Three Tasty Treats to Spoil Your Dog With This Christmas!

Who doesn't love to treat themselves at Christmas time? The lunch spreads, the drinks, the desserts - it's the perfect time to dig into a special meal and celebrate everything that brings us joy.

But what about our dogs? They may get to enjoy many of the fun things we'll be doing these holidays, such as spending the day at the beach, or dressing up in summery designs, however much of the food we'll be eating simply isn't good for a dog's stomach.

That's why we're sharing three of our favourite dog-friendly Christmas snacks to help your pups join in the festivities!

Peanut Butter and Banana Pupcakes

Recipe from LoveSwah.com

A simple and tasty treat for dogs (and people if you're really hungry), these 'pupcakes' from Love Swah are Lilo's favourite (as you can tell in the pic above)!

Makes 3 large cupcakes and 10 mini cupcakes.

Prep time: 15 mins
Cook time: 15 mins

Ingredients

For the cakes:

• 1/2 cup plain flour
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 cup smooth peanut butter
• 1 medium banana mashed
• 1 egg
• 2 tbsp water

For the frosting:

• 120g cream cheese
• 1/2 cup peanut butter
• 1/2 mashed banana

NOTE: Make sure the peanut butter doesn't contain the artificial sweetener xylitol, as it's toxic to dogs.

Instructions

For the cakes:

• Pre-heat oven to 180°C. Line muffin tin with cupcake papers.
• Sift flour and baking power together. Set it aside.
• In a medium bowl, combine peanut butter, mashed banana, egg and water.
• Stir in flour mixture and mix until smooth. Scoop into muffin tin.
• Bake mini cupcakes for 8 - 10 mins and big cupcakes for 15 - 20 mins.

For the frosting:

• Mix the cream cheese and peanut butter together.
• Add mashed banana. Continue mixing for two minutes or until well mixed. It won't be as fluffy as normal buttercream, but the pups won't mind!
• Spoon icing into piping bag and swirl onto cooled cupcakes.

Paws and More Christmas Treats

Available at pawfect-pals.com.au

We love these Paws & More Christmas cookies so much, we decided to sell them on our store!

Baked locally, these su-paw cute treats are handmade with love and Christmas cheer. Made on a peanut butter and coconut oil base, they're topped with dog-friendly icing in goji berry, pumpkin seed and coconut, then finished with a hint of cinnamon.

Pick up a packet of four here, or get them as a free gift with purchase when you spend $80+ or more (before postage) until Christmas 2021! While stocks last.

Chicken Dog Treats (Baked or Raw)

Recipe from Kol's notes

As much as dogs love sweets, it's best to alternate them with meaty treats that also offer nutritional benefits. That's why we love these chicken dog treats (by the way, any lean meat will work if your pup isn't a fan of chicken). The recipe creator suggests making them in a silicone heart mold. We think that's a cute idea, but whatever you have on hand will work!

Ingredients

• 1 cup cooked, finely diced chicken
• 1/2 cup rice, cooked and mashed
• 3 tbsp rice flour
• 1 tbsp parsley
• 1 egg

Instructions

• Pre-heat oven to 180°C.
• Mix ingredients, stirring well.
• Spoon mixture into whatever molds you choose to use.
• Bake for 20 - 30 mins, until tops look golden brown.
• Set aside to cool.

These treats can be stored in the fridge for five days, or up to three months in the freezer.

Prefer a raw version for your pup? Simply replace the egg with one cup of chicken stock, blend the ingredients in a food processor, and freeze them in the mold. Easy!

We hope these treats prove to be a fun and easy way to get your dog in the holiday spirit.

Bon(e) Appétit!