Gluten-free dog treats made with peanut butter are a fun homemade cookie your fur babies will love. Cut them in the shape of gingerbread men for a fun Christmas gift!
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Big problem. You guys. . .I’ve become that girl. You know the one—the girl who hits her early 30s her mid-20s and doesn’t have human children so her dog becomes her child.
And she dresses that dog in cute little outfits, and doesn’t get out much because most places aren’t dog-friendly, and has to take into consideration her dog’s opinions on everything. . .
I successfully resisted becoming that girl until recently, mere days after my 23rd birthday (that’s the timeline we’ll stick with). But the other day I was at PetSmart and saw this little hooded sweater and knew I just had to get it for Cookie.
I took that sweater home and immediately dressed her in it despite the fact that it was 97 degrees outside and I had frozen food melting in the car.
But look at how cute it is! She’s a little teddy bear! Or a lamb? I’m not totally sure what the ears are.
Naturally, being the baker AND the crazy dog mom that I am, I love making homemade dog treats for my fur child. The last peanut butter dog treat recipe I shared was wildly popular with the dogs in my life.
But these peanut butter gluten-free dog treats are, dare I say, even more delicious than the apple peanut butter variety. (For canine taste buds anyway.) My brother’s dog happened to be over when I was photographing them and he didn’t leave my side the entire time.
I was going to wait a few weeks to share this recipe because it’s Christmas-themed and I don’t really want to post gingerbread men before Halloween even arrives. I just couldn’t resist. Now you have plenty of time to plan elaborate cookie trays for all of your dog friends.
They’re made with a little bit of molasses and cinnamon to give them a gingerbread color but you can cut them in any shape you like; I just think the gingerbread man is adorable. Keep in mind that if you make them bigger than about 1 1/2 inches you’ll need to adjust your cooking time.
You want to bake them until they’re very firm to the touch–how long this takes varies anywhere from 25 to 40 minutes. The dog treats will crisp up as they cool.
I kept mine in an airtight container at room temperature for a week and they stayed crispy.
To make these gluten-free dog treats I used brown rice flour; the grocery store down the street from me stocks brown rice flour in the baking aisle but if yours doesn’t it’s easy to find at natural food stores or on Amazon.
In the photos some of the gingerbread men have white buttons. I used a little plain cream cheese for this and I gave them away immediately; I didn’t store them.
As an aside, how much fun would a homemade dog treat cookie exchange be? That needs to happen this holiday season 🙂
Now go forth and bake some peanut butter dog treats for your fur babies! Please join me in my craziness as a dog parent.
Did you make these gluten-free dog treats? Tell me what you think with a comment and rating below! And post a pic on Insta–tag @theitsybitsykitchen so I can see!
Homemade gluten-free peanut butter dog treats are a fun way to say I love you to your fur baby!
- 1/3 cup well-stirred natural peanut butter crunchy or creamy
- 2 tablespoons flaxseed meal
- 1 tablespoon blackstrap molasses
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 large egg
- 1 1/2 cups brown rice flour
- 2 to 5 tablespoons water
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
- Place the peanut butter, flax seed, molasses, and cinnamon in a large mixing bowl and stir until well combined. Mix the egg in thoroughly. Gradually stir in the brown rice flour until fully incorporated, adding enough water to form a cohesive dough. (Dough will be very stiff and dry so your hands might work better than a spoon.)
- Roll dough out into 1/4-inch thick and use a 1.5-inch cookie cutter to cut out desired shapes. (You can use any size cookie cutter but you’ll have to adjust your baking time.) Gather scraps and re-roll as necessary. Arrange cut out cookies on the prepared baking sheets. (The cookies won’t spread much so you can place them fairly close to each other.) Bake 25 to 40 minutes, until the cookies are thoroughly dried out. Cool completely on baking sheets, then store in an airtight container.
*I used a little bit of plain cream cheese to make the buttons on the gingerbread men; I gave those cookies away immediately and didn’t store them.
You can store the dog treats at room temperature in an airtight container for up to a week.
Ruby_&_Cake says
No shame in being a proud pupper mama! Pets are the best kind of children 🙂 My fur babies will love these treats! I cannot wait to make them x
Kelsie says
Thank you Ruby! I hope your fur babies love them as much as mind did 🙂
thatskinnychickcanbake says
Izzy would be happy to accept any of your cast offs. She knows when I’m baking and hovers nearby watching the floor for spillage (she knows me well!). Cookie is adorable!!!
Kelsie says
Thank you Liz! I’ll gladly share with Izzy 🙂
Marissa (@pinchandswirl) says
Oh my, what a sweet doggie! How could you not play dress up! 😉 Love these little treats too…really fun gift for dog lovers!
Kelsie says
Thank you so much, Marissa! Cookie says thank you too!
Amy (Savory Moments) says
Aw these are so cute and such a great idea!
Kelsie says
Thank you, Amy!
lynne hoareau says
OMW !!! Doggie Cuteness !!! Cookie Cuteness <3 Totally love that pic…Oh my goodness, I keep scrolling up to see her again. I too, would have had melting frozen foods in the car…I mean, who could resist this? You are the best mommy ever <3
These little treats are the bomb. I am so excited to try these…and Gluten Free, only the best for our babies. You have a great week my friend. 🙂 x
Kelsie says
Awwww thank you so much, Lynne! You have a great week, too!
