour
- 2 to 3 tablespoons water as needed
👩🍳 Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Mix the pumpkin, apple, cranberries, and egg.
- Add the flour.
- Mix into a firm dough, adding water gradually only if needed.
- Roll to approximately ¼-inch thickness.
- Cut into seasonal shapes.
- Bake for 20 to 22 minutes.
- Cool completely before serving.
💡 Apple Safety Note
Remove the core, stem, and seeds before chopping the apple.
Apple flesh and skin can be used in dog treats, but the seeds should not be intentionally fed because they contain amygdalin.
7. Turkey & Pumpkin Thanksgiving Kong Stuffing
This one is less about baking and more about surviving the busiest hour of Thanksgiving.
A stuffed frozen Kong gives your dog something appropriate to focus on while people are cooking, carrying plates, carving turkey, and moving food around the kitchen.
Pumpkin contributes fiber and moisture, turkey adds protein, Greek yogurt provides protein and calcium, and peanut butter makes the mixture especially appealing.
🥕 Ingredients
Makes enough for approximately four medium Kongs, depending on size.
- ½ cup plain canned pumpkin
- ¼ cup cooked plain turkey, finely shredded
- ¼ cup plain Greek yogurt
- 2 tablespoons xylitol-free peanut butter
👩🍳 Instructions
- Mix all ingredients until evenly combined.
- Spoon or pipe the mixture into Kongs.
- Freeze for at least 4 hours or overnight.
- Serve frozen.
Freezing the mixture generally makes the enrichment last much longer than serving it soft.
💡 Holiday Prep Tip
Stuff the Kongs the night before Thanksgiving.
That way they are ready when the kitchen becomes busiest and your dog needs something more interesting than watching a turkey get carved.
For more enrichment combinations you can prep and freeze ahead, try these Kong stuffing ideas for dogs.
8. Dehydrated Sweet Potato Thanksgiving Chews
This is the simplest recipe in the entire guide.
Sweet potatoes naturally provide fiber, potassium, vitamin C, vitamin B6, manganese, and beta-carotene, and you do not need to add salt, sugar, oil, or seasoning.
They also make a surprisingly nice homemade dog treat gift for guests who have dogs at home.
🥕 Ingredients
- 3 to 4 medium sweet potatoes
That is it.
👩🍳 Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 200°F (93°C).
- Wash the sweet potatoes thoroughly.
- Slice into approximately ¼-inch rounds.
- Pat the slices dry.
- Arrange in a single layer on parchment-lined baking sheets.
- Bake for approximately 3 to 3½ hours.
- Flip halfway through.
- Remove when dried and leathery but still slightly pliable.
- Cool completely.
The chews will firm up further as they cool.
💡 Gift Idea
Once completely cooled, place a few chews in small food-safe kraft bags and add a simple handwritten label.
It is an easy Thanksgiving take-home gift for dog-owning guests.
Can Dogs Eat Thanksgiving Leftovers?
Some Thanksgiving ingredients can absolutely be shared with dogs, but the important distinction is between plain ingredients and the finished dishes served at the table.
Plain turkey, pumpkin, sweet potato, carrots, green beans, and small amounts of apple or cranberry can all work well in homemade dog treats.
The problem usually begins once those ingredients are turned into Thanksgiving dishes.
Turkey may be covered in butter, garlic, seasoning, or gravy. Sweet potatoes may contain brown sugar and marshmallows. Green beans may be mixed into casserole. Pumpkin may become pie filling.
If you want to save Thanksgiving ingredients for your dog, the easiest approach is to set aside a small plain portion before seasoning the rest of the food.
This also makes leftover turkey much easier to use in homemade dog food after Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving Foods Dogs Can Eat vs. Foods to Skip
The most useful Thanksgiving rule is simple:
Plain ingredients are very different from finished Thanksgiving dishes.
A food that is perfectly reasonable for dogs on its own can become inappropriate once butter, sugar, salt, onion, garlic, sauces, or seasonings are added.
