Now that the holidays are fast approaching, many dog lovers ask themselves: “How can I make my dog’s Christmas special?” There is nothing more special than taking the time to make Christmas dog treats as Christmas gifts for Fido.
Surprise him with delicious holiday snacks by trying these 6-ingredient Christmas dog treat recipes.
1. Grain-Free Christmas Muffins
Do not let dogs with grain sensitivities miss out on eating delicious food by baking grain-free muffins for them.
What you need:
- 1/4 cup low-sodium chicken stock
- 1/2 cup coconut flour
- 1 cup grated carrot
- 1 cup green beans
- 1 pound lean ground turkey
- 2 eggs
How to make these Christmas dog treats:
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Chop the ground turkey into small portions and set aside.
- Boil the carrots and peas in a pot for 4–5 minutes or until tender. Remove from heat and let them cool.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk the egg and add in the ground turkey and vegetables. Stir until all the ingredients are thoroughly combined.
- Use a nonstick cooking spray to grease the muffin tray.
- Transfer the batter to the muffin tray using a spoon. Fill each section to about three-quarters.
- Bake these homemade Christmas dog treats for 15–20 minutes or until brown on top.
- Take them out of the oven and allow them to cool down fully.
- Serve these healthy dog treats to your pooch.
- Any leftover treats for dogs can be placed in an airtight container and stored inside the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
Notes for these Christmas dog treats:
- If you have no fresh green beans, using the canned variety is fine. Just make sure that it is sodium-free. In case there are no unsalted canned green beans, go for the regular ones. Rinse them to reduce their sodium content.
2. Christmas Liver Brownies with Cranberries
Regular Christmas brownies are a no-go for dogs because they contain chocolate. Create a dog-friendly version of this human food by following this Christmas dog treats recipe.
What you need:
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 cup fresh cranberries
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 1 cup almond flour
- 1/2 pound organic calf liver
- 2 eggs
How to make these Christmas dog treats:
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Slice the liver into 3-inch-thick pieces.
- Pulse the rolled oats in the food processor until it becomes a fine powder.
- Place all ingredients in the food processor except for the cranberries. Blend them until well combined.
- Transfer the mixture to a large mixing bowl.
- Fold in the fresh cranberries.
- Grease a baking pan with nonstick cooking spray.
- Pour the mixture into the baking pan and spread evenly.
- Bake these homemade dog treats for 30–40 minutes. Their texture should be firm to the touch but not hard or crispy.
- Work a rubber spatula gently around the edges of the pan. Flip the entire brownie block onto the cooling rack to let it cool down.
- Slice the whole brownie block into 1-inch-by-2-inch small brownies.
- Serve the Christmas liver brownies to your dog.
- Place uneaten snacks in a plastic container and store them in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. Keeping these healthy dog treats in the freezer can make them last for 6 months.
Notes for these Christmas dog treats:
- Alternatively, you can use dried cranberries if you cannot have them fresh. Just be sure to choose the unsweetened variety, as dried cranberries are already packed with sugar.
3. Christmas Cookies for Dogs
Can dogs have Christmas cookies? Many Christmas cookies are a no-go for dogs. They often contain ingredients that can harm pooches, such as raisins and chocolate. Our recipe will teach you how to bake completely safe Christmas cookies for your dog.
What you need:
- 1/2 teaspoon finely minced fresh ginger
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil
- 2 tablespoons chopped spearmint leaves
- 1 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1 cup brown oat flour
- 2 eggs
How to make these Christmas dog treats:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine all ingredients. For a faster output, use a stand mixer if you have one. Mix until a stiff and nonsticky dough forms.
- Roll out the dough onto a lightly floured, flat surface to about approximately ¼-inch thickness.
- Use Christmas-themed cookie cutters to cut shapes out of the dough.
- Place them 1/2 inch apart on a nongreased cookie sheet.
- Chill them in the fridge for at least 15 minutes.
- Bake for 20–30 minutes or until the holiday treats are golden brown.
- Turn off the oven but leave the dog treats inside for around 1–2 hours to make them extra crunchy.
- Remove them from the oven and place them on the cooling rack to cool completely.
- Let your furry pal enjoy these holiday dog treats.
- These healthy dog treats can be placed in an airtight room at room temperature for up to 2 weeks. Storing them in the fridge can make them last up to 1–6 months in the freezer.
4. Dog-Friendly Eggnog
Traditional eggnog is made up of several dangerous ingredients to pooches, including nutmeg and alcohol. However, your pooch can still enjoy this holiday drink underneath the Christmas tree with you by following this recipe.