Maria Doss says
These look too good Kelsie:) Wish I had a dog only to make these treats.
Kelsie says
Thank you, Maria!
wearenotmartha says
These just make me so happy! I know my pup would love them, too 🙂 And your dog in the ears is seriously the cutest!!
Sues
Kelsie says
Thank you, Sues! Have a lovely afternoon!
Christina says
A doggie cookie exchange! I love it!! What a fun idea for the holidays! I need to make these for the fur babies – they’ll love them!!
Kelsie says
Thank you, Christina! Have a lovely rest of your week!
Kim Lange | The Baking ChocolaTess says
Cookie looks freaking adorable! My dog would have loved those treats! When there’s peanut butter involved, the doggies are in heaven for sure!!!
Kelsie says
Thank you, Kim! Have a great week, my dear!
The Home Cook's Kitchen says
yesss this comes in at perfect timing! we pick up Archie next monday!!! Cookie is SO cute, love the little outfit and I don’t think there’s any shame in being the dog lady, I know we will be and we haven’t even got ours yet!
Kelsie says
WHAAAAAT? Oh I’m so excited for you! You’d better post at least a gazillion pictures! YAAAAAAAAYYYYYY!
Christina says
Dude, I’m ridiculous about my dog. When it comes to crazy dog moms I’m 100% “that girl”. My fur baby is my baby girl. She’s well behaved but boy… do I spoil her rotten. I’ve been dying to make her homemade dog treats. These look awesome! And omg, your dog in that costume is crazy adorable 🙂
Kelsie says
Thank you, Christina! I’m so glad I’m not the only crazy one out there 🙂
hummingbirdthyme says
Cookie is so cute – I love her costume! My dog Oso would loooovvvveeee these treats – he knows the sound of the peanut butter jar opening. They are adorable. I may have to make them for his trick-or-treat bag. Yes I’m a crazy dog mama too!
Kelsie says
Thank you, Laura! Cookie knows that sound too–she comes running from anywhere in the house as soon as the jar opens, haha!
annie@ciaochowbambina says
She is too adorable! Boy, how we love our pups, huh?!!! My Dolce will love these treats!
Kelsie says
Thank you so much, Annie! Have a great week, my dear!
Milena Perrine says
Lol, Kelsie I bet that when you have a baby you will dress her/him with cute bear outfits too! Cookie looks super sweet! Of course you will make her these treats too, she is just adorable and it is so heart warming to imagine her munching mini gingerbread dog treats. The world needs more loving and compassionate people like you.
Kelsie says
Thank you so much, Milena! I shudder to think of the wardrobe my child would have, haha! I might need to build an extra closet to house them all :). Have a wonderful week, my dear!
marcie@flavorthemoments says
OK that sweater is really cute! Cookie looks adorable and she’s so lucky that you make her homemade dog treats! My dog would loves these I’m sure. 🙂
Kelsie says
Awww thank you, Marcie! Have a wonderful week!
Jelena says
Definitely I will start the dog cookie exchange in my neighborhood! That is a wonderful idea!
Kelsie says
Thank you, Jelena!
Kelly @ Kelly Lynns Sweets and Treats says
These sound so yummy! I mean yummy for the dog hehehehe. I will need to make these for Jack!! 🙂 xoxo
Kelsie says
Haha! Yeah, I don’t recommend tasting them. I tasted the apple pb ones and no. Just no. Have a great week, Kelly!
Mary Ann @ thebeachhousekitchen says
What a great idea for a dog cookie exchange! Because we all know how much we LOVE our dogs!! Your pup is adorable Kelsie. Can’t wait to make these treats for Tucker!
Kelsie says
Thank you Mary Ann! I hope Tucker loves them as much as Cookie and Moe 🙂
Dawn @ Girl Heart Food says
I’m definitely a crazy dog momma and I have no shame. I love my little fur baby and he is spoiled! Why not, right? I’ve got to try these homemade treats for him. He loves peanut butter! Oh, I dress my fur baby up too. I think he has a bigger wardrobe than me, lol. P.S. Cookie looks adorable!!!
Kelsie says
I think the whole point of having a dog is having someone to spoil! It’s not like they’ll ever grow up and have to live on their own so it’s totally OK :). Thank you, Dawn!
David | Spiced says
A doggie cookie exchange is a genius idea! Of course, you have to find enough other crazy dog folks, but I would gladly jump at that idea. I haven’t made homemade treats for Maximus and Ethel in ages, and I’ve been thinking about doing it lately. I might have to give this recipe a run…or perhaps that one with apples since we have a zillion apples in the kitchen right now. That’s it. I’m doing it this weekend! Oh, and cookie looks hilarious in that outfit. Hilarious and hot. 🙂 Great post, Kelsie!
Kelsie says
Thank you, David! Next time Cookie wears her sweater I’ll probably have to crank up the AC a little higher :). Have a great week, my friend!