10 Easy Fall Dog Treats with Pumpkin, Apple & Sweet Potato

There is something about fall that makes homemade dog treats feel even more fun to bake.

Pumpkin is everywhere, apples are crisp and affordable, and sweet potatoes are practically begging to be turned into golden dog biscuits.

Add a warm oven and a dog parked directly beneath the kitchen counter, and you have a pretty accurate picture of autumn in a dog-friendly home.

These easy fall dog treats include crunchy biscuits, soft no-bake bites, frozen treats, pupcakes, dehydrated chews, and a seasonal Kong filling.

Whether you are baking for an ordinary Sunday, a fall birthday, Halloween, or Thanksgiving, there is something here for every kind of pup.

Before You Make These Fall Dog Treats

These recipes are intended as occasional treats, not as replacements for a complete and balanced dog food.

Keep the following safety notes in mind:

• Use plain pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie filling.
• Remove the apple core, stem, and seeds before using apples.
• Choose peanut butter that contains no xylitol or birch sugar.
• Use only plain, unsweetened yogurt, applesauce, and cream cheese.
• Cinnamon is optional. Use only a very small amount and never substitute pumpkin pie spice, which may contain ingredients such as nutmeg.
• Introduce new ingredients gradually, especially if your dog has a sensitive stomach.
• Ask your veterinarian before offering homemade treats to a dog with allergies, pancreatitis, diabetes, kidney disease, or another medical condition.

Xylitol can cause a rapid and potentially life-threatening drop in a dog’s blood sugar, so checking every peanut butter label is essential.

Treats should also remain a small part of your dog’s overall diet – generally no more than about 10% of daily calories.

10 Fall Dog Treat Recipes

1. Classic Pumpkin & Peanut Butter Biscuits

These pumpkin and peanut butter biscuits are the classic fall treat for a reason. They bake into crisp, golden cookies that are easy to portion, freeze, and hand out throughout the season.

Use pumpkin-, leaf-, or acorn-shaped cookie cutters for an extra autumn touch.

FYI, these freeze exceptionally well, making them the most practical recipe on the list for batch baking.

🥣 Ingredients (makes ~28–30 biscuits):

• ½ cup plain canned pumpkin (not pie filling)
• ¼ cup xylitol-free peanut butter
• 2 eggs
• 2½ cups whole wheat flour (or oat flour)
• ¼ teaspoon cinnamon (Ceylon)
• 1–3 tablespoons water, if needed

👩‍🍳 Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment.
2. Mix pumpkin, peanut butter, and eggs together until smooth.
3. Add flour and cinnamon. Mix into a firm dough, add water one tablespoon at a time if too dry.
4. Roll the dough to approximately ¼-inch thickness on a lightly floured surface.
5. Cut the dough into small shapes – leaf, pumpkin, and acorn cutters are appropriately seasonal.
6. And arrange them on the prepared baking sheet.
7. Bake for 20–25 minutes, or until the biscuits feel firm and the edges are lightly golden.
8. Cool completely on a wire rack.

🧊 Storage: Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days, refrigerate for up to 10 days, or freeze for up to 3 months.

🐾 Dog-Safe Tip:

• Always check peanut butter labels for xylitol, it’s toxic to dogs and appears in some brands.
• Ceylon cinnamon in small amounts is safe; cassia cinnamon (the common grocery store variety) contains higher coumarin levels and is better avoided for regular recipes.

2. Apple & Cinnamon Baked Dog Biscuits

Fresh apple gives these biscuits natural sweetness and a slightly softer texture than traditional crunchy dog cookies.

They also make the kitchen smell exactly like fall, which means your dog will probably begin supervising the recipe long before the treats reach the oven.

🥣 Ingredients (makes ~24 biscuits):

• 1 medium apple, peeled, cored, and finely grated (no seeds)
• 1 egg
• 2 tablespoons unsweetened applesauce
• 2 cups whole wheat flour
• ¼ teaspoon Ceylon cinnamon
• 2–3 tablespoons water as needed

👩‍🍳 Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet.
2. Mix grated apple, egg, and applesauce together.
3. Add flour and cinnamon. Mix into a firm dough, adding water gradually if too dry.
4. Roll out to ¼ inch thickness and cut into small shapes.
5. Bake for 18–22 minutes until golden and firm.
6. Cool completely before serving.

