What better way to get into the festive mood than enjoying some Christmas treats for dogs?

This list of exciting holiday dog treats recipes is so good; it can be hard for you to resist sneaking a few!

1. Gingerbread Cookies

If you’re wondering, “how can I make my dog’s Christmas special?”, why not bake this iconic holiday treat for it?

This dog-friendly version of the classic cookies takes less than an hour to make. This gingerbread dog cookies recipe is very beginner friendly and involves a few simple steps.

Ginger is a good digestive aid, so technically, this can be a healthy treat. The best part is you can switch out whole wheat flour for any other kind and make the treats in any shape!

2. Healthy Veggie Cookies

Get your dog on the healthy diet bandwagon with this healthy Christmas dog treats recipe. It combines spinach, zucchini, and carrot with oats, pumpkin, peanut butter, and more nutrient-packed ingredients.

The veggie dog cookie recipe takes roughly an hour to prepare and allows you to customize the crunchiness of the biscuits according to your dog’s preferences. Simply take them out of the oven earlier for a soft chew or keep them in longer to make them crunchier.

You can modify the shape and size of these cookies based on your dog’s size, so it won’t have trouble chewing.

Make sure you let these treats cool completely before your dog taste-tests them!

3. Peanut Butter Pupcakes

Cakes are the simple solution to questions like, “what treats do dogs like the most?”

But Lois Anne Starr warns against feeding your dog a piece of your cake: "It is so difficult to resist those pleading brown eyes, so hopeful of sharing what you eat. Responsible owners will not share their food with their dogs. There are a few reasons for this. Besides sweets as a health hazard, a dog’s behavior can also lead him into trouble with food."

Instead, bake these cute peanut butter pupcakes that contain delicious ingredients suited for dogs and are light on calories. They’re the best Christmas treats for dogs when it keeps giving you pleading eyes every time you eat.

The recipe uses very few ingredients and is ready within an hour. The frosting, however, might require a bit more time.

And if your pup takes a liking to these pupcakes, you can make them again on its birthday!

4. Oat and Apple Pretzels

Put to rest all your worries like, “what can I give my dog as a special treat?”

Make this four-ingredient dog treats recipe that requires oat flour, rolled oats, unsweetened applesauce, and one egg. These are perfect for making on a tight schedule and last long on the shelf—just put the pretzels in an airtight container.

These mini oat and apple pretzel treats look attractive to dogs, so you can also dole them out when your pup is tired of the same-old treats.

"Not necessarily the idea of the reward, but they will get bored of the same reward. Mix up the treats to keep them keen," says Reddit user Megalox on solutions for when your dog wants new rewards.

5. Peanut Butter and Oats Biscuits

The best Christmas dog treats are easy to make, need just a few ingredients, and are delicious for pup taste buds. And this recipe ticks all those boxes.

This peanut butter and oat cookie recipe only needs oat flour, peanut butter, and unsweetened applesauce. You can also serve it with a dog-friendly topping of cream cheese, yogurt, and cinnamon.

This is also great if you need treats to keep in storage for longer. These cookies will last five days in an airtight container, two weeks in the refrigerator, and up to three months in the freezer.

6. Mini Pumpkin Pies

For anyone wondering, “what are the best holiday treats for dogs?” during the pumpkin-picking season, mini pumpkin pies are a great option!

This Christmas dog treats recipe involves making and baking pie crust and then making the filling and scooping it into the crust. Pumpkin is the main ingredient, which is a great prebiotic that can relieve certain cases of diarrhea in dogs.

You can prepare these within an hour—easy as pie!

7. Frozen Peanut Butter Treats

It’s getting cold, but some of us are still wondering, “what cool treats can I give my dog?”

Save this frozen peanut butter treats recipe in your roster of easy, no-cook dog treat recipes, which also doubles up as a post-game treat. Just put peanut butter in one of the holes in your dog’s toys, and freeze it. And your pet can enjoy cool peanut butter treats on warm afternoons!

You'll find these quite helpful in keeping your dog busy when you're prepping for the holidays. The toys can also ensure your dog gets enough mental stimulation.

8. Cranberry Cookie Treats

Resolve food-related questions like, “can dogs eat peaches or berries” before diving into the easy homemade Christmas dog treats recipes.

And if it is cranberries you’re considering, there’s no need to worry so long as you feed it to your dog in moderation.

Here's what Lesley Evans advises dog owners on feeding cranberries to dogs: "They are not toxic if fed in moderation. Whole or dried cranberries are safe for dogs, but things like cranberry juice and cranberry sauce are not really ok."

One of the best Christmas treats for dogs recipe, this one uses dried cranberries and gluten-free flour.

Takeaway

Give your dog the ultimate holiday gift by whipping up some of these easy and tasty homemade treats. Prepare to cook an extra batch of these healthy snacks for yourself too!