✅ Dog-Friendly Thanksgiving Foods
Serve these plain and in appropriate portions:
- Turkey meat: Remove the skin and bones. Turkey provides high-quality protein, B vitamins, selenium, phosphorus, and essential amino acids.
- Sweet potato: Rich in fiber, potassium, beta-carotene, and several vitamins.
- Pumpkin: A useful source of fiber, moisture, potassium, and carotenoids.
- Green beans: Low in calories and provide fiber, vitamin C, vitamin K, and folate.
- Carrots: Provide beta-carotene, fiber, potassium, and vitamin K.
- Fresh cranberries: Provide antioxidants and plant polyphenols.
- Apple: Provides fiber, vitamin C, and polyphenols. Remove the core and seeds first.
For a broader look beyond holiday ingredients, this guide to human foods dogs can eat covers more everyday fruits, vegetables, proteins, and pantry foods.
🚫 Thanksgiving Foods to Skip
- Stuffing: Frequently contains onion, garlic, butter, salt, and other seasonings.
- Gravy: Often high in fat and sodium and may contain onion or garlic.
- Loaded mashed potatoes: Butter, cream, salt, cheese, or garlic can make them unsuitable.
- Turkey skin: Very fatty and frequently heavily seasoned.
- Cooked turkey bones: Cooked bones can splinter and cause choking or serious digestive injuries.
- Cranberry sauce: Usually contains a large amount of added sugar and may contain other unsuitable ingredients.
- Pecan pie: Extremely rich in fat and sugar and may contain ingredients dogs should not eat.
- Chocolate desserts: Chocolate is toxic to dogs.
- Nutmeg-heavy foods: Nutmeg contains myristicin and can be toxic in sufficiently large amounts.
- Onion and garlic: Both can damage canine red blood cells and should not be intentionally fed.
- Alcohol: Toxic to dogs even in relatively small amounts.
🕒 Thanksgiving Dog Treat Prep Timeline
You do not need to make all eight recipes on Thanksgiving morning.
A little planning makes this much easier.
3 to 7 Days Before Thanksgiving
Make:
- Pumpkin & Peanut Butter Biscuits
- Dehydrated Sweet Potato Chews
Cool everything completely before storing.
1 to 2 Days Before
Prepare:
- Sweet Potato & Oat No-Bake Balls
- Apple, Pumpkin & Cranberry Biscuits
- Cranberry & Turkey Frozen Treats
- Turkey & Pumpkin Kongs
Freeze the Kongs and frozen treats overnight.
Thanksgiving Morning
Make:
- Pumpkin Pupcakes
- Turkey & Sweet Potato Biscuits
If you want to make the turkey biscuits earlier, cook a small amount of plain turkey specifically for your dog’s treats rather than waiting for leftovers.
Make-Ahead and Storage Tips
Homemade dog treats do not contain the preservatives used in many commercial treats, so storage matters.
A few simple rules help:
- Let baked treats cool completely before storing them.
- Refrigerate treats that contain meat, yogurt, cream cheese, or significant moisture.
- Freeze extra biscuits or pupcakes if you will not use them soon.
- Keep frozen treats and stuffed Kongs frozen until serving.
- Label freezer containers with the recipe name and date.
- If a homemade biscuit remains noticeably soft or moist inside, refrigerate it rather than leaving it on the counter.
When in doubt, shorter storage is safer than trying to stretch the shelf life of a homemade batch.
For more specific fridge, freezer, and room-temperature guidance by treat type, see the full homemade dog treat storage guide.
Final Thoughts
Thanksgiving dog treats do not need to be complicated.
Pick one or two recipes that fit your schedule, keep the ingredients plain and dog-friendly, and remember that treats still count toward your dog’s daily calories.
Turkey, pumpkin, sweet potato, apple, and cranberries can all bring real nutritional value to a homemade treat when they are prepared appropriately.
Your dog gets something festive made specifically for them, and you do not have to spend Thanksgiving wondering which seasoned leftovers are safe to share.
That sounds like a pretty good Thanksgiving for everyone.