🧊 Storage:

Refrigerate these apple dog treats for up to 7 days or freeze them for up to 3 months. Because fresh apple adds moisture, refrigeration is safer than extended room-temperature storage.

🐾 Dog-Safe Tip:

• Always remove apple seeds before grating — they contain amygdalin which metabolizes to cyanide.
• The apple skin is safe and nutritious; peel only if preferred for texture reasons.

3. Sweet Potato & Oat Harvest Biscuits

Sweet potato bakes into the most beautifully golden, naturally vibrant biscuit of any fall ingredient, and the color alone makes these worth making for visual appeal.

The oats give the biscuits a hearty, rustic texture. They also make each treat feel a little more substantial than a basic flour biscuit.

These treats are especially pretty when cut into small leaves or pumpkins.

🥣 Ingredients (makes ~24–26 biscuits):

• ½ cup cooked, mashed sweet potato
• 1 cup rolled oats
• 1 cup oat flour
• 1 egg
• 1 tablespoon coconut oil
• 2–3 tablespoons water as needed

👩‍🍳 Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet.
2. Mix mashed sweet potato, egg, and coconut oil together.
3. Add rolled oats and oat flour. Mix into a firm, slightly sticky dough.
4. Add water one tablespoon at a time if the dough feels too dry to roll.
5. Allow the dough to rest for 5 minutes so the oats can absorb some of the moisture.
6. Roll out to ¼ inch thickness and cut into shapes. And transfer them to the baking sheet.
7. Bake for 22–25 minutes until firm and golden.
8. Cool completely. The biscuits will continue to firm as they cool.ey firm up further as they cool.

🧊 Storage: Store at room temperature for up to 3 days, refrigerate for up to 7 days, or freeze for up to 3 months.

💡 Nutrition note: Sweet potato provides beta-carotene, vitamin C, potassium, and fiber. Oats add B vitamins and manganese. This is the most nutritionally dense biscuit on the list — and the most vibrant looking. 🙂

4. Pumpkin & Yogurt Frozen Fall Pops

Frozen treats are not only for summer. Many dogs happily enjoy them year-round, and these pumpkin bites are one of the easiest fall recipes to prepare. For more ideas like this, explore our favorite frozen dog treat recipes.

Small silicone pumpkin or paw-print molds make them especially cute for Halloween and Thanksgiving.

🥣 Ingredients (makes ~12 pops):

• ½ cup plain canned pumpkin
• 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
• 1 tablespoon honey (omit for puppies under 1 year)
• ¼ teaspoon Ceylon cinnamon

👩‍🍳 Instructions:

1. Blend pumpkin, yogurt, honey, and cinnamon until smooth.
2. Taste the mixture — it should be pleasantly pumpkin-forward without being overpowering.
3. Pour into silicone molds or an ice cube tray.
4. Freeze for a minimum of 4 hours or overnight.
5. Pop out and serve immediately or store in a freezer-safe bag.

🧊 Storage: Transfer the frozen bites to a freezer-safe container and store them for up to 2 months.

🐾 Dog-Safe Tip: Some dogs do not tolerate dairy well. Start with a small piece or replace the yogurt with a little water to create a simpler frozen pumpkin treat.

💡 Nutrition note:

• Freezing does not remove the fiber naturally found in pumpkin, so these pops still make a simple, fiber-rich treat for your dog.
• Greek yogurt adds probiotic support alongside a protein boost.

5. Apple & Sweet Potato No-Bake Balls

No oven, no fuss. These soft bites come together in about 10 minutes and firm up nicely in the refrigerator. They also work well as small training rewards. For more quick options, try these easy no-bake dog treats.

The apple and sweet potato combination is genuinely one of the best fall flavor pairings on this list. IMO these are the most underrated recipe in the entire guide.

