Horse and Dog Gingerbread Treats are a simple and easy way to show your pets you care this Christmas!
I’ve mentioned in previous posts that I have a bad habit of feeding my horse, Daff (Arabian), and dog, Ella (Lab mix), people food. This goes double around the holidays because I feel like I’m enjoying all these sweet treats, why shouldn’t they?
But I know that’s not the greatest thing for them, so for the last few years, I’ve been making them some of their own gingerbread cookies. And they LOVE THEM.
Horse and Dog-Friendly Gingerbread
There’s no granulated sugar here, just molasses, and then flour, some ginger and other spices, and a little bit of oil. Ginger’s even a great digestive aid for dogs, so these are some cookies you can feel good about sharing.
The recipe is super simple to throw together and the dough is easy to work with. Plus, the treats are indistinguishable (to the eye) from regular gingerbread cookies, so if you make human and dog gingerbread cookies at the same time, have fun with hungry friends and family refusing to tell them which is which. 😉
Ingredient Notes
- All-purpose flour: This recipe uses all-purpose flour, but if you’d like to use whole wheat flour, you can. Be sure to measure your flour using a scale (recommended) or the spoon and sweep method (stir the flour in your container to fluff it up and then spoon it into your measuring cup, sweep excess off with the flat of a knife). Too much flour can make your dough crumbly and hard to mix.
- Molasses: If you don’t usually cook with molasses, it’s a handy ingredient to have around, especially during the holidays, and once opened, it will keep for about a year. In the grocery store, you can usually find it near the syrups in the pancake or baking aisle.
How to Make Gingerbread for Dogs and Horses
- Whisk together dry ingredients in a medium bowl.
- In a small bowl, whisk together molasses, water, and oil. Using a wooden spoon, slowly mix liquid ingredients into the flour mixture, stirring until well-combined and uniform in color
- Roll or pat dough to 1/4-inch thick and cut into shapes.
- Bake for 20 minutes and allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet.
FAQ
Can dogs eat gingerbread?
Regular gingerbread? Probably not. THIS gingerbread? Yes. Gingerbread is often on the list of foods not to feed to pets. This is because many gingerbread recipes contain nutmeg, which is toxic to dogs in large quantities.
This recipe contains no nutmeg and only dog and horse-safe ingredients, but as always, please consult your vet if you have any questions or concerns about what you are feeding your pet!
Can I freeze gingerbread treats?
Yes! Freeze treats in an airtight container or freezer bag for up to 3 months.
How to store gingerbread treats?
Store these treats in an airtight container at room temperature.
Can people eat these cookies?
You *can* eat them if you want, but you probably won’t want to. They’re very dense, pretty crunchy, and not very sweet.
More Dog Treat Recipes
- High-value Dog Treats
- Watermelon and Yogurt Frozen Dog Treats (Pupsicles)
- 2-ingredient Pupsicles (3 ways)
More Christmas Recipes (for People!)
- White Chocolate Peppermint Mocha
- Chai Sugar Cookies with Eggnog Glaze
- The Best Crockpot Hot Chocolate
- Small-batch Snowball Cookies with Kisses
- Small-batch Cut-out Sugar Cookies
Easy Horse and Dog Gingerbread Treats
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups (180g) all-purpose flour measured by weight or using the spoon and sweep method*
- 1 tablespoon ground ginger
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
- ¼ cup molasses
- ¼ cup water
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 325°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or silicone baking mat.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together dry ingredients.
- In a small bowl, whisk together molasses, water, and oil. Using a wooden spoon, slowly mix liquid ingredients into the flour mixture, stirring until well-combined and uniform in color (some times I work the dough a little by hand to make sure all streaks of flour are mixed in--see recipe notes on dough texture).
- On an a clean, smooth surface, roll or pat dough to ¼-inch thick and cut out shapes, gathering dough and re-rolling as necessary. Bake for 20 minutes and allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet.
Notes
Nutrition
Recipe Slightly Adapted From Dog Treat Kitchen
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