Dog Taste Tested and Approved!
These are easy-to-make dog treats that your dog will love just in time for Christmas. Not only fun to make at home but a great gift for the dog lover in your life - who doesn’t love some homemade holiday baking?
These homemade dog treats are already vegan and so much healthier than what you will find in your pet store. Also if your dog has a gluten intolerance you can make these gluten-free with one easy substitution.
Let’s go through through the simple steps so you can see the process and then we can go into the recipe for these delicious Christmas dog cookies in more detail.
First, you are going to gather your ingredients, pumpkin, flax meal, flour, peanut butter and cinnamon. Please use natural peanut butter to ensure that it does not contain an artificial sweetener such as xylitol which is toxic for dogs.
Next, you will combine ingredients in a food processor or large bowl until dough forms and knead into a ball. It should feel a little stretchy in consistency and this is due to the flax meal which helps keep it all together.
After this, you will roll out the dough until it is approximately ¼ inch thick, and cut out your desired cookie shape using dog bone cookie cutters if you have them. Then arrange on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
Bake your cookies in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 to 35 minutes. When done, cool on a wire rack. And that's it! Super easy and your dog will love these wonderful homemade cookies, or give them as gifts.
Ok so let's get into the recipe in more detail.
Temp: 350F Bake Time: 30 – 35 minutes
Ingredients:
1 cup Pumpkin Puree
1/3 Cup Natural Peanut Butter
2 Tbsp Ground Flax Meal
1 ½ Cups Whole Wheat Flour
½ tsp Cinnamon (optional)
Step 1. Preheat your oven to 350 F.
Step 2. Combine the pumpkin puree, peanut butter, flax meal, and cinnamon (if you are using it), using a food processor or hand mixer. If your peanut butter is hard, softening it first can help, either put it out on the counter for a while, or partially submerge it into warm water, or you can take out your amount and use a microwave-safe dish for 10 seconds at a time in the microwave until softened. Mix until combined.
Step 3. Now add in the flour until a dough forms. You may want to use your hands for this step if not use a mixer that can handle the dough. If it seems the dough is too dry, small amounts of water can be added 1 tablespoon at a time.
Step 4. Once you have a dough-like consistency it can be rolled out so you can cut out your desired shape.
Step 5. Roll out the dough to approximately ¼ inch thick, cut out your cookies, and arrange them on a baking sheet. Using a fun dog bone cookie cutter makes this fun and easy and gives you adorable bone-shaped dog treats.
Step 6. Bake for about 30 to 35 minutes and cool on a cooling rack when done.
Step 7. Taste test with your dog!
Store in an airtight container. Stays freshest when stored in the fridge for a few weeks or in the freezer for up to a couple of months.
To make this recipe gluten-free, just substitute whole wheat flour with oat flour. If you don’t have oat flour but you have oats, you can make your own oat flour in the food processor. Just whiz it up until it is a flour consistency, it is ok if there are some larger flakes.
Up Next - Making a Dog Paw Print Christmas Ornament
Emily Charlton is a lifelong animal lover (and crafter) drawing on more than 12 years experience in a veterinary clinic.
