We’re only days away from the most festive time of the year, which means one of two things: you’re all done with your Christmas shopping, you’ve planned the food, and you spend most of your nights relaxing in front of the TV with a warm drink. Or … you’re panicking, and scrambling for last-minute gifts and ideas. It’s OK, we’ve all been there, and you can still have an amazing Christmas with all the trimmings.
Then it hits you: You’ve forgotten about the dog. Sure, animals don’t understand the concept of Christmas, but they sure do understand the concept of love and fun. And what’s more Christmassy than that? So with that in mind, here are a handful of dog treat recipes you can try to make your pup's Christmas extra special.
The following recipes all use dog-safe human food, so no need to make a last-minute dash to the pet store, either.
Coconut Snowballs
This one is a simple no-bake recipe for dogs that have a bit of a sweet tooth. This one uses quite a few pantry staples, so shopping will be minimal. This is also the perfect recipe to make with kids, as there are no sharp objects and no heat, and it mainly just involves rolling some dough into balls. Needless to say, both your kids and your dog will have a great time in the kitchen with these snowballs.
STEPS:
- In a food processor or blender, dump the following ingredients: 1 cup of oat flour, 1 cup plain yogurt, 1 tablespoon coconut oil, 1/4 cup unsweetened peanut butter, and 1 cup unsweetened shredded coconut. Pulverize until it becomes a malleable dough. Add more flour if it isn’t doughy enough, but make sure the dough is slightly sticky for the final step.
- Roll the dough into separate small balls by hand. The size of the balls will depend on the size of your dog. For small dogs, roll into the size of a grape or chestnut, and for bigger dogs a ping pong ball.
- Roll each snowball around on a plate of shredded coconut, making sure each ball is evenly coated in the shreds. Once they're done, it's time to start the tastiest snowball fight.
Winter Berry Treats
Another no-bake treat that is even easier than the snowballs: frozen winter berry yogurt. These treats are great for your dog as not only do fruits and yogurts contain so many great nutrients for your dog, but since they’re frozen they won’t just gulp it down in one go. If using raspberries, remember to give the treats in moderation, as they contain antioxidants that are amazing for dogs, but also contain small amounts of xylitol, which isn’t great when consumed often. This also goes for certain brands of peanut butter, so be warned.
STEPS:
- In a bowl, mix some chopped berries, such as strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries, into a tub of Greek yogurt. The measurements don’t really matter, as we’re pretty much just making dog popsicles here.
- Pour the mixture into a freezer-safe mold, or ice cube tray if you can’t find a silicone mold in time. You can use any shape you’d like — Christmas trees, candy canes, reindeer, anything Christmassy, but stars are less likely to break coming out of the mold and they’re easy to find in grocery stores.
- Before you freeze the treats, gently bang the mold on the counter to get rid of any air bubbles. Freeze overnight, and voilà!
Fishy Christmas Trees
Time for a change of taste with something a little meatier: mackerel cookies. This microwavable three-ingredient recipe is perfect for when you have some canned fish lying around in your pantry. But more importantly, fish isn’t just good for cats, but your dog too. It’s an amazing source of omega-3 fatty acids, which do great things for their coat, skin, and heart.
STEPS:
- Drain the mackerel, and place it in a mixing bowl. Smush the fish with a fork until it becomes mush.
- Mix in one egg, and gradually mix in 3 tablespoons of flour. The mixture shouldn’t be too doughy but should be easy to spread.
- Place the mixture into a microwave-safe silicone mold, and microwave on medium-high for three minutes. You may have to adjust this time based on the power of your microwave. When cool, pop out the trees, and you’ll have a chewy and healthy dog snack.
Cinnamon Peanut Butter Cookies
Let’s shift our attention to baking, but don’t worry, it’s still a quick process that involves just one mixing bowl. These oat-based Christmas cookies are a hearty and addictive snack for your dog. Before you start, preheat your oven to 350°F/180°C.
STEPS:
- Whisk an egg into 2 tablespoons of molasses, and add 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon. Stir in 1/2 cup of peanut butter, and 2 cups of ground oats.
- Mix until it becomes a workable dough, then roll the mixture out onto a floured surface to around 1/2 inch thick. Use a cookie cutter in a Christmassy shape to cut out several treats.
- Line a baking tray with parchment paper, and space the cookies around 1 inch apart. Bake for 16 to 20 minutes. You can serve them as is once they’ve cooled down, or ice them with dog-safe icing for something a little extra!
