Homemade Holiday Dog Treats

Christmas is just around the corner, bringing some degree of stress to each and every one of us. We want to buy the perfect presents for our loved ones and each year we end up asking ourselves the same question, “what should I buy?” During this time of year, many of us tend to get so caught up in all the Christmas hustle and bustle, stressing around as we try to “get ready” for Christmas, that those we love the most get lost in our busy days. Yes, we sometimes forget our dear pets. What about their presents? Luckily, our four-legged friends are easy to satisfy and simple homemade treats will make them more than happy. Here’s a few ideas for delicious, homemade holiday dog treats:

#1 Homemade Holiday Peanut Butter Dog Treats:

Ingredients:
2 cups of all-purpose flour
1 cup of whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon molasses
2 tablespoons natural peanut butter
2 tablespoons vegetable or canola oil

How to do:
Mix 2 cups all-purpose flour and 1 cup of whole wheat flour in a medium sized bowl. In a large bowl, mix 1 teaspoon molasses, 2 tablespoons natural peanut butter and 2 tablespoons vegetable or canola oil. Add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients and mix until it’s smooth. Scoop into small balls and place the balls on a baking sheet sprayed with cooking spray. If you want, you can get out your cookie cutters and have some Christmas fun! Bake at 180 degrees C for approximately 30 minutes. Cool your homemade peanut butter treats before giving them to your dog. Store these treats in a sealed container for up to a week.

#2 Homemade Dog Christmas Cake

Ingredients:
2 cups of whole wheat flour
¼ cup of wheat germ
2 teaspoons of baking powder
1 teaspoons of ground cinnamon
1 cup of molasses
½ cup of canola oil
2 eggs
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
1 apple, chopped

How to do:
Preheat the oven to 180 degrees C. Oil a 12 cup bundt pan with vegetable oil and flour. In a bowl you mix the flour, wheat germ, baking powder, and cinnamon together and set it on the side. Then in another large bowl mix together the molasses, and oil, then add in the eggs and beat them until they blend in. Then add in the vanilla along with ½ cup of water. Add the flour mixture to the wet mixture and mix it well until it becomes smooth. Then fold in the chopped apple pieces. Put the batter into the pan and place it in the oven. Bake for around 30 to 40 minutes. Cool the cake completely before serving it.

#3 Homemade Holiday Pumpkin Dog Treats

Ingredient:
2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
2 eggs
1/2 cup canned pumpkin
2 tablespoons peanut butter
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

How to do:
Preheat oven to 175 degrees C. Whisk together the flour, eggs, pumpkin, peanut butter, salt, and cinnamon in a bowl. Add water as needed to help make the dough workable, but the dough should be dry and stiff. Roll the dough into a 1/2-inch-thick roll. Cut into 1/2-inch pieces. Bake the pieces in the preheated oven until they are hard, about 40 minutes. Cool the treats completely before serving.

If you want to make a real homemade meal for your pup, check out these delicious recipes!