My dogs love their homemade goodies. Of course, they love all kinds of treats, but since I like to keep the ingredients in their food clean and wholesome, I prefer to make them myself. That way, I can control the ingredients and limit the additives, if any.
This recipe is delicious and simple to make. If you are an avid baker like yours truly, you probably already have the ingredients in the pantry.
Dog-Friendly Gingerbread Cookies:
Ingredients:
For the cookies:
2 cups oat flour
1 Tsp ground cinnamon
1 Tsp ground ginger
2 large eggs
1/2 - 1 cup pumpkin puree
2 Tbsp molasses
For the icing:
4 oz fat-free cream cheese
1 Tbsp honey
1 - 2 Tbsp plain yogurt
1 - 3 Tbsp flour (if needed to thicken the icing)
2-3 drops natural food coloring (optional)
Directions:
To make the cookies:
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Combine flour, cinnamon and ginger in a bowl and mix well.
- Add the eggs, pumpkin puree and molasses to the bowl and blend until it forms a ball of dough.
- Place ball of dough on a non-stick baking mat, parchment paper or a clean work surface sprinkled with flour.
- Place a piece of parchment paper over the ball of dough and use a rolling pin to flatten the dough until it is about 1/4-inch thick.
- Using a cookie cutter, cut out shapes and place them on a parchment paper-lined sheet.
- Bake cookies for 15 minutes, then flip cookies over and bake on other side for another 15 minutes.
- Let cool completely before icing.
To make the icing:
- Place cream cheese, honey and yogurt in mixing bowl and stir until smooth.
- If necessary, mix in one tablespoon of flour at a time until you reach desired consistency for spreading or piping onto cookies.
Optional: add 2-3 drops of food coloring to icing and mix.
Notes:
- You could also use any other non-wheat, gluten-free flour for the cookies. Just keep in mind that some of those gluten-free options do not absorb liquids as well as conventional wheat flour. So, you may need to adjust the amount of flour.
- Do not use pumpkin pie filling, as it contains too much sugar that does not agree with doggies' sensitive digestive tract!
- It may be tempting to add the wonderfully warming spice of nutmeg to this recipe. However, please don't, since nutmeg is toxic to dogs - especially in large quantities!
- Separate dough into two batches for easier rolling.
- You could also use natural fruit juice or beet juice to color the icing.
- If you don't have yogurt on hand, you can also use a dollop of sour cream.
- The ingredients in this recipe are generally recognized as safe for dogs. And although I am comfortable feeding these treats to my furry friends, I always suggest consulting your vet beforehand.
Since these cookies are made without any preservatives, I recommend keeping them refrigerated. Hope your furry friends enjoy those cookies as much as mine do!
Thank you for stopping by, and Happy Baking!
Disclaimer: I am not a veterinarian or a canine dietician, just an experienced, well-read, and hyper-observant pet parent. This article is not meant to diagnose or treat any canine illness or replace professional veterinary care. Always talk to your vet about your dog's health, as health care is an individual matter.
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