7 Homemade Christmas Dog Treats: Festive Original Recipes

Nothing beats the smell of freshly baked homemade Christmas dog treats filling the kitchen in December. Your pup deserves a little holiday magic too — and baking festive treats at home is the sweetest way to include them. Store-bought treats often hide sugar and preservatives, but at home you control every ingredient.

Below you will find 7 original Christmas dog treat recipes, plus the safety rules every pet parent should know before baking. Let us get the oven preheating!

Table of Contents

• Christmas Treat Safety for Dogs
• Recipe 1: Peanut Butter Molasses Star Bites
• Recipe 2: Pumpkin Ginger Snap Bones
• Recipe 3: Cranberry Oat Holiday Hearts
• Recipe 4: Apple Cinnamon Wreath Bites
• Recipe 5: Carrot Honey Snowflake Cookies
• Recipe 6: Blueberry Yogurt Frozen Trees
• Recipe 7: Turkey Sweet Potato Present Bites
• Portion and Serving Sizes
• Storage Instructions
• Frequently Asked Questions

Christmas Treat Safety for Dogs

Holiday kitchens hide ingredients that are dangerous for dogs. Keep these five away from your treat dough:

• Chocolate: Contains theobromine, which is toxic to dogs — even small amounts of cocoa powder can cause vomiting and seizures.
• Xylitol (birch sugar): Found in some “sugar-free” peanut butters. Always read the label — it can cause dangerous blood sugar drops.
• Macadamia nuts: Can cause weakness and tremors in dogs. Skip them entirely.
• Raisins and grapes: Can cause kidney failure in dogs, even in small amounts.
• Nutmeg: Toxic to dogs beyond a tiny pinch. The recipes below use dog-safe cinnamon in small amounts instead.

All seven recipes use simple, whole foods free of these hazards. If your dog has allergies or a medical condition, check with your veterinarian first.

Recipe 1: Peanut Butter Molasses Star Bites

A touch of unsulphured molasses gives these star bites a caramel-like flavor dogs love, while oat flour keeps them gentle on sensitive stomachs.

Ingredient	Amount
Oat flour	1 1/2 cups
Natural peanut butter (xylitol-free)	1/2 cup
Unsulphured molasses	1 tablespoon
Large egg	1

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Stir the oat flour, peanut butter, molasses, and egg into a firm dough.
3. Roll out to 1/4-inch thickness on a lightly floured surface.
4. Cut out stars and place them on the prepared baking sheet.
5. Bake 16 to 18 minutes, until lightly golden at the edges.
6. Cool completely on a wire rack before serving.

Air fryer option: 320°F (160°C) for 7 to 8 minutes in a single layer, flipping halfway.

Recipe 2: Pumpkin Ginger Snap Bones

Pumpkin puree keeps these biscuits tender inside, while a tiny pinch of ginger echoes classic ginger snaps — without the nutmeg or sugar of the human version.

Ingredient	Amount
Pure pumpkin puree (plain, not pie filling)	2/3 cup
Oat flour	1 1/2 cups
Ground ginger	1/4 teaspoon
Large egg	1

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Mix the pumpkin puree, oat flour, ginger, and egg into a soft dough.
3. Roll out to 1/4-inch thickness on a floured surface.
4. Cut out bone shapes and arrange them on the baking sheet.
5. Bake 20 to 22 minutes, until firm and crisp at the edges.
6. Cool completely on a wire rack before serving.

Air fryer option: 320°F (160°C) for 8 to 9 minutes, flipping once halfway.

Recipe 3: Cranberry Oat Holiday Hearts

Unsweetened dried cranberries dot these tender hearts with ruby specks, and unsweetened applesauce keeps them soft with no added sugar. They also make lovely gifts.

Ingredient	Amount
Oat flour	1 1/2 cups
Unsweetened dried cranberries, chopped	1/3 cup
Unsweetened applesauce	1/2 cup
Large egg	1

1. Preheat your oven to 325°F (165°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Combine the oat flour, cranberries, applesauce, and egg into a thick dough.
3. Roll out to 1/4-inch thickness on a floured surface.
4. Cut out hearts and place them on the baking sheet.
5. Bake 18 to 20 minutes, until set and lightly golden.
6. Cool fully on a wire rack before serving.

Air fryer option: 320°F (160°C) for 8 minutes in a single layer, flipping halfway.

Recipe 4: Apple Cinnamon Wreath Bites

Freshly grated apple keeps these wreath bites tender, and a light dusting of cinnamon adds that unmistakable holiday aroma. Shape the dough into small rings for the full wreath effect.