🥣 Ingredients (makes ~20 balls):

• ¼ cup cooked, mashed sweet potato
• ¼ cup finely grated apple (peeled, cored, no seeds)
• 1 cup rolled oats
• 2 tablespoons xylitol-free peanut butter
• ½ teaspoon Ceylon cinnamon

👩‍🍳 Instructions:

1. Combine mashed sweet potato, grated apple, and peanut butter in a bowl. Mix well.
2. Add rolled oats and cinnamon. Mix until a firm, rollable dough forms.
3. If too wet, add oats one tablespoon at a time until the mixture holds its shape.
4. Roll into small balls approximately 1 inch in diameter.
5. Place on a parchment-lined tray and refrigerate for 1 hour to firm up.

🧊 Storage: Refrigerator for up to 5 days. Freeze for up to 2 months.

💡 Training note: Make the bites appropriately sized for your dog. For training, break them into very small pieces so the calories do not add up too quickly.

6. Pumpkin Pupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

These mini pumpkin pupcakes are made for fall birthdays, gotcha days, Halloween parties, and every other occasion that deserves a tiny dog-friendly cake.

Planning something extra special for your pup? Browse more dog birthday cake ideas for easy recipes and decorating inspiration.

The frosting is optional, but a thin layer makes them look celebration-ready with almost no extra work.

🥣 Ingredients (makes ~18 mini pupcakes):

• ½ cup plain pumpkin puree
• 2 large eggs
• ¼ cup xylitol-free peanut butter
• 1½ cups whole wheat flour or oat flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ¼ cup water

🧁 Optional Frosting

• 2 ounces plain cream cheese, softened
• 2 tablespoons plain unsweetened Greek yogurt

👩‍🍳 Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and lightly grease or line a mini muffin pan.
2. Combine the pumpkin, eggs, peanut butter, and water.
3. Add the flour and baking powder.
4. Stir only until the ingredients are combined.
5. Spoon the batter into the mini muffin cups, filling each about three-quarters full.
6. Bake for 14–16 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
7. Transfer the pupcakes to a wire rack and allow them to cool completely.
8. For the frosting, mix the cream cheese and yogurt until smooth.
9. Spread a very thin layer over each cooled pupcake.

🧊 Storage:

• Refrigerate unfrosted pupcakes for up to 5 days or freeze them for up to 2 months.
• Refrigerate frosted pupcakes and use them within 3 days.

🐾 Decoration idea: Top each pupcake with one blueberry, a tiny apple slice, or a small homemade biscuit. Remove any oversized decoration before serving to a small dog.

7. Dehydrated Sweet Potato Chews

These one-ingredient sweet potato chews require very little active preparation. Slice the sweet potatoes, place them in the oven, and let low heat do the rest.

The finished texture depends on thickness and baking time. Thinner slices become firmer, while thicker slices stay more leathery and chewy.

🥣 Ingredients:

• 2–3 medium sweet potatoes
• No added salt, oil, or seasoning

👩‍🍳 Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 200°F (93°C).
2. Wash and dry the sweet potatoes.
3. Slice sweet potatoes into rounds approximately ¼ inch thick — thicker than zucchini chips for a chewier result.
4. Arrange the slices in a single layer on parchment-lined baking sheets.
5. Bake for 3–3.5 hours, flipping halfway through, until leathery and dried but still slightly pliable.
6. Cool completely on a wire rack.

🧊 Storage: For the safest storage, refrigerate the cooled chews in an airtight container and use them within 2 weeks. Freeze extras for up to 2 months.

🐾 Dog-Safe Tip:

Dehydrated sweet potato chews are more calorie-dense than fresh sweet potato, so serve them in moderation.

Choose a piece that cannot be swallowed whole, adjust the portion to your dog’s size and overall diet, and always supervise while chewing, especially if your dog tends to gulp treats.

8. Apple & Carrot Harvest Pupcakes

These apple and carrot pupcakes are a peanut-free alternative to the pumpkin version.

They are soft, lightly sweet from the fruit, and easy to serve as miniature celebration cakes or occasional fall snacks.

