Banana Pumpkin Dog Treats

Most of the writers at Once a Month Meals love the once a month cooking method to provide healthy, balanced meals to their families.  As the current Diet menu writer, I do not fit the typical image you might picture for a Once a Month Meals writer — I have no children.  Once a Month Meals isn’t just for moms!  I keep myself busy with a full-time career, maintaining a healthy, active lifestyle and spending as much time as possible volunteering to help rescue and shelter animals.  The once a month cooking method allows me to keep healthy meals in the freezer to have on hand when time is short. Our household currently includes three rescue dogs.  They each came with their own laundry list of various behavioral issues, multiple past owners or mystery illnesses.  Taking just a little extra time and patience, they all became wonderful companions and settled easily into our household.  High energy dogs are a particular favorite of mine and I love unearthing the true personality of a dog by simply providing them with some much needed regular, vigorous exercise.  Currently, I accomplish this by coordinating a volunteer program to pair runners with shelter dogs, Miles and Mutts. Although my only children are of the furry variety that doesn’t mean I have to leave them out of providing balanced treats.  These dog treats combine some of their favorite flavors — peanut butter, pumpkin and banana.  For me, one of the best parts of this recipe is it’s very simple and easy to mix together, throw on a pan and bake.  There’s no rolling of dough or cutting shapes.  Although I love baking treats like this variety for special occasions, such as this Once A Month Meals Peanut Butter Dog Treats recipe, these treats are easy enough to make a batch any day.

Banana Pumpkin Dog Treats

Author/Source:

Abbi @ onceamonthmeals.com

Ingredients:

4 cups Rolled Oats

2 cups Whole Wheat Flour

4 medium Bananas, mashed

2 Eggs

0.25 cup Vegetable Oil

0.25 cup Molasses

0.25 cup Natural Peanut Butter

15 ounces canned Pure Pumpkin

 

Directions:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.  Spray an 11 x 15″ rimmed baking sheet with non-stick cooking spray.  In a large bowl, combine the rolled oats and whole wheat flour.  In a separate medium sized bowl, mash the bananas, mix in the eggs, oil, molasses, pumpkin and banana.  When combined, add to dry ingredients and mix thoroughly.  Spread onto the prepared baking sheet, pressing down to pack together.   Bake for 40-45 minutes until edges begin to brown and center is firm but spongy.  Remove from the oven, cut into desired size squares.  

Freezing Directions:

Freeze in a single layers in containers or gallon size freezer bags.

Servings: about 40 2″ square treats.