Homemade Christmas dog treats aren’t just something special to spoil your dog with over Christmas, but they’re also a great gift idea. Remember to cut them into smaller sizes instead of making “human size” cookies to avoid overfeeding your dogs.
Personally, I like to make some of these treats, put them in cute Christmas tins and bring them to holiday parties where I know the hosts are dog owners. However, if you do that, touch base with the owners to account for any food allergies. Also, to keep the treats smaller, I like to use a fun mini dog cookie cutter to consistently get equal treat sizes.
I will often include a copy of the recipe with these treats. This is not only so the owners I'm gifting this to can make them by themselves later, but also so they can see all the ingredients. If not the treats, you can do the same with homemade dinner recipes, too.
Another gift idea I recommend is printing all of these homemade Christmas dog treat recipes, and place them in a Christmas themed box. Owners can then pick the treats that they know their pups will enjoy – a nice holiday tradition.
Best Homemade Christmas Dog Treat Recipes
(Not Grain-free)
1. Simple Christmas Cookies
You're late with preparing these homemade Christmas dog treat recipes, and you need a very quick Christmas cookie for that crazy puppy party that's about to take place. This is one of the easiest Christmas dog treats to make, and it's similar to Samantha's recipe.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups whole wheat flour
- 1 cup plain non-fat Greek yogurt
- 1 Tbsp. baking powder
- 1 cup all-natural peanut butter
- Water
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 375° F. Line a baking tray with parchment paper. Mix ingredients together well, adding water if needed to create a rollable dough. Roll out the dough and cut the cookies out. Bake for 15 min. or until browned.
2. Christmas Morning Bacon Nut Treats
Start your dog’s Christmas day off with a delicious bacon nut treat and let them enjoy the deliciousness of a cooked Christmas morning breakfast. I was inspired to make this recipe from one of the homemade food books, which I recommend if you want to get more similar creative recipes.
Ingredients:
- ½ cup whole wheat pastry flour
- ½ cup soy flour
- ½ cup wheat germ
- 1/3 cup all-natural peanut butter
- 1 Tbsp. natural maple syrup
- 3 tbsp. water
- 1 egg
- 3 rashers of bacon chopped
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 300° F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Skillet fries the bacon until done and set the fat aside.
Combine the peanut butter, egg, maple syrup, water, and slightly cooled bacon fat and stir. Add in wheat germ, flour, and cooked bacon and stir. Roll out the dough and cut the cookies out. Bake for 15 min until brown.
3. Elfin’ Peanut Butter Pumpkin Dog Treats
Those elves are always finding ways to sneak sweet treats into Christmas stockings, but this time it's an opportunity to do something for your pooch. Dogs love pumpkin, it's good for them, and very few canines will say “no” to these.
Ingredients:
- 2 ½ cup whole wheat flour
- 2 Tbsp. natural peanut butter
- 2 eggs
- ½ cup canned natural pumpkin
- ½ Tsp. cinnamon
- ½ tsp. salt
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350° F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Mix together the flour, salt, peanut butter, eggs, cinnamon, and pumpkin. Add water if needed. Roll out the dough and cut the cookies out. Bake for 30 min. until hard.
4. Peppermint Apple Reindeer Doggy Cookies
Those reindeer have been munching on apples and candy canes all night. No wonder these homemade dog treats are a hit in the North Pole (or so I've heard), but even more so in our household whenever the holiday season starts.
Ingredients:
- 1 ½ cups whole-wheat flour
- ½ cup rolled oats
- 1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
- ½ cup all-natural applesauce
- 1/3 cup oat bran
- 1 ½ tsp. dry baking yeast
- 2 Tbsp. dry milk
- 2 Tbsp. chopped spearmint leaves
- 7/8 cup water
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 250° F. Cover a baking sheet with parchment paper. Use a bread hook on a mixer and combine everything together. Mix well. Roll out the dough and cut the cookies. Bake for 1 hour until browned.
5. Gingerbread Dogs
Don’t worry, there are no “dogs” in these, but you will want to use a dog-shaped cookie cutter to make them truly fun Christmas party treats. This is one of my personal favorite Christmas dog treat recipes on this list.
Ingredients:
- 4 Tbsp. raw honey
- 1 cup molasses
- 6 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp. baking soda
- 1 cup water
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 1 tsp. ground cloves
- 1 tsp. cinnamon
- 2 Tbsp. fresh shaved ginger
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350° F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper Mix together the honey, molasses, oil, and water in one bowl. Mix together the flour, baking soda, cloves, cinnamon, and ginger in a separate bowl.
Combine the dry ingredients with the wet and mix to form a dough. Separate the dough into quarters then wrap and refrigerate each ball of dough for 5 hrs. Roll out the dough and cut into small pieces. Bake for 25 minutes until browned.