Ingredient	Amount
Oat flour	1 1/2 cups
Apple, cored and finely grated	1 medium
Ground cinnamon	1/4 teaspoon
Large egg	1

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Combine the oat flour, grated apple, cinnamon, and egg into a workable dough.
3. Pinch off pieces, roll into thick ropes, and join the ends into little rings.
4. Place the wreaths on the baking sheet with space between them.
5. Bake 16 to 18 minutes, until firm and lightly golden.
6. Cool completely on a wire rack before serving.

Air fryer option: 320°F (160°C) for 7 to 8 minutes, flipping halfway.

Recipe 5: Carrot Honey Snowflake Cookies

Finely grated carrot gives these snowflakes gentle sweetness and a golden color, while a spoonful of honey helps the dough hold together. A quick dusting of oat flour after baking looks like fresh snow.

Ingredient	Amount
Whole wheat flour	1 1/2 cups
Carrot, peeled and finely grated	1 large
Honey	1 tablespoon
Large egg	1

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Stir the flour, grated carrot, honey, and egg into a firm dough.
3. Roll out to 1/4-inch thickness on a lightly floured surface.
4. Cut out snowflakes and transfer them to the baking sheet.
5. Bake 15 to 17 minutes, until crisp at the edges.
6. Cool completely before serving.

Air fryer option: 320°F (160°C) for 6 to 7 minutes in a single layer.

Recipe 6: Blueberry Yogurt Frozen Trees

Not every Christmas treat needs the oven. These frozen trees blend plain yogurt, blueberries, and banana, then set in silicone tree molds — perfect for dogs who prefer a softer, cooler treat.

Ingredient	Amount
Plain Greek yogurt (unsweetened, no xylitol)	1 cup
Fresh blueberries	1/2 cup
Ripe banana	1/2

1. Blend the yogurt, blueberries, and banana until smooth.
2. Pour into silicone Christmas tree molds, filling each about three-quarters full.
3. Tap the molds gently to release air bubbles.
4. Freeze at least 4 hours, until completely solid.
5. Pop the trees out and serve one at a time to your dog.

Storage tip: Keep in a freezer bag for up to 2 months and serve straight from the freezer.

Recipe 7: Turkey Sweet Potato Present Bites

For dogs who prefer savory over sweet, these present bites combine leftover holiday turkey with creamy sweet potato in a protein-rich dough that cuts into perfect little gift-box squares.

Ingredient	Amount
Cooked plain turkey breast, finely minced	3/4 cup
Cooked mashed sweet potato	1/2 cup
Oat flour	1 cup
Large egg	1

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Mix the turkey, sweet potato, oat flour, and egg into a firm dough.
3. Roll out to about 1/2-inch thickness on a floured surface.
4. Cut into small squares and place them on the baking sheet.
5. Bake 18 to 20 minutes, until set and lightly golden.
6. Cool completely before serving, and refrigerate leftovers promptly.

Air fryer option: 320°F (160°C) for 8 minutes, flipping halfway.

Portion and Serving Sizes

Treats should make up no more than 10 percent of your dog’s daily calories. As a rough guide: small dogs (under 15 lbs) get 1 to 2 treats per day, medium dogs (15 to 40 lbs) get 2 to 3, and large dogs get 3 to 4. Offer one treat the first day and watch for digestive upset before making them a holiday regular.

Storage Instructions

• Baked treats (recipes 1–5 and 7): Airtight container at room temperature up to 5 days, or refrigerated up to 2 weeks.
• Frozen treats (recipe 6): Freezer-safe bag up to 2 months; serve straight from the freezer.
• Freezing baked treats: Most freeze well up to 3 months; thaw at room temperature before serving.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are homemade Christmas dog treats safe?

Yes, when you use dog-safe ingredients and avoid chocolate, xylitol, macadamia nuts, raisins, and nutmeg. The recipes here use simple whole foods widely considered safe for dogs.

Can I use regular flour instead of oat flour?

In most recipes, yes — whole wheat flour swaps one-for-one with oat flour. If your dog has a wheat sensitivity, stick with oat flour.

Can I give my dog gingerbread?

Traditional gingerbread is unsafe for dogs because it often contains nutmeg, heavy sugar, and sometimes chocolate. Recipe 2 captures the ginger-snap spirit with dog-safe ingredients instead.

How far ahead can I bake Christmas treats?

Baked treats keep about 5 days at room temperature and 2 weeks in the fridge, so you can bake a weekend ahead. For longer storage, freeze them for up to 3 months.

Can puppies have these treats?

Most puppies over 12 weeks can enjoy them cut into puppy-sized pieces. Skip the honey in recipe 5 for very young puppies, and confirm new foods with your veterinarian.

Keep Reading

• 6 Homemade Pumpkin Dog Treat Recipes
• 7 No-Bake Homemade Dog Treat Recipes
• 3 Homemade Dog Birthday Cakes: Easy Recipes
• Foods Dogs Can Eat vs. Foods Dogs Can’t Eat
• Start With a Healthy Puppy