What you need:
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
- 1 small plain Greek yogurt
- 1 ripe banana
- 2 eggs
How to make these Christmas dog treats:
- Use a blender or food processor to properly mix all the ingredients. You have the option of whisking them together in a bowl, but it would take longer to thoroughly combine them.
- Pour the mixture into a small pup cup once it forms a frothy texture.
- Serve the dog-friendly eggnog to your pooch.
Notes for these Christmas dog treats:
- You can mix the beverage into your pet’s dog food to make his meal more flavorful.
- Freezing the eggnog in an ice cube or mold creates frozen puppy treats.
5. Sweet Christmas Peanut Dog Biscuits
Peanut butter will never be out of season for dogs, even during holidays. Use it to make paw-licking snacks for Fido with the help of this Christmas peanut butter dog treats recipe.
What you need:
For the dog biscuits:
- 1/4 cup unsweetened, all-natural peanut butter
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 1/2 cups brown rice flour
- 1 egg
- 1 cup blackstrap molasses
For the icing:
- 1/4 unsweetened, all-natural peanut butter
- 1 tablespoon of coconut oil
How to make these Christmas dog treats:
For the dog biscuits:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Use parchment paper to line a baking sheet.
- Combine the peanut butter, egg, and molasses in a large bowl.
- Add the brown rice flour with the wet ingredients. Mix until you form a dough. Add water 1 tablespoon at a time to the dough if it is too dry.
- On a lightly floured surface, use a rolling pin to roll out the dough to ½-inch thickness.
- Cut out shapes from the flattened dough using your desired Christmas-themed cookie cutters.
- Place the homemade dog biscuits at least an inch apart on the lined baking sheet.
- Bake them for 20–30 minutes or until they have light brown edges.
- Take these healthy dog treats out of the oven and let them cool down to harden their texture.
- Drizzle the icing on top of the Christmas dog biscuits and serve them to your pooch.
For the icing:
- Melt the coconut oil in a saucepan and mix in the peanut butter.
- Stir until both ingredients are well incorporated.
Notes for these Christmas dog treats:
- Check the ingredients list of the blackstrap molasses before using it. It should be free from sulfur dioxide, which is a preservative that can potentially harm your dog’s health.
- Only use xylitol-free peanut butter to avoid the risk of canine poisoning.
Why Go for Homemade Christmas Dog Treats?
Store-bought Christmas dog treats may seem like a wonderful gift idea for Fido this holiday season. However, they tend to be full of sugar, preservatives, and artificial flavoring, making them unhealthy for him.
Homemade Christmas dog snacks are better options since you have the liberty to choose the ingredients. Having full control over what type of foods to use will keep you from worrying whether the dog treats are safe and healthy for your pooch.
Many pawrents ask: “How to make Christmas dog treats?” Making Christmas dog treats at home is a breeze if you have recipes like ours to guide you step-by-step. The very first thing to do is to find safe ingredients for dog treats.
Remember, not all human foods are canine-friendly, even fruits and vegetables. So always double-check if the ingredients you have prepared will not harm your dog.
Once you have bought everything you need, it is time to get messy in the kitchen. You will need to combine the ingredients thoroughly. Then, depending on the type of dog treats, you may need to bake or freeze them before serving them to your pooch.
3 Dangerous Christmas Foods for Dogs
What should you not give your dog at Christmas? A lot of food on the Christmas table should not make it to your dog’s food bowl. These include stuffing, candy canes, and fatty meats, and here’s why:
1. Candy Canes
The high sugar content of candy canes makes them bad for your dog’s health. They may also contain xylitol, which is an artificial sweetener that is highly toxic to dogs.
Another danger of this human food to pooches is their wrappers. Ingesting them can result in choking or fatal stomach blockage.
2. Fatty Cuts of Meat
Leftover ham, sausages, and Christmas turkey skin are loaded with unhealthy fats. Giving dogs the freedom to gorge on them increases their chances of developing gastrointestinal issues.
Too much fat can result in stomach upset or, in the worst cases, painful pancreatitis. Obesity may also set in, which is the gateway to other health problems such as diabetes, arthritis, and heart issues.
3. Stuffing
Some of the staple ingredients for stuffing are onions, garlic, shallots, and chives. All of them contain n-propyl disulfide, which can induce hemolytic anemia in dogs when consumed in large amounts.
This human food is also heavily seasoned with salt and spices, which can upset the stomach of dogs.