6. Cranberry Sauce Cookies for Dogs
Not only can dogs eat turkey, but it's a good source of protein for them. But what’s turkey dinner without a side of cranberry sauce? Don’t worry, these cookies will cover that sweet craving.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup whole-wheat flour
- ¼ cup ground flax seed
- ½ cup plain no-fat Greek yogurt
- 2/3 + ¼ cup oats
- 1 cup fresh cranberries
- 1 Tbsp. raw honey
- 3 Tbsp. water
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350° F. Cover a baking tray with parchment paper. Grind 2/3 cup oats in the food processor until fine. Set aside. Puree the cranberries. Mix together all ingredients adding just enough water to moisten the dough. Roll out the dough and cut cookies. Bake for 18 minutes or until browned.
7. Santa’s Nutritious Christmas Dog Treats
The day after Christmas is full of regret for anyone who overindulged, so our dog owner Santa developed this vitamin-packed Christmas dog treats recipe so that when your pooch indulges, at least they're getting more health benefits from these treats. Check out Samantha's one here for an alternative peanut butter dog treats recipe.
Ingredients:
- 3 cups whole-wheat flour
- 2 eggs
- ¼ cup natural peanut butter
- ½ cup oats
- 1 cup natural pumpkin puree
- 1 shredded zucchini
- 1 peeled, shredded carrot
- 1 cup chopped baby spinach
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350° F. Cover a baking sheet with parchment paper. Use a mixer to combine the peanut butter, pumpkin puree, and eggs. Beat in the oats and 2 ½ cups of flour.
Add additional flour if needed to create a rollable dough texture. Mix in the spinach, carrot, and zucchini. Roll out the dough and cut cookies. Bake for 20 minutes until browned.
8. Blitzen’s Favorite Carrot Treats
Here's something very easy to make. Blitzen is a carrot fiend, and when he broke a tooth this year, Santa ordered a surplus of carrot baby food. Luckily, this makes for a perfect addition to dog carrot treats.
Ingredients:
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 eggs
- 25 oz. all-natural carrot baby food
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350° F. Cover a baking sheet with parchment paper. Mix together all of the ingredients. Roll out the dough and cut cookies. Bake for 20 minutes or until golden.
9. Christmas Dinner Cookies for Dogs
Fitting Christmas dinner into one cookie sounds a little like something from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, but this homemade dog dinner recipe manages to do it. It's also one of the most wholesome Christmas dog treat recipes on this list.
Ingredients:
- 3 ½ cups whole-wheat flour
- 1 tsp. baking powder
- 1 egg
- 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 cup cooked, shredded white meat turkey
- 1 cup dried unsweetened cranberries
- 1 Tbsp. olive oil
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350° degrees. Cover a baking sheet with parchment paper. Combine baking powder and flour in a large bowl. Stir in turkey and cranberries.
Mix in ½ cup broth, the egg, and the olive oil. Mix together to create a dough, adding more broth if needed. Roll out the dough. Cut cookies. Bake for 25 minutes until browned.
10. Christmas Feast Dog Cookies
Another treat recipe built to accompany your traditional Christmas turkey dinner, this is a treat that’s sure to satisfy your pooch.
Ingredients:
- 1 ¾ cup whole-wheat flour
- 1 tsp. baking powder
- 2 ½ cups fast cooking oats
- 1 ½ cups cooked, shredded white meat turkey
- 1 cup low-sodium turkey broth
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350° F. Cover a baking tray with parchment paper Combine the dry ingredients and mix well. Use a blender to add the rest of the ingredients. Roll out the dough and cut cookies. Bake for 25 min. until browned.
11. Healthy Green Bean Casserole Dog Cookies
Green bean casserole is a staple at most holiday meals, but it’s not exactly the healthiest option for dogs. This green bean treat recipe is a much better option, especially for those chubby pups, and it's very similar to this limited-ingredient recipe (if you need more options).
Ingredients:
- 3 ½ cups whole-wheat flour
- 1 cup salt-free canned green beans
- 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- ½ cup low-fat shredded cheddar
- ¼ cup no fat milk
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350° degrees. Cover a baking tray with parchment paper. Combine the chicken, broth, and green beans in a blender and puree. Mix puree with flour and cheese. Roll out the dough and cut cookies. Bake for 30 min. until browned.
12. Christmas Dessert Dog Cookies
Some of us like nothing more than a big fat slice of apple pie after an already delicious Christmas dinner. While you're enjoying that dessert, have these prepared for your dog so that they can get a taste of that tradition, too.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups whole wheat flour
- 2 Tbsp. raw honey
- 1 egg separated
- ¾ cup natural unsweetened applesauce
- ½ Tsp. vanilla extract
- 1 tsp. cinnamon
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350° degrees. Cover a baking sheet with parchment paper. Combine honey, applesauce, egg yolk, vanilla, and cinnamon. Mix in the flour. Roll out the dough and cut cookies. Brush cookie tops with egg white. Bake for 20 minutes or until browned.
Grain-Free Christmas Dog Treat Recipes
Some owners prefer a grain-free diet for their dogs, and we have several homemade Christmas dog treat recipes for that too. These grain-free recipes are also gluten-free, which may benefit dogs with food allergies.
