‘Tis the season for baking, and what kind of DINK dog mom would I be if I didn’t have an awesome Christmas cookie dog recipe? Now, if I’m being honest, I don’t really like baking much. Yet for some reason, be it tradition or the holiday spirit, I always end up baking more between Thanksgiving and Christmas than I do the rest of the year. And of course I have to bake something for the dogs, too!
This holiday dog treat recipe is an easy riff on classic gingerbread cookies. They smell divine while baking thanks to all the spice, and they are relatively healthy to boot– at least as far as cookies go. I like to use dog-shaped cookie cutters for the dog version of a gingerbread man, as well as my classic Christmas cookie cutters, but you can use whatever cutter is the right size and shape for your dog!
Ingredients for Gingerbread Dog Treats
Similar to my Pumpkin Spice Dog Cookies recipe, this recipe for dog friendly Christmas cookies uses ingredients that are dog-safe and provide an extra nutritional boost. Blackstrap molasses, for example, is full of healthy minerals, while the ginger can help soothe a troubled tummy and provides anti-inflammatory relief for arthritis. Meanwhile, the applesauce provides extra fiber, as well as Vitamin A and Vitamin C.
I typically use whole wheat flour for this Christmas cookie dog recipe, but this time around I tried oat flour because one of our pup friends is grain free! The recipe required a lot more oat flour than it did whole wheat, and the final cookie turned out a little chewier, lighter in color, and a bit grainier in texture. That might be a deal breaker for a human, but the dogs didn’t care one bit!
Christmas Cookie Dog Recipe
Equipment
- rolling pin
- cookie cutters
Ingredients
- 4 cups oat four (or 3 cups whole wheat if not grain-free)
- 2 tbsp fresh grated ginger
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp ground cloves
- ½ cup blackstrap molasses
- ½ cup water
- ¼ cup all natural/no sugar added applesauce
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325° F and lightly grease your cookie sheet to prevent sticking. I use a little bit of coconut oil for mine!
- Whisk together the flour, ginger, cinnamon, and cloves until combined. In a smaller bowl, stir together the molasses, water, and applesauce until combined.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and mix well. I find it easiest to use my hands to knead the mixture into a dough. If the dough is too wet, add more flour. If it is too dry, add a little more water.
- Roll the dough out to 1/2 inch thick. Use your cookie cutters to cut out cookies!
- Place the dog cookies on your greased baking sheet. The cookies don’t spread, so you can place them close together. Bake for 30 minutes, then let cool completely on a wire rack. NOTE: They will come out of the oven slightly soft, but will harden as they cool.
Storage
- These Christmas dog cookies will keep fresh for several weeks in the fridge and up to 6 months in the freezer. They are also a super cute treat to share with your dog’s furiends and other pet parents in your life.
Notes
Icing
I’ve never been a big icing fan, but I’ve always loved decorating Christmas Cookies! While us humans can eat icing made almost entirely out of sugar, our dogs cannot. Instead of making icing out of powdered sugar, try cornstarch or arrow root powder instead! You can use this 4 Ingredient Icing for Dog Cookies recipe as a guide. Just keep in mind that icing does add more calories to your treats, and you definitely don’t want to over-spoil your pup. Additionally, you will need to keep treats with icing in the fridge so that the icing doesn’t get gooey or grow mold.
