Halloween Dog Treats: Spooky and No Bake

Written by

Shell & KatyUpdated 8 September 2026 · 6 Min Read

Shell & Katy are two style-savvy dog mums celebrating the best in pet-friendly living. A pet photographer and dog lifestyle writer, together they share trending pet products, recipes, inspiration and expert tips with discerning dog lovers around the world.

These homemade Halloween dog treats are sweet, nutritious, and frightfully delicious! You may already have your dog's Halloween costume sorted, but don't forget the spooky snacks. While you're chowing down on candy, your pup can enjoy their very own dog-friendly treat that's so yum, it's scary.

Like many of our no-bake dog treat recipes, these pumpkin bites are simple to make. Minimal fuss, maximum fun. If only everything in life was that easy, huh?

These no bake Halloween dog treats take about 20 minutes of hands-on work plus 30 minutes chilling, and the mixture makes roughly 20 to 24 small balls depending on how generously you roll them. There is no oven involved at any stage. Everything is blended, mixed, chilled and rolled, then finished with free printable toppers you can download and cut out while the dates soften.

Sweet Without a Speck of Sugar

First things first: by sweet we mean naturally sweet. No yucky additives or preservatives here! We're talking pumpkin, carrot, dates and cinnamon. All nutritious, sweetly-flavored ingredients that each offer health benefits to your pooch. Like all of our sugar free dog treat recipes, every ingredient below serves a purpose for your pup's health.

Pumpkin Dog Treat Ingredients

• 6 Medjool dates
• 3/4 cup of pumpkin puree (canned or freshly pureed)
• 1 1/2 cup almond meal
• 2 x carrots
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp turmeric (plus extra for sprinkles)

One important note on the pumpkin. If you are using canned, check the label says pumpkin and nothing else. Pumpkin pie filling is not the same product. It is sweetened and spiced, and the spice blend usually contains nutmeg, which is not safe for dogs. Plain puree only.

Optional Spooky Toppings

• Crushed dehydrated liver treats for black sprinkles
• Turmeric powder

Things You'll Need

• Free Halloween printable toppers, download below
• A4 sheet of white card
• Toothpicks
• Scissors
• Tape

What Each Ingredient Does for Your Dog

These are all foods that earn their place in the bowl, not just in the recipe.

Pumpkin

A superfood for senior dogs especially. Contains essential micronutrients and fiber, A, C, and E vitamins, plus minerals such as iron and potassium, and it is often the first thing a vet suggests for a dog with an unsettled stomach.

Carrots

Another dog superfood. Rich in vitamin A, potassium and soluble fiber, and low enough in calories that they are hard to overdo.

Medjool Dates

Contain vitamins A, C, and B vitamins. Also a good source of fiber, iron, calcium, protein, magnesium and potassium. They are high in natural sugar, which is exactly why six dates go a long way here and why these are a treat rather than an everyday snack.

Cinnamon and Turmeric

Both are safe for dogs in the small quantities used here, and both bring warmth and color to the mix. Turmeric is widely used for its antioxidant properties. If you want the fuller picture on which kitchen spices are worth using and which to avoid entirely, our guide to herbs and spices for dogs covers the lot.

Free Printable Halloween Toppers

Ok, but what makes them 'spooky'?

That's where our free printable Halloween treat toppers come in! We've created a spook-tacular set you can print out and use to decorate your no bake pumpkin dog treats. Mix them or match them, or even re-use them for your kids, neighbors or trick-or-treaters.

Print onto white card rather than paper so the toppers stand up properly once they are on a toothpick, and cut them out while the dates are softening so everything is ready at the same time.

How to Make No Bake Pumpkin Dog Treats

1. If you're pureeing your own pumpkin, peel and dice pumpkin into cubes and steam over a saucepan of boiling water for 30-40 minutes. Allow to cool. Puree in blender or food processor (or mash yourself). Chill in refrigerator.
2. Soften dates for 20 minutes in warm water.
3. While the dates are softening and pumpkin puree is cooling, print your A4 Halloween printable toppers. Cut out each design, then attach a toothpick or small skewer to the back of the image, set aside.
4. Dry dates with paper towel, then add to the food processor with pumpkin puree and blend.
5. Grate the carrots, then add to the dates and pumpkin mix, and blend until smooth.
6. Pour blended carrot, date and pumpkin mix into a mixing bowl.
7. Add all dried ingredients and mix until combined. If your pumpkin puree is a little runny, just add more almond meal to get a thicker consistency.
8. Chill in the fridge for 30 minutes (while the pups help clean up in the kitchen!)
9. Place the liver treats in a freezer bag, then seal it. Crush with a rolling pin or pestle and mortar to create the black sprinkles.
10. Remove mixture from the fridge and roll into balls. If the mixture is still a bit sticky, add some almond meal to your hands when rolling.
11. Place pumpkin dog treats on a serving dish, then sprinkle with the crushed dried liver treats and turmeric powder for a little extra Halloween magic!

TIP: Gifting your homemade Halloween dog treats to friends or family? A set of DIY treat bags will come in handy.

Storing and Serving Your Treats

Because there is no baking and no preservative in these, they behave like fresh food rather than like a shelf-stable biscuit. Keep them in an airtight container in the fridge and use them within five days. They also freeze well for up to two months, so a single batch can cover Halloween and still leave something for the freezer. Thaw in the fridge rather than on the counter.

How Many Can My Dog Have?

Treats of any kind should make up no more than about ten percent of your dog's daily calories, with the rest coming from their complete food. These are small but rich, so one or two is plenty for a little dog and two or three for a larger one. If your dog has not had almond meal or dates before, start with half a treat and see how their stomach handles it before handing out more.

Keeping Halloween Itself Dog Safe

The treats are the easy part. The candy bowl is the risk. Chocolate and xylitol are both genuinely dangerous to dogs, and the ASPCA's list of people foods to avoid is worth reading before the doorbell starts going. Keep the bowl up high, and if your dog does get into something, call your vet straight away rather than waiting to see what happens.

Two smaller things worth checking with this recipe specifically. Make sure your dates are pitted before they go anywhere near the food processor, and keep the toothpicks out of reach once the toppers are on, since a swallowed toothpick is a vet trip. For everything else on the night, our Halloween pet safety tips cover doorbells, front doors and costumes.

Enjoy, and happy Howl-o-ween!

Before you go, these are the Halloween pieces our readers reach for next: 263 Halloween dog names, a no-sew pumpkin bandana and mask set, and our full index of homemade dog treat recipes if you would rather bake something next.