13. Grain-Free Pumpkin Pie Cookies for Dogs
If your Fido has a taste for pumpkin (and most dogs do) but you don't want them to consume any grains, these Christmas treats will quickly capture that special pumpkin pie flavor and without exposing your pooch to unhealthy ingredients.
Ingredients:
- 2 ½ cups brown rice flour
- 2 Tbsp. ground flax seed
- ¾ cup natural pumpkin puree
- 2 lightly beaten eggs
- ¼ cold water
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350° degrees. Cover a baking sheet with parchment paper. Combine the dry ingredients and mix well. Combine the wet ingredients in another bowl and mix.
Add half the wet ingredients to the dry and stir. Add the remaining wet ingredients and stir. Roll out the dough and cut cookies. Bake 30 minutes or until browned.
14. Grain-Free Turkey Dinner Treats for Dogs
If the above recipe wasn't good enough, how about a turkey dinner accompaniment for your pup but without all the “bad” grains?
Ingredients:
- ½ cup oat bran
- ¼ cup amaranth seed
- 1 lb. lean ground turkey
- 2 eggs
- ½ grated sweet potato
- ½ cup shredded carrots
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 375° F. Grease an 11” loaf pan. Mix together ingredients completely and pour into loaf pan. Bake for an hour or until cooked through. Cut into small squares and keep refrigerated once cooled.
15. Healthy Mashed Potato Dog Treats
Everybody loves mashed potatoes, including our dogs. But skip the loaded mashed potatoes that's on your table, and try these healthy mashed potato dog treats instead. This is also a limited ingredient Christmas dog treat recipes, which will be great for dogs with food allergies.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup plain mashed potato
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 shredded carrot
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 400° F. Cover a baking sheet with parchment paper. Mix together ingredients and roll into 24 balls. Bake 15 minutes or until browned.
16. Sweet Potato Casse-Cookies for Dogs
Sweet potato casserole is a Christmas feast favorite for most of us, and now your dog can get a taste of this traditional holiday treat, too. It closely resembles Samantha's sweet potato biscuits, which is a great alternative.
Ingredients:
- ½ cup coconut flour
- 1 ½ cup almond meal
- 1 cup mashed cooked sweet potato
- 2 tsp low sodium poultry seasoning
- ½ cup water
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 225° F. Cover a baking tray with parchment paper. Mix together poultry seasoning, almond meal, and coconut flour. Mix in ¼ cup water and sweet potato and mix. Add more water if needed. Roll out the dough and cut cookies. Bake 25 min. until browned.
17. Christmas Detox Cookies
Here's a favorite recipe of Mrs. Claus, who can’t get enough sweets even when she’s detoxing the day after Christmas. This is a much healthier homemade Christmas dog treat recipe, packed with nutrients and anti-oxidants.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup coconut flour
- 4 eggs
- 1/3 cup warm water
- ½ cup mashed bananas
- ½ cup mashed blueberries
- ½ natural peanut butter
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350° F. Cover a baking sheet with parchment paper. Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl and stir, adding more water if needed. Roll out the dough and cut cookies. Bake for 20 minutes or until browned.
18. Rudolph’s Carrot and Apple Cookies for Dogs
Rudolph and your pup have a few things in common, including a love for carrots and apples. If you're in a rush, these are also a very quick and easy to make cookies.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup brown rice flour
- 1 cup grated carrot
- ½ cup unsweet applesauce
- 1 egg
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350° F. Combine ingredients together until mixed. Roll the dough and cut cookies. Bake until browned.
19. Sweet Potato Pie Dog Treats
Sweet potato pie is a delicious way to round off Christmas dinner for your whole family, but while sweet potatoes are good for dogs, the pie is not dog-friendly. Try these simple sweet potato pie dog treats instead.
Ingredients:
- 1 ¾ cups brown rice flour
- 1 cup mashed sweet potato (or natural canned)
- 1 beaten egg
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350° F. Cover a baking tray with parchment paper. Combine ingredients in a bowl and stir. Roll out the dough and cut cookies. Bake until browned.
20. Mrs. Claus Molasses Carob Chip Dog Cookies
Mrs. Claus always adds a little extra sweetness to everything she does, and she did the same with these molasses carob chip cookies recipe. Not only is this one of the most indulgent homemade Christmas dog treat recipes, but these cookies are also a lot of fun to make.
Ingredients:
- 6 cups white rice flour
- 1 Tbsp. brown sugar
- ¼ cup molasses
- ½ cup no fat powdered milk
- 1/8 cup peanut oil
- 1/8 cup margarine
- 2 Oz. melted carob chips
- 1 cup water
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 300° F. Line a baking tray with parchment paper. Combine the dry ingredients and mix well. Add the wet ingredients and stir. Refrigerate the dough until chilled. Roll out the dough and cut the cookies. Bake for 1 hour until golden.
READ NEXT: 24 Best Christmas Dinner Recipes for Dogs
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