Homemade Christmas cookies for dogs aren’t just something special to spoil your dog with over the holidays. They’re also a great gift idea. Making these Christmas cookies for dogs could even be a fun new family tradition.
Personally, I like to make these treats, put them in a cute Christmas tin or gift bag and bring them to holiday parties when I know the hosts are dog owners. If you want to do this, make sure to include a list of all of the ingredients you use.
Not only will that allow the owner to see the ingredients, but they will also be able to recreate the treats on their own. Plus, if their pet has any allergies, they'll know if the treats are going to be safe to feed their Fido.
We all love sharing the holidays with our pets, and these Christmas cookies for dogs are a healthy way to do just that. Fatty, processed human foods are dangerous for your pet, and giving him the bone from your Christmas ham could cause severe health issues.
These homemade treats offer a healthy way to celebrate the season with your canine companion.
Homemade Christmas Cookies for Dogs Recipe
I use rolled oats in this recipe. If your dog has allergies or sensitivities, you could substitute quinoa flakes, rice cereal or hulled millet for the oats.
You could also substitute canned pumpkin or mashed banana for the applesauce in these Christmas cookies for dogs. Similarly, be sure to buy peanut butter that does NOT include xylitol in the ingredients.
PrintRecipe: Homemade Christmas Cookies for Dogs
These Christmas dog treats would make a great snack for any pup. As I mentioned, if your dog has food allergies, you can make substitutions to meet his needs.
Be sure to cut the treats to an appropriate size for your dog, so as not to add too many extra calories to his diet. You can also cut out the icing, if you're trying to reduce the calorie count in these homemade dog treats.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: about 72 treats 1x
- Category: Baked Treats
- Method: Oven Baked
- Cuisine: Dog Treats
Ingredients
Treats
- 2 cups ground oats
- 1/2 cup peanut butter
- 2 tbsp. molasses
- 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
- 1 egg
For dog-friendly icing
- 3 tbsp. low-fat cream cheese
- 4 tbsp. plain yogurt
- pinch of ground cinnamon
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 350°F.
In a mixing bowl, combine the egg, cinnamon and molasses. Stir in the peanut butter and blend completely.
Mix in the oats, and combine until the mixture is uniform in consistency.
Roll out the dough between sheets of parchment or wax paper until it's about 1/4″ thick. Use cookie cutters to cut out shapes from the dough or use a pizza cutter or knife to score the dough into small squares.
Place the homemade dog treats on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Bake them in your 350˚ oven for 18 – 22 minutes.
If you choose to, you can put icing on the cookies. Drizzle icing over the cookies or use the icing to draw designs.
To make the icing, combine the ingredients in a mixing bowl. Use a small piping bag or a plastic storage bag, like I do in the video above.
I just cut a small piece off of one corner of the bag, and use it as a DIY piping bag.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 treat
- Calories: 38
- Sugar: 2.1 g
- Sodium: 23 mg
- Fat: 2.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 4.2 g
- Fiber: .8 g
- Protein: 1.1 g
- Cholesterol: 10 mg
How to store: Store leftover Christmas dog treats in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 12-14 days. Remember that homemade treats do not have the preservatives that store-bought products do.
They will not last as long. If you'd like, you can freeze these treats in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
For More Information
We publish many homemade dog food and treat recipes every month. For more recipes, pet food cooking tips, and advice, see our “Recipes” section. If you're new to the home-cooked dog food world, I recommend you read more about “How Much To Feed” to understand serving sizes, “What Supplements To Use” to create well-balanced meals, and “How To Store” for tips on simple and easy homemade dog food storing in a fridge or a freezer.
