Thanksgiving is right around the corner! If you’re hosting the holiday feast, you’ve got a lot on your plate right now. From decorating your house to last-minute food shopping (and then, of course, cooking the entire feast), you don’t have time for a lot of extra stuff right now. BUT, while you’re in the kitchen making yummy meals, why not take just a few extra minutes to whip up something special for your pooch (and any canine guests you may be hosting)?!
Or, maybe you’re a guest and looking for a great holiday hostess gift! If you’re dining with dog lovers, homemade treats wrapped in a cute mason jar or pastry box is a great idea. The dog treat recipes on this list all feature holiday-worthy ingredients and flavors. Plus, they don’t take a long time to prep. Happy baking!
1. Apple Pie Dog Treats
Thanksgiving wouldn’t be complete without some pie! Sure, our dogs can’t partake in a slice of pie made for people … since it’s filled with sugar, spices, and butter. But these cute bites were created with Fido in mind and only call for a few dog-friendly ingredients. Try them! I bet they’ll make your dog’s tail wag. Get the written recipe HERE.
2. Mini Pumpkin Pie Dog Treat Recipe
When it comes to holiday pie, are you team apple or pumpkin? Either way, I’ve got you covered! These may look like a time-consuming and complicated recipe to create, but they’re actually super simple. The process is similar to making homemade biscuits. In fact, hold onto the crust recipe and use it another time to create biscuits (by simply ditching the filling). Get the written recipe HERE.
3. Turkey Pumpkin Gelatin Bites
These wiggly, jiggly bites offer a texture that resembles Jell-O and a flavor that screams THANKSGIVING FEAST! They’re simply lean ground turkey (a quality protein), 100% pure pumpkin purée (benefits digestion), and plain gelatin powder (great for joints, digestion, hair, skin, and nails). Along with the health benefits and tail-wagging flavor, these treats are quick and easy to throw together. Get the written recipe HERE!
4. Baked Apple Fritter Dog Treat Recipe
These treats take a few minutes to prepare before popping them in the oven. Plus, they only feature three core ingredients: an apple, an egg, and a little oat flour. For an extra dash of fall flavor, you can sprinkle in some ground cinnamon (but that’s totally optional). Get the written recipe HERE.
5. Mini Doggy Meatballs
These grain-free mini meatballs for dogs are the perfect Thanksgiving treat. One of the main ingredients? Turkey! They’re also packed with sardines, almond flour, and an egg. So, they’re naturally gluten-free, grain-free, and full of beneficial nutrients. Another benefit? They’re a cinch to whip up. Get the written recipe HERE!
6. Mini Turkey Loaf Muffins
Gobble, gobble … here’s another dog treat recipe where turkey is the star ingredient. While they’re similar to the dog-approved bites I just shared above, these mini muffins also feature pumpkin puree and some veggies! Get the written recipe HERE!
7. Sweet Potato Puppy Muffins
These sweet potato-based bark-worthy muffins are filled with the Fall flavors many of us crave around Thanksgiving time. But the tail-wagging good taste and easy-to-chew soft texture is just the tip of the iceberg. These treats are also loaded with beneficial vitamins and minerals — thanks to the sweet potato, carrots, and spices. Get the written recipe HERE.
8. Pumpkin Sweet Potato Bites
I actually came up with this gluten-free dog treat recipe a few years back around Thanksgiving. I knew my dogs would appreciate their own special, yummy snack while us humans munched on ours! Made with pumpkin, sweet potato, a little cinnamon, a splash of organic maple syrup, and a few other basic ingredients, this puppy snack is definitely a festive one. Get the written recipe HERE!
9. Sweet Potato Pup Fries
As a kid, I remember thinking sweet potatoes were only in existence to live under marshmallows on Thanksgiving. Today, I love munching on them all year long. Because, along with being super tasty, they’re actually nutritious. When grocery shopping for your holiday feast, pick up an extra sweet potato and bust our your mandoline to slice um’ up into pup fries. That’s right, fries for your pup! Get the written recipe HERE!
Have My Cookbook? Don’t Miss Out On These Recipes!
My cookbook, Proud Dog Chef: Tail-Wagging Good Treat Recipes, is sprinkled with Thanksgiving-friendly dog treat recipes that your pup is bound to love. Sure, there is an entire holiday chapter that you can turn to. But here is a list of my favorite holiday-worthy treats to try. They’re featured throughout the entire book!
- Peanut Butter Ginger Snaps on page 45
- Sweet Potato Prints on page 53
- Pumpkin Bark on page 111
- Sweet Potato Chips on page 113
- Apple Chips on page 115
- Carrot Spice Cakes on page 153
- Pumpkin Pie Paws on page 173
Want it today? If you want to get baking and don’t have time to wait for the physical book to arrive then you can get it today by downloading the Kindle version! Happy Thanksgiving!
