Gingerbread Cookies for Dogs
Spoiling your furry friend with homemade gingerbread men can be a delightful way to celebrate the festive season together. These tasty dog-friendly treats are not only delicious, but baking for your dog is a fun and rewarding project that allows you to control the ingredients you feed your pup.
These homemade gingerbread men for dogs provide a healthier alternative to store-bought treats, here are some of the health benefits of the key ingredients:
Oat Flour
- Digestive Health: Oat flour is rich in soluble fiber, aiding in digestion and promoting gastrointestinal health in dogs.
- Nutrient Density: It contains vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, providing essential nutrients for overall well-being.
- Low Gluten: Oats are naturally low in gluten, making oat flour a suitable option for dogs with sensitivities to wheat or gluten.
Molasses
- Iron Content: Molasses contains iron, contributing to red blood cell production and helping prevent anemia in dogs.
- Mineral Boost: It also provides calcium, potassium, and magnesium, supporting bone health and muscle function in your pup.
- Energy Source: The sugars in molasses serve as a natural energy source for dogs, offering a quick energy boost.
Cinnamon
- Anti-inflammatory Properties: Cinnamon possesses anti-inflammatory properties that may help with joint health and reduce inflammation in dogs, particularly beneficial for senior or arthritic dogs.
- Antioxidants: Rich in antioxidants, cinnamon can support the immune system and fight oxidative stress.
Ginger
- Digestive Aid: Ginger aids in soothing digestive issues like nausea, gas, and indigestion in dogs.
- Anti-inflammatory Benefits: Similar to cinnamon, ginger contains compounds that possess anti-inflammatory properties, potentially reducing joint pain and inflammation in dogs with arthritis.
Ingredients
Before we dive into the steps, let's ensure we have all the necessary ingredients. For this recipe, you'll need:
Gingerbread cookies
- 1 1/2 cups flour
- 2 eggs
- 1 tablespoon molasses
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/4 teaspoon ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
Icing (optional)
- 2 tablespoons cornflour
- 1 tablespoon water
- 1 teaspoon honey
- beetroot powder (optional colouring)
- spirulina powder (optional colouring)
Now that we have all our ingredients ready, let's start baking!
Directions
Gingerbread cookies
- First, we need to combine the wet ingredients. In a bowl, whisk together the eggs, molasses, and olive oil until they're well mixed.
- In a separate bowl, combine the flour, ginger, and cinnamon. Stir these ingredients until they're thoroughly mixed. The combination of ginger and cinnamon will give these biscuits their classic 'gingerbread' flavour.
- Fold the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Stir until they're completely combined. You should end up with a mixture that has a dough-like consistency - add extra flour or water as required.
- Knead the dough until it's smooth and pliable.
- Once your dough is ready, lightly flour a flat surface, then roll out the dough and cut it into fun, gingerbread men shapes.
- Place your gingerbread men on a lined baking sheet and bake them in a preheated oven at 150°C for about 20 minutes until they start to brown.
- Once they're baked, let the biscuits cool down. If desired, you can decorate them with dog-friendly icing. See below for the icing instructions.
Icing (optional)
- To make the icing, combine the cornflour and water and mix well.
- Stir in the honey.
- Add more cornflour or water until you get the consistency you want.
- If desired, the icing can be coloured by adding beetroot powder for red icing, or spirulina for green icing. Just add the powder until the desired colour is achieved.
Storage
- Airtight Containers: Place the cooled treats in an airtight container to maintain freshness.
- Room Temperature: Kept at room temperature, these treats should stay good for up to two weeks.
- Refrigeration: For a longer shelf life, store them in the refrigerator. This can extend their freshness for about a month.
- Freezing: Consider freezing any extra batches. Stored in a freezer-safe container or bag, these treats can last for up to 3 months.
Tips
- Decoration Options: You can add dog-friendly toppings like carob chips (a dog-safe alternative to chocolate) or yogurt drizzle for some extra flair.
- Substitutions: The oat flour can be substituted for any alternative flour such as brown rice flour, coconut flour or whole-wheat flour. If using an alternative flour, start by adding 1 cup and add more until you achieve the right consistency.
- Caution: Don’t add nutmeg to the recipe as this is toxic to dogs. When substituting ingredients, make sure to check that they are safe for dogs.
Finally, it's time for the best part - serving these treats to your furry friend! Dogs will love the taste, and you'll love knowing that you're feeding them healthy, homemade treats.
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If you make this recipe, I'd love to see how your gingerbread men turned out. Take a photo and tag us @urbantailspetboutique.com.au.