Christmas Themed Dog Treats

The first time I placed a tray of Christmas themed dog treats on the holiday table, my family thought they were sugar cookies for us. The red-and-green swirls, frosted paw prints, and tiny bone-shaped candy canes looked too good to be for dogs. But when my pup Barbara sniffed the tray and sat with her big hopeful eyes, everyone realized — these were hers. That moment turned holiday baking into a tradition we share together every year.

The holidays are full of themed desserts for people — gingerbread men, candy canes, star-shaped cookies. Dogs deserve the same festive fun without the sugar or unsafe ingredients. These recipes bring the spirit of Christmas to your pup’s plate, while being wholesome and easy to make.

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ cups oat flour

• ½ cup unsweetened applesauce

• ¼ cup peanut butter (xylitol-free)

• 1 egg

• Beet powder (for red color, optional)

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).

2. Mix applesauce, peanut butter, and egg. Stir in oat flour.

3. Divide dough into two halves. Add beet powder to one half for red coloring.

4. Roll ropes of each dough and twist together like candy canes.

5. Bake 15–18 minutes until firm.

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ cups oat flour

• ½ cup mashed banana

• ¼ cup puréed spinach (for green color)

• 1 egg

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).

2. Mix banana, spinach, and egg. Stir in flour until dough forms.

3. Roll out dough and cut into stars or tree shapes.

4. Bake 12–15 minutes until set but soft.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups oat flour

• ½ cup pumpkin purée

• 1 egg

• 2 tbsp coconut oil

Dog-Safe Frosting:

• ½ cup plain Greek yogurt

• 1 tsp cornstarch

• 1 tsp honey

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).

2. Mix pumpkin, egg, and coconut oil. Stir in flour until dough forms.

3. Roll and cut into snowflake shapes. Bake 15–18 minutes.

4. Mix yogurt, cornstarch, and honey for frosting.

5. Once cooled, pipe snowflake designs onto cookies.

• Colorful & Festive: Spinach for green, beet powder for red, yogurt for snow.

• Wholesome Ingredients: No sugar, no artificial colors.

• Holiday Fun: Looks like human cookies but made just for dogs.

• Digestive Friendly: Oats, pumpkin, and spinach support gut health.

• Add unsweetened coconut flakes for a “snow” effect.

• Use small piping bags to add details like dots, paw prints, or snowflakes.

• Mix beet powder (red) or spinach powder (green) into yogurt frosting for festive colors.

• Display on a cookie tray next to human desserts for a wow-factor.

• Baked cookies: Store in airtight tin for 7–10 days.

• Frosted treats: Keep in fridge up to 5 days.

• Freeze: Up to 2 months (frost after thawing for best look).

• Colors bleeding in frosting? Make sure treats are completely cooled before decorating.

• Too dry? Add 1–2 tbsp of applesauce or pumpkin to soften the dough.

• Frosting melting? Use thick Greek yogurt + cornstarch for stability, and keep decorated treats chilled.

• Switch colors: Use spirulina powder for green, turmeric for golden stars.

• Change base: Swap pumpkin for applesauce in snowflake biscuits.

• Add aroma: Sprinkle a pinch of cinnamon or ginger for extra holiday scent (safe in small amounts).

• Make mini versions: Cut smaller shapes for training treats or tiny pups.

These Christmas themed dog treats bring holiday magic to your pup’s plate. From candy cane twists to snowy biscuits, they look festive enough to impress guests but are safe and nourishing for your dog. Watching Barbara proudly enjoy her own Christmas cookies while the family snacks on theirs? That’s a tradition I’ll never skip again. 🎅🐾