Treat Your Dog To Healthy Christmas Cookies This Year With These Three Recipes

Jessica Curtis — Fri, 22 Dec 2023 20:00:00 +0000

The Christmas season is a time for families to get together and enjoy the festivities, including sitting down for a delicious meal that includes roast chicken, Yorkshire puddings, and an assortment of vegetables.

However, our four-legged friends will want to join in on the delicious spread, and Kennel Store has provided three dog-friendly recipes for Christmas treats, with a grain-free option, to get man’s best friend more involved in the family celebrations.

Gingerbread dog biscuits | Prep time: 10 minutes | Baking time: 20 minutes

Gingerbread men are an essential sweet treat during the holiday season, so why not let your dog join in on the fun with this dog-friendly gingerbread recipe? These gingerbread biscuits cut out the sugar but intensify the ginger so that your dog can enjoy a healthy, tasty treat. Treats like this should be factored in as part of your dog’s daily food allowance.

Equipment

Large mixing bowl
Small mixing bowl
A sturdy spoon
Pin roller (if available)
Cookie cutters, including Christmas-themed ones (Christmas trees, stars, gingerbread men shapes, etc)
Baking sheet or baking tray
Non-stick cooking spray

Ingredients

3 cups of whole wheat flour or wheat-free flour (for dogs with wheat allergies)
1 tablespoon of ground ginger
1 tablespoon of ground cinnamon
½ cup of honey or molasses
½ cup of warm water
¼ cup of olive oil

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 160°C or gas mark 3
In a large bowl, mix together the flour, ginger, and cinnamon
In a small bowl, mix together the honey, water, and oil
Pour the small bowl into the flour mixture
Stir these ingredients until thoroughly combined, creating the dough
Roll the dough out to about ½ inch of thickness
Use cookie cutters or Christmas-themed ones to cut shapes out of as much dough as you can
Lightly spray a baking sheet with non-stick cooking spray
Place the cut-outs onto the baking sheet - you may need more than one sheet depending on how many biscuits you are baking
Bake for 20 minutes
Remove the baking sheets and let them cool

Store and refrigerate the biscuits in an airtight container, or they can be kept frozen for up to six months.

Peanut butter dog treats | Prep time: 15 minutes | Baking time: 20 minutes

Reward your dog with a peanut butter drizzled dog treat as part of their Christmas dinner this year. These dog treats are not a meal substitute and should only be given as part of a healthy balanced diet.

Equipment

Small mixing bowl
A sturdy spoon
Pin roller (if available)
Sharp knife or cookie cutters, including Christmas-themed ones (Christmas trees, stars, gingerbread men shapes, etc)
Baking paper or baking tray
Non-stick cooking spray

Ingredients (for the biscuits)

300g whole wheat flour or wheat-free flour
1 egg
1 beef, chicken or fish stock cube (customise to your dog’s taste)
150ml of hot water

Ingredients (for the peanut butter frosting)

120g of dog-friendly peanut butter
2 ½ tablespoons of plain flour
1 tablespoon of water

Instructions

Preheat oven to 170°C (or 150°C for a fan-assisted oven)
Heat 150ml of water in a pot until it is boiling
Dissolve the stock cube of your choice in hot water
Add the 300g of wheat flour and the egg
Mix the ingredients together until it is a doughy consistency
Knead the dough for about three minutes until it forms a ball
Roll the dough until it is about 1cm thick
Cut the dough into slices or use a cookie cutter (use bone shapes or those with Christmas imagery like trees, stars, or gingerbread men)
Lightly spray a baking sheet with non-stick cooking spray
Place the dough shapes onto baking paper
Bake for 20 -25 minutes
For the peanut butter frosting, warm up the peanut butter in the microwave until it is smooth and easy to stir
Pour the peanut butter into a small mixing bowl and mix with one tablespoon of water
Add in the flour and stir well
Spread over the dog biscuits and allow to set
If the mixture hardens before you have finished you can warm them again in the microwave

Store and refrigerate the biscuits in an airtight container, or they can be kept frozen for up to six months.

Grain-free dog treats | Prep time: 15 minutes | Baking time: 25 minutes

Grain-free dog food is one of the fastest-growing types of commercial pet food as it is a healthier alternative for dogs that are unable to properly digest grain-based meals due to allergies. However, if you are concerned about following a grain-free diet for your dog, consult with your veterinarian.

Equipment

Large mixing bowl
A sturdy spoon
Pin roller (if available)
Sharp knife or cookie cutters, including Christmas-themed ones (Christmas trees, stars, gingerbread men shapes, etc)
Baking paper or baking tray
Non-stick cooking spray

Ingredients

1 banana
3 tablespoons creamy peanut butter
1 egg
1 ¾ cups of garbanzo bean flour

Instructions

Preheat over to 180°C
In a large bowl, mash the banana with the bottom of a fork until it is mush
Mix the remaining ingredients in with the banana thoroughly until it becomes dough
Roll the dough until it is about 1cm thick
Cut the dough into slices or use a cookie cutter (use bone shapes or those with Christmas imagery like trees, stars, or gingerbread men)
Lightly spray a baking sheet with non-stick cooking spray
Place the cut-outs onto the baking sheet - you may need more than one sheet depending on how many biscuits you are baking
Bake for 25 minutes
Remove the baking sheets and let them cool

Store and refrigerate the biscuits in an airtight container, or they can be kept frozen for up to six months.

Your Pets Daily - Cooking with dogs

Treat Your Dog To Healthy Christmas Cookies This Year With These Three Recipes

Gingerbread dog biscuits | Prep time: 10 minutes | Baking time: 20 minutes

Peanut butter dog treats | Prep time: 15 minutes | Baking time: 20 minutes

Grain-free dog treats | Prep time: 15 minutes | Baking time: 25 minutes

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