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