Everyone has favorite holiday traditions. To me, Hanukkah means two things: latkes and donuts. I’ll admit to enjoying a crunchy sweet potato latke (or two), especially with a slathering of apple sauce. Many of us hold tight to our family’s holiday traditions, especially when it comes to food.

Since most holiday goodies can be harmful to pets, try making a batch of healthy homemade treats especially for dogs. I’ve scoured the Internet searching for the most nutritious and easy canine delicacies out there. Here’s the lowdown.

 

Apple Carrot Cookies

Ingredients 

1 cup of whole wheat flour

1 cup of grated carrots

1 egg

½ cup unsweetened apple sauce

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven 350°F.
  2. Mix ingredients together until dough forms.
  3. Roll dough into small balls and place them on a cookie tray. Press dough down slightly so the biscuits are about ¼ inch thick.
  4. Bake for 25 minutes until golden brown.
  5. Let cool before serving.

Frozen Mint Dog Treats

Ingredients 

5 ounces plain nonfat yogurt

¼ cup fresh mint

¼ cup honey

Instructions

  1. Place all the ingredients in a food processor or blender and blend thoroughly.
  2. Using an ice cube tray, fill each slot about ¾ full of the mixture.
  3. Place in the freezer for about 2 hours or until frozen all the way through.
  4. Give to your dog for fresh breath and a great treat that also aids digestion.

 

Gingerbread Dog Cookies

Ingredients

3 cups whole wheat flour

1 ½ tbsp ground ginger

¾ tsp ground cinnamon

½ cup molasses

½ cup water

¼ cup canola oil

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 325 F.
  2. Mix flour, ginger, cinnamon, and cloves together. In a separate bowl, combine the molasses, water, and oil.
  3. Pour the molasses mixture into the flour and stir until well combined.
  4. Roll out the dough until it’s about ½ inch thick.
  5. Cut the dough into holiday or dog-related shapes.
  6. Put the cut-out dough on the cookie sheet.
  7. Let them bake 20 minutes, then cool and serve!

Peanut Butter and Banana Ball Treats

Ingredients 

1 ripe banana

3 teaspoons of peanut butter (select peanut butter that doesn’t contain xylitol or chocolate. Both are extremely toxic for dogs and can be life-threatening. A safe dog peanut butter is one that is simply peanuts or peanuts and salt.)

1 ½ cups of oats

Instructions 

  1. Take ingredients and mix them well in a mixing bowl.
  2. Take 1 teaspoon and make a ball. Then roll the ball in the oat for delicious coating.

Doggy Eggnog 

Ingredients 

½ small banana

1 cup unsweetened almond milk

½ cup of coconut milk

Pinch of cinnamon

Instructions

Place all ingredients in your food processor or blender and mix until smooth and creamy. Serve immediately!

Many human eggnog recipes use grated nutmeg. NEVER give your dog nutmeg. Nutmeg is toxic to dogs and high levels can be fatal. So, make sure to keep your spices and foods that contain nutmeg well out of doggy reach.

Winter holidays are a great time of year to try your hand at homemade dog treats. These sweet treats are perfect when you need a pinch of holiday spirit and a sprinkle of festive fun!