Christmas Treat Recipes For Your Dog

Christmas is a time of indulgence and party food. Although most of our food isn’t suitable for dogs it doesn’t mean they need to miss out.

Below are our 4 top home made dog treat recipes for you to try.

• Dog-Friendly Gingerbread Cookies
• Apple and Peanut Butter Pupcakes
• Christmas Pudding Dog Biscuits
• Dog-Safe Hot Chocolate

Scroll down to see our step-by-step video guides!

Festive and dog-safe versions of classic gingerbread treats made with dog-friendly ingredients.

Ingredients

• 300g flour
• 60g smooth peanut butter. 
• 1 apple, peeled and grated or finely chopped
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp ground ginger
• 1 tbsp black treacle
• 120ml water
• 5cm x 4cm gingerbread cookie cutters

Note: Ensure your peanut butter doesn’t contain Xylitol (also called Birch sugar),  this is toxic to dogs. The higher the percentage of peanuts, the better!

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to gas mark 4 or 180°C (160°C for a fan oven).
2. Line a baking tray with baking paper.
3. Add all of the ingredients to a large bowl and mix thoroughly. 
4. Once your mixture has formed a dough, roll it out on a lightly floured surface.
5. Cut out your biscuits and place them onto your lined baking tray. 
6. Cook in the oven for 20 minutes or until they are golden brown.
7. Let the biscuits cool and they are ready for a doggy taste test!

Store in the fridge in an airtight container. The gingerbread cookies will keep for 1 week.

The perfect dog-friendly cake. Ideal for Christmas and other special occasions.

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 cup wholemeal spelt flour
• 1 apple, grated
• 1 egg
• 3 tablespoons peanut butter
• Extra peanut butter for the ‘frosting’

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to gas mark 4 or 180°C (160°C for a fan oven).
2. Grease a 10cm spring form tin and put to one side. 
3. Mix all of the ingredients in a bowl (reserving the extra peanut butter for the frosting) and mix until smooth.
4. Pour your cake mixture into the prepared baking tin.
5. Bake for 20 minutes or until a skewer inserted comes out clean. 
6. Remove from the oven and set aside to cool. 
7. Once cool, ‘frost’ the top of the cake by spreading it with peanut butter. 
8. Your pupcake is now ready to serve.

These holiday-shaped biscuits give your dog a crunchy treat they will be sure to love.

Ingredients

• 140g self-raising wholemeal flour 
• 25g Rolled oats 
• 100g Nutty Peanut Butter 
• 1 tbsp runny honey 
• 1 Medium egg
• 40ml cold water  

• 50g low-fat greek yoghurt (for the topping)
• 1/2 tsp runny honey (for the topping)
• 30 dried cranberries (for the  topping)

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to Gas Mark 5 or 190°C (170°C for a fan oven). 
2. Line two baking trays with baking paper.
3. Mix the flour and oats in a bowl.
4.  In a jug whisk together the peanut butter, honey, egg and water.
5. Make a well in the centre of the flour and pour in the peanut butter mixture. 
6. Using a palette knife bring together the mixture to make a stiff dough.
7. Next, roll out the dough on a surface lightly dusted with flour to 4mm thickness and cut out 30 round shapes using a 5cm plain round cutter. 
8. Transfer the cookies onto the baking sheets evenly spaced out.
9. Bake the cookies for 15-18 minutes until golden brown. 
10. Remove from the oven and leave the biscuits to slightly cool on the trays before transferring to a wire rack.

Decorating

1. When they have completely cooled they are ready to decorate.
2. Mix together the yoghurt and honey in a small bowl. 
3. Put the yoghurt in a small piping bag and snip the end. 
4. Pipe a small amount of yoghurt onto each cookie to resemble the sauce on top of a Christmas pudding. 
5. Finally, add a dried cranberry on top of the yoghurt.

To prevent them from becoming soggy only decorate each biscuit when you are ready to serve.

Give your dog a winter-warming drink to enjoy with their treats.

Ingredients

• 2 cups coconut milk
• 2 tbsp carob powder
• 2 tbsp honey
• 2 tsp vanilla extract

Note: No chocolate is used in this drink. Chocolate contains theobromine which is extremely toxic to dogs. Carob powder is a great alternative to Cacao.

Cooking Instructions

1. Mix the milk and carob powder in a small saucepan over medium heat, whisking to remove any lumps.
2. Stir in honey and vanilla extract. 
3. Continue heating to the desired temperature.
4. Let the mixture cool slightly before giving it to your dog to slurp it up.

Christmas time is a magical time for us here at Bruce’s.

Each year our expert team curates an unforgettable winter enrichment program full of festive fun. From christmassy arts & crafts to sniffing out the treats in Santa’s Grotto, bringing the spirit of the season alive and joy to every dog.

If you would like your dog to get involved this year there is still time to enrol. Get in touch with our team today.

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