The holidays are a time to indulge in the things we keep ourselves away from all year-round, sweets! It’s during this time where our kitchens smell of gingerbread, cinnamon, and vanilla for a whole month. While you and your kids may be loving the treats, your dogs want a piece of the action too. These next holiday dog treats are easy to make and are full of everyday ingredients found in your kitchen.
Spinach Treats
Have spinach in your fridge you don’t know what to do with? With this recipe, your pup will go bonkers for spinach.
Ingredients:
- 1 package frozen or non frozen spinach
- 2 cups whole wheat flour (you can substitute with any flour your dog enjoys)
- 2 cups rolled oat flour
- 6 capsules chlorophyll
- 2 tbsp dried parsley
- 1 cup applesauce
- A few drops of peppermint extract
- 2 eggs
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 350º
- Drain the spinach as much as humanly possible. This will ensure your cookies aren’t too soggy.
- Place the dried spinach in the bowl of a food processor and pulse until spinach is thoroughly pureed. This will make cutting out cookies easier. If you skip this step, your cookies will just be a little shaggier around the edges.
- Add the flours, chlorophyll, and parsley to the processor and combine well.
- Add the applesauce, peppermint, and eggs in the processor and pulse until dough forms.
- Move dough to a board and add flour and work until ready for cookie cutting.
- Use cookie cutters for your dough and place in the oven for 15 – 20 minutes or until fully cooked through.
- Serve to pups!
Side Note: The dampness of the spinach will give this recipe a shorter shelf life, so keep the finished cookies in the fridge if they will not be consumed within 3 days.
Gingerbread Dogs
Gingerbread men and women must have gingerbread dogs, right? That’s where this recipe comes in!.
Ingredients:
- 1 ½ cup whole wheat flour (or whatever flour works for your pup)
- 1 ½ cup oat flour (made from rolled oats)
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 Tbsp ground ginger
- 1 tsp turmeric
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- Pinch of ground clove
- Pinch of allspice
- 1/4 cup molasses
- 3/4 cup applesauce
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 Tbsp coconut oil
- OPTIONAL: carob chips for gingerbread eyes and buttons
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 350º
- Combine the flours, baking powder, and spices in a bowl and mix to combine.
- Add the molasses and applesauce and mix to combine.
- Add the egg, vanilla, and coconut oil and mix to combine, adding more flour if necessary.
- Roll out gingerbread and cut into gingerbread dogs or your choice of shapes.
- Bake at 350º for 20 minutes or until just starting to get golden around the edges for a soft cookie, or until crunchy for longer shelf life.
- Give to pups and witness them jump for joy!
Peanut Butter Pumpkin Dog Treats
Not sure what to do with those pumpkins you decorated with? Well good thing dogs LOVE pumpkin! It’s good for them and few dogs will say no to the flavor.
Ingredients:
- 2 ½ cup whole wheat flour
- 2 tbsp. natural peanut butter
- 2 eggs
- ½ cup canned natural pumpkin
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- ½ tsp salt
Directions:
- Preheat the oven to 350° F.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Mix together the flour, salt, peanut butter, eggs, cinnamon, and pumpkin.
- Add water if needed.
- Roll out the dough and cut the cookies out.
- Bake for 30 minutes or until hard.
- Serve to your pup and watch them smile with delight!
We hope this blog gets you, and your dog, in the Holiday baking mood! Make sure you bookmark this page and keep it handy for your December weekends. At The Ranch, we also provide fun and healthy homemade treats for all dogs that lodge with us! Find out more about our lodging, homemade treats, and other fun activities at the Ranch!
