How To Make Homemade Gingerbread Dog Treats

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It’s the most wonderful time of year to bake and when calories don’t count. Well, that’s what I tell myself at least. My sister and I love to decorate gingerbread men and gingerbread houses while listening to Christmas songs. Our fun memories inspired me to make homemade gingerbread dog treats for my dog, Teddy. 

This gingerbread cookie recipe is easy to make, fun to decorate, and will leave your home smelling of gingerbread scents. You can use these homemade gingerbread cookies in an advent calendar so your dog can enjoy them the whole holiday season. They also make a great gift idea for friends with dogs.

The Easiest Homemade Gingerbread Cookies For Dogs

You can’t share human gingerbread men with your dog because they have too much sugar, fat, artificial sweeteners, and possibly have toxic baking spices that could be detrimental to your dog’s health. But you can make your canine companion their own dog version that they will drool over!

Use dog-safe ingredients like flour, molasses, ginger, cinnamon, eggs, and coconut oil to make the easiest homemade gingerbread cookies for dogs. Have fun decorating the gingerbread men dog treats with greek yogurt to give them character. 

Ingredients

Dog-safe ingredients for these gingerbread treats can be easily found at your local grocery store.

• Whole wheat flour- Use any flour in your pantry such as all-purpose flour. Make this recipe gluten-free for dogs with sensitive stomachs by using oat flour or coconut flour. Note you may not get the same textured dog treats.
• Molasses- Molasses can be safe for dogs in small portions but please consult a veterinarian.
• Coconut oil
• Ground cinnamon
• Ground ginger- Use organic ginger if you’d like to make organic dog biscuit.
• Eggs- Help bind all the dry ingredients and are packed with protein.
• Plain greek yogurt- Skip the greek yogurt if your dog is lactose intolerant. 

Ingredient And Recipe Notes

• Easily decorate the gingerbread dog treats by pouring greek yogurt into a ziplock baggie, squeezing the bag, and cutting a small tip.
• Use any shaped cookie cutter such as a dog bone to make dog bones instead of gingerbread men shaped cookies.

Can Dogs Eat Gingerbread Cookies

No, dogs shouldn’t eat the human version of gingerbread cookies, ginger snaps, ginger biscuits, or gingerbread houses. These may have ingredients such as nutmeg, clove, allspice and artificial sweetener which are considered toxic to dogs. Your canine friend can have health problems such as an upset stomach, increased heart rate, high blood pressure any more.

Ginger on its own is safe for dogs in small doses.

Pet owners can make their furry friends this dog-friendly gingerbread cookie recipe made with dog-safe ingredients; flour, coconut oil, cinnamon, and molasses.

Can Dogs Have Molasses?

Yes, molasses can be safe for dogs in moderation. Molasses are a concentrated form of sugar used to make many types of baked goods and some commercial dog treats. The high sugar content isn’t a healthy option for your dog’s diet and should only be given sparingly. 

There are different types of molasses. Light molasses come from the first boiling of sugar cane or sugar beets. It’s higher in sugar content. Dark molasses come from the second boiling of sugar cane or beets making it less sugary than light molasses. Blackstrap molasses comes from a third boiling process, making it the lowest sugar content of the different kinds of molasses and the best type of molasses to use in treats. 

The molasses I used to make the recipe is light molasses (Grandma’s). Use an alternative natural sweetener if your dog suffers from diabetes or obesity.

Is Cinnamon Safe For Dogs

A small amount of cinnamon powder is safe for dogs. On the other hand, cinnamon sticks, cinnamon essential oil, and large amounts of cinnamon in a dog’s diet can cause an upset stomach. It’s a good idea for dog owners to give small amounts of ground cinnamon the first time to see if their dog has any side effects.

Ceylon cinnamon and cassia cinnamon are common types of cinnamon found in human foods and can be used in these homemade dog treats. 

How much cinnamon can you give your dog?

Although cinnamon isn’t considered to be toxic to dogs, no more than a teaspoon of cinnamon is recommended at a time. It also depends on the size of your dog’s body. Call the pet poison helpline if your furry friend accidentally eats large quantities or has side effects such as vomiting, diarrhea, difficulty breathing, or other allergic reaction.

Keep in mind, although cinnamon is a safe spice for dogs, pet parents should avoid other baking spices such as pre-mixed pumpkin spice, nutmeg, clove, or allspice which are all toxic to dogs. These baking spices can have adverse effects such as increased heart rate, high blood pressure, and abdominal pain.

Equipment Needed

• Gingerbread men cookie cutter
• Mixing bowls
• Wire racks or cooling rack
• Parchment paper (optional)

How To Make Homemade Gingerbread Dog Treats

This gingerbread dog treat recipe is simpler to make than you think! Here are the step-by-step directions. At the bottom of this post, you can find the printable recipe card.

1. Preheat oven to 350 Degrees F

2. Combine oil, molasses, and egg in a small bowl. 

3. Shift flour, ginger, and cinnamon into a large bowl. 

4. Pour wet ingredients into the bowl of dry ingredients and mix well until a dough forms.

5. Refrigerate dough for at least 30 minutes.

6. Cut dough into shapes with fun holiday-themed cookie cutters. 

7. Flour your workspace and roll the ball of dough out to 1/4 inch thickness. 

8. Place cookies on a baking sheet or parchment paper and bake for about 20-25 minutes or until golden.

9. Allow cookies to completely cool on a wire rack. 

10. After the gingerbread dog treats cool to room temperature, use greek yogurt to decorate the gingerbread men dog treats. 

Recipe Variations

• Add peanut butter to the dog treat recipe to add more flavor your dog will love!
• Opt to add a small amount of ginger to your recipe.

Serving Size/How many dog treats should you give?

I recommend one dog treat but serving size should be determined by the size of your dog. Large dogs can have more than one dog treat while small dogs may need half a cookie. Please use your best judgment. 

How To Store Dog Treats

Store homemade dog treats in an airtight container in the fridge if you used greek yogurt to decorate your dog treats. Otherwise, they can sit in an airtight container outside the fridge.

Can Humans Eat These Gingerbread Dog Treats?

Absolutely! I’ve tried these dog treats and they are not as sweet as regular gingerbread treats. 

Holiday Homemade Dog Treat Gift Ideas

These homemade gingerbread dog treats are a great gift idea for friends with dogs. They are inexpensive and easy to make and your friends will be happy you thought of their dogs. Simply place them in a holiday-themed baggie, mason jar or tin and tie them off with fun ribbons or bows and you’ve got an easy gift idea! You can also use them in an advent calendar for your dog as I did in the photo above. This will give your dog something to look forward to each day as you count down to Christmas.

Other Homemade Dog Treat Recipes You Need To Try!

Dog Pupcakes

Homemade Thanksgiving Dinner For Your Dog

Blueberry Dog Treat Recipe