🥣 Ingredients (makes ~18 mini pupcakes):

• 1 small apple, peeled, cored, and grated (no seeds)
• 1 cup grated carrot
• 1½ cups whole wheat flour
• 2 eggs
• ¼ cup unsweetened applesauce
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon Ceylon cinnamon

👩‍🍳 Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a mini muffin tin.
2. Mix eggs, applesauce, and olive oil together.
3. Stir in grated apple and carrot.
4. Add flour, baking powder, and cinnamon. Mix until just combined.
5. Spoon into the muffin tin, filling each cup about ¾ full.
6. Bake for 13–15 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.
7. Cool completely before serving or frosting.

🧊 Storage: Refrigerate for up to 5 days or freeze unfrosted pupcakes for up to 2 months.

💡 Nutrition note: Apple and carrot together cover vitamins A, C, and K alongside fiber and potassium. One of the most nutritionally complete treat recipes on this list, and one of the easiest to make peanut-free.

🐾 Dog-Safe Tip: These pupcakes are still treats, even though they contain fruit and vegetables. Serve a small portion that fits your dog’s size and regular diet.

9. Pumpkin, Apple & Cranberry Thanksgiving Treats

A Thanksgiving-inspired biscuit that brings together three classic fall ingredients. Pumpkin adds moisture, apple brings natural sweetness, and chopped cranberries give each treat a tart flavor and colorful finish.

FYI, these are also some of the most visually striking biscuits on the list with the red cranberry pieces showing through the golden dough.

🥣 Ingredients (makes ~24 biscuits):

• ¼ cup plain canned pumpkin
• ¼ cup finely diced apple (peeled, cored, no seeds)
• 2 tablespoons fresh or frozen cranberries, chopped (not dried, not sweetened)
• 1 egg
• 2 cups whole wheat flour
• 2–3 tablespoons water as needed

👩‍🍳 Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet.
2. Mix pumpkin, diced apple, chopped cranberries, and egg together.
3. Add flour and mix into a firm dough, adding water if too dry.
4. Roll the dough to approximately ¼-inch thickness.
5. Cut it into small Thanksgiving or fall shapes.
6. Bake for 20–22 minutes until golden and firm.
7. Cool completely before serving.

🧊 Storage: Refrigerator for up to 1 week (fresh cranberries reduce shelf life vs. standard biscuits). Freeze for up to 3 months.

🐾 Dog-Safe Tip: Use only plain, unsweetened cranberries. Avoid cranberry sauces and dried cranberry mixes, which commonly contain added sugar and may include other unsuitable ingredients.

10. Sweet Potato & Pumpkin Kong Stuffing

Not a biscuit. Not exactly a treat. This seasonal Kong stuffing makes enrichment activities feel like fall. Just mix, stuff, freeze, and serve.

Perfect for busy days, high-anxiety dogs, or any situation where a dog needs to be occupied for 20–30 minutes.

🥣 Ingredients (makes stuffing for ~4 Kongs):

• ½ cup plain canned pumpkin
• ½ cup cooked, mashed sweet potato
• ¼ cup plain Greek yogurt
• 2 tablespoons xylitol-free peanut butter

👩‍🍳 Instructions:

1. Mix pumpkin, sweet potato, yogurt, and peanut butter together until smooth.
2. Use a small spoon or piping bag to stuff Kongs with the mixture.
3. Freeze stuffed Kongs for a minimum of 4 hours or overnight.
4. Serve under supervision.

🧊 Storage: Stuffed Kongs freeze for up to 2 months. Store unstuffed mixture in the fridge for up to 4 days.

🐾 Enrichment Tip: For dogs new to frozen enrichment toys, begin with a loosely packed or partially frozen filling. A fully packed frozen toy may be frustrating for a beginner.

Quick Reference: Which Fall Dog Treat Should You Make?

