Everyone gets cookies at Christmas. Your dog has noticed, and your dog would like a word.
These Christmas dog treats are festive enough for the stocking and simple enough to bake on a busy December afternoon. Every recipe uses dog-safe ingredients only, because the holidays are full of foods that aren’t.
Before you bake: the holiday no list
A lot of classic Christmas flavors are bad news for dogs. Leave these out of every recipe:
- Nutmeg: it’s in eggnog, pumpkin spice and gingerbread mixes, and it isn’t safe for dogs.
- Chocolate and cocoa in any form.
- Raisins, currants and grapes, so no fruitcake or mince pie scraps.
- Xylitol, sometimes listed as birch sugar. Check every peanut butter label.
- Macadamia nuts, plus added sugar and salt.
Use plain flour, oats, eggs, xylitol-free peanut butter and real food. That’s all you need.
The base method for rolled cookies
Recipes 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6 are cookie doughs. They all bake the same way:
- Heat the oven to 350°F and line a tray with parchment.
- Mix the dough until it’s firm and not sticky. Add flour or water a spoonful at a time.
- Roll to about 1/4 inch thick and cut out shapes (or twist ropes, for recipe 2).
- Bake 18 to 25 minutes, until firm and lightly golden.
- Turn off the oven and leave them inside to crisp up as they cool.
1. Gingerbread dogs
The look of gingerbread without the risky spices.
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- 2 cups whole wheat flour
- 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1 egg
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 2 to 4 tablespoons water
Cut with a dog or gingerbread-man cutter. Plain ginger is fine in a small pinch, but skip pre-mixed “gingerbread spice,” which often has nutmeg.
2. Peanut butter candy cane twists
- 2 cups whole wheat flour
- 1/2 cup xylitol-free peanut butter
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 teaspoon beet powder
Split the dough in half and knead the beet powder into one half. Roll a thin rope of each color, twist them together and bend the top into a hook.
3. Turkey and cranberry bites
A savory one for dogs who’d rather have meat than cookies.
- 1 pound plain ground turkey
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 1 egg
- 1/4 cup fresh cranberries, chopped
Roll into small balls and bake at 350°F for 15 to 20 minutes, until cooked through to 165°F inside. Keep them in the fridge and use within 3 to 4 days.
4. Carob-dipped bones
Carob is the dog-safe stand-in for chocolate. It looks the part on a festive plate.
- One batch of gingerbread dough from recipe 1, cut into bones (no ginger needed)
- 1/4 cup carob powder
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil, melted
Stir the carob into the warm coconut oil. Dip one end of each cooled bone and chill until set. Keep these in the fridge so the coating stays firm.
Make sure it really is carob, not chocolate. Your guests will want to taste them, so label the tin.
5. Apple and cheddar stars
- 2 cups whole wheat flour
- 1 apple, grated (no core, no seeds)
- 1/2 cup grated cheddar
- 1 egg
- Water as needed
Cut with a star cutter. Cheese is rich, so these are a great choice for a small batch rather than a daily treat.
6. Parsley Christmas trees
- 2 cups oat flour (blended rolled oats)
- 1 egg
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh curly parsley
- About 1/3 cup water
The parsley turns the dough a soft green. Cut with a tree cutter and enjoy the fresh smell.
7. No-bake snowball bites
- 1 ripe banana, mashed
- 1/4 cup xylitol-free peanut butter
- 1 1/2 cups rolled oats
- Unsweetened shredded coconut, for rolling
Mix, roll into small balls, then roll each in a little coconut. Chill for an hour. Store in the fridge for up to 5 days.
8. Leftover dinner bites
Turn plain Christmas dinner extras into a treat. The key word is plain.
- 1 cup plain cooked turkey breast, shredded (no skin, no bones)
- 1/2 cup plain mashed sweet potato
- 1/4 cup plain cooked green beans, chopped
- 1 egg
- About 1 cup oat flour
Form small patties and bake at 350°F for about 20 minutes. Never use gravy, stuffing or anything seasoned, since those often contain onion, garlic and lots of salt. Refrigerate and use within 3 to 4 days.
Decorating without frosting
Dog treats don’t need sugary icing to look festive. A few simple tricks do the job:
- Natural color: beet powder for red, parsley for green, plain dough for “snow.”
- A dusting of oat flour on dark cookies looks like fresh snow.
- Fun cutters: stars, trees, mittens and little dog bones.
- A thin swirl of plain Greek yogurt for a white “frosting,” kept in the fridge and eaten within a couple of days.
How many treats is too many?
Holiday treats add up fast, especially when everyone in the family is sneaking a few.
- Keep treats to about 10% of your dog’s daily calories.
- Break cookies into small pieces for little dogs.
- Try one new treat at a time so you can spot a tummy upset.
- Dogs with allergies, pancreatitis or a special diet: check with your vet first.
Storing and gifting
Homemade treats have no preservatives, so store them with care.
- Crunchy cookies: airtight tin, about a week, or the freezer for up to 3 months.
- Meat and no-bake treats: fridge only.
- Gifts: a mason jar with a ribbon and a tag listing every ingredient.
Want more? Try our pumpkin and oat bones, or pair a jar with something from our dog Christmas gift ideas.
Common questions
Is gingerbread safe for dogs?
Store-bought gingerbread isn’t, since it often has nutmeg and lots of sugar. A homemade cookie with a pinch of plain ginger is fine.
Can dogs eat cranberries?
Yes, plain fresh cranberries in small amounts. Skip cranberry sauce and sweetened dried cranberries.
Is carob really safe for dogs?
Yes. Carob doesn’t contain the theobromine that makes chocolate toxic. Still, treats are treats, so keep portions small.
How long do homemade dog treats last?
Dry baked cookies keep about a week in an airtight tin. Meat or no-bake treats need the fridge and last a few days.
Can I use regular peanut butter?
Only if the label shows no xylitol or birch sugar. Unsalted, unsweetened peanut butter is best.
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