Recipe Corner: Pumpkin Brownies -- Doggy Halloween Treats!

Pumpkin makes a sweet, nutritious treat for your dog and is plentiful and inexpensive in all its forms, including the canned variety on grocery store shelves. Perfect as Halloween treats these pumpkin brownies are a delicious, nutritious treat for your dog all year long!

Pumpkin (and all squash) is high in vitamin A (beta-carotene), vitamin C, some B vitamins, potassium, manganese, folate and fibre. Because pumpkin is so moist, these treats are superb for dogs of all ages, especially seniors who may have trouble with hard, crunchy treats.

You can use fresh pumpkin, cube the flesh, toss with canola oil, spread on a baking sheet and roast at 400 degrees F. for half an hour or until tender. Mash with a fork or puree in a food processor. Canned, pureed plain pumpkin also works perfectly.

Pumpkin Brownies

Ingredients:

2 large eggs
1 cup canned pure pumpkin puree
1/3 cup canola oil
2 tbsp honey
1 & ¼ cups whole wheat or oat flour, or some of each
2 tbsp ground flax seed or oat bran
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp baking soda
pinch of salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, pumpkin, canola oil & honey. Add the flour, flax seed, cinnamon, baking soda & salt and stir just until combined.

Scrape the batter into an 8 x 8 inch pan that has been sprayed with non-stick spray, and bake for approximately 30 minutes, until golden and springy to the touch. Cool completely before cutting into squares based on the size of your dog.

Store leftovers in an airtight container or wrap well and freeze.