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Time to read 4 min
Every December, my dog Charlie turns into a living, breathing snow globe — except his “snow” is dog hair, floating through the air like festive glitter. And every December, I bake something special for him. It’s our little ritual: Christmas tree lights on, soft music playing, Charlie sitting beside the counter like a patient (but slightly drooling) sous-chef.
But last year was different.
Instead of buying the same generic store-bought treats, I wanted to make something real, something wholesome, something that made the whole house smell like warm cinnamon and peanut butter. I wanted treats that felt like Christmas — not just a snack.
That’s where this recipe came from.
And after testing different versions — some too crumbly, some too sticky, some that fell apart the moment I looked at them I finally created a Christmas dog treat that:
✨ Holds together before baking
✨ Stays solid after baking
✨ Freezes perfectly
✨ Smells like Christmas morning
✨ Is safe for dogs
This recipe is one of my proudest — and Charlie-approved — holiday creations.
Most homemade dog treats crumble, fall apart, or melt after freezing.
This recipe solves all of that because it uses three real-life binding ingredients:
Natural fat + protein → creates structure.
Acts as a binder when baked (firm structure).
Adds stability in the no-bake version.
Absorbs moisture + holds shape without crumbling.
These three together create a treat that:
✔ holds shape before baking
✔ stays firm after baking
✔ freezes beautifully without breaking
✔ doesn’t melt or become mushy
10 minutes
12–15 minutes
About 20 small treats
Christmas Dog Treats
United States
| Ingredient | Safe? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Oat flour | ✔ | Gentle on tummies; good binder |
| Natural peanut butter (xylitol-free) | ✔ | MUST be xylitol-free |
| Egg | ✔ | High protein, natural binder |
| Unsweetened applesauce | ✔ | Adds moisture + holiday sweetness |
| Cinnamon | ✔ | Optional; small amount only |
| Water | ✔ | Adjust for dough texture |
Total recipe:
2 cups oat flour
½ cup peanut butter
1 egg
¼ cup applesauce
½ tsp cinnamon (optional)
¼–½ cup water
Add more ingredients if the mixture feels too watery!
This post includes two versions:
🍪 Version 1: Oven-Baked Christmas Treats — long-lasting, giftable, crunchy
❄️ Version 2: No-Bake Frozen Bites — soft, cooling, perfect for quick treats
(Holds together before & after baking — perfect for gifting!)
(Same as your original list)
In a medium bowl, whisk together:
½ cup peanut butter
1 egg
¼ cup applesauce
A splash of water
Warm peanut butter 10–15 seconds if too thick.
Add:
2 cups oat flour
½ tsp cinnamon
Mix until a soft cookie dough forms.
If too sticky → add 1–2 Tbsp oat flour.
If too dry → add 1–2 tsp water.
The dough should feel like Play-Doh.
Roll dough into:
stars ⭐
gingerbread men 🧁
mini bones 🦴
holiday rounds 🎄
Or press into silicone molds.
Make sure shapes are ½ inch thick so they stay together after baking.
Bake at 175°C (350°F) for 12–15 minutes until edges are golden.
They firm as they cool — don’t overbake!
This sets the structure and keeps your treats crisp.
Store for 7–10 days in an airtight container.
(Freeze perfectly — won’t crumble or melt)
Combine:
peanut butter
egg
applesauce
water
Whisk smooth.
Stir in oat flour + cinnamon until dough is thick and scoopable.
Spoon into silicone molds and press down firmly
(this helps them stay together when frozen).
Pop out and store in freezer.
Perfect after playtime or on warm days.
Safe for puppies 8+ weeks
Always use xylitol-free peanut butter
Avoid nutmeg (toxic for dogs)
Cinnamon is safe in small amounts
Introduce new treats slowly
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| Dough too sticky | Add oat flour 1 Tbsp at a time |
| Dough too dry | Add water 1 tsp at a time |
| Treats crumble after baking | Dough was too dry — add more applesauce next time |
| Frozen treats too soft | Add extra oat flour or freeze longer |
| Shapes spread in oven | Dough too wet — chill 10 min before baking |
| Feature | Baked Version | Frozen Version |
|---|---|---|
| Texture | Crunchy | Soft & cool |
| Shelf Life | 7–10 days | 2 months in freezer |
| Best For | Gifts, training | Hot days, sensitive teeth |
| Ingredients | Same | Same |
| Difficulty | Easy | Very easy |
| Mess-Level | Low | Very low |
Last Christmas morning, I filled Charlie’s stocking with:
🎄 6 baked treats
🎄 8 frozen treats (in a bag of ice inside the stocking)
He sniffed, spun, barked, and practically danced.
There’s som
ething special about giving your dog something you created, something that smells like Christmas warmth, peanut butter, and cinnamon.
It felt like giving him a little piece of holiday joy.
| Ingredient | Safe Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Peanut butter | 1–2 tsp per treat | Must be xylitol-free |
| Cinnamon | ¼–½ tsp | Avoid cassia in large amounts |
| Applesauce | 1–2 tbsp | Only unsweetened |
| Egg | 1 egg per recipe | Safe & nutritious |
| Oats | Unlimited | Gentle carbohydrate |
This Christmas peanut butter dog treat recipe is:
✔ safe
✔ delicious
✔ festive
✔ freezer-friendly
✔ easy to shape
✔ perfect for gifting
✔ perfect for Pinterest
Whether you bake them or freeze them, your dog will love the warm, sweet, holiday flavor — and you’ll love how simple and reliable the recipe is.
Christmas is about making memories.
And these treats?
They’ve become one of ours.
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