Dog Treats

Name: Christmas dog treats recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 18 min
Total time: 58 min
Yield: 40
Cuisine: Dog
Ingredients: 2 cups ground oats (see note); 1/2 cup peanut butter (see note); 2 tbsp. molasses; 1 tsp. ground cinnamon; 1 egg (substitute flax or chia seed egg); 3 tbsp. low-fat cream cheese; 4 tbsp. plain yogurt; pinch of ground cinnamon

Christmas dog treats recipe

December 13, 2021

Home » Dog Treats

This 5 ingredient Christmas dog treats recipe is a healthier way to spoil your pup during the holidays. Drizzle with dog-friendly icing to make them extra special! Homemade dog treat recipes don’t have to be time-consuming or difficult and this quick and easy recipe is proof.

Christmas dog treat with frosting standing up in front of plate of dog cookies.

This simple recipe is mixed up in one bowl for easy cleanup. Then, roll out the dough, cut out your dog cookies and bake.

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Christmas dog biscuit recipe

Homemade dog treats are the perfect way to spoil your pup and what better time to do that than at the holidays?

Dog biscuits for Christmas stacked on top of each other with lights in the background.

When I’m baking cookies to share with friends and neighbors, I always include a little something for their pups.

This tasty treat (I know it’s good because I ate one) is something nice for their dogs and the icing drizzled on top makes them a little special.

Making treats for your dog is no more difficult than a batch of cookies. Plus, there are so many options when you make them yourself.

Ingredients

This Christmas cookie for dogs is made from 5 simple ingredients: ground oats, molasses, egg, cinnamon and peanut butter.

Ground oats – put rolled oats into food processor and grind until they are almost oat flour consistency with a few small pieces still in the mix. You could also buy oat flour, but making it yourself is less expensive.
Molasses – regular molasses (I used Grandma’s brand), not blackstrap.
Egg – I used a large egg.
Cinnamon – regular ground cinnamon, nothing fancy.
Peanut butter – PLEASE make sure your PB doesn’t contain xylitol. (These brands contain xylitol, so avoid them for dog treats: Go Nuts, Co., Hank’s Protein Plus Peanut Butter, Krush Nutrition, Nuts ‘N More, and P28)

3 dog treats stacked on top of each other.

What you need to make this recipe

Here is a list of helpful tools and equipment for making dog treats. Below are the items that I use most often.

11 cup food processor – all of my recipes are developed using this food processor.
Bone shaped cookie cutters – this is the exact same set that I have.
Rolling dowel – Used in almost every recipe for dog biscuits.
A small cookie scoop – make drop style cookies instead of rolling cutout treats.
Sturdy spatula – this is a stiff dough, you’ll need a good spatula.
Disposable piping bags – for icing (optional)

Christmas dog treats recipe with icing in front of cookie cutter.

How to make this Christmas dog treats recipe

First, grind oats in the bowl of a food processor. You can see that they are pretty finely ground, but not quite flour consistency.

If you don’t have a food processor, you can purchase oat flour.

Then, you’ll beat the egg with the cinnamon and molasses in a small bowl. Stir in the peanut butter and mix it in until it is uniform.

Lastly, stir in the ground oats and mix thoroughly. Roll out the dough, cut your shapes and bake!

How to make Christmas dog treats step by step photos.

To drizzle these Christmas dog cookies with icing, you’ll need to let them cool completely, just like any cookie. Let them cool on a rack for about 30 minutes before icing.

How to make dog friendly icing

This is the easiest dog icing ever! Mix a few tablespoons of low fat cream cheese with either plain yogurt or peanut butter. To get it to “piping consistency”, add a teaspoon or two of water to thin it out. That’s it – it couldn’t be easier.

Frequency asked questions

How long do homemade dog treats last?

Remember that these Christmas treats do not contain preservatives like commercially made biscuits. For best results, store in the fridge for up to 2 weeks, or freeze (before icing) to store for longer.

Can dogs eat oatmeal?

Yes! Oatmeal in small quantities is great for dogs with sensitive stomachs. It is also part of a hypoallergenic diet for dogs with food sensitivities.

What is the best place to store treats?

Choose a cool, dry, dark location for best results. Do not store near the stove or in direct sunlight. Make sure treats are completely cooled before storing.

Can I use a dehydrator to make treats extra crunchy?

Yes – you can use a dehydrator to pull even more moisture out of homemade biscuits. As each model is different, check your manual for your specific dehydrator.

DIY dog treats make great homemade Christmas gifts too. I like to make small dog treat bags to give away to friends and neighbors who have dogs.

Dog cookies for Christmas on a plate with Christmas decorations in the background.

Quick tips and tricks for the best dog treats

To save a few minutes, grind the oats in the food processor ahead of time.

Roll the treat dough between sheets of parchment paper to avoid using flour. If that isn’t a concern, liberally flour the countertop before rolling out the dough.

Roll dough out to 1/4 inch thickness for treats – this gives a good-sized treat without being too thick. Also, the baking time and the yield could vary if you roll them out thinner or thicker.

Be gentle when cutting Christmas dog cookies out of dough – if it breaks, just press it back together on the baking sheet before baking.