Recipe	Type	Prep Time	Cook Time	Best For
Pumpkin & PB Biscuits	Baked	15 min	22 min	Everyday fall treat
Apple & Cinnamon Biscuits	Baked	12 min	20 min	Apple lovers, all dogs
Sweet Potato & Oat Biscuits	Baked	12 min	24 min	Nutritious, vibrant color
Pumpkin & Yogurt Frozen Pops	Frozen	5 min	4+ hrs freeze	Active dogs, warm days
Apple & Sweet Potato Balls	No-bake	10 min	1 hr chill	Training, quick prep
Pumpkin Pupcakes	Baked	15 min	15 min	Birthdays, celebrations
Sweet Potato Dehydrated Chews	Dehydrated	10 min	3–3.5 hrs	Chewers, long-lasting
Apple & Carrot Pupcakes	Baked	15 min	14 min	Peanut-free option
Thanksgiving Three-Flavor Biscuits	Baked	15 min	21 min	Thanksgiving, holidays
Sweet Potato & Pumpkin Kong Stuffing	No-cook	5 min	4+ hrs freeze	Enrichment, busy days

Why Fall Ingredients Work So Well for Dogs

Pumpkin, apple, and sweet potato are popular in homemade fall dog treats because they add moisture, texture, color, and naturally appealing flavor without requiring refined sugar.

🎃 Pumpkin is the most versatile ingredient in dog treat baking.

Its soluble fiber regulates digestion in both directions, it adds natural moisture to baked goods without added fat, and its vitamin A, C, and E content makes it one of the most micronutrient-dense additions to any treat recipe.

The one rule: plain canned pumpkin only, never pie filling. Pumpkin pie filling may contain added sugar, spices, or sweeteners that are not suitable for dogs.

Want to learn more about serving pumpkin safely? Read our complete guide on whether dogs can eat pumpkin for feeding tips, important safety notes, and 10 healthy pumpkin recipes your dog will love.

🍎 Apple delivers fiber, vitamin C, quercetin (a natural anti-inflammatory), and natural sweetness without refined sugar. The crunchy texture also provides mild dental benefits.

Always remove seeds and core — both are hazards. Everything else, including the skin, is safe and nutritious.

🍠 Sweet potato provides beta-carotene, potassium, vitamin B6, and sustained energy from complex carbohydrates.

The natural sweetness makes treats genuinely palatable without added sugar, and the orange color makes every baked treat visually striking. It works especially well in baked biscuits, no-bake bites, pupcakes, and dehydrated chews.

For dogs with yeast issues, sweet potato is higher glycemic than other vegetables but for healthy dogs, it’s one of the best treat ingredients available.

Always use plain cooked sweet potato without butter, salt, sugar, syrup, or casserole toppings.

Looking for more ways to use it? Explore these homemade sweet potato dog treats for 15 baked and dehydrated recipes your dog will love.

How To Store Homemade Fall Dog Treats?

Homemade treats do not contain the preservatives commonly used in commercial dog biscuits, so conservative storage is the safest approach.

Our complete guide to storing homemade dog food and treats explains how to refrigerate, freeze, label, and safely use homemade batches.

Crunchy Baked Biscuits

• Cool completely before storing.
• Keep dry biscuits at room temperature for approximately 3–5 days.
• Refrigerate longer-lasting batches.
• Freeze extras for up to 2–3 months.

Soft, Moist, or Fruit-Based Treats

Treats containing fresh apple, pumpkin, sweet potato, yogurt, cream cheese, or other moist ingredients should generally be refrigerated.

Use most soft treats within 3–7 days or freeze them in small portions.

Frozen Treats

Store frozen bites in a sealed freezer-safe container. Remove only the amount you intend to serve and avoid repeatedly thawing and refreezing the batch.

Signs a Treat Should Be Discarded

Throw homemade treats away if you notice:

• Mold
• A sour or unusual smell
• Unexpected softness or moisture
• Slimy or sticky surfaces
• Major changes in color

Soft, high-moisture treats are especially vulnerable to spoilage when stored incorrectly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Thoughts

The best fall dog treats do not need complicated decorations, expensive ingredients, or an entire afternoon in the kitchen.

Start with the pumpkin peanut butter biscuits if you want a dependable crunchy treat. Make the apple and sweet potato bites when you need something quick, or save the pupcakes and cranberry biscuits for a birthday or Thanksgiving celebration.

Whichever recipe you choose, keep the portions small, store each batch carefully, and freeze the extras for later. You can also browse more homemade dog treat recipes for year-round baking ideas.

Autumn is the best season to be a dog, and a dog parent who bakes. Pick a recipe, preheat the oven, and make the most of it while the pumpkins are still on the shelves. 🙂