Festive Homemade Dog Cookies for Christmas
Baking Christmas cookies is one of the most beloved holiday traditions—but who says humans should have all the fun? Your dog can enjoy the magic of the season too with festive, homemade cookies that are delicious, safe, and designed especially for canine taste buds. Whether your pup loves crunchy biscuits, peanut butter treats, or soft-baked snacks, making your own dog cookies is a wonderful way to give them something special while knowing exactly what’s going into their holiday goodies.
In this guide, we’ll walk through the basics of dog-safe baking, highlight festive flavors, and share easy cookie recipes that will have your pup wagging through the entire holiday season.
Why Bake Christmas Dog Cookies?
Homemade dog cookies don’t just taste great—they offer several benefits:
1. You control the ingredients.
Store-bought treats often contain preservatives, artificial colors, and fillers. Baking at home means you choose fresh, whole ingredients.
2. They’re safer during a season full of forbidden foods.
Holiday tables overflow with ingredients that can be dangerous to dogs: chocolate, nutmeg, raisins, xylitol, rich fats. Homemade cookies give your pup something safe while the rest of the household enjoys holiday sweets.
3. Baking for your dog creates wonderful bonding moments.
Your pup will love supervising from the kitchen floor—and taste-testing once they cool!
4. They make charming gifts.
Put cookies in festive bags or jars and share with friends, neighbors, or your dog’s daycare buddies.
Dog-Safe Holiday Ingredients
Before you start baking, let’s talk about what’s safe and not safe during the holiday season.
Safe & Festive Ingredients
You can confidently use ingredients like:
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Pumpkin purée (plain, not pumpkin pie filling)
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Unsweetened applesauce
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Peanut butter (xylitol-free)
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Banana
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Oats or oat flour
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Whole wheat flour
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Eggs
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Cinnamon (in small amounts)
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Carob (dog-safe alternative to chocolate)
These bring holiday flavor without any risk.
Avoid These Holiday Ingredients
Some common Christmas flavors are harmful to dogs:
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Nutmeg (toxic)
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Chocolate
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Raisins / currants
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Macadamia nuts
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Xylitol (sometimes found in peanut butter)
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Gingerbread dough made for humans
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Frostings with powdered sugar or buttercream
Always stick to dog-specific recipes instead of modifying human cookies.
Recipe 1: Classic Peanut Butter Christmas Cookies
These crunchy biscuits look adorable cut into holiday shapes and are a huge hit with peanut-butter-loving pups.
Ingredients
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1 cup whole wheat flour
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½ cup rolled oats
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½ cup xylitol-free peanut butter
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⅓ cup unsweetened applesauce
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1 egg
Instructions
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Preheat your oven to 350°F.
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Mix peanut butter, applesauce, and egg until smooth.
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Add oats and flour; stir until dough forms.
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Roll out dough and use holiday cookie cutters—trees, stars, gingerbread dogs!
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Bake for 12–15 minutes, until firm.
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Cool completely before sharing with your dog.
For a crunchy texture, turn the oven off and let the cookies sit inside for 20 additional minutes.
Recipe 2: Peppermint “Snowflake” Cookies (Dog-Safe!)
Dogs can have a tiny amount of real peppermint—but not peppermint extract, candy canes, or artificial mint. This recipe uses dried culinary peppermint leaves, which are safe in small quantities.
Ingredients
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1 ½ cups oat flour
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½ cup pumpkin purée
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1 tbsp crushed dried peppermint leaves
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1 egg
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2–3 tbsp water, if needed
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 325°F.
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Mix pumpkin and egg.
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Add oat flour and peppermint leaves.
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Roll and cut into snowflakes or small circles.
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Bake 20–25 minutes until edges are lightly golden.
The mild peppermint gives these cookies a fresh winter twist without compromising safety.
Recipe 3: Soft Apple Cinnamon Holiday Treats
These smell like Christmas and have a soft, chewy texture perfect for puppies or senior dogs.
Ingredients
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1 cup oat flour
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1 cup unsweetened applesauce
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½ tsp cinnamon
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1 egg
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 350°F.
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Stir all ingredients together.
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Drop spoonfuls onto a lined cookie sheet or press into silicone molds (snowmen or stockings!).
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Bake for 12–14 minutes until set.
Store these in the refrigerator—they’re soft and moist like little dog muffins.
How to Decorate Dog Cookies Safely
Dogs don’t need sugary frosting… but you can add festive touches safely!
Dog-Safe “Icing” Options
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Plain Greek yogurt
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Mix Greek yogurt with mashed banana
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Carob melted chips (dog-safe)
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Unsweetened coconut flakes for “snow”
Decorate minimally to avoid stomach upset. A drizzle or dip is plenty.
Fun Topping Ideas
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Tiny dehydrated blueberries
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Crushed freeze-dried strawberries
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Dog-safe sprinkles (colored coconut flakes)
Let icing set in the refrigerator before packaging.
Storing & Packaging Your Dog Cookies
Storage
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Crunchy cookies: up to 2 weeks in an airtight container
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Soft cookies: keep in the fridge for 5–7 days
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All cookies: freeze up to 3 months
Packaging Ideas
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Holiday tins
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Mason jars with paw-print ribbon
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Cellophane treat bags with custom tags
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Reusable dog treat pouches
These make wonderful stocking-stuffers for friends’ pups!
Holiday Baking Tips for Success
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Introduce new treats slowly to avoid tummy upset.
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Keep portion sizes small, especially for smaller dogs.
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Check ingredients twice to ensure there’s no nutmeg, xylitol, or chocolate.
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Make cookies tiny for training treats or frequent rewards during busy holiday gatherings.
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Let your dog lick the bowl—it’s their favorite part!
Final Thoughts: A Delicious Way to Celebrate Christmas with Your Dog
Homemade Christmas dog cookies bring warmth, joy, and a sense of togetherness to the holiday season. From classic peanut butter treats to creative winter-themed cookies, these recipes let you celebrate with your pup safely and deliciously. As the kitchen fills with festive scents and your dog wiggles with anticipation, you’ll be making memories just as special as any holiday tradition.