Homemade Gingerbread Dog Treats

A few days ago, we celebrated Oliver’s birthday! (Ok, I celebrated it, but you get it.) Back in February, Rosie turned 10 so I maked her doggy cupcakes. If you haven’t read that post, you can check it out and get the recipe here.

For Oliver’s birthday, I wanted to make him some sort of special treat. My Mom found this recipe for some homemade gingerbread dog treats in a magazine, so I thought I’d give it a try. Oliver and Rosie loved them. I will say that Oliver eats anything and everything, including dirt, so when it comes to food, I judge their enjoyment on Rosie’s reaction.

The Recipe

The original recipe makes so many treats. Since only two dogs would be getting them, and Rosie is on a special diet, I cut the recipe in half. There is also frosting that goes along with the biscuits, but because of the quantity and diet restrictions, I did not make it. This is the recipe I used.

The Treats

• 1 cup of whole wheat flour
• 3/4 cup of rye flour
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/2 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1/4 cup peanut butter
• 1 large egg

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
3. Mix dry ingredients in bowl.
4. In separate bowl, beat the oil, honey, peanut butter, and egg.
5. Slowly stir in the dry mixture.
6. On a floured surface, knead dough until solid.
7. Roll out the dough to about 1/4 inch thick (use flour as necessary).
8. Cut out the shapes with knife or cookie cutter.
9. Bake biscuits until brown and crisp, about 15-25 minutes.
10. Let biscuits cool completely before adding frosting and/or giving to your dog.

The Frosting

• 4 ounces of low-fat cream cheese
• 1/4 cup plain yogurt
• 1 teaspoon honey

1. Mix ingredients in a large bowl until smooth.
2. Spread frosting onto cooled biscuits.

Taste Time!

Human Verdict

Yes, I tried these treats. They just smelled really good. I broke a small piece off of one of them, took a deep breath, and popped it into my mouth. Honestly? They weren’t terrible. They definitely tasted like a gingerbread cookie. But, they definitely were not as good or as flavorful as the cookies I make at Christmas time. Also, they were a lot more dry than I expected them to be. But, I don’t know why I wasn’t not anticipating that.

Dog’s Verdict

When it was finally time for the taste test, Oliver and Rosie were so excited. They both loved them. Rosie had no problem biting into them, but, Oliver had some trouble getting that first bite. Once I was able to convince him I wasn’t taking the treat away, I broke it in half for him and he had no problem.

To prevent any issues if your dog is smaller, I recommend cutting the pieces smaller before putting them in the oven. Breaking it in half does work just as well. But I wanted to mention it, especially if your dog is territorial or protective. Oliver has bitten us in the past over things like this, so while I’ve gotten him to a point where he understands I’m helping him, it’s better to avoid the issue altogether.

Would you consider making homemade gingerbread treats for your dog? If you do, let me know how it goes! I’d love to know your thoughts and see photos of the taste test! To read about the pupcakes that I made for Rosie’s 10th birthday, head here.

What type of dog-related content would you like to see on my blog? Let me know in the comments below! In the meantime, check out my tips for adopting a dog or read more about my own dogs!

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