Before we get started on the fun part, there’s a few important things we need to mention – at 5cm x 4cm these biscuits are a decent size and include molasses, so a bit of a sweet treat! We suggest feeding just 1 biscuit per day for smaller dogs (below 10kg) and 2 per day for your bigger dogs (above 10kg). Treats should make up no more than 10% of your doggy’s daily food intake, so you’ll need to reduce their normal daily food to account for their gingerbread biscuits – you don’t want your pup to pile on the pounds!
This recipe does make quite a few, so if you’re planning to make these just for your pooch, we’d recommend splitting the recipe below in half. Otherwise, you can place them in a gift box as Christmas presents for your pooch’s furry best friends, or freeze the leftover mixture so it doesn’t go to waste!
Now, let’s dust off that baking apron!
You will need:
- 300g flour
- 60g smooth dog safe peanut butter. Be extra careful to make sure your peanut butter doesn't contain Xylitol (also called Birch sugar), as this is toxic to dogs. Check the ingredients before you start – the higher percentage of peanuts, the better!
- 1 apple, peeled and grated (or very finely chopped if you don't have a grater!)
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp ground ginger
- 1 tbsp blackstrap molasses (black treacle)
- 120ml water
- 5cm x 4cm gingerbread template or cookie cutters
Download the gingerbread template
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to gas mark 4 or 180°C (160°C for a fan oven) and line a baking tray with baking paper.
- Add all the ingredients to a large bowl and mix thoroughly. We recommend sifting the flour for a smoother mixture, although this isn't necessary!
- Once your mixture has formed a dough, roll it out on a lightly floured surface to about ¼ inch thick.
- Cut out your biscuits and place them on your lined baking tray.
- Cook biscuits in the oven for 20 minutes or until they are golden.
- Let the biscuits cool and voila – your pampered pooch’s treats are ready to enjoy!
Stored in the fridge in an airtight container, these biscuits should keep for 1 week.
Happy baking!
For more homemade Christmas gift ideas for your pet, take a look at our guide.