7 Homemade Christmas Dog Treats Your Pup Will Love

Picture this: twinkling lights, cozy music, cookies in the oven… and your dog staring at you like, “Where’s my Christmas treat?”
I feel that moment every single December. My kitchen turns into a holiday workshop, and honestly, I have more dog treats cooling on racks than human cookies some years. I can’t help it—seeing my pup zoom around the house because he smells peanut butter and cinnamon just hits different.

If you love spoiling your fur baby during the holidays too, then you just landed on the ultimate guide to homemade Christmas dog treats.
You and I both know our dogs deserve holiday magic just like the rest of the family—so let’s whip up treats that are safe, nutritious, and ridiculously fun.

Ready to bake up some wagging joy?

Why Homemade Christmas Dog Treats Rock

Before we jump into the recipes, let’s talk real talk for a sec.

When I make treats myself:

• I control every ingredient
• I avoid weird preservatives
• I keep sugar and salt low
• I sneak in healthy stuff like pumpkin and oats
• My dog literally worships me (okay, not really… but close)

Ever wondered why dogs beg harder for homemade goodies? I honestly think they sense the love (and the peanut butter smell that takes over the universe).

Want everyday healthy treats too? Try my fan-favorite Chicken & Rice Dog Treats Recipe after Christmas season — dogs go crazy for them

1. Peanut Butter & Gingerbread Dog Cookies

Gingerbread screams Christmas, right? But most human versions are loaded with sugar and nutmeg (which isn’t dog-friendly). So I reinvent this classic every year with dog-safe ingredients and trust me, it never fails.

Ingredients

• 1 cup oat flour
• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 1 tbsp dog-safe ground ginger
• ½ tsp cinnamon
• ½ cup natural peanut butter (no xylitol)
• ½ cup pure pumpkin puree
• Splash of water if needed

Directions

1. Stir flours, ginger, and cinnamon.
2. Mix peanut butter and pumpkin in a bowl.
3. Combine mixtures into dough.
4. Roll, cut into holiday shapes, bake at 350°F (175°C) for 20 minutes.

Ever cut little gingerbread dog shapes? It just makes me smile every single time.

2. Frozen Strawberry Santa Bites

When I need something quick but festive, I freeze these adorable bites. They look like tiny Santas and they disappear faster than I expect (because I “taste-test” the yogurt too—don’t judge).

You’ll Need

• Fresh strawberries
• Unsweetened Greek yogurt
• Banana slices

How To Make Them

1. Cut tops off strawberries.
2. Add a blob of yogurt.
3. Place banana slice on top as a “hat puff.”
4. Freeze for 1 hour.

Tip: I give these after walks so my dog cools down and relaxes like a happy marshmallow.

3. Christmas Tree Chicken Bites

When I tell you my dog loses his mind over these—wow. These treats smell like actual dinner, not cookies, so I save them for Christmas Eve as a special “member-of-the-family-meal moment.”

Ingredients

• 1 cup cooked shredded chicken
• 1 egg
• ½ cup oat flour
• Splash of chicken broth (low-sodium)

Instructions

1. Combine chicken, egg, flour, and broth.
2. Press into silicone molds (I use tree-shaped ones).
3. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 15 minutes.

Serve warm and watch the tail tornado begin.

4. Cinnamon & Apple Reindeer Cookies

I grew up believing apples and cinnamon equal holiday magic. Turns out, my dog agrees.

Ingredients

• 1 grated apple (no seeds, core removed)
• 1 egg
• 2 tbsp coconut oil
• 1 ½ cups oat flour
• Pinch of cinnamon

Method

1. Mix everything into dough.
2. Roll and cut using a reindeer cookie cutter.
3. Bake at 325°F (160°C) for 25 minutes until crisp.

These smell so good I always joke they should be sold at a fancy bakery for $15 a bag.

5. Candy Cane Banana Bites (Dog-Safe!)

I call these “jolly puppy canes.” They look like candy canes but taste like banana heaven.

What You Need

• Ripe banana
• Beet powder (natural coloring, optional)
• Greek yogurt

Steps

1. Mash banana and divide in two bowls.
2. Mix beet powder into half to make pink.
3. Pipe alternating stripes into candy-cane silicone molds.
4. Freeze 2 hours.

Key Tip: Use just a pinch of beet powder—it’s strong stuff.

6. Holiday Cheese Snowflakes

Sometimes my dog wants savory and melts into a puddle the moment cheese appears. These treats look like snowflakes and crunch like crackers. Who says dogs can’t have fancy snacks too?

Ingredients

• 1 cup grated cheddar cheese
• 1 egg
• 1 cup oat flour
• Dash water if needed

Instructions

1. Stir everything into a stiff dough.
2. Roll and cut into snowflake shapes.
3. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 12–15 minutes.

I love giving these while my dog watches Christmas movies with me. Yes, we watch them. Yes, he prefers Rudolph (the elf puppy part always gets him excited).

7. Pup-Friendly Christmas Cake Bites

Let’s go big for the final treat. I make these “mini cakes” every Christmas morning, and they basically scream “I love you more than Santa loves cookies.”

Ingredients

• 1 cup oat flour
• 1 egg
• ½ cup unsweetened applesauce
• ¼ cup pumpkin puree
• 1 tbsp honey
• Greek yogurt (frosting)

Steps

1. Mix all wet ingredients.
2. Add flour and stir until smooth.
3. Pour into mini muffin pan.
4. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 18 minutes.
5. Cool and top with yogurt “frosting.”

Want pro-level cuteness? Sprinkle crushed freeze-dried strawberries like red holiday sprinkles.

Want more everyday freezer-friendly options? Check out Homemade Dog Meals You Can Freeze — super handy after the holidays.

Dog-Safe Holiday Treat Tips

Before we finish, I want to throw out some friendly “dog-parent to dog-parent” advice:

Always avoid:

• Nutmeg
• Chocolate
• Raisins or grapes
• Xylitol
• Sugary frosting
• Heavy salt

Great holiday-safe ingredients:

• Pumpkin
• Oats
• Peanut butter (natural)
• Banana
• Chicken
• Sweet potato
• Apples

And rule #1: treats compliment meals, not replace them. I keep a balance so my pup stays healthy, happy, and ready for post-treat zoomies.

I always avoid risky ingredients like nutmeg, chocolate, and xylitol, because they can seriously harm dogs. The American Kennel Club explains dog-safe and toxic foods here

Storage Tips (So Treats Stay Fresh)

You don’t need fancy airtight holiday tins (but if you have dog-bone-shaped ones, please know I’m jealous).

Here’s how I store:

• Baked crunchy treats: up to 10 days in airtight jar
• Soft treats: fridge 4–5 days
• Frozen treats: freezer up to 2 months

If you make multiple recipes, freeze some—trust me, your future self will thank you.

Which Treat Will Your Dog Love First?

There you go—7 homemade Christmas dog treats guaranteed to bring tail wags and holiday magic. I know you’ll have fun making them. I always turn on holiday jazz, light a candle, and my dog sits like the most polite little elf waiting for crumbs.

Ever look at your dog while you bake and think, “I honestly can’t imagine life without you”? I feel that every time.

So go grab your holiday apron and get mixing. Your dog already knows something delicious is coming—those sniffing noises always give them away, lol.

Final Thought

The holidays should feel warm, joyful, and full of love, and these treats let your dog share in the magic. I truly believe dogs don’t just make Christmas sweeter—they are part of the holiday spirit.

Now tell me—should we do a New Year’s dog treat list next?