Dog treat recipes

Christmas isn’t the only time to spoil your pup – check out these recipes too.

If you love this recipe, please give it 5 stars!

I hope your pup loves this Christmas dog treats recipe as much as Sugar does! Please consider rating and/or commenting.

Your shares help this site to grow and I appreciate it so much. Do you know someone who would like this? I’d love it if you would share it on Facebook or pin it to your favorite recipe board.

Yield: 40 treats

Christmas dog treats recipe

This Christmas dog treats recipe is a quick and easy way to spoil your pup during the holidays.

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 18 minutes

Cooling Time (OPTIONAL) 30 minutes

Total Time 58 minutes

Ingredients

For treats

2 cups ground oats (see note)
1/2 cup peanut butter (see note)
2 tbsp. molasses
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 egg (substitute flax or chia seed egg)

For dog-friendly icing

3 tbsp. low-fat cream cheese
4 tbsp. plain yogurt
pinch of ground cinnamon

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F / 180°C.
In a medium mixing bowl, whisk egg with cinnamon and molasses.
Stir in peanut butter, mix until combined.
Stir in ground oats and mix until thoroughly combined and uniform.
Roll out dough between sheets of parchment paper to 1/4" thickness. Use a 2 inch cookie cutter to cut out treats.
Place on parchment-lined baking sheet, spacing an inch apart and bake for 18 - 22 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool on sheet pan for 5 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack to cool completely.
Combine all ingredients for icing in a small bowl and drizzle over cooled dog treats. Let icing set for about 2 hours before storing.

Notes

Grind old-fashioned oats in food processor, or buy oat flour if you don't have a food processor.

Please see post for brands of peanut butter that contain xylitol - these are to be avoided for the safety of your pet.

Use regular molasses, not blackstrap.

Place dog-friendly icing in a piping bag or a zip-top bag with the corner snipped off to drizzle icing.

Potato dog treats with cheese

November 10, 2021

Home » Dog Treats

Soft and cheesy potato dog treats are a delicious way to spoil your pup. This quick and easy dog biscuit proves that homemade dog treat recipes don’t have to be complicated. They are less expensive than store-bought and so much better for your dog.

Dogs know a good thing when they’ve got it and homemade dog treats beat store bought every single time.

Potato dog treats on marble board with rolled oats.

This recipe is sponsored by my friends at Idaho® Potato. I am so pleased to work with them. As always, all opinions, recipe and photos are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that support Pook’s Pantry.

Dog treats without flour

A simple DIY dog biscuit with oats instead of flour can be especially good for dogs with allergies or digestive issues. Plain, unflavored old-fashioned oats (porridge) are what I use in many of my dog biscuit recipes.

Oats can be ground into flour using a food processor or a powerful blender.

Cheesy potato dog treats with rolled oats on baking sheet.

The addition of potatoes keeps these treats soft, which is perfect for dogs with dental issues or senior dogs.

The next time you are making mashed potatoes, add an extra potato to the pot for these treats! Just make sure to keep it plain for your pup – no butter and cream, please.

Ingredients

This quick and easy 6 ingredient potato dog treat is made with common ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen.

I used an Idaho® russet potato for this treat because it has a light, fluffy texture. A waxy potato would not work quite as well here, because the texture is entirely different. That being said, if that’s all you have, use it.

How to make potato dog treats

First, you’ll need to boil the potato. Then use a masher or a potato ricer to break it up. A ricer will make it smoother and it is also makes the best mashed potatoes.

Next, combine all of the ingredients (except the water) in a large mixing bowl.

Step by step instructions for making dog treats.

Use a sturdy spatula to combine it all together. At this point, feel your dough. If it is a little dry and you need a splash of water, add a tablespoon of two. I did not need any water at all for my treats, they were just the right consistency.

Baked potato dog treats on baking sheet.

Now, you can either scoop your potato treats out and make round treats, or the other option is to roll them out to cut out shapes. To avoid using flour, roll the treats out between sheets of parchment paper.

This dough is very soft, so if you choose to roll them out, be patient. It is a little fiddly, because it is not a firm dough.

Healthy treats made at home don’t contain additives, preservatives or questionable ingredients like fillers. All dogs, no matter their age or diet, benefit from a healthier option.

Dog treat with potato and cheese on white background.

Helpful tools and equipment

These dog treats taste a bit like a cheesy baked potato – for your pup. They are very quick and easy, especially with the help of these tools to get the job done:

How to store dog biscuits

Remember that these treats do not contain preservatives like commercially made biscuits. My recommendation is always to store them in the refrigerator.

Soft potato dog biscuits with cheese. Treat container in the background.

Keep them in an airtight treat container. I like this one because it’s easy to get into and it seals really well, keeping the treats fresh. Here is a list for all things dog that you can check out.

More homemade dog treats:

If you love this potato dog treat recipe, please give it 5 stars!

I hope your pup loves this treat as much as Sugar did! Please consider rating and/or commenting.

Your shares help this site to grow and I appreciate it so much. Do you know someone who would like this? I’d love it if you would share it on Facebook or pin it to your favorite recipe board.

Yield: 40 - 2 inch treats